Last-Minute Christmas Break in Paddington with Kids

[elm11]

We're planning a last-minute Christmas overnight stay in Paddington, with our two kids (9 and 12 years old). Usually, we don't go to London often because we live 30 minutes away by train.

I had initially planned to book a Christmas musical, but with an entertainment budget of 300£ for the entire trip, the ticket prices seem a bit steep, especially since most shows are already sold out.

After booking our hotel, I discovered that Winter Wonderland is only 20 minute walk away. However my previous experience of it being quite crowded, along with mixed reviews I've read, has left me a bit uncertain about this option.

I'm thinking of an open top bus tour on the first night and ice skating the next day.
Somerset House is sold out except 9am slot. Is it worth going early for that, or should we just ty Winter Wonderland for circus and skating?

Any suggestions or advice for things to do in London on a Christmas break would be very helpful. Thanks!🎄☃❄

Winter wonderland is an expensive fair , personally I wouldn’t bother .

Thank you for your input about Winter Wonderland. Given your feedback, I'm now thinking about other options for ice skating. Can anyone recommend a Christmas-themed ice skating spot, preferably not an all-year indoor rink? It should be somewhere worth travelling from Paddington. Any ideas? Or, if you have any other suggestions for last-minute Christmas activities, those would be greatly appreciated too!

Check out local councils for Xmas pantos

Living 30mins away is nothing. Wait till your on a tube stuck in a tunnel for 45 mins because the train in front can't close its doors due to a fault!!!

Winter wonderland is good for ice skating and circus don’t have to go on the rides! Can be busy but you book a slot, maybe go during the day so it’s not too busy? I love taking the kids winter wonderland when it’s dark with all the lights, roast some marshmallows by the fire

Rather than a regular open top bus tour have a look at Ghost Bus tours. Say It fast and It sounds like Ghost busters 😁. It leaves from Northumberland Avenue, near Leicester Square and it's our favourite thing we've done recently in town with kids.
Ice skating is good at Somerset House which is walkable to Leicester Square so you could do one then go straight to the other (it's also right by St Clements church, the bells of which play the tune to oranges and lemons which I always think is pretty cool)
South bank has a Christmas market, and if you walk east they have the Clink Museum, Borough market, and the Golden Hind, and the shard.
The Sky garden is free and worth it for the view.

Also Christmas lights are great on Oxford street, which is otherwise a bit crap, Regent Street and Carnaby street which are all right next to each other. Or get a boat up the river to Greenwich which has ice skating in the park or North Greenwich has the cable car.

Or the ice ring at the natural history museum is nice. Ha! I'm getting over excited for you.

I think that's closed. If you are prepared to tube it then the ice rink at Battersea Power Station is really nice and might have better time slots for you.

There's a new ice rink in Hanover Square this year, which is in Mayfair so easy to get to from Paddington. Haven't been myself but pictures look good!

It's not particularly close but I can recommend ice skating at Glide at Battersea Power Station. It's really festive and we had a great time as a family. Also fab for shopping and food at The Arcade afterwards!

Thank you to everyone who responded! What I initially thought might be a challenging day out in London is shaping up to be an exciting adventure. With young kids I tend to avoid much travel, so proximity of Winter Wonderland seemed perfect. I'll be interesting to see if they want to go back again after this visit. The last time we were there, our youngest was still in a pushchair!

I've decided to book the Magical Kingdom, the circus, and the Big Wheel at Winter Wonderland to enjoy the evening Christmas lights. We wanted to try Glide at Battersea, but it was fully booked - seems it's quite popular! So we're heading to West End for ice skating the next day. We're also planning to see the Christmas tree at Trafalgar Square afterward.

If anyone has any recommendations for quick stops or must-see spots around Trafalgar Square, I'd really appreciate it. We're looking to make the most of our time in that area. Thanks again for all the helpful suggestions!

Covent Garden has good decorations and a snow machine (on for about five mins every hour so worth checking timings if you're going there). Only a few mins walk from Trafalgar Square.