London Revealed as Best Christmas City to Visit in the UK

By Daniella Saunders

3 years ago

The capital goes all out for the festive season


Planning your Christmas travel? Read this first. It’s official; London has been named best Christmas city to visit in the UK…

From Covent Garden’s 55 ft tall Christmas tree to Borough Market’s jolly makeover and skating at Somerset House, you don’t have to travel far in London to catch the festive feels. So, it comes as no surprise that the capital has been named the best Christmas city to visit in the UK.

London’s Prettiest Christmas Trees

According to an investigation carried out by ‘botanically brewed’ drinks brand Fentimans, London is the place to be this festive season, thanks to its 16 Christmas markets, 3.9 per cent chance of snow, and whopping 153,055,290 Instagram hashtags. Between seasonal afternoon teas, theatre shows, light installations and Hyde Park Winter Wonderland (an annual highlight), the city is certainly in no shortage for festive cheer.

Winter Wonderland

Hyde Park Winter Wonderland

London also boasts the largest lights installation in the country, ‘The Spirit of Christmas’, based amongst Regent Street and St James’s. This year’s collective light switch-on across the West End was in fact the world’s largest, boasting over one million LEDs.

Festive Illuminations: Christmas Lights As Seen On Instagram

The investigation also considered the average cost to drink (£5) and eat (£15), as well as the average cost to stay (£143), whilst popularity (search volume) totalled 100. In second place came Liverpool and its highly anticipated six-week Christmas market, with Manchester ranking third.

Covent Garden

Covent Garden, London; Tiziano Brignoli via Unsplash

Expanding overseas, the review brands Berlin as the best Christmas city to visit in the EU, where you’ll find 80 (yes, 80!) Christmas markets – and there’s a 19.35 per cent chance of snow. Coming in second is Vilnius, capital of Lithuania, followed by Helsinki – branded ‘the Christmas city’ – where the festive season is almost always greeted with a flurry of snow.

Looking for a place to stay in London this Christmas? See our guide to the capital’s best hotels here.

See Fentimans’ ‘Christmas Cities Unwrapped’ investigation at fentimans.com

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