London Christmas Shopping

[Pleasestopthebunfight]

Hello!
Off to London tomorrow for a shopping day!

We know our way around and the normal shopping areas, but are there any nice little areas with individual shops, or Christmas markets worth going to?

Also - random question - Churchill Arms pub is meant to be most Christmassy pub in London and they only accept walk ins for food. Is it likely to be mobbed?

Any tips for a Christmassy day out would be fab.

Thanks so much.

It's November
Unlikely that Christmas revellers are bunging up the pubs quite yet!
There are some niche shops around Marylebone High Street (behind Oxford Street/Harley Street) and around Chelsea/Sloane Square.
The lights along Seven Dials (behind Leicester Square tube/charing cross road area) are lovely (and has some niche shops)
And if you want to be really cheesy, Covent Garden desperately trying to be Victorian/Dickensian
Enjoy!

I love Seven Dials for shopping, always avoid Oxford and Regent Street. Coal Drops Yard and the walk up to it from Kings Cross is nice, little market indoors and some good food choices.

Borough Market is the place to stock up on Christmas food and drink. Got some fab chutneys, a panforte, Christmas coffee and Turkish delight there recently. Also, Bread Ahead in the market does the best mince pies you'll ever have.

Forgot to add that there are lots of small, interesting independent shops around Spitalfields.

Re: Churchill arms

First of all, the restaurant is Thai food. Which isn’t very Christmassy IMO. It’s also off Kensington high street, so unless you’re going shopping there I think you’ll find it’s a bit of a trek.

It’s always quite busy but you can have a drink while you wait.

I think you’re better off staying in the west end (Covent garden / seven dials good). Fortnum and mason worth a visit, and the department stores tend to be very Christmassy.

Not sure if winter wonderland open yet.

’posh’ restaurants / hotels can feel very Christmassy. Try somewhere like the nomad if in Covent Garden. Or one of the bistros like Balthazar, browns. Ivy (proper one not the chain) etc

Thank you everyone for these fab suggestions! Really looking forward to it now 😊.

I was in London last week, there's a Christmas Market on Trafalgar Square. It was already feeling christmassy. They were setting up the wonderland last week, it opened yesterday

I was amused by a notice near Victoria Coach Station saying the lights were being officially switched on at the weekend ( they were already on)

Have fun