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Original poster

Can anyone help me plan a last minute trip to london tomorrow for me and DS (9)

57 replies

DingDongMerrilyOnline · 08/12/2021 07:51

My sister has tickets booked to go to London tomorrow with DN to see the panto at the palladium and spend the day shopping. Unfortunately DN has tested positive so rather than waste the train ticket and panto tickets she’s asked me if I want them!

I’ve been to London a fews times, DS has been once and we’ve been on the London eye and to the viewing platform at Tate modern. I’ve had a look where the palladium is, the show starts at 2.30 and will finish at 4.45. Our train gets in about 9ish and our train home is at 8.30 so quite a long day and I really don’t want to spend the day kind of wandering around in the cold with no plan.

My rough idea so far:
Arrive at Euston, head to Leicester Square for Lego shop, M&M world and probably a maccies breakfast 🤣.

Go to Covent Garden for the snow, not sure what else is there or the best time?

Have dinner before the panto

Have a mooch around Oxford street. Go to Liberty’s to get a Christmas bauble for my Nan, maybe go to hamleys.

And that’s literally it! That’s all I can think of. I wanted to go somewhere nice or cool with ds for a treat for dinner (lunch!) but not sure where. My other thought was a bus tour.

If anyone can help that would be brilliant, it’s really last minute but I just want us to have a nice day, we’d never normally be able to afford to do something like this so I’m
Excited!

OP posts:
Dixiechickonhols · 08/12/2021 11:23

We did a day in London and booked a city Christmas light tour on an open top bus. Was nice and good after a long day. We did 6pm tour then 8.30 train home from Euston.

trockodile · 08/12/2021 11:51

Does he like Harry Potter? Head over to Kings Cross in the morning after you get into Euston for the shop and photo op. Do the Lego store early too as with covid restrictions can be queues to get in.
Winter Wonderland not worth it imo-we had a wander round last week early afternoon-didn’t want to do rides etc and just had a drink and enjoyed the atmosphere-DS (16) liked the squirrels in Hyde Park best though! By the time we left after a couple of hours it was mobbed, lots of crying children and took us ages to find the exit!
Give yourself plenty of time and get to theatre early-covid restrictions mean long queues to get in.
Enjoy 😊

chesirecat99 · 08/12/2021 12:55

That's already a lot to do!

Most shops don't open until 10am in London. The Covent Garden snow starts at midday. I think most of the Christmas markets open at midday too.

It's not the most logical plan geographically but opening times make it difficult... I would suggest:

9am head to Leicester Square for breakfast
10am watch the Swiss Glockenspiel and visit M&M world and the Lego store when they open at 10am
11am the novelty automation museum in Holborn is great fun
www.novelty-automation.com/index.htm
or the Transport Museum in Covent Garden
12.30pm Covent Garden for lunch, the snow machine (check times of the snowfalls), Lego installation, street entertainers, a mooch around the market, Pollocks toy shop
2pm leave to go to the Palladium (but check what time you have to be there, some theatres have arrival times up to several hours before the performance for COVID checks...)
4.45pm Liberty followed by Hamleys
6pm Mooch along Oxford St to Selfridges Christmas market for the helter-skelter and street food. You need to book a free ticket:
www.selfridges.com/GB/en/features/events/selfridges-christmas-market-on-the-mews/
7.00pm get the 139 outside Selfridges (the only buses that are decorated) along Oxford St, Regent St to Trafalgar Square to enjoy the lights from up high and see the Christmas tree in Trafalgar Square, visit the (tiny) Christmas market, then back up to Leicester Square (more Christmas market stalls) and Chinatown to get some unusual snacks from the supermarkets.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

Christmas Holidays
itwasntaparty · 08/12/2021 13:26

You don't have that much time, I'd aim to be at the palladium for 130, for 230 show.

I'd do Lego (be prepared to queue and spend ££££), m&m world (also queuing), early lunch in Chinatown, walk up through Carnaby to the Palladium. The lights at Carnaby are fab, I haven't seen them this year but they're usually pretty installations even if it's not dark.

