What are the typical destinations covered during Christmas and New Year tours starting from London?

From London, most holiday tours head to Edinburgh, the Scottish Highlands, Lake District, and Wales. There's usually time in Cambridge and York along the way, with many tours spending Christmas Day in Edinburgh for Scottish holiday celebrations. One of our TourRadar travelers put it well: "The towns, the landscape, the castles, and the seacoast is truly welcoming and relaxing during the festive season."

How cold does it get during Christmas and New Year tours from London?

Winter temperatures in London and nearby areas usually stay between 35-45°F (2-7°C). If you head up to Scotland, expect it to be a bit colder, around 30-38°F (-1 to 3°C). Don't worry too much about the cold though - one TourRadar traveler noted "the weather was cold but manageable with proper layers." You'll find plenty of warm spaces in places like Edinburgh Castle and York Minster, plus comfortable heating in hotels like The Strand Palace in London and Hampton by Hilton in York.

What are the most popular destinations for Christmas and New Year tours starting from London?

Most travelers choose tours that visit Paris, Rome, Amsterdam, and Edinburgh. Companies like Euroventure Travel and Contiki run regular trips to these cities by train and bus. You'll get to see some amazing holiday sights - Paris lights up the Eiffel Tower, Edinburgh Castle gets decked out for the season, and in Rome, you can join the special Christmas celebrations at Vatican City.

What special holiday activities are included in Christmas and New Year tours starting from London?

You'll get to experience London's Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park, walk under the Christmas lights on Oxford Street and Regent Street, and watch the New Year's Eve fireworks by the Thames. Tours often mix these festive London experiences with visits to historic places like Windsor Castle and Bath. As one TourRadar traveler said, "The timing was perfect and the hotel in Bath was brilliant."

How much spending money should I budget for Christmas shopping during the tour?

Plan for about USD 100-150 per day for shopping at places like Oxford Street, Covent Garden, and Edinburgh's Royal Mile. The tours usually stop at famous stores like Harrods and Liberty London when they're beautifully decorated for Christmas. One TourRadar traveler suggests "setting aside at least USD 500 for holiday shopping and souvenirs across major stops like London, York and Edinburgh."

What's the typical duration of Christmas and New Year tours starting from London?

Most tours run between 8 and 23 days, with lots of people choosing 10-16 day trips. The European Traveller tour takes 10 days to visit London, Paris, Switzerland and Italy. If you want to see more, the European Trail is a longer 23-day journey through several countries. Tours tend to be longer during the holidays so you can join Christmas celebrations in different cities.

Are Christmas markets included in the tour itinerary?

Yes, you'll definitely visit Christmas markets. Most tours take you to London's Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park, the Georgian Christmas Market in Bath, and Edinburgh's Christmas Market on Princes Street. One TourRadar traveler shared: "the tour perfectly timed our visits to the most magical Christmas markets across Britain, with plenty of time to shop and enjoy seasonal treats."

Christmas & New Year Tours from London

See the best Christmas & New Year trips from London, England. We have 99 adventures that range from 2 days up to 29 days in length. The most popular time for tours leaving London is December.

