A major new study has revealed the world's top destinations for experiencing genuine Christmas cheer, with a British attraction magically apparating to the very summit of the list. The Warner Bros Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter has been declared a joint winner, sharing the prestigious title with New York's iconic Central Park.
Hogwarts Magic Beats Global Giants
Research conducted by travel experts at AttractionTickets.com assessed popular attractions worldwide to measure their festive impact. The findings, released in early December 2025, awarded both the London studio tour and Central Park an impressive Christmas joy score of 9.75 out of 10. This placed them ahead of globally renowned festive hotspots like Walt Disney World Resort and New York's bustling Times Square.
The studio tour's success is attributed to its enchanting 'Hogwarts in the Snow' seasonal transformation. During the winter period, visitors are offered a behind-the-scenes look at the Harry Potter film sets, which are meticulously decorated to reflect a magical Christmas within the wizarding world. This unique, immersive experience proved to be a potent recipe for festive happiness.
New York Dominates While UK Holds Its Own
The study highlighted New York City's overwhelming presence as a capital of Christmas spirit. The metropolis secured five entries in the top 15, including Bryant Park, The Metropolitan Museum of Art (The Met), Top of the Rock, and Times Square alongside Central Park. This collective performance earned New York the unofficial title of the world's Christmas joy capital.
However, the United Kingdom demonstrated strong festive offerings beyond its number one entry. Center Parcs at Longleat Forest in Wiltshire ranked a respectable fifth with a score of 9.45. Its sibling site, Center Parcs Sherwood Forest, also featured in seventh place, while Kew Gardens in London appeared further down the list. The only other UK destination to make the cut was Center Parcs Elveden Forest in Suffolk.
Expert Insights on Festive Cheer
Oliver Brendon, CEO of AttractionTickets.com, analysed the results. He noted that while New York's global appeal was a predictable factor, the data showed family-oriented holiday centres performing exceptionally well. "It's great to see how more traditionally family-orientated holidays, like Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Paris, are proving just as impactful when it comes to Christmas joy," he stated.
Brendon identified a clear pattern for success, explaining: "From the data, it's clear that the settings where people feel most festive are those that are internationally sought-after and have Christmas-specific events, alongside encouraging inclusive family-centred experiences."
The full ranking of the top 15 destinations for Christmas joy is as follows:
- Warner Bros Studio Tour London (UK) - 9.75
- Central Park (New York, USA) - 9.75
- Grand Place - Grote Markt (Brussels, Belgium) - 9.7
- Bryant Park (New York, USA) - 9.65
- Walt Disney World Resort (Florida, USA) - 9.55
- Center Parcs - Longleat Forest (Wiltshire, UK) - 9.45
- Tivoli Gardens (Copenhagen, Denmark) - 9.4
- Center Parcs - Sherwood Forest (Nottinghamshire, UK) - 9.3
- Disneyland Paris (France) - 9.25
- Center Parcs - Elveden Forest (Suffolk, UK) - 9.25
- The Met - Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York, USA) - 8.8
- Old Québec (Québec City, Canada) - 8.8
- Top of the Rock (New York, USA) - 8.7
- Eiffel Tower (Paris, France) - 8.65
- Wiener Christkindlmarkt (Vienna, Austria) - 8.65
The study serves as a valuable guide for those planning festive getaways, whether for a last-minute trip in 2025 or for the Christmas season in 2026, pointing travellers toward locations guaranteed to deliver maximum seasonal spirit.
