Christmas things to do in London with kids

[RefereezaWanka]

We're going to Winter Wonderland and Selfridges grotto .

Any other cheap/free suggestions?

Can't face the Xmas lights - too crowded!

Lots of the libraries and so on near us seem to have things happening.

Didnt think of that. Good call, thanks!

You could do the Oxford Street Lights the way described here?

imaginatemum.wordpress.com/2011/10/25/oxford-christmas-lights-from-above-the-crowd/

I guess it depends if Hammersmith is convenient for you. (Or I guess Kings Cross, to start at the other end, but that may not be as quiet in terms of getting a seat).

One day I will learn to choose convert links...

imaginatemum.wordpress.com/2011/10/25/oxford-christmas-lights-from-above-the-crowd/

Also, are they over five and do they like making stuff?

The V&A have cheap workshops over the break. We did the half-term one today and it was excellent. Two hours and £3 each.

www.vam.ac.uk/whatson/event/1469/

Cheap Pinnochio at the Bethnal green V&A branch:
www.vam.ac.uk/moc/whats_on/events/pinocchio/index.html

(3.50 each, book on 14th Dec to go on 28 / 29 Dec)

Aaaagh - again - why do I never remember to convert links!!

www.vam.ac.uk/moc/whats_on/events/pinocchio/index.html

Ooh I love that bus idea Londonmumsie! I am going to do that, thanks :)

kew gardens ususally does a beautiful Christmas wonderful in the evening from 4 onwards - all light up, carousel, Father Christmas, ice rink [ not sure if its on this year - need to check]
www.kew.org/about-kew/press-media/press-releases-kew/christmas-2011/index.htm - how do you convert links?
You can get the train down from the centre of london District or London overground - I love it
You pay for adults but children free and they have a playground area, soft play etc

Has anyone ever been to the crib service at St Paul's? (if they re-open that is). I'd like to give it a try, but when I have asked them they haven't given me any idea how early you would have to queue.

The Museum of Childhood in Bethnal Green is brilliant and usually do special displays/activities at Christmas time

Crib service at Westminster Abbey at 12.00 on Xmas Eve - really Christmassy, nice carols and just pitched at the right level for small children.

Ice rink at the natural history museum is nice. Everything will be hideously busy though. What about walking along Oxford St, down Regent St (looking at the shop displays - Hamleys is good) and down to Trafalgar Sq to see the big tree.

One of the outdoor ice rinks?
A panto
There are always free things going on in the RFH - check their details - and also a food festival with tastings etc
Unicorn theatre

Sorry - not god on the 'free' front, there!

Check TIME OUT's calendar and look for updates nearer the time

RickGhastley - love the idea of being in Westminster Abbey. How far ahead would you queue to get in?

Are you a National Trust member, by the way? They sometimes have stuff on.

e.g. at Osterley: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-events-find_event.htm?propertyID=277&Period=Three+months

*CrossEyed" we went last year and there were no queues at all for the crib service, we just walked straight in. There were only about 100 people there.

RickGhastley - thanks - maybe they didn't want to own up to that on the phone then. They kept saying "get here early" and when I said "how early" they went all silent...

whoops - talking nonsense - that was at St Paul's, yours is Westminster. (shouldn't answer on here before my morning coffee!!)