Sack off hamleys.

CrumpledCrumpet · 08/12/2021 13:46

@chesirecat99

That's already a lot to do!

Most shops don't open until 10am in London. The Covent Garden snow starts at midday. I think most of the Christmas markets open at midday too.

It's not the most logical plan geographically but opening times make it difficult... I would suggest:

9am head to Leicester Square for breakfast
10am watch the Swiss Glockenspiel and visit M&M world and the Lego store when they open at 10am
11am the novelty automation museum in Holborn is great fun
www.novelty-automation.com/index.htm
or the Transport Museum in Covent Garden
12.30pm Covent Garden for lunch, the snow machine (check times of the snowfalls), Lego installation, street entertainers, a mooch around the market, Pollocks toy shop
2pm leave to go to the Palladium (but check what time you have to be there, some theatres have arrival times up to several hours before the performance for COVID checks...)
4.45pm Liberty followed by Hamleys
6pm Mooch along Oxford St to Selfridges Christmas market for the helter-skelter and street food. You need to book a free ticket:
www.selfridges.com/GB/en/features/events/selfridges-christmas-market-on-the-mews/
7.00pm get the 139 outside Selfridges (the only buses that are decorated) along Oxford St, Regent St to Trafalgar Square to enjoy the lights from up high and see the Christmas tree in Trafalgar Square, visit the (tiny) Christmas market, then back up to Leicester Square (more Christmas market stalls) and Chinatown to get some unusual snacks from the supermarkets.

This is an awesome itinerary and I might steal some of it for a Christmas day out with my own DC!
Original poster
DingDongMerrilyOnline · 08/12/2021 13:56

Thank you so much everyone! Really helpful. Yeah I think I might be trying fit too much in one day. I’m just aware it’ll be freezing and possibly raining so just didn’t want spend the day trying thinking of where to go. Last time I came to London it was to visit a friend who lives there and we spent the day in the pubs so it was much easier to plan 🤣

Thanks again, brilliant ideas

OP posts:
Comefromaway · 08/12/2021 14:16

@DingDongMerrilyOnline

Thank you so much everyone! Really helpful. Yeah I think I might be trying fit too much in one day. I’m just aware it’ll be freezing and possibly raining so just didn’t want spend the day trying thinking of where to go. Last time I came to London it was to visit a friend who lives there and we spent the day in the pubs so it was much easier to plan 🤣

Thanks again, brilliant ideas

I'd seriously consider eating after the show not before as it's afterwards that it will be cold and dark and you will be glad to be inside.
chesirecat99 · 08/12/2021 14:36

I'd seriously consider eating after the show not before as it's afterwards that it will be cold and dark and you will be glad to be inside.

True but the shops are open in the evenings, whereas they don't open until 10am and most Christmassy things dont open until midday but are open until late.

TheSpanishApartment · 08/12/2021 15:43

You mention wanting to avoid crowds at winter wonderland - just a warning, I took my 7 year old to London last week and did Hamleys, Liberty Xmas shop, Christmas lights and Fortnums (and a museum in the morning). Regent St/ Oxford circus and all the shops were absolutely jammed and I found it a bit scary with a small child. It was horrendous at 4-5 when we were trying to get back up Regent St to the tube. She loved it though. Take the back streets if you can! Also New Bond St has great lights and was much quieter.

TheSpanishApartment · 08/12/2021 15:45

Also, it was so busy my phone wasn't working, so if you don't know your way around you might want to download maps in advance.

chesirecat99 · 08/12/2021 16:55

Was that at the weekend, @TheSpanishApartment?

I had my booster vax in Soho this week and I thought the place looked like a ghost town. I took the back streets most of the way but I crossed Regent Street, New Bond Street and Oxford Street and the back streets were busier! Winter Wonderland was empty at midday. Pre-COVID, the Christmas crowds were like you describe, so many people the pavements feel like a mosh pit and the tube stations have to close due to overcrowding.

