Where to Eat, Stay and Shop in London in December
What Lulu Loves in London
Where to Eat, Where to Stay and Where to Shop in London
Diptyque, Spitalfields
December suits London. The lights switch on, the streets feel alive and suddenly the city becomes a place for slow breakfasts, long walks, late-afternoon shopping and cosy suppers. If you are planning a visit and wondering where to stay in London, where to shop in London or where to eat in London, these are the places I return to again and again.
Breakfast in Hoxton
Long White Cloud Bakery, Hoxton
If you are starting your day in the East End, head straight to Long White Cloud Bakery. After twelve years as a much-loved coffee shop, they transformed into a full bakery in 2024 and reopened in the September with shelves full of fresh breads, pastries and daily bakes. Expect Nutella and banana bread, warm mince pies, bacon brioche, soft cookies and excellent coffee. It’s friendly, simple and very easy to over-order!
Jolene, Shoreditch
Jolene sits on Redchurch Street, one of the most creative streets in Shoreditch, a small corner bakery with a steady stream of regulars. The shelves fill throughout the day with sweet and savoury bakes, along with sandwiches prepared each morning in the kitchen. Everything tastes fresh and straightforward, with no fuss. You can order a coffee and sit outside on the benches under the large tree, which gives you a great view of the neighbourhood as it moves around you. The atmosphere is relaxed, the staff are quick and friendly, and the whole place works whether you want something to take away or a quiet moment before heading on. It’s so tiny, only four people are allowed in the shop at any one time!
Shoreditch House
From here, Shoreditch House is a 2-minute walk and an ideal choice if you are deciding where to stay in London, offering access to a gym, a pool, and quiet corners to unwind. The entrance is understated but inside it feels generous. The bacon sandwich at breakfast with views across the rooftops is a small December pleasure. Liverpool Street is ten minutes away and the walk back takes you past plenty of cafés and boutiques.
Where to Shop in London
Spitalfields Market sits five minutes from Shoreditch House and is perfect for browsing. Anthropologie, Urban Outfitters and Diptyque are easy stop-offs if you want something quick. For something more curated, walk to Redchurch Street and explore Free People, Soeur, Reformation and Le Labo. This whole area is ideal if you want where to shop in London options that feel independent and interesting without being overwhelming. Diptyque always presents its stores in such a beautiful way at Christmas time, it’s worth popping in just to soak up the creativity and Christmas atmosphere. Diptyque’s Sapin candle is one of the most traditional scents you will find for Christmas. It brings the clear, resinous smell of a fresh tree into the room without feeling heavy or sweet. There is a crispness to it, along with a slight woody warmth, which gives the space a calm, wintery feel. The fragrance stays steady from the moment it’s lit, and it suits both small rooms and larger spaces. It’s a simple nod to the season, familiar and comforting, and ideal for anyone who prefers a more classic approach to Christmas rather than anything spiced, sickly or sugary.
Brick Lane and Beyond
Walk towards Brick Lane for vintage shops and record stores. You can easily spend an afternoon drifting in and out of each doorway without noticing the time.
Garmasutra
Garmasutra
A charming shop specialising in vintage Burberry in all shapes and sizes - a lovely smiley owner who will help and advise.
Le Labo, Redchurch Street
Le Labo on Redchurch Street is always worth a visit. The shop feels calm and orderly, with space to test fragrances without any pressure. Billi, who has collected Le Labo perfumes for years and joined the team recently, is friendly, knowledgeable and easy to speak to. She knows the range well and explains things with clarity.
She talked me through the city editions. These appear in August and stay online until the end of September. Outside those weeks, each scent is sold only in its home city, which makes a quick trip to Amsterdam, Paris or Berlin very tempting for anyone who follows the brand closely. Once you own a city edition in a refillable bottle, refills are available anywhere, keeping things simple.
The perfumes are mixed while you wait, and a personalised label is printed on the spot. They stay fresh for at least three years, which gives you plenty of time to enjoy them. Le Labo uses rare ingredients throughout the range, and the difference is noticeable. It’s easy to see why other perfume houses are trying hard, and failing to keep up.
Alongside the fragrances, the shop stocks shower gels, body lotions and soaps, all presented in the brand’s familiar clean scents. The experience feels personal, informed and worth the stop whenever you are in the area.
Oh My Cream, Redchurch Street
Oh My Cream! Redchurch Street
Oh My Cream sits a few doors along Redchurch Street and is a helpful stop if you like well-edited skincare. The shop focuses on brands with a clear point of view and avoids anything trend-driven. The team are friendly and informed without steering you towards things you don’t need. Shelves are stocked with everyday staples, alongside more specialist products from names such as RMS, Tata Harper, Odacité and Augustinus Bader. The layout is simple, prices are clear and the whole place feels approachable. It works well if you want to replace something familiar or try a single new product without feeling overwhelmed by choice.
