What's On in Mayfair this Winter
Ask anyone who's visited Mayfair in winter, and they'll tell you just how magical it can be.
Bond Street's twinkling lights trailing up above, the festive hum of Christmas shopping along Burlington Arcade,
the open-air ice rink at Somerset House illuminated after dark.The May Fair Hotel sits at the centre of it, close enough to reach most of the season on foot.
Below, we've gathered the season's finest to make your winter extra special.
Most are a short stroll away, and a few worth the taxi. Either way, consider this your invite to a season well spent, with The May Fair Hotel as your starting point.
Open-air Ice Rink at Somerset House
Somerset House, Strand | 11th November – 10th January
Of London's outdoor ice rinks, Somerset House is arguably the most stunning, its Georgian courtyard providing an impressive backdrop few others can match. Skate beneath the fairy-lit fountains, then retreat to The May Fair Bar for something warm before the cold sets in properly. It sits conveniently along the Strand and is easily combined with a festive afternoon around Covent Garden or the Thames.
Christmas at Kew
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew | 13th November – 3rd January
Christmas at Kew is one of London's best-loved festive light trails, offering a mile of illuminated pathways winding through Kew Gardens' glasshouses and ancient trees. It's a Christmas staple for families and couples alike, offering a quieter, more magical alternative to the city's busier displays. Wrap up warm and give the visit its due time; this isn't one to rush.
Bond Street Christmas Lights
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew | 13th November – 3rd January
Christmas at Kew is one of London's best-loved festive light trails, offering a mile of illuminated pathways winding through Kew Gardens' glasshouses and ancient trees. It's a Christmas staple for families and couples alike, offering a quieter, more magical alternative to the city's busier displays. Wrap up warm and give the visit its due time; this isn't one to rush.
Winter Wonderland
Hyde Park | 19th November – 3rd January
Hyde Park's festive takeover needs little introduction: an ice rink, a Bavarian-style market, and a skyline of fairground rides visible from Park Lane after dark. It is more spectacle than secret, and best experienced on a clear evening when the observation wheel is lit against the sky. Green Park connects almost directly to Hyde Park Corner, making the walk from Stratton Street a short and pleasant one.
The Nutcracker at the Royal Opera House
Royal Opera House, Covent Garden | 3rd December – 13th January
Tchaikovsky's score beneath one of London's most gilded ceilings remains a quintessential way to begin the festive season. The Royal Ballet's staging has changed little over the decades, with Clara's Christmas journey a true fixture of December. Covent Garden sits a fifteen-minute walk from the hotel, or a short taxi past Piccadilly on colder evenings.
Burlington Arcade & the Royal Academy
of Arts
Burlington Arcade, Piccadilly | December
Beneath the Arcade's glass roof, garlands and twinkling lights lend the season a distinctly Victorian charm, the Burlington Beadles still on patrol as they have been for over a century. A few doors along, the Royal Academy's winter exhibitions offer a quieter hour indoors - a fitting pause between the shops and the lights, and one of Mayfair's more understated seasonal pleasures.
Carols by Candlelight
St George's, Hanover Square | Select dates in December
Beneath the Arcade's glass roof, garlands and twinkling lights lend the season a distinctly Victorian charm, the Burlington Beadles still on patrol as they have been for over a century. A few doors along, the Royal Academy's winter exhibitions offer a quieter hour indoors - a fitting pause between the shops and the lights, and one of Mayfair's more understated seasonal pleasures.
New Year's Eve Fireworks on the Thames
The Thames | 31st December
London's New Year’s Eve fireworks, launched from the London Eye and watched from both banks of the river, remains the most spectacular way to see the year out in the city. Tickets for riverside viewing areas sell out well in advance, so it’s worth securing yours ahead of time if you’d like a spot at the biggest New Year’s Eve event in the country. Begin the evening with an early New Year’s Eve sitting at May Fair Kitchen, followed by a trip down to the river before the crowds descend.