Things to do in London at Christmas 2012
Things to do at Christmas in London 2012
Christmas in London is really wonderful. Stunning christmas lights on many of the busiest streets, festive events, christmas markets with treats, gifts and delicious seasonal food - and of course lots of places to hang out with friends and family to soak up the atmosphere. This site covers all the best things to do during Christmas in London 2012.
We have organised the site into (hopefully) helpful sections, with the most popular pages including christmas markets, christmas hotels and things to do with kids at xmas. If you are looking for something a little different to do over the festive season, take a look at the cryptically titled unusual. It's all about what to do at Christmas in London (mainly November and December).
The Heart of Christmas
Trafalgar Square is generally considered not just to be the heart of London, but the focus of the whole of London at Christmas - every year a tree is gifted by Norway to the UK.
Trafalgar Square has also become a huge focus for New Year's Eve where thousands of people celebrate at midnight. Last year was crazy, and
we imagine 2012 will be exactly the same.
In recent years the area has become more pedestrianised so it's much better to walk around, and if you do find yourself there during the day, we recommend visiting the wonderful National Portrait Gallery on the North side.
Key Dates for Christmas 2012
Christmas Eve, December 24th, 2012 is on a Monday
Christmas Day, December 25th, 2012 is on a Tuesday
Boxing Day, December 26th, 2012 is on a Wednesday
New Year's Eve, December 31st, 2012 is on a Monday
New Year's Day, January 1st, 2012 is on a Tuesday
Christmas Insights
Electricity was first used to light christmas trees in 1895, but candles had been used since the middle of the 17th century. In the UK christmas tree lights are are often known as fairy lights and generally don't work when you first put them up.
Sir Henry Cole commissioned the first commercial christmas card in the mid 19th Century. The card was illustrated by John Callcott Horsley and showed a family drinking wine. He sold out of his first 2000 print run.
On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me... If you received all of the gifts in the song The Twelve Days of Christmas, you would receive 364 gifts. It would seem quite a challenge to deliver 12 swans a swimming.
London and Christmas go hand in hand. The beauty of the Christmas lights, great shopping for those amazing gifts for kids and the fun of walking around the world's greatest city soaking up the festive atmosphere and outdoor Christmas lights. By the way, if you're from America, I think you'll be bemused by all this use of the word Christmas - I think it's now commonly termed the holiday season in the US - so 'Happy Holidays in London'.
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