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London - Last minute trip before Christmas. Would you?

80 replies

Workyticket · 04/12/2021 22:01

Madness or loads of fun?

Would be me, DH and ds who is 9. We've been before but not for years.

Wondering where we could stay / what we could get up to last minute. Maybe the 20th and 21st?

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maofteens · 04/12/2021 22:07

No suggestions in where to stay but I'd look at the lights in Regent and Oxford St, take in a show and maybe skating at Somerset House or Natural History Museum. Afternoon tea?

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Workyticket · 04/12/2021 22:29

Thank you - definite yes to the lights and ice skating. DS isn't a big show fan unless it was harry potter related or maybe the Lion King though.

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Clymene · 04/12/2021 22:33

I'd look into hotel prices before you get too excited. As people aren't going away, they're apparently £££ this year

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RainbowsAndSequins · 04/12/2021 22:37

Do it!

Get the 139 bus from Waterloo towards Golders green, get off by Bond St. Will oy cost you a single fare on your oyster card, and the route takes in a good amount of the lights.

Winter Wonderland is good fun if your kid likes funfairs, but is £££. Is only go off peak. Will be rammed otherwise. Not sure if schools have broken up by then.

Shop windows are looking great - Fortnum and Mason, Harrods, Cartier, Hamleys.

Lots of beautiful trees (e.g. at Leadenhall Market, by Charing Cross tube, Covent Garden one is stunning and huge. Bond Street area looking great too.)

Ice Skating - I'd recommend Somerset House and Natural History Museum – last year for the latter.

Southbank boasts an Xmas market but don't bother. It's just food. Trafalgar Squares one is a short strip if the usual baubles, candles and German sausages, wasn't rammed today (Saturday, peak time).

I think the lights are well worth a visit.

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RainbowsAndSequins · 04/12/2021 22:38

Has he seen the Lion King yet? Do it if not. It's right by where a great strip of lights start along the Strand.

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RainbowsAndSequins · 04/12/2021 22:39

And depending where you're coming from in the UK, you should be able to get something in zone six, reasonably-priced, and get in to central London easily.

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Workyticket · 04/12/2021 22:41

@Clymene

I'd look into hotel prices before you get too excited. As people aren't going away, they're apparently £££ this year

I've just checked. There are Premier Inns for £100per night which would be fine for us.
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longestlurkerever · 04/12/2021 22:41

My DD absolutely loved Harry potter and the cursed child and the studios.

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Workyticket · 04/12/2021 22:43

@RainbowsAndSequins

Do it!

Get the 139 bus from Waterloo towards Golders green, get off by Bond St. Will oy cost you a single fare on your oyster card, and the route takes in a good amount of the lights.

Winter Wonderland is good fun if your kid likes funfairs, but is £££. Is only go off peak. Will be rammed otherwise. Not sure if schools have broken up by then.

Shop windows are looking great - Fortnum and Mason, Harrods, Cartier, Hamleys.

Lots of beautiful trees (e.g. at Leadenhall Market, by Charing Cross tube, Covent Garden one is stunning and huge. Bond Street area looking great too.)

Ice Skating - I'd recommend Somerset House and Natural History Museum – last year for the latter.

Southbank boasts an Xmas market but don't bother. It's just food. Trafalgar Squares one is a short strip if the usual baubles, candles and German sausages, wasn't rammed today (Saturday, peak time).

I think the lights are well worth a visit.

Thank you! He's desperate to go to Hamleys. Not been since he was 6ish.
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Workyticket · 04/12/2021 22:43

@longestlurkerever

My DD absolutely loved Harry potter and the cursed child and the studios.

We've been to the studios this year. Is The Cursed Child a show?
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Workyticket · 04/12/2021 22:44

@RainbowsAndSequins

And depending where you're coming from in the UK, you should be able to get something in zone six, reasonably-priced, and get in to central London easily.

We'd be coming from Newcastle
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Workyticket · 04/12/2021 22:44

@RainbowsAndSequins

Has he seen the Lion King yet? Do it if not. It's right by where a great strip of lights start along the Strand.

No, none of us have! Will look now at availability
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RainbowsAndSequins · 04/12/2021 22:45

Mine love Hamleys too. Good toilets as well. Harrods is looking great too, worth going just to see it. All the big bears look fabulous.

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RainbowsAndSequins · 04/12/2021 22:46

Get an aisle seat in the stalls if you possibly can.

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Iflyaway · 04/12/2021 22:50

I loved the Lion King! Took my son when he was a kid cos he was always watching the video.

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Benjaminsniddlegrass · 04/12/2021 22:52

We're going down 17-20th (well fingers crossed no covid fuckery stops play) - we are going to the planetarium and then ice-skating at Queens House, Greenwich and then will head back into the city and do some Christmas lights, we always love Carnaby's streets lights.
We are going to see the Snowman ballet at the Peacock theatre and out for dinner at Sarastro. Then my DDs inaugural trip to HP studios on the way home. Can't wait.

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wonderstuff · 04/12/2021 22:53

We got a great deal on Hard Rock Hotel through Secret Escapes recently, definitely worth looking at them and at Lastminute.com for hotel deals, in before times there’s always surplus rooms in London, you can often find bargains in The City on the weekends, recently with so few tourists there’s bargains in west London too.

Beware that all the museums that you used to be able to just rock up to you now need to book slots for.

I love the lights in Oxford Street and Covent Garden. Kids love hanging out on South Bank and watching the skateboarders by the National Theatre.

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eightlivesdown · 04/12/2021 22:58

DS might enjoy visiting the Cutty Sark at Greenwich, then take the river taxi (Thames Clipper) to the Tower of London / Tower Bridge and visit them, or further, e.g. to the London Eye.

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Workyticket · 04/12/2021 23:06

Think the Lion King is out of budget for this trip so near Xmas.

Loving the other suggestions though - thought I'd be met with a barrage of 'too close to Christmas' comments

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CharityDingle · 04/12/2021 23:44

Oh go for it. London is magic! Smile

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Clymene · 04/12/2021 23:49

Premier Inn for £100? Do it!

It's so pretty. Just riding around on the bus is sparkly

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lollipoprainbow · 05/12/2021 00:02

Me and my dd 9 did a London trip on Monday as she had an inset day. We went to Buckingham palace as she wanted to see it, walked up the mall to Trafalgar Square and then got a bus to regent street , the lights were beautiful we went to Hamleys, cost me a fortune but hey !! Finished up in Leicester square then a bus back to London Victoria where we ran and caught our train with a minute to spare, she was one tired but happy little girl so it was well worth it!!

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PinkArt · 05/12/2021 02:40

Go for it but Hamleys the week before Christmas?! Will be seventh circle of hell busy. I've been around that time before and had to be evacuated via the fire exits as it was so overcrowded. Everything else sounds brill though.

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NameChange776543 · 05/12/2021 02:43

We went this week. Stayed in premier inn hub (smaller rooms) and used Tesco vouchers to get the megabus. £70 all in for 1 night plus the bus journeys

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NameChange776543 · 05/12/2021 02:48

£70 for both journeys and the room that should say

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