What is a luxury serviced apartment?

A luxury serviced apartment is a fully furnished, hotel-grade private residence combining the space and privacy of a home with five-star hotel amenities, housekeeping, concierge service, and a fully equipped kitchen. Unlike hotel rooms, serviced apartments offer separate living areas, full kitchens, and private entrances.

Which areas of London do you operate in?

We operate 3 residences in London, all in Canary Wharf (E14). These are our own residences, owned and operated by Luxury Experience AI. We also have a curated list of luxury apartments across London, which you can book through our online concierge, and we always say whose apartment it is before you book.

How much does a luxury serviced apartment in London cost?

Nightly rates run from £275 to £580: 1-bedroom residences from £275 to £427 per night and 2-bedroom residence at £580 per night. Each booking adds a per-stay cleaning fee (£80–£120) and a 5% service fee. The total you see before paying is the total you pay.

How is Luxury Experience AI different from a luxury hotel?

We offer fully private residences with no shared lobbies and no other guests behind your door. You receive a complete home, separate living space, full kitchen, private bedrooms, plus a concierge desk and a 24/7 AI concierge. In the residences we own and operate, the team you contact is the team that holds the key, and across our curated list of luxury apartments in London we always tell you whose apartment it is before you book.

How does the AI concierge work?

Describe your ideal stay in natural language, no forms, no menus. The AI knows our live portfolio, recommends the right residence for your party and preferences, and takes you straight to booking. It is available 24 hours a day; our human concierge desk operates 09:00–22:00 for complex or sensitive requests.

How do I book, and how do I pay?

Book directly on each residence page: choose your dates and party size, and pay securely by card at the moment of booking. Your reservation is confirmed instantly, with a confirmation email on its way before you close the tab. If plans change, cancellations arranged with our team are refunded in full to your original card.

What is the minimum stay?

Minimum stays vary by residence, from 1 to 5 nights: The John Cabot takes 1 night, The William Jessop takes 1 night and The Mellish Residence takes 5 nights. Extended stays are welcome, up to 180 nights in selected residences, which suits relocations and project-based corporate housing.

Are the apartments pet-friendly?

Yes, The Mellish Residence welcomes pets by prior arrangement, at £50 per night. Our other residences are not pet-friendly, so tell the concierge when you book and it will place you correctly.

What is the Luxury Experience AI membership?

Membership is by application, for individuals and companies who stay regularly. Private members receive priority access to residences before public release, preferential nightly rates, and a concierge that retains preferences between stays. Applications are reviewed personally, typically within two business days.

Can you handle corporate housing and company stays?

Yes. Corporate membership provides a standing arrangement across the portfolio: consistent residences for relocations and rotating leadership, residences as private venues for offsites and client entertainment, and consolidated reporting of stays and spend for your finance team.

Guides

The London Sporting Calendar: December 2026

By Luis Aparicio, Founder · 3 October 2026 · 9 min read

Ask our Luxury Concierge

The London Sporting Calendar: December 2026

December in London delivers the most concentrated sporting schedule of the British winter. Floodlit Premier League derbies, decisive European football nights, and the raucous tradition of the World Darts Championship at Alexandra Palace sit alongside premier National Hunt racing at Kempton Park and international show jumping at ExCeL London.

The rhythm of the month differs from autumn. Daylight is short, temperatures drop towards freezing, and the sporting action shifts towards atmospheric indoor halls and evening kick-offs under stadium floodlights. For visitors travelling to the capital, December combines elite live competition with London's festive season.

Checked 1 October 2026. Match schedules and kick-off times are subject to change for live television broadcasting; verify specific details directly with the Premier League, UEFA, Alexandra Palace, and relevant venue ticket offices before confirming travel arrangements.

What this guide covers

Premier League: London derbies and the festive schedule
European football: UEFA Champions League and Europa League nights
World Darts Championship: The Alexandra Palace spectacle
Festive equestrian and jump racing: ExCeL and Kempton Park
Club rugby: European Champions Cup matchdays
Worth the journey: Abu Dhabi Grand Prix finale
Choosing between December sporting events
Where to stay in London for each event
Questions we are asked most
Planning your December sporting trip

Premier League: London derbies and the festive schedule

Premier League football in December 2026 brings relentless fixture congestion, marquee derbies, and the historic Boxing Day programme across the capital's top grounds. With multiple London clubs competing in the division, visitors can attend several high-calibre matches in a single week without leaving the capital.

On Wednesday 2 December 2026, Chelsea host South London neighbours Crystal Palace at Stamford Bridge (8:00pm kick-off), while Brentford welcome Arsenal to the Gtech Community Stadium (8:00pm kick-off).

Saturday 5 December brings the North London derby between Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium (provisional 3:00pm kick-off), one of the fiercest rivalries in world football. Chelsea also host Liverpool at Stamford Bridge on the same afternoon, creating a rare Saturday where two heavyweight clashes take place in the capital simultaneously.

