Arcadia New Zealand

One of the hardest times for me to be abroad was during the holidays. I was hit with the worst homesickness since arriving in London, feeling like I was missing out on time with family and the normal traditions I would experience if I was at home. I soon discovered that if there is anywhere in the world to be during the holidays, it’s London. The whole city goes all out with decorations and activities galore that instantly cheered me up. Here are a few of my favorite spots to check out:

Christmas at Kew Gardens

Located away from the hustle and bustle of southwest London, Christmas at Kew Gardens allows visitors to walk through a light trail that is nearly two miles long. Even though it was freezing when my friends and I went, we got to see so many beautiful displays. I highly recommend stopping along the way to toast your own marshmallows, and make sure to stock up on hot chocolate before you set out on your walk through the gardens.

Winter Wonderland at Hyde Park

While Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park may be one of the more touristy activities, it is still one of my favorite activities I did during the holiday season. It is a holiday theme park right in the middle of London, with a bunch of rides, ice experiences, and plenty of delicious food. I recommend booking tickets in advance for a lot of the attractions, since things tend to sell out and waiting in lines is not really an option. I personally did the ice slide, ice bar, ice skating, and the ice kingdom for a winter-themed experience. The food was also some of the best I have ever had, with steak frites for dinner and chocolate-covered cheesecake for dessert. It can be crowded and at times overwhelming, but it is worth it for the magical experience.

Holiday Tea at Sketch

This activity is kind of a splurge price-wise, but festive tea at Sketch is worth every penny. My friends and I went one afternoon after class and were treated to delicious holiday pastries and finger sandwiches, and the tea was some of the best I tasted in London. The whole experience was complete by a ballerina performing parts of the nutcracker through the aisles between the tables and a string quartet playing Christmas carols. However, the real highlight at Sketch is the bathrooms. I know it sounds strange and I will not spoil why it is so special, but I highly recommend checking it out. You also never know who you will run into there. When my friends and I went, we saw Adjoa Andoh a few tables down, who plays Lady Danbury in Bridgerton!

Department store holiday displays

If you are a shopaholic like me, the department stores during the holidays in London are a dream come true. All the major places have incredible decorations and sell beautiful ornaments and other souvenirs to bring home to family and friends. Even though it tends to be really crowded, it is still worth it to marvel at the window displays and take in all of the carefully-crafted displays inside. My personal favorite store was Fortnum & Mason. Their outside displays were so beautifully detailed, and their whole floor of Christmas decorations and ornaments was a dream. I also highly recommend picking up some chocolates, biscuits, or tea on your way out. They truly cannot be beat.

Drinks at the top of the Shard

While this can be done at any time during your study abroad experience in London, drinks at the top of the Shard during the holidays is a fun thing to do with a big group of friends. The Shard is one of the tallest buildings in London and is a beautiful skyscraper that is a hallmark of the city’s skyline. From Queen Mary’s campus, where I studied, I could always see it lit up against the night sky on my walk back from the tube station. On one of the top floors, the building boasts a fancy restaurant and bar. Drinks are on the expensive side, but to take in the entirety of London from so high up and see the holiday lights twinkling from that viewpoint was one of my favorite experiences from my time abroad and made it worth the price.

There are plenty of other fun holiday experiences that I did not get to take part in but heard great things about. If you get the chance, I also highly recommend seeing the Royal Ballet perform the Nutcracker and take in a bunch of the holiday markets throughout the city. Regardless of what you do, London is the perfect city to cure the holiday blues with so much to do and see.