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

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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?

Second the suggestion of St. Christopher’s Place - several nice restaurants.

Also agree avoid Oxford Street, definitely. Not fun.
Not keen on Harrods either.
Not sure about Winter Wonderland - certainly wouldn't be on my list if I only had a day.
Nor Kew Gardens - too far out and friends who went last year were disappointed.

Agree that the following would be a good route:

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

Richoux on Piccadilly is nice for afternoon tea or a quick bite to eat if you need a pit stop.
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Thanks again for so many brilliant suggestions. Id absolutely love afternoon tea somewhere gorgeous but its out of our price range unfortunately. I'll just need to gaze in the windows

Richoux in piccadilly seems to be closed?

Harrods ?

Seven Dials is also lovely and festive - close to Covent Garden/central too.

And see if St Martin in the Fields has anything on the day you're going - www.stmartin-in-the-fields.org/whats-on/

They do little concerts and carols during the day and evening.

Will do

There isn't a concert the day we'll be there but it looks beautiful

The sloane square and kings road area.

You're right !!! I had no idea...

We have some big news to announce. We will be relocating to a brand-new home in London’s iconic Soho this winter. This means we will be leaving behind our current Piccadilly abode as the Richoux brand is re-developed, bringing its modern bistro fare to the bustling streets of the West End.

There is a Cafe in the crypt of St Martin's in the Field which is not expensive.

Am just hoping it stays dry

Covent garden is really Christmassy with the lights and tree. Go into the market for a browse, there's usually live music downstairs at the Crusting Pipe which adds to the festive atmosphere. Loads of cafes, restaurants around there. Can then walk to or from the Southbank (nr tube Waterloo) and take a walk along the river.

Also recommend the Piccadilly route - Fortnum and Mason (you don't need to buy and often they have free nibbles or drinks), walk down Bond Street which has the best decorations outside Tiffany, Ralph Lauren etc.

There's lots of free stuff on in London, google it - exhibitions, lunchtime classical music concerts.

Also agree check out the bus routes as you can get a bus along Oxford Street, Regent street etc and see the lights.

No to Oxford Street (grim), Winter Wonderland and Harrods. I don't like Selfridges now either since the ground floor was turned into all high end expensive brands - it has spoilt the atmosphere of the place for me.

I always go to Liberty and Covent Garden for festive London vibes, with maybe a walk down Regent Street for the overhead lights. Bear in mind though, the lights will only be at their best after dark!

Good idea to get a bus through town, that's a much nicer way to see the lights than battling your way down Oxford St.

Winter Wonderland is ghastly, don't go there.

Good point about the lights and last year they were doing some energy saving so the lights only came on at something like 3pm. Not sure if that is the case again this year.

Definitely not winter wonderland or oxford street. Go to New Bond Street for the lights, Piccadily for Fortnum and mason, and covent garden. Bear in mind will be mega busy if you go at weekend. There's also some bus tours to see the lights, to save the crowds! ice skating always good to.

Ice skating at Somerset House is lovely, but unless you go quite early it can get crazy busy.

All of six miles from central London. Positively rural 🙄

I go to Kew often. It’s not exactly central if you’ve only got one day in London and it’s not as if you get to see the rest of London from the tube so not even a nice journey. So no. I wouldn’t recommend it if you are only in town for a day. Also, disappointing lights as others have said.

Just noticed this on Instagram. Could be worth a nose...

Thanks again for all these great suggestions.

I think we'll go to bond street tube, walk down south molten street then new bond street and onto piccadilly. I've looked at afternoon tea in a few gorgeous places but they are fully booked and out of our prince range unfortunately. But I'm wondering if there's a place thats gorgeous and Christmassy where we could get lunch or at least a coffee and cake? That hopefully won't be ridiculously expensive. I know thats a big ask in these areas! I'm just really hoping for a teeny bit of luxury, even just for an hour or so. I know everywhere will be super busy and i don't want to keep walking into places, feeling out of place and getting turned away anyway. Can anyone think of somewhere for us? Or am i daydreaming?

Thanks so much again.

There is a Cafe in the crypt of St Martin's in the Field which is not expensive. It's quite atmospheric a d the food is nice.

There's a few Caffe Concertos here and there but they can be extremely busy.

Or just go to one of the restaurants n and around Covent Garden or the Royal Festival Hall.

I find the crypt utterly depressing so never go there. It’s below ground and gloomy. I’d probably go to Paul in Covent Garden and have a lovely cake. Or Maison Bertaux in Soho, again lovely cakes.

I like the crypt for a wee or emergency coffee, but the food looks and smells like school dinners from the 1970s.

Yup. This. For sure.

F and M. Also go see the hatchards Christmas tree at St Pancras. Definitely borough market. Get the bus down regent street.

And for December there are the Christmas concerts at Bartholomew the great which are free