Alternatives to Hyde Park Winterwonderland ?

[DocBrown]

We have a weekend booked in London for December - would like to do Christmassy things and have been looking at Hyde Park but seems too busy for us. Can anyone recommend any alternatives? Would obviously like to go down Oxford Street and look at the lights and poss a trip on the London Eye. DC will be 7 and 10.

Any and all suggestions welcome.

It will be heaving

Ice skating at Somerset House is lovely and not as busy as some of the other venues.

ummmm that is what I thought so was looking for some local insider knowledge of other things going on. Looks like I am going to have to grin and bare it :(

I recommend the little christmas market at the London eye. At south bank (cheers DH). About 2 x dozen stalls of spiced nuts, winter woolies, craft stalls, street entertainers etc all lit up and festive. And a traditional merry go round. Nice restaurants in the area too. Because it is fairly small, it wasn't heaving and was actually quite pleasant (this was last year). We went late afternoon (so it was dark, but not too late for little ones).

'The Snowman' at the Peacock Theatre is great for kids.

Carnaby street is best for lights. Second the south bank.

Covent Garden - we were in london mid december last year and went through there and the lights/sponsored trees were truly lovely

Hyde park winter wonderland isn't that busy at weekends in December. It too massive to be. You pre-book Santa, ice skating and ice house anyway so no waiting around. It's worth a walk around as the market and Christmas statue thingys are fab.

third south bank and second carnaby street for lights.
hyde park is insane compared to what it started out as, its more about taking your money than Christmas now.

We went to Hyde Park last year and it was heaving. I shall heat some red wine up, charge myself a fiver to shove a bit in a paper cup then get DH to bump into me repeatedly so it goes down my front and save myself the hassle of actually going there. Festive carnage.

Sorry, not overly helpful

Lol yes Yoni. Whoever says it's not busy clearly got very, very lucky.

I second that little market on the South Bank. Far more fun and there's a fab merry-go-round! that I forced DP to go on with me

South bank is also really really busy.
Don't think you can escape the crowds near Xmas.

For a 7 and a 10 year old I totally recommend the London Duck Tours .

You need to prebook and be there on time. look for bargains online.

I've been twice, once in summer, once in December.
wrap up warm , the windows are plastic sheeting and you'll want them rolled up for the best views.

You go for a drive round London, see Buckingham Palace, the Tree at Trafalger Sq, the Savoy, Downing Street, loads more.
And of course, you get stared at and have to wave to pedestrians.
Then, the Duck goes into the Thames and you see the Houses of Parliament.

The guides are brilliant, point out loads of things you'd never see on foot.

Highly recommend this.

WRT Winter Wonderland- I went 2008, 2010 and last year.
First couple of times were nice though ££ for the rides. It was £3 /child £4/ adult but IIRC last year was more.

In 2010 there was a blizzard. We'd prebooked the wheel (so we went on otherwise it was a waste of money) but the inside of the pods were running with condensation and the blizzard so strong we couldn't see out. Some of the rides weren't running (Fair enough, not safe) but it was fun.

Last year it was muddy. There were huge queues. The walkways weren't wide and loads of people had prams and dogs . So getting about was a pain,

I wouldn't bother again unless it was a quiet day.

Went to wonderland last year. Was rotten. Muddy and expensive. Apart from other things people have suggested, maybe go and see the Christmas decorations in one of the big stores e.g Selfridges, Harrods etc and have something yummy in one of their cafes. Will be a million times better than trudging through mud.