The UK is a fantastic place to visit with family over Christmas. You can get the Christmas shopping done at Hamleys in London, experience snow in Scotland by visiting Edinburgh, or enjoy a fairytale experience in Oxford.

However, you can’t just get on a plane and visit any of these places in the UK. From 8 January 2025, you will need an Electronic Travel Authorisation. To get help applying for the UK Visitor visa from the USA, contact London Immigration Lawyer or visit us online to learn more about our UK visa services.

London

Starting in November, London transforms at Christmas to become a festive paradise. This starts with the iconic Christmas lights. Previous years have included a glowing cosmos over Carnaby Street and shooting stars along Oxford Street. Department stores also get in on the action. There is so much to see, and each year brings something new. Book a bus tour of the city to take in all of the lights. 

Another great vantage point to see all this is from the river. There are multiple tour operators starting from locations like Westminster Pier, guiding you down the river shimmering with lights, and offering views of iconic tourist attractions like Big Ben, the Palace of Westminster, and the London Eye. The best tours serve mince pies and mulled wine to keep you warm, while a tour guide explains what you are seeing. 

Alongside being home to some of Britain’s most famous tourist attractions, it is also the perfect city to get your Christmas shopping done. Bring your kids to Hamleys, a giant seven-story toy shop. They can explore and fill their Christmas list with every type of toy imaginable. Hamleys is also famous for its live toy demonstrations with engaging staff members.

Edinburgh 

Next in our list of the best places to visit in the UK at Christmas is the Scottish capital, Edinburgh. The Edinburgh Christmas Market is the first place to start, divided into two across both halves of Princes Street Gardens. In the West Princes Street Gardens, there are over 70 stalls, packed with stocking filler-ready gifts, alongside food and drink that can keep you warm. The market is also home to the LNER Big Wheel, a Ferris wheel that will give you panoramic views across the city centre. Meanwhile, West Princes Street Gardens is perfect for your kids with plenty of rides and illuminations.

If you stay a little longer, you can attend Hogmanay, the New Year’s Eve celebration. This raucous event is perfect for couples who like to party. Look out for the enormous street party, live music, street performances, and a fireworks display that kicks off from Edinburgh Castle at midnight.

Edinburgh is substantially further north than the other two destinations featured in this list, so you can expect colder weather. Make sure to pack plenty of warm layers, but don’t be put off. Edinburgh is a cosy city even in the worst winter weather, and there are plenty of places where you can settle down in front of an open fire. Rain or snow could be the perfect time to enjoy a holiday afternoon tea with your partner and children. There are several excellent hotels, restaurants, and tea rooms for this comforting and tasty treat. Edinburgh is also home to several wonderful hot chocolate spots, perfect for younger children.

Oxford

The final city on this is much smaller than London and Edinburgh, but it certainly deserves its place. Britain’s most beautiful city can shine even brighter with a frosty or snowy sheen. Look out for iconic landmarks, such as Oxford Castle, the Ashmolean Museum, and the Sheldonian Theatre. Iconic university buildings like Christ Church College, the Bodleian Library, and the University Church of St Mary the Virgin might even inspire your children.

Like Edinburgh, Oxford also has an incredible Christmas market. Called Christmas in Oxford, the market transforms the historic city centre Broad Street into a festive wonderland. It becomes packed with Christmas lights, festive treats, and handcrafted gifts. The market also includes a stage where local choirs, bands, and DJs perform festive favourites live.

Oxford is also a fantastic city to enjoy some family Christmas entertainment. Many of the city’s iconic theatres, such as the Oxford Playhouse, host pantomimes. Combining recognisable fairy tales with slapstick comedy, these performances are sure to get the whole family roaring with laughter. 

There are also plenty of Christmas options if you take a train ride into the countryside surrounding the city. A short ride from the city is the Didcot Railway Centre, an active heritage railway that fills with the scent of steam locomotives in the winter. Make sure to go on the weekend so that your children can take part in the Christmas event, a festive mystery to find Santa’s reindeer.

If you want to travel further west in the UK, Bath is another beautiful and quintessentially English city. It also has fantastic access to Bristol, another quirky city that is perfect for a day trip.

How Can London Immigration Lawyers Help?

The UK offers superb winter tourism opportunities for your family. Yet, getting an Electronic Travel Authorisation is essential for US citizens. You can do this by downloading the UK ETA app. You can use the application to upload a photo of your face, your passport, and your email address. After that, pay the £16 application fee, and your application will usually be processed in a matter of hours.

For further support in obtaining your Electronic Travel Authorisation, contact London Immigration Lawyers. We will connect you with one of our expert immigration lawyers who can guide you through the entire ETA process. You can also visit our website to learn about the other visas that we offer support for, which will be more appropriate if your family wants to come to the UK for longer than just the festive period.