Ideas for a Christmas Day out in London

[Daytripp]

My DD (20) and I always have a day in London before Xmas.

I’m looking for some new ideas this year maybe including a cocktail somewhere and definitely including a quick trip to Fortnums.

We get into Paddington about 10.30 and leave again at 8.45pm

We’re not really bothered about shopping other than the quick trip to Fortnums.

We live in the sticks and only go to London once a year and don’t know it particularly well.

Just want a really Christmassy feeling day out, I’ve got some ideas but wondering what others would do.

The Alchemist cocktail bar on St Martin's Lane has very theatrical cocktails that fizz bomb and smoke, if that's the sort of thing you mean. (It's not high end glamour, but fun.) From there you could wander around Seven Dials street markets and indie stores, and into Covent Garden where there will be seasonal buskers.

Definitely a trip to Fortnum's Food Hall to pick up fancy biscuits, teas and jams as presents. The craft market nearby at St James's church is quite fun too. If you like high end fashion, wander around New Bond Street and South Molton Street. the Christmas lights and decs there are out of this world and you can window shop the couture party dresses, shoes and bling.

Thanks @NewToWoo there’s an alchemist in the nearest big town to us, so probably looking for something more unique to London. I’ve never been brave enough to go into one of the fancier hotels for a drink, can you just walk in off the street? We won’t necessarily be that dressed up due to the amount of walking we tend to do whilst there.

Bumping to see if anyone had any other ideas. Over the years we’ve done, Covent Garden, New Bond Street, Southbank (I wasn’t impressed with the Xmas market), Sky Garden, Borough Market, Camden Market.

Just looking for some new ideas really, thanks 😊

This is googled & don't know the dress code / prices of drinks etc but might be worth further googling . Battersea Power station had a fair outside recently and there are some bars in there but some requite booking. But I would look up these first and see if anything suitable www.luxurytraveladvisor.com/hotels/11-fabulously-festive-pop-ups-at-london-hotels-winter

If you're going to F&M, you could see if the Wolseley can fit you in for a drink. A good time would be after afternoon tea has finished and before dinner time.

Liberty for the Christmas decorations - not very far from F&M.

Where are you going for lunch?

Thank you, that hotels guide is fab @BasiliskStare its the sort of thing I think we want but then I wonder about being intimidated as we’re not used to places like that.

@RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie we’ve not booked lunch this year, happy to grab and go as we’re wandering about this time. Have done afternoon tea in F&M previously

Greenwich? There’s the covered market (food stalls and crafty, quirky stuff), which is nice at this time of year, there’s also an outdoor flea market. There’s the park, which is lovely to wander in - great views over London from the top of the hill. There’s lots of history and the museums if that’s your thing. Some nice pubs on the river, and Greenwich itself has some quite nice independent shops.

You could also get the river-bus back into London.

I’ve never thought of venturing down to Greenwich, will take a look and chat to DD.

Hayes Galleria has a lovely bar and a market. It's outside so wrap up if you go there

Outside but covered over .

@Daytripp - don't feel intimidated. If they have a bar open to day visitors then you can go. I would myself just check any dress code eg no jeans trainers etc. But amazing how different you will look putting the beanie in the pocket of the duvet coat :) - not saying that is how you dress at all and who cares - more to say you don't have to walk round all day like you are at a wedding. I would just do it. I bet lots of other people will.

Greenwich is well worth a visit. It’s also got this on at the moment if you’re interested & if there are any tickets available when you’re there.
www.visitgreenwich.org.uk/whats-on/museum-of-the-moon-p1815771

Battersea power station.
Winterwonder land.
Breakfast at Tiffany's cafe, harrods

The Elizabeth line makes it a lot easier from Paddington now. Get off at Canary Wharf and then pick up the DLR to Cutty Sark.

Or river bus out and back from Embankment. It’s a great way to see the city, from the river.

I’m going to Battersea Power Station tomorrow, trains permitting. I’ll hopefully then get a boat back down the river. Then I’m going to check out the Christmas lights/tree in Kings Cross.

Ooh! I love the Painted Hall. I love how Greenwich is basically like a little Georgian town that has just been plonked in London.

Go to Archer Street in Soho for cocktails. The waiting staff are all West End performers who sing as they serve, it’s quite a sight to behold and so much fun.

Battersea power station

Gingerbread City exhibition. It's really close to Harrods/ Knightsbridge for posh drink/ cake afterwards and the exhibition is delightful.

It's a christmas fixture for me!

www.thegingerbreadcity.com

If you’re coming in to Paddington, you could do a lot worse than make your first activity a little trot a short way up along the canal to Little Venice, and have something to eat/drink at one of the canal boat cafes or restaurants. Little Venice is lovely for a wander, and the cafes do good food. (You can often see some of the many old celebs who live locally, if that’s your cup of tea; they’re just normal people doing normal people things.)

You could then get the Bakerloo back down from either Warwick Avenue or Paddington to get more central. That will quickly take you to Marylebone, Oxford Circus, the West End, Embankment, or down to Waterloo. (I think it’s less than 30 mins to get all the way down to Waterloo.) And yes it’s an old line, with very old rolling stock, but it’s lovely and warm at this time of year. (Horrible in the summer because of the warmth, but I love it in the winter!) There’s a nice easy change at Baker Street for the Jubilee line to get you down to Westminster or across to Canary Wharf quickly, or Embankment for Circle/District if you’re considering going somewhere like South Kensington.

You’ve had some good suggestions from other posters for activities too 😊 the Thames Clipper is fun, chilly but fun, so if you can squeeze that in it’ll probably be worth it too.

Please also think about layering a thin jacket, like a lightweight down one maybe, inside a warmer coat, specifically so you’ve got a harder-to-reach pocket for your phone. The pickpocketing gangs are really out in force at the moment, and they’re very skilled, very fast, and the police won’t be able to find them after the fact. I won’t even pop out to do my grocery shopping at present without putting my phone and purse in the zip pockets of what’s become my “liner” jacket.

Oh and the Corinthia near Embankment (Whitehall Place) has beautiful Nutcracker-themed Christmas decor this year, extremely lovely bar staff, a smart-casual but pretty flexible dress code, and they do great cocktails and bar snacks. It’s fairly decadent to go there just for cocktails and snacks. but it’s totally justifiable as a treat IMO!!

Thank you all so much, some really lovely ideas for us to try.

Southbank is lovely and there is a gorgeous market near London Bridge station, huge Christmas tree and a Christmas bar in hays galleria and it’s also lovely around tower bridge . Might be a bit of Schlep if you’re only here for a day but battersea power station is gorgeous at the moment.

Also Covent Garden / seven dials and near the new Tottenham Court Road entrance in Charing Cross road also rather lovely.

Weather wise it’s quite wet out today but so much warmer than it’s been. I’m in a scarf and really hot.