Every four years, the Winter Olympics comes around to unite the world in looking up “how does curling work” and cheering on their nations. This year is one such year, and the XXV Winter Olympic Games will take place in Milano Cortina d’Ampezzo, and across Italy’s northeastern region. The world has prepared, and there are even a pair of adorable mustelid mascots (above) ready to welcome athletes to the Games. But if you’re going to be in London, rather than Italy, how can you get involved in the Olympic fun?
While watching the televised Games at home is always an option, London is full of ways to take it a step further. From watch parties to sampling the flavors of the host nation to trying winter sports for yourself, here are some of the ways to celebrate the 2026 Winter Olympics in London:
Attend an Olympic Watch Party
One of the nice things about the 2026 Olympics if you’re a Londoner is that, given that the Games are in Italy, there won’t be too significant a time difference between you and the athletes competing at any given event. You know what that means: all the fun of watch parties, without having to attend at 3am!
Several venues in London will be hosting events to watch, with The Albany in Fitzrovia and The Goose in Fulham holding televised watches throughout the duration of the Games. More locations will be doing pop-up watches, so keep your eyes open!
Try a Taste of Lombardy
While you probably don’t want to eat like an Olympian (their intense training regimes can lead to very specialized diets that most people wouldn’t find very appetizing), you might want to eat like an Olympics spectator. The Lombardy region of Italy is home to scrumptious traditional cuisine, and London has plenty of restaurants where you can get a plate of it yourself.
Upscale Northern Italian restaurants like Cafe Murano and Cecconi’s serve up delicious food that echoes what you might eat in Lombardy. In particular, Giannino’s Mayfair serves up a taste of Milan, as they have a branch of the restaurant in Milan itself! If you’re not up for a full meal, see if any shops are still stocking panettone—the famous Italian Christmas cake originated in the Lombardy region.
Shop Like an Olympian
Lombardy is known for more than just good food; Milan, the region’s largest city, is also a global capital for fashion. Luckily, so is London. Milan is home to some of the world’s most famous fashion houses, including Prada, Versace, Armani, Missoni and more. You can check out these brands in London’s luxury shopping areas, like the legendary Bond Street, or at super-sized ultra luxurious department store Harrods. While the high prices may mean that you’ll refrain from making a purchase, you can still have fun trying things on!
While you’re in the Bond Street area, you can also try another kind of Olympian-inspired shopping spree, by looking for quality winter wear. Lilywhites, a five-story sporting goods store founded in the nineteenth century, is located in Piccadilly Circus, and you can grab everything from ski gear to winter-ready sportswear.
Go for Gold at Your Own Favorite Winter Sports
Never mind watching winter sports; what if you want to try participating in some of them for yourself Well, as it happens, there are spots in London where you can do just that. The Curling Club not only has a London branch, they’re an official 2026 Team GB partner, and more than ready to introduce Londoners to the sport. On the other hand, if you’re looking for a taste of winter sport without the need to compete, London has many ice rinks where you can rent some skates and try your hand at figure skating, Olympian-style, during the course of the Games.
However you choose to enjoy the Games, here’s to the spirit of international friendship that they embody. Good luck to all the athletes, and let the Games begin!
Ellery Weil
Dr. Ellery Weil is a writer and historian based in London. She was born in Washington, DC, raised in Maryland, and attended undergrad in Ann Arbor, Michigan, before moving to the UK to attend grad school at University College London, where she earned her PhD in History. She lives in London with her husband, where you can find her writing, reading, petting dogs in Regent's Park, and exploring the city's antique markets.
