Things to do around London/Hampshire/The South with 4yo DS

[ChampagneShowers]

Hi,
We're making a long trip down from Scotland to take DS to Peppa Pig World at the start of December. Am planning on taking him to the Winter Wonderland at Hyde Park, maybe Hamleys too. Other than that, is there anything super Christmassey we can do please? I think we will have a full spare day with which to do something, happy to travel a little, as we are coming all this way, it won't make much difference!

[Donthackmenow]

Winchester ice skating and Christmas market.
Watercress Christmas train in Alresford.
Christmas experience at Marwell zoo (or just zoo without Christmas experience).
Snowman ballet in london

[StillWearingOddSocks]

If it was me I would do a chilled London tour of all the Christmas departments - & if you have the budget , picking a Christmas decoration from each one. And with cups of tea/ mince pies too of course!

I would do: liberty, selfridges, Harrods, peter jones ...if you like the idea we can come up with some others too.

[ChampagneShowers]

Thank you, both.

Winchester is a fabulous idea, think that's a definite!
Can do the Santa train up here so won't spend a few hours out of our trip on that, but great suggestion, thank you.

I would love a leisurely mooch around the shops, looking at the window displays for sure, will definitely do a few, though I don't think at four years old DS will last long, even if bribed with a new bauble or gift at each. But yes, please do suggest some stores, and I will look into them.

Any other ideas? May have one more day to fill.

Thank you.

[stridesy]

Hampton Court is pretty christmas time.it has an ice rink and the palace lights up.

Traditionally as kids we used to go to hard rock, harod, hamlets, self ridges, liberty and look at the window displays and lights although not as great as they used to be.

[Littlemousewithcloggson]

Longleat? Great fun any time and beautiful at christmas
www.longleat.co.uk/christmas

[MsAspreyDiamonds]

Som
erset house on the strand for ice skating then cross waterloo bridge to go to the southbank xmas market.
Check The British film institute for a xmassy film/cartoon.

You can walk along the south bank to the London eye. Tickets can be pre booked ahead & those kellogs tokens can be used for free adult entry with a full paying child.
After this,
Walk towards westminster bridge & catch a bus from the parliament

[MsAspreyDiamonds]

Somerset house on the strand for ice skating then cross waterloo bridge to go to the southbank xmas market.
Check out the British film institute for a xmassy film/cartoon.

You can walk along the south bank to the London eye. Tickets can be pre booked ahead & those kellogs tokens can be used for free adult entry with a full paying child.

After this, Walk towards westminster bridge & catch a bus from the parliament

[MsAspreyDiamonds]

Bloomin phone!

Outside St. Thomas' hospital & catch a bus from Oxford st to see all the lights. You will see all the major sights from the top deck rather than paying out for an expensive tour bus which goes on the same route!

Or you could go to Kew Gardens which will have an illuminated tree walk & xmas experience.

[ChampagneShowers]

The Kew Gardens illuminated tree walk and Xmas experience sound right up our street, thanks for that top idea!
Will try and do one ice skating session, the window displays and maybe a small gift or bauble from the biggies (Selfridges, Liberty, Harrods, Hamleys), do Hyde Park winter wonderland.
Maybe the Natural History museum too.
The bus ride is also a superb idea, thank you so much, will do that. DS will love it for the bus ride alone, let alone the sights!
I love the idea of a film at the BFI but DS currently doesn't do cinema - we have taken him a few times and he won't sit through a full film outside of the house. Maybe next year!
And Winchester Xmas market is on the schedule.

Feeling soooooooooo freaking excited now, thanks for the great ideas!
Anything else? Won't get down to London again for a while.