As dusk falls, the West End’s Christmas lights become your personal runway. Regent Street’s angels and Oxford Street’s stars are magnificent without the crowds. Walk slowly, take photos, and marvel at how pretty a city can look when it’s mostly empty. Fun fact: The first ever electric Christmas street lights in London were switched on in Regent Street in 1882, using the new technology of the time.
Finding an open pub for a nightcap is the final challenge. Look for hotel bars like the American Bar at The Savoy or the Scarfes Bar at The Rosewood—they never close, and they serve a stunningly boozy eggnog. The Player’s Snooker Bar in Soho is also rumoured to stay open for the hardcore revellers.
If you’d rather stay in, order a takeaway curry or Chinese. Many London restaurants open for Christmas dinner, and places like Dishoom in Covent Garden serve a special festive menu. Eating jalfrezi while watching a Bond film on the hotel telly? That’s a London Christmas right there.
