Plan for London tomorrow! Left it all a bit late

[KatieGalPal]

Hi, we (me, ds10 and my DM) are going down to London tomorrow for our annual trip to watch a show. We normally go there and back in a day but it’s a long day so we’ve splashed out and booked a premier inn! We arrive in London just before 10, we will get some breakfast and have a mooch/drop our bags off. We usually go to liberties to get a decoration and the show is at the palladium so we’ll stay around there. The panto finishes at 5ish, normally at this point we’d head back to the station but we have the whole night to fill. We will also go to hamleys.

I was thinking about going to winter wonderland, I’m not sure if it will be complete and utter hell though? We aren’t bothered about the rides but I am thinking it’ll be nice to see the lights, maybe book one of the activities such as the ice bar/slide? Then head back to the hotel about 8ish.

On Thursday I thought we could go to the Tower of London, we’ve never been there then either along the south bank (but we’ve done that a few times) or get the boat over to Greenwich? Our train from euston is at 3.45.

I have looked at the sky garden but it’s sold out.

does this sound ok/ has anyone got any other suggestions? I don’t want to pack too much in, I’m a nurse and I’m working all over Xmas including Christmas Day so we don’t want to get home exhausted as I on a run of 4 shifts from 23rd.

Thanks 🎅

You might want to check out the toy floor in Selfridge's too - there's an FAO Schwarz concession and they have one of those big floor pianos like in Big!
You need to book entry tickets for winter wonderland now, too, so that might be worth checking first before heading to Hyde Park. I know you're after the lights, but it will be HEAVING in the evenings so a morning or daytime visit might be less chaotic!
Tower of London is excellent, as is HMS Belfast if you've any interest in engineering/seafaring. Then a walk back up the south bank would be lovely, there's a Christmas market in place there too so you can pick up some festive drinks to stroll with :)

Sounds like a lovely plan, and I wish you luck for your Christmas shifts at work!

Your plan sounds great. We just did a weekend in London, and the Tower of London was super Christmassy with loads of different trees and decorations as well as all the interesting history.

South Bank all the way. Wouldn’t go near WW. All too much. Have fun!

Thanks for the replies! I’ll book the Tower of London now then, DS will love it! Silly question but are there a lot of steps? I’m mega unfit and I’m having flashbacks to nearly passing out walking up a tower at Warwick castle 🙈

Is there anything else anyone can recommend for the night time, I want to make the most of being there in the evening but also don’t want to have a vague ‘we’ll look round the shops and get a coffee’ plan as we always do that.

you could do the lights around town - but if you’re heading to Liberty it might be going back on yourself

there are some night bus tours (when it gets dark essesntially)

the illuminated bridge walks

battersea power station has a new installation and has ice skating too

a light show - but they might be booked up

The Tower of London is amazing, and at this year shouldn’t be too crowded, but it is HUGE, people always underestimate how much there is to see there, it’s not just the White Tower and the Jewel House. I would plan to spend all day there , it’s not cheap and you need to get your moneys worth!

Have a lovely day, please be very aware and keep your money/ cards / bags safe, lots of meanies will be out and about taking advantage of crowds being distracted by the lights and the excitement.

John Lewis roof Garden restaurant? It is called Willows. I’ve not. Even to this particular incarnation of their roof top food and drink offer, but it’s usually nice.

www.johnlewis.com/our-services/roof-garden

Bar Italia on Frith Street?

I would head over to Carnaby street after your show to see their lights, they are always ridiculously ott and fabulous and free! We go to London most years to visit my Dbro and they are always on the list.

I wouldn’t bother with winter wonderland. As a Christmas market it’s poor, my DC like the rides but it’s just a funfair really.

there’s Christmas afternoon tea on a London bus tour, the later one means you’d see the lights. Or I’d go to the Christmas market along the south bank.

At night Trafalgar Square for the tree is lovely, there are often groups of Carol singers there . Then walk down to the embankment/ south bank and enjoy the river and the lights. The bridges always look lovely. Lots of places to eat, graze or get coffee and most of the Christmas market stalls will be open.

Tower of London does have quite a few steps, the White Tower is a Tower, and if you go along the wall walk and into the other buildings and Towers there will be steps there too . If it is wet or icy take care as the cobbled bits can be slippery.

When/ where are you eating? We’d book a great restaurant for the evening after the show. What does DS like to eat?

There are hundreds of bloody steps in the tower of london! Thought I was going to die from being so unbelievably unfit when I took my class there.

Oh I might skip the Tower of London then (which is quite shameful) but we are SO unfit.

Haven’t even thought about food 🙈 I am so unorganised! I think a decent pizza and pasta place would be best if anyone could recommend?

