Summer versus winter... here's when to see London

See the sights and enjoy the London lifestyle in two very different seasons.

Westminster Bridge and the Big Ben. Photo: John Kellerman

London's calling... here's what to consider before picking up. 

Summer

London is a city that never sleeps, no matter what time of year. In summer, the streets, landmarks, museums and markets are packed with international tourists. Get your bearings and grab a seat on the open top deck of a Golden Tours hop-on hop-off London bus. Tickets give you unlimited city travel and a free boat ride down the Thames – you’ll pay about $60 for 24 hours and $70 for 48 hours and see all the major sights – from Buckingham Palace and Big Ben to Covent Garden and the Tower of London.

Summer also means Wimbledon. Enjoy a pot of traditional strawberries and cream washed down with a Pimm’s and lap up top-class tennis action on the manicured grass courts of the All England Lawn Tennis Club. Tickets are hard to get but you can join The Queue to snag one of the 500 premium seats only available on the day of play. Head to Hyde Park – 141 green hectares in the heart of the city. Smell the blooms in the Rose Garden, stand on Speakers’ Corner where Karl Marx and George Orwell stood before you snooze in a deckchair and enjoy a refreshing dip in the Serpentine Lido. 

Christmas lights in Mayfair. Photo: Alexey Fedoren

Winter

Winter brings short days, long nights, cold temperatures and rain, but London shrugs off the dark and damp and sparkles with spectacular Christmas light displays. Wrap up warm and take a Christmas lights night bus tour from outside the London Eye. Cruise past the festive displays in Regent St, Trafalgar Square and Piccadilly Circus with upper-deck tickets costing about $45 for adults and $25 for kids aged under 16. From November to January, Hyde Park becomes a Winter Wonderland with the UK’s largest outdoor ice-skating arena at the centre. There are also circus shows, live music, carousels and roller coasters and intricate ice sculptures crafted from a hefty 500 tonnes of ice.

You can also explore a traditional European-style Christmas market and chase away the chill with some spicy mulled wine. Christmas markets are everywhere in London in December – head to Covent Garden Market for arts and crafts or to Leicester Square for shopping and entertainment in the Belgian Spiegeltent. Trafalgar Square is also a must-see – not only does it have a Christmas market but an Instagram-worthy towering Christmas tree. Get into the festive spirit by joining the carol singers who perform all the classic Christmas songs. Westminster Abbey and St Paul’s have hosted royal weddings, coronations and funerals. On Christmas Eve, Londoners and visitors of all faiths can fill the pews to join a special service. For Westminster Abbey, tickets are free but allocated online from early November. St Paul’s operates on a first come, first served basis but you’ll need to start queuing early on the night. 

Originally published as Summer versus winter... here's when to see London