Want to feel christmassy and have 1 day in London..

[ssd]

Where to go? Adults not kids. Love shopping. Want somewhere lots of fairy lights and lovely things to see. Dinner too would be good, thats probably 2 places. London anywhere.

Can anyone recommend?

Go to Liberty and buy a Christmas decoration or five.

Fortnums Christmas displays are usually lovely.

Tip: the tube is really too hot at the moment - yesterday, lots of people were just in t-shirts, and carrying light jackets. The shops are often hot too, so wear easily removable layers!
Kings Cross Coal Drop Yard is fun, lots of nice shops, food and bars. There's also the David Hockney Lights show on there, which is worth seeing.
Oxford Street is a bit grim but you could wander past Selfridges and trek down Regent Street.

These would be my two suggestions as well. You could go to Liberty/Carnaby Street and then wonder down to F&M. Maybe have afternoon tea there if you're so inclined?

Winter wonderland and look in Selfridges

My Christmas tradition is Fortnums and Burlington Arcade followed by Borough Market (including Neals Yard Dairy for cheese)

Oh and you could have dinner around there too. So many fabulous places to eat.

South bank usually has a Christmas market. There is one in Trafalgar Square. Winter wonderland is a giant funfair - lost its early charm. Some carols at a cathedral or royal Albert hall?

Covent Garden has good lights

New Bond Street is extremely festive and Fortnums is a giant advent calendar.

So much to do!

There are Christmas markets on the South Bank, Trafalgar Square and Covent Garden. Chestnuts, sugared almonds and mulled wine...

The Christmas lights on Regents Street and beyond.

The windows at Fortnum & Masons.

St James's in Piccadilly also has a market, as well as concerts:

https://www.sjp.org.uk/whats-on/

Then there's St Martin's in the Fields and their concerts by candlelight.

A Christmas Carol is playing somewhere, I think.

Ohh lovely suggestions, thanks everyone

Covent Garden and ice skating at Somerset house

I wondered if harrods is worth a look?

Always

NO to Winter Wonderland and Oxford Street - grim

YES to Liberty, Carnaby Street, St Martin in the Fields Somerset House skating type things

Lots of good suggestions but just to reinforce the temperature thing- dress light, I had to leave Liberty last week as it was so hot.

Another vote for carols by candlelight at St Martin's in the fields.

We are in London this weekend….Just got off the tube ..it was roasting 🥵

What sort of food are you looking for @ssd ? I'm having a lone trip early in the New Year, and I'm always on the look out for food recommendations!

My plans so far are -
a mooch around Bloomsbury
Fortnums and Liberty
British Library fantasy exhibition

If you’re going to Liberty’s / Selfridges / anywhere near Oxford Street, go to St. Christopher’s Place - a really lovely nook off Oxford Street. Also Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park if it’s open already

Yes it was warm this weekend but the OP wasn’t here then. It can be as cold as anywhere else in London.

I wouldn’t necessarily recommend Coal Drops Yard as the shops aren’t that great though the area is attractive. I agree with most of the other suggestions though. You might want to stick to one area so you aren’t rushing around so suggest you could walk down Bond Street (they always have lovely decorations and the shop windows are fun) , through Burlington Arcade to Fortnum’s for a bit of shopping, then through Piccadilly, Leicester Square to Covent Garden. You’d see a lot and there are loads of places for coffee and food. If you like art there are several galleries to take in an exhibition.

Fortnums, Liberty's, Covent Garden. Kew Gardens lights are fab

Agree Coal Drop Yard is overrated. Bleak and crap niche shops.

Also avoid Oxford Street and Winter Wonderland.

Covent Garden is fun and Christmassy. Soho always joyful. Ice skating at Somerset House?

Kew is a long way out of town though and friends told me they were disappointing when they went.

You could hop on a double decker bus and sit upstairs at the front and look at the Christmas lights. The 139 is apparently a good route although I imagine any bus that goes past any of the major landmarks/shopping streets would be good. And London always very pretty at night.

If you wanted to do something a little different to explore an area, I would recommend a treasure hunt. I did the Enchanted Mirror one before Christmas one year and it felt quite festive. It's around South Ken. The other two are also good and more fun but more central.

https://www.inthehiddencity.com/?utm_source=google_ads&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=1640314045&utm_content=68160131452&utm_term=hidden%20city&gclid=CjwKCAiAgeeqBhBAEiwAoDDhnzMWMTc2rr-eMfVNy9vQN0j4lAOoFiKpyWEm38sovygSeESrAWilCBoC-YYQAvD_BwE

Agree with going to a concert at St Martin's in the Field. It's beautiful.

A walk along the Southbank is always fabulous too . . .