Toast, Redchurch Street
Toast, Redchurch Street
Toast on Redchurch Street is a fairly small space with wooden floors and a calm, unhurried feel. The edit is tight, with a mix of clothing, knitwear and accessories that follow the brand’s simple, well-made approach. Alongside their own collections, they stock pieces from other independent names, including Italian Il Bisonte leather, which adds a nice depth to the shop.
Notting Hill
Champagne at The Princess Royal
Fancy a change of scene? hop on the Central Line to Notting Hill. One of the best places to shop for jewellery in London is Pippa Small, known for beautifully sourced stones and the most thoughtful designs. I currently have my eye on a tiny gold hamsa hand charm that comes with their exclusive gold chording. Their Christmas decorations are simple brass moons, hearts and hamsa hands and make lovely gifts.
A few doors down sits a quieter Diptyque store with beautiful wooden floors. Walking towards High Street Kensington, stop at Ilapothecary. Their Feminine Happy Oil and SOS Balm always come with me when I travel and make lovely presents for those who like thoughtful, wellbeing-led products.
If your interest leans more towards interiors, Soho Home on Westbourne Grove is an easy place to spend an hour. You will not find the bespoke pieces from Shoreditch House, but many of the designs are inspired by the house’s interiors. It’s a helpful stop if you want ideas for home styling after your stay.
Where to Eat in London
Lunch in Shoreditch
If you want lunch nearby, Cecconi’s works for something quick. Opposite sits Jolene, a tiny bakery on one of the most creative streets in East London. There is always a queue and for good reason. Sweet and savoury bakes change daily and their sandwiches are made in the kitchen each morning. Take your food outside, sit under the tree and watch the world go by. It is a small moment of calm before you head on.
The Princess Royal
If you feel like a mid-afternoon snack, step into The Princess Royal. Order seasonal oysters and a negroni and settle into the atmosphere. Part of the Cubitt House group, it always feels lively without being hectic.
Bond Street and Covent Garden
A December trip to London is not complete without a wander along Bond Street. Even if you are not shopping, the decorations from the major brands are beautiful. Dior always stands out. Covent Garden will be busy, but still worth the detour.
If you are choosing where to eat in London in the West End, book a table at Le Garrick on Garrick Street in Covent Garden. It has been here for thirty-nine years and remains one of the most authentic French brasseries in the city. Owners Charles and Dominika Lepelletier run it with heart. Expect family recipes, Basque dishes, moules, escargots and slow-cooked classics such as cassoulet and boeuf bourguignon. The wooden floors are worn, the menus are dog-eared, and everything feels exactly as if you were in France. Book in advance. Those who know it return often.
Kebele, Great Portland Street
Kebele, which refers to Cybele, the ancient Anatolian mother goddess linked with fertility, nature and protection, is a brilliant Turkish restaurant on Great Portland Street and one of those places you walk into and immediately feel looked after. Sean, the Manager, runs the room with warmth and ease.
The food is fresh and clean, with the mixed grill being the dish to order. It comes with rice, salad and bulgur wheat and is perfectly seasoned. The wine list is far better than you expect, with everything from Whispering Angel to Château Latour, Malbecs and Barolo, and the cocktails are excellent.
Kebele is open seven days a week from 12pm until 1am, so it works for late lunches, early suppers or long, lively evenings. There is live jazz on Wednesdays and Thursdays, and cabaret on Friday and Saturday nights, downstairs, which adds to the atmosphere and allows the ground-floor restaurant to serve guests who prefer a quieter evening.
It’s ideal for solo diners, families and groups of friends. Puddings are homemade and children are given crayons and colouring sheets, which is always appreciated. Family run, friendly and consistently good, Kebele is a real find.
Supper in South London
If you want something different for supper and to try one of London’s oldest curry houses, head to Tower Tandoori, London’s oldest charcoal-fired tandoori. Suhel, the third generation of his family to run it, keeps everything rooted in integrity and tradition with a team of staff who have been here for years. Order the tandoori mixed grill, the onion and kale bhaji and the samosa chaat. It’s warm, generous, authentic and perfect after a day of walking and shopping. Worth a taxi or Uber ride from wherever you’re staying, or a number 42 bus if you’re staying in Shoreditch. I chose to walk back for an hour and soak up the London Christmas lights.
London in December
London in December suits early starts and wandering. Slow starts, bakery stops, familiar corners, festive windows and old favourites. Whether you’re trying to decide where to stay in London, where to shop in London or where to eat in London, the pleasure is in moving between each neighbourhood at your own pace and dipping into the places that make this city feel so easy to love.