We love Fumo on St Martins Lane, Italian food but they do small plates for sharing like tapas . Lovely lovely food, bit pricier that the generic pizza/ pasta places but worth it for a treat. Check out the menu if your child is a bit fussy. Or go to Browns, classic burger place also st martins lane , or Joe Allen’s at Covent Garden for atmosphere..

If you expect to eat a nice evening meal without waiting for a table I would recommend making a booking.

Thank you!

My loose plan is now-

Arrive, go drop our bags at the hotel and head somewhere for brunch.

Head over to Hamley’s (maybe fortnum and mason for ice cream, not sure how far they are I will check….). Walk over to the palladium, have a look around the shops, Liberty, Carnaby street

Watch the panto, come out and have food (I’ll book somewhere, I’ll check out the recommendations above!) then walk down to Trafalgar Square. Head back to the hotel about 8ish.

Then on Thursday-
wake up and go for breakfast, DS LOVES Frankie and bennys so will book there

my mum has now said she’d like to go to Camden market?! I’ve of course heard of it but is it kid friendly? We are coming back next month for a concert so could always do it then…

Instead I am thinking the cable car over the Thames to Greenwich, go to the market there then get the boat back, have dinner then head back to the hotel to pick our stuff up and off to Euston

Camden Market would bore most children, give it a miss I suggest. It's been partly redeveloped and is not the place it was five years ago, and you may have to re-enter the station by walking down about 90 steps not the escalator.

Your DS might like the DLR back from Greenwich as you can sit at the front and pretend you are the driver.

You can't do London without going to the Natural history museum. Everything else sounds fantastic! Enjoy yourselves!

I noticed yesterday there's a Christmas lights bus tour, which sounds nice www.tootbus.com/en/london/product/e523c7aa-32d7-4cbd-84b2-81e348707191?gclid=Cj0KCQiA14WdBhD8ARIsANao07jPfO2uKoJ0CRI_FORbx2mNTiHWiv8Kc_XMbCUdEtLogXDssqA8UD4aAol2EALw_wcB

I am taking the kids up for a show just after Christmas and my plan was to walk from Tottenham Court road station along Oxford Street, through Soho and China town, to Leicester Square and Trafalgar Square then up to Piccadilly and down Regent Street, checking out Fortnum and Mason and Hamleys and looking at the lights. But a bus tour sounds like it would be less hard on the feet!

Was also thinking of ice skating at Somerset house but it might be fully booked by now. On the other hand train strikes might open up some sessions.

The other place actually as I wondered London today was you can try the lovely mercato metropolitano (there’s a few locations I was near elephant and castle) which is a good place with many different options and then a short stroll to London Bridge.

but science or natural
history museum are good shouts - but you need to book timed entry tickets.

have fun!

Tower of London doesn't have the big tower climbs like Warwick. And it's nowhere near as spread out (I live within walking distance of Warwick Castle, so I know it well!). I'd say it's much more manageable.

I ran along the south bank last week (crossed Tower Bridge and ran up to westminster) and it looked there were lovely Christmassy huts all along there, leading up to Gabriel's Wharf. I'm sure that would feel very festive. You could do Borough Market, if you wanted a market? I'd say Greenwich is a long way to go for a market - how about Covent GArden - that should be lovely and festive with entertainment etc.

I wouldn't go to Greenwich if you're not feeling fit. The beauty of going there is to walk lots, and it's hilly too...

Thank you! Oh that’s good to know, I don’t mind little up and downs but I queued for a hour post lockdown with DS to go up the main tower, I genuinely nearly vomited walking up and as soon as I stepped through the door I saw the defib machine, I can see why it’s needed!!

i think we’ll stick with Covent Garden, I’ve been to Greenwich before and loved it. I’ve just got back from a holiday where we walked on average 30,000 steps a day but the thought of walking up steps like at Warwick fills me with absolute horror! I think we’ll make a plan of action for Thursday on the train tomorrow, I’ll check the weather forecast etc. we do love Covent Garden though, especially the tree and the snow. DS was amazed by the performers last year

Hope this is not too late but if you are coming up on the train don't forget there are many 2 for 1 offers, including the Tower available. Tower, Eye, Shrek, Dungeon, etc.

You need to print off the coupons from the website of the National Rail or whatever train company you are using.

I’d ditch winter wonderland and go to the national gallery for a look at all the nativity paintings (there are TONS!) plus a gallop around the monets and van goghs. There is also a Christmas fair just outside. You could also walk down the mall to Buckingham palace then through green park and back to your hotel.

tower of London or HMS Belfast a good call so long as it’s not raining.