On Saturday 12 December, Arsenal play Bournemouth at Emirates Stadium. A week later, on Saturday 19 December, Emirates Stadium hosts another landmark fixture when Arsenal face Manchester United (provisional 3:00pm kick-off), while Chelsea meet Aston Villa at Stamford Bridge and Brentford take on Newcastle United.

Boxing Day, Saturday 26 December 2026, features three top-flight fixtures across London:

Crystal Palace v Arsenal at Selhurst Park (provisional 3:00pm kick-off)
Fulham v Brighton & Hove Albion at Craven Cottage (provisional 3:00pm kick-off)
Tottenham Hotspur v Bournemouth at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium (provisional 3:00pm kick-off)

The month concludes on Wednesday 30 December, when Fulham host Arsenal in a west London derby at Craven Cottage (8:00pm kick-off) and Crystal Palace play Bournemouth at Selhurst Park.

All Premier League match dates and kick-off times are provisional until television broadcast selections are confirmed by Premier League and domestic rights holders Sky Sports and TNT Sports. For standard tickets, visit the host clubs' box offices directly, as we do not sell general admission tickets. For private boxes or lounge packages across the capital, ask our AI concierge to check availability: we work only with hospitality providers that have agreements in place with the clubs and promoters, and all inclusions, pricing, and supplier details are confirmed in writing before you commit.

European football: UEFA Champions League and Europa League nights

Midweek European football under the floodlights brings elite continental competition to London in early December for Matchday 6 of the 36-team league phase.

The UEFA Champions League Matchday 6 takes place on Tuesday 8 December and Wednesday 9 December 2026 (8:00pm GMT kick-offs). As the final European round of the calendar year, Matchday 6 proves decisive in the battle for top-eight automatic knockout qualification, with Arsenal competing under the lights at Emirates Stadium. Match dates and qualification standings are managed by UEFA.

On Thursday 10 December 2026, the UEFA Europa League stages Matchday 6, alongside UEFA Conference League Matchday 5. The Conference League concludes its league phase on Thursday 17 December 2026. For visitors planning an extended winter stay, European fixtures pair naturally with weekend domestic derbies. To review the wider seasonal buildup, explore our earlier guide to the London sporting calendar: August to December 2026.

World Darts Championship: The Alexandra Palace spectacle

The Paddy Power World Darts Championship runs from Friday 11 December 2026 to Sunday 3 January 2027 at Alexandra Palace in North London, providing the festive season's most theatrical sporting gathering.

For the first time since arriving at Alexandra Palace in 2007, the championship moves into the venue's Great Hall. This historic relocation expands session capacity to more than 5,000 spectators, releasing 180,000 tickets across the tournament.

Play is split into two daily sessions across the opening rounds:

Afternoon sessions: Doors open at 11:30am with matches beginning at 12:30pm.
Evening sessions: Doors open at 6:00pm with matches beginning at 7:00pm.

The tournament pauses between 24 and 26 December, resuming on 27 December. General admission tickets are allocated via ballot by Alexandra Palace and the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC), with fan resales handled exclusively via See Tickets. We do not sell general admission tickets. If you want VIP hospitality tables with festive dining and table service on the arena floor, request VIP hospitality arrangements through our concierge.

Festive equestrian and jump racing: ExCeL and Kempton Park

December hosts two premier British equestrian events: the London International Horse Show at ExCeL London and the Ladbrokes Christmas Festival at Kempton Park.

London International Horse Show (17–21 December 2026)

Staged at ExCeL London in the Royal Docks, the five-day London International Horse Show features three official FEI World Cup qualifiers in show jumping, dressage, and driving. Alongside championship competition, each performance features the Shetland Pony Grand National, Kennel Club dog agility, and the Christmas finale. Afternoon sessions start at 12:30pm and evening performances at 6:30pm. Full programmes are published by the London International Horse Show.

Ladbrokes Christmas Festival at Kempton Park (26–27 December 2026)

On Boxing Day, Kempton Park Racecourse hosts the Grade 1 King George VI Chase. Staged over three miles and 18 fences, this steeplechase is National Hunt racing's definitive mid-winter showpiece. Gates open at 10:00am on Saturday 26 December, with the feature race scheduled for 2:30pm. Sunday 27 December features the Grade 2 Desert Orchid Chase. South Western Railway runs direct trains from London Waterloo to Kempton Park station in 40 minutes, with the platform opening directly into the racecourse. Details are confirmed through The Jockey Club.

Club rugby: European Champions Cup matchdays

December opens the pool stages of the Investec Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup, pitting English clubs against leading French, Irish, and Scottish sides.

Rounds 1 and 2 take place across the opening two weekends:

Round 1: Friday 4 to Sunday 6 December 2026
Round 2: Friday 11 to Sunday 13 December 2026

London clubs Harlequins and Saracens stage European home ties at Twickenham Stoop and StoneX Stadium. In late December (typically between 27 and 30 December), Harlequins host their annual "Big Game" at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham. Drawing over 75,000 spectators, the Big Game combines Gallagher Premiership rugby with major festive stadium entertainment.

Worth the journey: Abu Dhabi Grand Prix finale

The global motorsport calendar concludes in early December at the Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (4–6 December 2026) at Yas Marina Circuit.

