Free Walking Tour London was created to show you the best of London in a more cost-effective way. Our guides are experts in history and London in general and are only too happy to recommend ways to spend your time in the U.K. capital. Our tours work on a pay-what-you-like basis whereby you can enjoy a tour with us, and then at the end of the tour, you can show your appreciation to our guides.
On this free tour of London we will visit the highlights of Christmas in the British capital, always a special time. An unparalleled walk between imposing decorations and Christmas markets mixed with numerous stories , spectacular places and legends .
Itinerary
At the indicated time we will meet next to the Equestrian Statue of Charles I in Trafalgar Square and we will begin a free tour to discover one of the most special festivals that can be experienced in London. Are you ready to see the most Christmassy side of the British capital ? You will love it!
We will delve into the busiest places in Soho during these weeks to begin to discover the history of this festival and the atmosphere that is breathed at this time of year. Since it began to be celebrated in England , Christmas has gone through many stages and we will discover them all, from the beginnings in the Middle Ages to its prohibition after the Protestant Reformation to finally flourish again during the Victorian era .
Already in contemporary times, lighting with Christmas motifs gained weight and, to discover it, we will walk through Trafalgar Square towards Piccadilly Circus and the always wonderful Christmas lights of Regent Street . Later, we will discuss the history and evolution of one of the most consumed products during British Christmas, Christmas crackers . However, what would this festival be without the Christmas markets ? Well, as its name indicates, we cannot leave aside these places so full of charm and tradition, therefore, it is mandatory that we go to one of the main ones, Leicester Square. Wooden cabins , crafts and lots of mulled wine provide that warmth, color and charm so typical of Christmas and you can visit them on our free tour. Next, we will go to Cecil Court . This place hides everything from ghosts to a close relationship with Christmas with its decoration and shop windows , as well as being one of the prominent centers of English literature, because here we will get to know in depth one of the masterpieces related to this holiday, “ A Christmas Carol .” by Charles Dickens .
As if all this were not enough, we will visit several of the most important Christmas trees in London, the one in Trafalgar Square, for its history and meaning, and the one in Covent Garden for its spectacular nature. It will be precisely in Covent Garden where we will stop to admire more Christmas markets while at the same time mixing stories and legends that once took place there.
After an hour and a half learning all the secrets and traditions of Christmas in London, we will end the free tour in the market itself.
The meeting point is the equestrian statue of Charles I, at Charing Cross. It is a roundabout in front of Nelson's Column in Trafalgar Square. You can find us with a purple flag at that same point.
Free tours do not have a set price, instead, each person gives the guru at the end of the tour the amount that he or she considers appropriate (these usually range from €10 to $50 depending on satisfaction with the tour).