10 best Christmas & New Year tour packages from London

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Explorer
Europe Taster Christmas
4.4 (22 traveler reviews)
"Fabulous tour of extremely good value. We had a wonderful time and could not rate this Expat Tour more highly."
Annette, traveled in December
Duration
7 days
Destinations
England France Switzerland Germany Netherlands Belgium
Age Range
Ages 10+
Operated in
English
Operator
Expat Explore Travel
From
US$1,755per person
Price based on Shared Room
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In-depth Cultural
Paris for Christmas
Duration
4 days
Destinations
London, Dover, Calais, Paris
Age Range
Ages 18-35
Operated in
English
Operator
Contiki
From
US$660per person
Price based on Shared Room
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Explorer
London in 3 Days: Explore the City with Optional Add-Ons
5.0 (2 traveler reviews)
"You may hit all the big landmarks — Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, Tower Bridge, Westminster Abbey... nice selection of add-ons."
Andrew, traveled in February
Duration
3 days
Destinations
London
Age Range
Ages 12+
Operated in
English
Operator
BTOURS
From
US$456per person
Price based on Private Double Room
- Booking needs min. 2 travelers
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In-depth Cultural
Real Britain (London Overnights)
4.4 (41 traveler reviews)
"Scotland Is amazing, thank you for a wonderful experience."
Duration
9 days
Destinations
England Wales Scotland
Age Range
All Ages Welcome
Operated in
English
Operator
Trafalgar
15% Off
From $2,550
US$2,168per person
Price based on Shared Room
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In-depth Cultural
Oxford, Cotswolds, Bath, Avebury & Cambridge - 6 Days (Small-Group)
Duration
6 days
Destinations
London, Oxford, Cotswolds, Bath, Avebury, Lacock, Cambridge
Age Range
All Ages Welcome
Operated in
English
Operator
Click Tours
36% Off
From $1,980
US$1,267per person
Price based on Private Double Room
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Explorer
European Experience (Start London 2026)
4.3 (62 traveler reviews)
Duration
14 days
Destinations
England France Switzerland Italy Vatican City (Holy See)Germany Netherlands+3 more
Age Range
All Ages Welcome
Operated in
English
Operator
Costsaver
10% Off
From $2,850
US$2,565per person
Price based on Shared Room
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Explorer
5-Day In London A Royal Adventure
Duration
5 days
Destinations
London, Rochester, Dover, Cotswolds
Age Range
All Ages Welcome
Operated in
English
Operator
STM Tours LLC
20% Off
From $1,251
US$1,001per person
Price based on Private Double Room
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Explorer
6 Day London And Liverpool By Train
Duration
6 days
Destinations
London, Liverpool
Age Range
All Ages Welcome
Operated in
English
Operator
STM Tours LLC
20% Off
From $1,207
US$965per person
Price based on Private Double Room
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Explorer
5 Day London with Harry Potter
Duration
5 days
Destinations
London
Age Range
All Ages Welcome
Operated in
English
Operator
STM Tours LLC
20% Off
From $1,376
US$1,101per person
Price based on Private Double Room
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Explorer
9 Day From London to Milan by train(London, Paris, Zurich, and Milan.)
1.0 (1 traveler review)
Duration
9 days
Destinations
England France Switzerland Italy
Age Range
All Ages Welcome
Operated in
English
Operator
STM Tours LLC
20% Off
From $2,491
US$1,992per person
Price based on Private Double Room
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Explorer
Great Britain Christmas
4.4 (7 traveler reviews)
"The tour was fun. Overall I felt like this tour attempts to cover too much ground."
Ronald, traveled in December
Duration
7 days
Destinations
England Scotland Wales
Age Range
Ages 10+
Operated in
English
Operator
Expat Explore Travel
20% Off
From
US$1,705per person
Price based on Shared Room
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In-depth Cultural
Amsterdam for Christmas
4.7 (8 traveler reviews)
"He'd hunted out some of the most amazing local places, which truly showed the real Europe."
Madeleine, traveled in April
Duration
4 days
Destinations
England France Netherlands
Age Range
Ages 18-35
Operated in
English
Operator
Contiki
20% Off
From
US$698per person
Price based on Shared Room
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Explorer
13 Day From London to Rome by train (London, Paris, Zurich, Milan, Florence and Rome.)
4.0 (1 traveler review)
Duration
13 days
Destinations
England France Switzerland Italy
Age Range
All Ages Welcome
Operated in
English
Operator
STM Tours LLC
20% Off
From $2,915
US$2,332per person
Price based on Private Double Room
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Explorer
5 Day London, Oxford, Stratford And Warwick
5.0 (1 traveler review)
"The tour was so well organised. The day trip to Warwick Castle, Stratford upon Avon and Oxford was a highlight."
Annette, traveled in December
Duration
5 days
Destinations
London, Oxford, Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwick
Age Range
All Ages Welcome
Operated in
English
Operator
STM Tours LLC
20% Off
From $1,502
US$1,201per person
Price based on Private Double Room
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Explorer
10-Day United Kingdom and Ireland
3.8 (4 traveler reviews)
"This tour was a great yet face-paced overview of the region. There was a lot of information."
Sara, traveled in September
Duration
10 days
Destinations
England Scotland Northern Ireland Ireland Wales
Age Range
All Ages Welcome
Operated in
English
Operator
Intertrips
20% Off
From
US$2,549per person
Price based on Private Double Room
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