10 Christmas Movie Locations You Can Actually Visit

Christmas Movie Locations can make any old street look magical. Some of the best scenes were shot in real places, and you can walk right up to them. If you love Home Alone 2, Elf or Love Actually, a few of these spots belong on your travel list. Here are 10 real filming locations where you can get a bit of that movie feeling.

1. The Plaza Hotel, New York – Home Alone 2: Lost in New York

The Plaza Hotel is where Kevin McCallister ends up after he gets lost from his family. Cue a lot of chaos and a lot of laughs. It sits right by Central Park and looks grand from the outside. You can admire the building from the street, and if you’re staying there, you get the full fancy experience inside.

Highlights:

• Spot the hotel from Home Alone 2.
• Walk around the Fifth Avenue shopping area.
• Enjoy festive decorations during the Christmas season.

Pro tip: Go in December. The whole area feels properly festive then.

2. Rockefeller Center, New York – Elf and Home Alone 2

Rockefeller Center is basically New York’s Christmas headquarters. The giant tree and ice rink show up in Elf and Home Alone 2, adding to Buddy’s wide-eyed wonder as he wanders the city. Even if you skip the movie angle, it’s a great stop for decorations, shopping and skating.

Highlights:

• See the famous Christmas tree.
• Try the ice rink.
• Spot places from popular Christmas films.

Pro tip: Check the tree lighting dates and skating times first. It gets really crowded.

3. St Luke’s Mews, London – Love Actually

St Luke’s Mews is one of the most famous Christmas movie locations for Love Actually fans. It’s a pretty residential street in Notting Hill, where Mark turns up at Juliet’s door and tells her how he feels with those cue cards. The colourful houses and cobbled bits make it a nice spot for photos. But people live here, so be respectful.

Highlights:

• Visit the street from the cue-card scene.
• Photograph the colourful houses and cobbled lane.
• Wander around Notting Hill.

Pro tip: Go when it’s quiet, and don’t block doorways or bother residents.

4. Macy’s Herald Square, New York – Elf

Macy’s Herald Square is a must for Elf fans. The store was used for the inside scenes of the fictional Gimbels. At Christmas, Macy’s goes all out with window displays, decorations and holiday shoppers everywhere. Even without the movie link, it’s a classic New York festive outing.

Highlights:

• Visit the store linked to Elf.
• See the famous Christmas window displays.
• Do some holiday shopping at Herald Square.

Pro tip: Go in the evening. The lit-up displays look best then.

5. A Christmas Story House, Cleveland – A Christmas Story

Fans of A Christmas Story can visit the house used as Ralphie’s family home. It’s at 3159 West 11th Street in Cleveland, Ohio, and it’s a big hit with movie lovers. The house has been restored to look like it did in the film, so you’ll notice lots of little details from Ralphie’s childhood adventures.

Highlights:

• Visit Ralphie’s family house.
• Look out for details from the film.
• Enjoy a fun stop for classic Christmas movie fans.

Pro tip: Check opening hours and tour times before you travel, especially in the busy holiday season.

6. Grosvenor Chapel, London – Love Actually

Grosvenor Chapel in Mayfair appears in the wedding scene with Juliet and Peter. It’s a lovely old building and worth a look if you’re following the film’s London trail. It’s also a real place of worship, so check access before you go.

Highlights:

• See the chapel from Love Actually.
• Admire the traditional architecture.
• Explore the streets around Mayfair.

Pro tip: Pair it with a walk around Mayfair. There’s plenty more of central London to see.

7. 55 Central Park West, New York – Elf

The building at 55 Central Park West was used for the outside shots of Walter Hobbs’s apartment building in Elf. It has a distinctive look, so it’s easy to recognise if you’re hunting for real filming spots. People live there, so you can’t go inside. Just enjoy it from the public sidewalk.

Highlights:

• See the exterior from Elf.
• Admire the building’s distinctive look.
• Explore nearby Central Park.

Pro tip: Combine it with a walk through Central Park to feel more of that New York Christmas movie setting.

8. Somerset House, London – Love Actually

Somerset House has a historic courtyard, grand architecture and a seasonal ice rink. The rink setting is linked to the London scenes in Love Actually, so it’s a nice stop for fans. Even when the rink isn’t open, the building is worth a visit for its exhibitions and looks.

Highlights:

• Explore the historic courtyard.
• Go ice skating when it’s open.
• Take photos of the architecture.

Pro tip: Check the season dates first. The ice rink only runs for part of the year.

9. The White Horse, Shere, Surrey – The Holiday

The White Horse is a traditional pub in the Surrey village of Shere, linked to the romantic Christmas film The Holiday. The cottages, narrow lanes and countryside feel make it a lovely trip for fans. One thing to know: Rosehill Cottage, the main cottage in the film, was a set built just for filming. So there’s no cottage to tour. Shere itself is real, and very charming.

Highlights:

• Visit the traditional pub linked to the film.
• Stroll through Shere’s pretty village streets.
• Enjoy the quiet Surrey countryside.

Pro tip: Explore on foot, and check the pub’s opening hours before you go.

10. Selfridges, London – Love Actually

Selfridges on Oxford Street is another London stop linked to Love Actually. The festive shopping scenes capture that last-minute gift-buying rush really well. It’s still a shopping spot today, and at Christmas the windows and decorations pull in crowds.

Highlights:

• Visit the store linked to Love Actually.
• Browse the festive displays and gift ranges.
• Take in Oxford Street’s Christmas shopping scene.

Pro tip: Give yourself extra time. Oxford Street gets very busy in December.

Plan a Christmas Movie-Inspired Trip

These Christmas movie filming locations are a fun way to see places beyond the screen. You get New York’s big landmarks, London’s charming streets and the Surrey countryside, and each one feels different. Before you go, double-check opening hours, seasonal attractions and access limits. Some places are private homes or working businesses, so you may not get in.

With Travel Junky, you can look at holiday travel options and build an itinerary around your favourite spots. If New York is on your list, think about an international tour package that leaves time for sightseeing, festive shopping and movie-location visits. Sometimes the best part of a Christmas film is finding out the magic is real.