Entry for the off peak 11am-2pm slot at Winter Wonderland is free tomorrow, @DingDongMerrilyOnline, so I would guess it will be very very quiet. They don't often let you in for free!

It's a tacky, overpriced mudfest but my kids still loved it growing up. It's just a fairground with some beer tents and an expensive Christmas market really. The paid events like the ice rink, ice sculptures ice barand the circus are better. If you go at a time when it isn't jampacked, it can be fun. Bring a spare pair of shoes and socks though...

TheSpanishApartment · 08/12/2021 16:59

@cheshirecat99 - yes, On Saturday. And they had closed all but one entrance to Oxford Circus. Like a mosh pit - exactly! I used to live in London pre-Covid but had somehow managed to forget. And also assumed it would be a bit quieter now!

TheSpanishApartment · 08/12/2021 17:00

Midweek sounds much more manageable.

LuckyAmy1986 · 08/12/2021 17:04

Find a Doughnut Time shop and get the David Hasselhoff!

Nevertime · 08/12/2021 17:06

I'd go and do which ever one of the museums most appeals. Lovely to be able to go without the crowds!

Chewbecca · 08/12/2021 17:07

Definitely add a museum in, my DS loved HMS Belfast (between London and Tower bridge) at that age, as well as the NH & Science museums.

chesirecat99 · 08/12/2021 17:21

I'm almost glad to hear that, @TheSpanishApartment! It was a bit sad walking through Soho and seeing the places that had closed down and empty offices where friends used to work but are still WFH. It's definitely still a lot quieter here though. You can find a parking space on a Saturday... Grin

TheSpanishApartment · 08/12/2021 17:29

Oh I know @cheshirecat99, when I have been in to work I have had to walk past all the closed shops around Holborn and it's really sad to see.

Original poster
DingDongMerrilyOnline · 09/12/2021 05:21

Thanks everyone, I’ve been awake since 4 in excitement 🤣. We won’t be back in our city till 10.30 tonight and I have a 13 hour bank shift (I’m a nurse) starting at 7.30 tomorrow so a 4oclock wake up isn’t really what I needed but you only live once right!

OP posts:
Clymene · 09/12/2021 05:43

Have a lovely time! Weather looks largely ok too Smile sleep on the train home!

PinkFing · 09/12/2021 05:44

Have a great time. London at Christmas is the best.
Greenwich at Christmas is so festive. A walk in the park and taking in the views, going through the market and then drinking hot chocolate near the cutty sark. The DLR take you straight to and from the centre too

Original poster
DingDongMerrilyOnline · 09/12/2021 05:56

Thank you both! I’m currently sat in a towel trying to decide what to wear, need to get a shift on!

OP posts:
Westfacing · 09/12/2021 06:10

Hope you have a great day - weather looks OK so far, no rain due until evening.

Don't forget your DS travels free on tube and buses.

Noeuf · 09/12/2021 06:18

Leicester Square has a little Christmas market - on Sunday it did, assume still on? We had to queue for m and m world but you could easily kill an hour there doing the silly game bits and looking round.
I’d stick to Leicester Square, Covent Garden, regent street etc and not try to get to Kensington for museums.

PopsicleHustler · 09/12/2021 06:25

Please go to the natural history museum. You will love it. Your kid will love it too.
Lego shop and m&m world sounds brilliant as well!
Your days sounds great and My kind of day out to london. Used to live in london and now live in surrey. Have 5 kids so a day out to London is not ideal now unless with a nanny as cant have even take my super busy, working 3 jobs husband to go with us plus with covid wouldn't want to go anyway, until kids are a but older and we are.nit all flapping around the tube with toddlers and babies,
teens and tweens. Lol.
But I would get the first train at 8am. Get to nat his museum by 9.20. Stay there til lunch. Then find a halal nando's. Then hit south london markets, then m and m world and a walk round oxford street and Leicester square, and finishing up the day shopping in Stratford Westfield and then the jubilee line back to waterloo, grab some chocolates from the whsmith, if it's still in the middle, and a magazine and head home Woohoooooo!