Free or low cost things in London over Xmas?

[sunnyandshare]

We've had a last minute change of plans this year and have decided to go to London for six days over Christmas. We don't celebrate Xmas as such, but enjoy looking at markets/lights etc. We've been to London but aren't very familiar, so when someone says 'head for the East/West End' I don't particularly know what that means, I need specific street names etc.

I'm just looking for free/low cost activities for me, dd15 and dd12 to do. We aren't overly into shopping but if there are nice shops to look at that would definitely be on the cards. Both dc like animals so if there are any good urban farms that would be great.
Also will there be anywhere to eat on Xmas day? Just got an email from our hotel (it's near Paddington) that they won't even be serving breakfast.

There are loads of restaurants around Paddington that cater for Muslims do will be open. The west end is soho, Leicester Square, Piccadilly Circus. All good for a wander. China town might be open Christmas Day. There is lingo zoo, batteries zoo snd Hanwell zoo all easy to get to from Paddington. Hanwell is small and cheap but in a nice park snd you can see the 11 locks on the Hanwell flight. Also decent pubs. Southall for curry?

London, battersea…..!!!!!

The Christmas lights in regent street and new bond street are lovely usually

My favourite Xmas lights are Carnaby Street, Covent Garden and Seven Dials. The most attractive window displays are Selfridges and Fortnum and Masons (Piccadilly)

And old bond street too.

I like the Seven dials as well.

Lots of museums are free (you may need to book) as well as the major department stores such as Harrods, Liberties and Hamleys which are fun to look around.

If they like animals then the pelicans in St James' Park are good, and you can feed peanuts to the parakeets in Kensington Gardens - if you're patient then they'll perch on your hands and nibble sunflower seeds fro your palm.

Starting off at Selfridges and then cutting down Bond Street past the high end jewellery shops to Piccadilly is usually nice.

aroundtheworldwithher.com/parakeets-in-kensington-gardens-london/

Just wondering, will the tubes be working on Christmas Day?

Almost all shops and Museums, theatres, cinemas etc will be shut on Christmas Day and many on boxing day too, so I'd make plans for these 2 days that don't involve things needing to be open.

I've done one of the guided london www.walks.com/our-walks/walks-by-date/?d=2021-12-25walks before on xams day, it was lovely, really friendly and chatty with a mix of people.

As Christmas Day falls on a Saturday this year, there will also be a fair number of parkrun's going on, if you feel inclined. (You need to register for a free barcode before your first run)

Also, don't know if you realise or not but there is no public transport in london on Christmas Day

Richmond park to see the deer

Hampton heated outdoor pool? It’s even open on Christmas Day.

No, the tubes and the buses won't be running on Christmas Day, but healthy people of those ages will be fine to walk to parks and restaurants from somewhere central like Paddington. It'll be about a twenty minute walk to either Regents Park or Kensington Gardens.

You can see the giraffes from the outskirts of London Zoo by the way.

Get Boris bikes in Hyde Park - (various spots can pick up in park.) actually think it's free if return within 30 mins but even if don't it's not expensive if keep for an hour. Cycle round park , up to Marble Arch etc and can also cycle over to Kensington Gardens/palace - mostly only in park and v little on road.

Covent Garden for street theatre

Chinatown for food

Walk along the south bank on the Thames. You could walk from opposite Parliament all the way or from from national theatre down past globe theatre and down to tate modern. Great views of river and south bank can be lively (on google maps check out back streets by Southwark where clink and golden hind is.).

If you like art - pop in to see some at tate modern. Building is amazing too. (Pretty sure free but you do have to book these days I think)

Can walk over millennium bridge to see St Paul's .

On day it's open go to borough market for amazing street foot and drinks and any other food treats . And just a wander round the wonderful market. the food stalls amazing.

Boris bikes are a great idea esp over Xmas as it will be much more quiet if you are not comfortable on the roads.

If you like farms there is mudchute farm in the isle of docks - near Canary Wharf. Canary Wharf mall is quite nice and decked out for Xmas and nice places to eat around there.

You can go to Greenwich park and see the deer and stand on the rose/meridian line and maybe catch a planetarium show if your kids are interested.

www.standard.co.uk/news/london/london-northern-lights-sadiq-khan-b966713.html

Thanks for all of these, I'm taking note.

You can get free tickets to skygarden - just google it which apparently has a spectacular view of London. I skipped this as was on day trip to Greenwich using Uber boats which are a cheap and fun way to get around.

Rookie we've been to Sky garden before, but I've heard the Barbican has something similar so will be checking that out. What are uber boats? That sounds interesting.

Uber boats : https://booking.thamesclippers.com/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIq57Kysmh9AIVRY9oCR3RBQqTEAAYASAAEgKQkPD_BwE

I really enjoyed walking round Greenwich including the market and The Maritime museum and Queens house are both free to get in. I didn't make it to the observatory but it would be quite exciting to stand on the Meridian line.

There's a zizzis with great river views so I used Tesco vouchers to eat there and the pizza was so big, I had the other half boxed up for my dinner, but that might be taking the frugality theme a bit too far .

Oh as well as bikes to get round you can also rent electric scooters, there may be an age limit on them though, so you'd need to check.

South bank has a nice Christmas market and there are some reasonably priced food stalls so if weather is not too bad, spending an evening there could be fun.

Take the water taxi down to the Tate Modern and then onto Greenwich. You will able to see the sights as you go past

Oh and this restaurant is so good and the owner was so lovely www.chamisse.com/. I don't know if they're open on Christmas Day or not, but he'd e happy to let you know.