London busses to see the Christmas lights

[WreckTangled]

We will be going to London on a weekday evening to go to harrods and I was thinking it would be nice for the dc to see the Christmas lights. Is it possible to do this on a normal bus? We will need to finish at Waterloo/Southbank. Has anyone got any recommendations of routes? I tried googling but didn't come up with much.

By Christmas lights go you mean Oxford street/regent street?

Have a look at the 12. Can't remember the exact route but know it hits lots of the major sites.

I don't mind if it's not Oxford street tbh. The dc are too young to know the difference and will be happy with any lights

Thanks will look up number 12!

I suggest you walk over the bridge (nice views doing that) and pick up the 23 which will take you via Picadilly and Oxford Circus to Marble Arch

Squirm I don't think we will have time to do that but maybe could do it in reverse actually. We won't get into Waterloo until 5 and our time slot for harrods is 5:30. It doesn't give us much time after really, it's tempting to pick dd up from school early but I know that would be bad...

At rush hour, half an hour to get from Waterloo to Harrods isn't enough anyway without messing around with different bus routes. It could easily be 5.10 before you get on a bus after getting off your train at 5 and you'll be pushing it to get to Harrods on time. Definitely worth getting to London an hour earlier if you can.

What Ineed said, you'll only just make it for halfdice anyway.

Sorry! It really wasn't very helpful getting it the wrong way round. And bus the whole way will take too long.

The snag is thinking of where the nice lights are, because Oxford Street (usually) isn't as good as its reputation.

But it is the one people have heard of, so you could try getting the 10 bus from opposite Harrods, going up past the edge of Hyde Park, round Marble Arch (and past Selfridges, whose windows might be good) and then along Oxford Street as far as Bond Street (which might also be pretty) where you can get Jubilee Line tube to Waterloo.

Thanks squirm that sounds perfect.

We're going to get a taxi from the station to harrods. If we manage to get dd on time and park then we could get in at 16:40.

The lights on Sloane Street (next to Harrods) are lovely. Very very simple but pretty. With those and the lights on Knightsbridge and displays in the windows of Harrods and Harvey Nick's you'll see lots of festiveness just in that area.

I wouldn't bother with Oxford St/Regent St.

INeed that sounds perfect. Thanks everyone. Actually I think we will get the tube to harrods will be quicker even if it's busy.

I think staying in Knightsbridge and looking from the street is your best bet. Bear in mind that the buses will be rammed at rush hour, and you may find yourself stuck downstairs not able to see much. Also the windows often get very fogged up at that time of year. So walking a little way and avoiding buses may be a better option.

Thanks everyone we will mooch around Knightsbridge and stick with the tube