London at Christmas?

[Potentialmadcatlady]

Thinking of taking kids ( 14+ years) to London over Christmas weekend...any suggestions on how/what to do to make it an extra special Christmas after a very horrible year?

Would your 9 year old DD be too old to see Father Christmas at Harrods? That's a one-off memory that will last a life-time (and it's FREE - they rely on you buying expensive photo but not obligatory to do so). One of our local 'entertainment for families treasures' is in role and he's fab.

Booking seems to open on 19 September or 31 August if you're a Harrods Rewards Member (worth checking if you can sign up for free???). BUT you will have to be very quick off the mark to get a slot that fits in with your visit dates!!! Well worth a punt though.

Glad to be of service, Potential!

It's just around the corner from my office - if you PM me nearer the time, I can let you know what's looking good for Christmas lights etc

Has anyone mentioned the Southbank? They have a lovely Christmas market, usually - very festive.

Yep south bank on the list- think we need to stay for a month...

Tate Modern is lovely just as an architectural gem, even if you don't go inside (to a breathtakingly fabulous collection of modern art). Globe just around the corner. And I love just walking along the river.

Do you know about mudlarking? If it's not too cold and dreary, perhaps something to do on Christmas Day when everything is shut. My DD loved doing it (she's 8, so a bit younger than yours, I think)

golondon.about.com/od/londonforfree/fr/Mudlarking-In-London.htm

South Bank Christmas market moved to outside the Tate Modern last year (maybe the year before?) - means the amble along the South Bank is much more enjoyable because it is clustered off to one side. Check Borough Market opening hours nearer the time - I think it is unlikely to be open.

We did Christmas in London several years ago - there was a tube strike, so the bus routes around the very centre were heaving, but hopefully you will be ok. We bailed out of trying to get across to Oxford Street and went to Covent Garden instead and it was almost deserted! Certainly no screaming queues like you see on the TV outside Selfridges.

The windows at Fortnum and Mason are my favourite - my friend and I have a little winter tradition - we do an evening walk starting there, go and have a few samples in the store then walk down Piccadilly looking at the windows, turn down Haymarket or one of those roads and amble through Trafalgar Square - you can check carol singing times online - then through Covent Garden and down to Somerset House to sit with a hot chocolate and watch the ice skaters.

Meant to say - if we are feeling energetic we sometimes cross the river at Waterloo Bridge and then do the South Bank market.

If any of you get tired, you can pick up the 139 bus along most of the route and it runs along the Strand, so easy access to Covent Garden.

Fortnum's windows are the best! I also usually rate Liberty's as well.

Somerset House is lovely to watch the skating even if you don't go on the ice. We'll be there on Christmas Eve - a family tradition - so maybe you'll see us flying round the ice if you're there!

Thanks Dandelion- that sounds lovely! How are we going to choose/fit everything in!!
Queen- we need to wear special scarfs!

Ha to Mudlarking!! A couple of years ago the kids would have loved that - now it would be 'eeegghhh' and 'I'm cold'.. They in that inbetween bit were somethings just aren't cool enough ( and I'm not supposed to say Cool apparently because it's not 'sick')

The famous MN scarf!

I think we have a few years (I hope!) before DD thinks anything is "sick!

Don't forget to PM me nearer the time and I can give you the lowdown on what's looking nice this Christmas in London. There are nearly always a few things, often free stuff, that pops up unexpectedly.

localeditormerton your tip for wilton panto looks fabulous! I may try that this year thank you

Op you can get tickets for the opera house covent when booking opens for 4 pounds!!! up to 100's., we often get tickets for the gods, usually pay about 7 pounds and they are fine. and you get the wonderful opera house atmosphere and bars still, and go out on terrace and look down on CG.

Oh I so love the Opera House. It's truly magnificent.

This thread is making me realise how incredibly proud I am of London!

If one is in a whee hair I would be wary of winter wonderland land - it is very very crowded and I am not sure how easy it would be to get around.

August- any idea when booking opens? I will google tomorrow..it's been a hectic day of GCSE result getting... So will get back to my planning tomorrow!
Toomanycats99- he can walk no probs it's just his condition means he gets tired quickly..he hates using his chair and we rarely use it at home because I plan our activities around what I know he can handle without it but I have told him it's coming with us to London so we can keep going all day..he just doesn't like it if people see him getting out of it and walking because he thinks they will think he's pretending... The older teen has no medical conditions and when I said the chair was coming she said great you can push me if I get tired! As if!!

Ah ok. Just remembered another one., John Lewis on Oxford street have a roof garden. We went last year and they had lots of Xmas trees and fake snow but also little wooden cabins filled with lots of visions and blankets and there is a cafe in the roof so we had hot chocolate up there. That was nice and not that busy when we went.

Oh that sounds lovely toomanycats and right up the older teens street..Thankyou

This sounds amazing! Please will you come back and update us after?

YY to Southbank. A fantastic place to visit, and a possibly bonus, if the skaters are there your teens may think it's cool (or sick!) if they'really into that sort if thing.

I'd avoid Winter Wonderland with a wheelchair and a budget tbh.

We did it with a buggy and a budget and although the DC loved it I found it very expensive and stressful.

*That should just say they're, not they'really!

Will do blinkowl...I have ordered a silly reindeer blow up game to take with us for room and got fairy lights on sale today for a pound to decorate the room! We are all going to get our traditional new pjs for Christmas Eve to take with us for hotel but instead of stockings we have agreed to put the money I would normally spend into a tin to save it up for taking with us ( I normally start now adding stuff to my weekly shop each week- oh the joy of not having to do that this year!) Girl teen is looking forward to spending it on makeup in airport...

Carnaby Street is worth a look if it's on your route. Has anyone mentioned Spitalfields? I love it there. There is usually a tent and small fairground thing on the southbank with wacky shows and performances, might be worth checking out

Thanks Davros...I had forgotten about Carnaby street..will add it to the list...spitalfields is a market isn't it? And yes south bank is defo on the list.it sounds great and would be new for me too

There is a thread going on over here with some good recommendations as well:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/_chat/2720676-Ideas-for-DDs-first-trip-to-London

Thanks Queen

Just bumping this up as its Christmas this week.....does anyone know how to find out which McD are open in central London...weather forecast is pants for this weekend unfortunately looks like there will not be snow...