Christmas in London


THINGS TO DO AT CHRISTMAS IN LONDON				CHRISTMAS IN LONDON - LINKS

Christmas in London is wonderful. There's the chaos of Christmas shopping and the fun of Christmas parties - and the tranquility of Christmas Day and Boxing Day when you can walk (and drive) around without drowning in shoppers. But of course that soon ends when the New Year sales kick in!! CHRISTMAS ICE SKATING IN LONDON There are some great places to ice stake at Christmas in London. Prices are generally around £12 for adults and £8 for children, although they vary from rink to rink and peak times vs off peak. >> Hampton Court - just outside of London >> Hyde Park (Winter Wonderland) - Central London >> Kew Gardens - Botanical Gardens in West London >> Natural History Museum - Central/West London >> Somerset House - Central London >> Tower of London - Central/East London

CHRISTMAS MARKETS IN LONDON				CHRISTMAS LIGHTS IN LONDON

>> Bankside Winter Festival (Frost Fair) 12th - 21st December 2008. The winter market will be made up of 40-50 quality arts, crafts and food stalls, in celebration of the Frost Fairs that took place on a frozen Thames over Christmas hundreds of years ago. >> Country Living Christmas Fair 12 – 16th November 2008. You’ll find everything you need for the perfect Christmas, from the market with hand-crafted decorations to traditional toys, the latest fashion, limited-edition jewellery and a mouthwatering array of festive food and drink. This Christmas Fair is in Islington, North London. >> Natural History Museum Christmas Fair 25 November - 4 January 2008. 24 chalets selling everything from original clothing and jewellery to candles, ceramics and toys, the fair is the perfect place to find that special Christmas present. The Museum is in South Kensington, London SW7. >> Tower Bridge European Christmas Market 29th November - 22nd December 2008. The Christmas Market at Tower Bridge is based on the traditional Christmas markets of Northern Europe - but overlooked by one of London's greatest landmarks. >> Cologne Christmas Market in London 21st November - 23rd December 2008. A German style Christmas Market in London – more than 30 wooden chalets situated between Southbank Centre and London Eye. >> Greenwich Christmas Market 10th December - 24th December. Escape the high street and shopping centres and soak up the lively atmosphere of South East London whilst exploring the many stalls, all providing unique and interesting gift ideas. >> Spirit of Christmas Fair 5th - 9th November 2008. Based at Olympia (West London), the Spirit of Christmas Fair includes a Food Hall, Producer's Market, and a British Designer's Market. A great place to prepare for your Christmas in London. >> Christmas at Kew 13th December - 1st January 2008. Christmas at Kew is full of festive sparkle and activities for all the family, with family storytelling, the Plantomime, horse and carriage rides, as well as the chance to visit Father Christmas.				Christmas in London is a magical time and made more so by some of the best Christmas lights in the world. Most of them switch on in the middle of November and we recommend checking out Bond Street, Oxford Street, Carnaby Street and Covent Garden - and at the same time of course you can do your London Christmas shopping. And of course the Norwegian Christmas Tree arrives in Trafalgar Square in early December as an annual gift from the people of Norway. SANTAS GROTTO - CHRISTMAS IN LONDON Some of the biggest shopping stores have a Santa's Grotto to help make Christmas in London really special for children. Your kids can meet Santa Claus (aka Father Christmas) himself, let him know what they want for Christmas and get a small present to keep them happy in the meantime. >> Selfridges - Santas Christmas Grotto >> Harrods - Santa's Grotto in London's most famous store >> Hamleys - Santa roams the store at Christmas >> Westfield London - Santa's Wish Kingdom CHRISTMAS DAY LUNCH IN LONDON We seriously recommend abandoning the kitchen on Christmas Day and eating in one of London's great restaurants. You absolutely have to book for Christmas Day, and of course many restaurants are closed. Here are a few suggestions - all places offering a Christmas lunch - and dont forget if you get stuck that most hotels offer a festive turkey lunch because they have guests! >> Brasserie Chez Gerard - Christmas lunch from £50 per head. Many London locations >> Royal Garden Hotel, Kensington - Christmas lunch from £100 per head. West London. >> Brown's Hotel - Christmas lunch from £220...! Central London. >> Brasserie Roux - Christmas lunch from £90. Central London (located in the Sofitel St James)

MORE IDEAS FOR CHRISTMAS IN LONDON				MORE IDEAS FOR CHRISTMAS IN LONDON

>> Serpentine Swimming - join the morning swim in Hyde Park's Serpentine on Christmas Day - or just go along to wonder at the insanity of London at Christmas... >> Gordon Ramsay's Taste of Christmas - Gordon will play host at London’s ExCeL from 4th-7th December 2008 to 25,000 visitors all eager to explore, prepare and shop for the festive season. A unique Christmas market. >> The Great Christmas Pudding Race - Held on December 6th, teams will run a relay race in London's Covent Garden Market carrying a pudding on a tray whilst negotiating a number of obstacles along the way. >> Barbican Christmas Festival 2008 - a massive programme of christmas music including christmas carols, gospel choirs and orchestras ranging from Glenn Miller to the Royal Philharmonic. December 19th - January 4th 2008.				>> Spitalfields Winter Festival - a series of musical events in Spitalfields, London, through Christmas and the New Year. >> Time to Talk Turkey - No need to get flustered with the thought of hosting Christmas in London this year, as Brown’s Hotel is running master-classes on how to prepare, cook and serve the perfect turkey. >> Santas On The Run - Walk or run through Kensington Gardens for charity on November 29th 2008... dressed as Santa. They provide the costume! One of the many great things to do at Christmas in London. >> Crisis Christmas - need 6,500 volunteers to help their Christmas centres. Based in London, from 23 - 30 December, it supports over 2000 homeless and vulnerable people.

CHRISTMAS PARTY IN LONDON?				CHRISTMAS PANTO

Everyone loves a Christmas party. If you're looking for a big venue to hold your company party we have a few to suggest: >> Sparkle Christmas party at the Bishopgate Institute >> Roaring 20s party at Lords Cricket Ground >> Winter Garden Christmas party at City Garden				You have to love Christmas panto - it's more than a London tradition, it's a British tradition! Here are a few links... >> Cinderella - New Wimbledon Theatre >> The Snowman - Peacock Theatre >> Jack and the Beanstalk - Greenwich Theatre >> Hansel and Gretel - The Barbican Centre >> Treasure Island - Theatre Royal Haymarket

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