A Solo Student's Guide to Christmas in London
Image Credits: Maureen Barlin via Flickr
People say Christmas is the time to come together with your loved ones but, in reality, that can’t always be the case. This year will be my first Christmas away from family, which is, frankly, quite frightening. That said, is there any city better to quell these fears than London? After all, what city does Christmas better? There’s a reason Love Actually is considered the best Christmas film: London has the most exciting, heart-warming and precious Christmas season. But, to be clear, you don’t need a Joni Mitchell CD, a love affair with the Prime Minister (sorry, Starmer), or a cinematic reunion at Heathrow airport to feel that famous London Christmas magic. Instead, follow this list to make your festive season truly enchanting.
Christmas Lights
Just as in life, the best things at Christmas-time are free! Exhibit One: London’s Christmas light displays. My favourite, the Regent Street angel display, is only 15 minutes away from campus! Other phenomenal lightshows include Carnaby Street, Oxford Street, and Covent Garden. An evening walk under the lights, with Last Christmas blasting through your headphones, is a perfect night out.
2. Festive Films
Sure, you could watch The Muppet Christmas Carol in bed for the fifth year in a row, or – hear me out – you could watch it at the Prince Charles Cinema, singing alongside hundreds of jolly strangers! This iconic cinema, along with the BFI and Backyard Cinema, have special Christmas showings: The Holdovers, The Nightmare Before Christmas, Carol, and more! A Christmas film is the perfect solo activity, but being in a cinema still gives you that festive community feeling.
3. Christmas Markets
There’s no place in London with more festive spirit than a Christmas market! My favourite is Southbank’s with its divine food and free entry; Covent Garden and Leicester Square are also charming but can be overstimulating. Beware. Hyde Park’s Winter Wonderland is famously outstanding, but only free in off-peak times (early afternoon – stay as long as you want). Sip a Bailey’s hot chocolate, suspend reality for the night, and try to ignore how expensive everything is!
Bonus: go ice skating at a pop-up rink around London: Somerset House, Natural History Museum, Battersea Power Station. Go alone (no one to watch you fall!), or invite someone new along. Whether your ice skating is impressive or laughable, it’s a superb bonding mechanism.
4. Volunteer
As university students, the last thing on our minds at Christmas is more work, but trust me, volunteering is far too rewarding to feel like a chore. There are so many delightful roles, including cooking, performing, or even hair-dressing! There is genuinely no better feeling than knowing you’ve improved someone else’s Christmas; you can volunteer through Crisis at Christmas.
London is a true Winter Wonderland, just not the over-commercialised, over-romanticised city we’re sold online. Instead, it’s the simple, authentic magic you’ll find under bewitching street lights or at cozy market stalls. Just put on your walking shoes and go explore our magical city!