Staged under twilight floodlights, the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix offers guaranteed winter warmth, marina yacht hospitality, and paddock entertainment.

Luxury Experience AI arranges private jet charter as an agent, with flights operated by third-party licensed air carriers. Private charter flights from London Farnborough or London Luton to Abu Dhabi Al Bateen Executive Airport take roughly seven hours aboard heavy or ultra-long-range jets. Indicative charter prices start from £85,000 to £120,000 each way, subject to aircraft availability, exact routing, and market conditions at the time of quotation. If you wish to travel to the Gulf for the race, ask our AI concierge to coordinate private jet charter arrangements.

Choosing between December sporting events

With major sporting fixtures overlapping throughout December, selecting the right event depends on your group's tastes and travel schedule.

Event	Confirmed Dates	Venue	Atmosphere	Best Suited For
Tottenham v Arsenal	Sat 5 Dec 2026	Tottenham Hotspur Stadium	High-intensity local derby	Passionate football supporters
Champions League MD6	8–9 Dec 2026	Emirates Stadium / Stamford Bridge	European floodlit drama	Corporate hosting and football travellers
World Darts Championship	11 Dec 2026 to 3 Jan 2027	Alexandra Palace (Great Hall)	Celebratory, high-energy party	Friend groups and festive gatherings
London International Horse Show	17–21 Dec 2026	ExCeL London	Refined festive equestrian gala	Families and equestrian enthusiasts
King George VI Chase	Sat 26 Dec 2026	Kempton Park Racecourse	Traditional Boxing Day racing	Racing enthusiasts and day trippers
Harlequins Big Game	Late Dec 2026 (provisional)	Allianz Stadium, Twickenham	Festive stadium rugby spectacle	Families and rugby union fans

If your trip centres on intense competitive drama, Tottenham v Arsenal on 5 December or Arsenal v Manchester United on 19 December stand out. For vibrant group entertainment, the darts at Alexandra Palace has no equal. Families will appreciate the warmth, comfort, and festive staging of the London International Horse Show.

Where to stay in London for each event

Selecting where to base yourself in London depends on your sporting venues. The capital's rail network allows quick transit, but staying near your key hub eliminates winter travel friction.

We have a curated list of luxury apartments across London, which you can book through our online concierge.

For fixtures at ExCeL London or quick journeys into Central London, our own residences in Canary Wharf provide generous living spaces and dedicated kitchens:

The John Cabot: One-bedroom luxury apartment in Canary Wharf, sleeps 4, from £427 a night.
The William Jessop: Two-bedroom luxury apartment in Canary Wharf, sleeps 7, from £580 a night.
The Mellish Residence: One-bedroom luxury apartment in Canary Wharf, sleeps 5, from £275 a night.

The Elizabeth line connects Canary Wharf to ExCeL London (Custom House station) in eight minutes, while reaching Tottenham Court Road in twelve minutes.

For fixtures at Stamford Bridge, Craven Cottage, or Twickenham, base yourself in West London. A partner apartment in South Kensington can be arranged from our curated list, by enquiry; our own residence there is planned and not yet open. If you wish to combine sports with Christmas shopping and fine dining, partner residences in Mayfair place you near Bond Street and Michelin-starred dining.

Questions we are asked most

Can Premier League fixtures in December move at short notice? Yes. All December fixture dates and kick-off times are provisional until television broadcast selections are confirmed by Sky Sports and TNT Sports. Matches can shift between Friday evening, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. European competition commitments can also alter weekend scheduling.

How do I get VIP hospitality for the World Darts Championship at Alexandra Palace? VIP hospitality at Alexandra Palace includes floor table seating, fast-track entrance, pre-session dining, and inclusive drinks packages. We source VIP hospitality through providers that hold commercial agreements with tournament organisers. Package inclusions and prices are confirmed in writing before you commit.

What is the best way to travel to Kempton Park for the King George VI Chase on Boxing Day? Taking South Western Railway from London Waterloo directly to Kempton Park station is the fastest route, avoiding holiday road traffic. The journey takes approximately 40 minutes, and the station platforms open straight onto the racecourse grounds.

How do I travel between Central London and ExCeL London for the Horse Show? The Elizabeth line provides direct, high-frequency transit to ExCeL London via Custom House station. Journey times are approximately 12 minutes from Tottenham Court Road, 15 minutes from Paddington, and under 10 minutes from Canary Wharf.

Can Luxury Experience AI arrange private jet charter for sporting events outside the UK? Yes. Luxury Experience AI acts as an agent arranging private aircraft charter to international destinations including Abu Dhabi and continental Europe. Flights are operated by third-party licensed air carriers holding valid Air Operator Certificates.

Planning your December sporting trip

December in London offers an extraordinary blend of competitive drama, historic tradition, and festive celebration. Because high-profile matches and championship sessions sell out well in advance, early planning ensures access to premier hospitality lounges and luxury residences.

Browse our catalogue of curated residences to choose your base, explore our guide to VIP sport experiences in London, or consult our online concierge to curate your December sporting itinerary.