London 4 nights first week in December

By the last week of November the lights are up for Christmas at Kew. You’ll need to buy tickets well ahead.

https://www.kew.org/kew-gardens/whats-on/christmas

There is also Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park.

https://hydeparkwinterwonderland.com/

What a great time to go!!

We were just in Kew in May when we had a flight out early and stayed in Richmond. Is there an easy train from central London?

WinterWonderland Hyde Park
Kew Gardens
Have dinner in an igloo along the Thames:
https://londonist.com/london/christmas-in-london/winter-igloos-domes-globes-in-london
Ride a Gondola over the Thames
Check out the British Library gift shop to purchase Christmas Cards
Shop in Spitalfields Market
Check out Liberty
Meander about Covent Garden
Eat at the food courts at Harrod’s
See if there are Santa Runs scheduled
See if there is a Panto to attend
See theatre
Christmas Lights and shopping on Oxford, Bond and Regent streets
Check dates for Leicester Square and Southwark Christmas Markets
Go Ice Skating
Check dates for Lightopia at The Crystal Palace

Yes, very easy by tube. The District line (Richmond branch) stops at Kew Station which is very close to the Victoria Gate.

What a lovely trip! All the suggestions so far have been awesome. Can I come along?

We were in London in May, and it was our 4th time (and our adult daughter was along who had been many more times than that). One thing we always like to do is find a nice neighbourhood and explore. This time we did the east side of Hampton Heath and explored Highgate Cemetery. And I finally got to see Kenwood House in Hampstead Heath, which was surprisingly good (they have a Vermeer, amongst many other interesting pieces). Another afternoon we hung out in Chiswick because there was something personal I wanted to see, but we also went to Chiswick House and a neighbourhood pub.

I told my husband that the next trip I wanted to London was a week in November to just see museums. This trip we did the TateBritain. We'd never been particularly interested but thought we'd see what was there and it was a highlight. We also got to do a deep dive at the V&A. And we've never seen the British Portrait Gallery -- I would have this trip but it was closed for remodeling.

Probably not very helpful, but I'd say to look into one of your personal interests and explore what London offers there. For example, I love bookshops, and London has many of the world's best.

Have a great trip

Andrea, we should wave at each other! Friends and I will be there the same time but arriving a few days earlier, for a whole week. I have our tickets to Christmas at Kew Gardens, but we will also have to do some of the main sights since 2 of them have never been. We also did Paris (and Prague) Dec. 2021. 😊🎄

Check out London Walks for neighborhood walking tours.

There are also lights on Carnaby street. While there look at the displays at Liberty London. On different trips that time of year we’ve taken day trips to Bath, York, and Cambridge.

For lesser quirky sights, Ben Franklin house, Texas Legation building, Pickering Pl (site of last duel in London), sewer gas destructor lamp (last one in London), Temple Church, John Snow water pump (where he found that contaminated water cause cholera), Peter Pan statue, and the old Whitechapel Bell foundry building where the Liberty Bell was cast. One could walk the old Roman wall.

If you enjoy old pubs, maybe visit Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese, Old Bank of England, Ye Olde Mitre, Black Friars, or Prospect of Whitby. There are plenty of others.

This is Great! Thank you all so much! We go on to Paris, Salzburg and Colmar after London. We are very excited!

Adding you can now dine and enjoy a cocktail in a former public urinal; The Attendant in Fitzrovia or Ladies and Gentlemen in Kentish Town. There are others. Google.

Other options:
Climbing the O2
Cinema Museum
Grant Museum Skeletons
The Operating Theatre
Sir John Soane’s Museum
Horniman Museum
Mudchute Farm
Postal Museum Underground Train
Paddle a Canoe on the Thames
Paddle boat Regents Park
Vktor Wynd Museum of Curiosities
Walk, Hike or Bike The Line: public art displays.
(Did it 2021 and enjoyed a lovely chat and pint at the Anchor and Hope in New Charlton. Nary a tourist to be found except me.)
Seek out the Fallow deer in Richmond Park
Mercato Mayfair

Your Welcome.

Since you’re going to Colmar, it has a free shuttle (navette) that goes around the historic center. Think of it as a free hop on, hop off bus. The route starts and ends at the train station with the entire loop taking about 20 minutes. It’s a small bus that holds about 12 people.

BTW. Kew Garden tickets already sold out for many times. We’re going midweek so I was able to get our tickets for the time we want. Thanks so much for the heads up! Wouldn’t have occurred to me to order now.

Are there other attractions that would need to be booked soon? Otherwise I was planning on just looking through all the ideas given here and deciding after we arrive.

Oh my goodness!! Good to know there are times that are already completely sold. I did not go in to the calendar when I posted the link, so glad you looked! And yea on the tickets!