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Where to stay in London for Christmas and New Year's Eve 2026, the best areas for markets, fireworks and family stays, and how fireworks tickets work.
Christmas and New Year are the busiest weeks of London's year, and where you stay makes a bigger difference than usual. With no public transport on Christmas Day and bridges closed for the New Year's Eve fireworks, the right base can save you hours. Here's how to choose! Also see our guide to things to do in London at Christmas for what to do when you're there.
Liverpool Street, Monument, St Paul's and the Tower of London put you close to Spitalfields and Leadenhall Market's Christmas lights, and within reach of the river for New Year's Eve. The City is also blissfully quiet over Christmas itself!
With King's Cross, St Pancras and Euston on the doorstep, this is the easiest base if family are coming in from around the country or from Europe. Granary Square has its own Christmas market for 2026.
Hyde Park's Winter Wonderland, the South Kensington museums and Notting Hill's pubs and cafés are all close by. It's a calmer, more residential side of London, good for families and longer stays.
Camden's markets, music venues and bars make it the liveliest base for seeing in the New Year somewhere other than the riverbank.
Bigger apartments, Westfield London for the Boxing Day sales, and in Earl's Court a direct Piccadilly line to Heathrow, a practical choice for groups and families flying in.
• You need a ticket. The official viewing areas along the river are ticket-only, and nobody without one is let in. Tickets went on sale on 23 October via Ticketmaster, from £20 to £55, with discounts for London postcodes. They sell fast, so check what's left!
• Get there early. Viewing areas open at 8pm and entry closes at 10:30pm. You can't move between areas, and you'll need photo ID matching the ticket name.
• Bridges close. Westminster, Golden Jubilee, Lambeth, Blackfriars and Waterloo bridges are closed before and after the event, choose the side of the river you want to finish on, and stay on that side.
• Plan your route home. Stations near the river are extremely busy after midnight; a base you can walk back to makes the night much easier.
A hotel room gets tight over the festive break. An apartment gives you a kitchen to cook Christmas dinner, a living room to open presents in, and somewhere to put the shopping. Christmas and New Year dates go early, book as soon as your plans are fixed. Browse our short stay apartments in London.
Visiting family? See why an apartment beats the spare room.
FAQ
Yes. The official viewing areas are ticket-only, and you won't be let in without one. Tickets went on sale on 23 October via Ticketmaster, from £20 to £55.
Somewhere you can walk to and from your viewing area, the City (Liverpool Street, Monument, St Paul's) is a good choice for the north bank. For a night out instead of the fireworks, Camden.
Yes! Our apartments have fully equipped kitchens. Shop on Christmas Eve, as most shops close early that day and stay closed on Christmas Day.
No, no Tube, buses, trains or trams run on 25 December. Arrive by Christmas Eve and choose a base you're happy to walk around. See our Christmas Day in London guide.
As early as possible the week between Christmas and New Year is one of the busiest of the year.
Book direct for the best rate and free cancellation up to 24 hours before arrival. Staying on into the New Year?
January stays come with 20% off your London stay (between 1 – 31 January 2027) using code WINTER20 if you book before 30 November 2026. (Terms and conditions apply)
Skip the fees and book direct with Your Apartment. YA Insiders get 5% off and lots more added extras!
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