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Christmas

From present ideas to party food, find all your Christmas inspiration here.

Original poster

Christmas in London

46 replies

SpiritedLondon · 15/09/2017 11:06

Although we live on the Surrey / London borders we generally find ourselves elsewhere at Christmas ( Cornwall and the Midlands). This year we're actually at home and family are travelling to us. I'm looking for some great places that we can go to to really make it special. I'm thinking of a show of some sort and a visit to Father C. Any little gems hidden away that I might not know about? We have one DD5 and the rest are adults. I did think of the Nutcracker at the RoH but I think I've left it too late for tickets. Other than that the lights at Kew Gardens. What am I missing?

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ACurlyWurly · 15/09/2017 11:45

Watching with interest, I am in London on the weekend of 27 November with my DW and am looking for hidden gems and things to do for grown ups. We have done Winter Wonderland and before and are looking for something different.

SunSeptember · 15/09/2017 11:47

Def nutcracker if you can check their gods seats at the top....

Also never been but the wilton theatre looks soo owonderful and atmospheric, mine our too young but hopefully next year and also - Daniel Servers house looks amazing too.

BoudicasBoudoir · 15/09/2017 11:59

Denis Severs' house by candlelight is good, though not great for younger kids, I would say. They ask you to be quiet while going round; actually I was a bit annoyed by all the laminated signs everywhere asking us not to talk. Laminated signs ruin the 'authentic' atmosphere almost as much as talking, I thought.

The Geffrye Museum has a nice Christmassy display too, from memory.

Somerset House ice rink is fun, particularly after dark.

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SpiritedLondon · 15/09/2017 12:01

OMG winter wonderland.....we've done it once and it was torture...so crowded and expensive. Although to be fair DD was probably 2 so it wasn't really the right event at that time. Teenagers would probably love it.

Daniel Severs house? Is that the one that's perfectly preserved in East London? Will have a look. Unfortunately my MIL died last year the week before Christmas so we never made it to the Panto or Father C that I had booked so I really want to double efforts this year.

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SpiritedLondon · 15/09/2017 12:02

Cross post sorry

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SunSeptember · 15/09/2017 12:10

Laminated signs ruin the 'authentic' atmosphere almost as much as talking, I thought
Oh no, that would irritate the hell out of me as well, have you emailed them to complain about this?
I have not been there yet but had my eye on it for year...

GoodLuckTime · 15/09/2017 12:15

The museums! London empties out over Christmas and many of the classics that are otherwise heaving during school holidays (Tate Modern, Natural History Museum) are blissfully quiet. Likewise the parks on cold crisp days.

Skip the 'CHRISTMAS' official stuff, that's for day tripping amateurs Wink

shakemysilliesout · 15/09/2017 14:33

The snowman ballet is lovely

CrankyTheCrane · 15/09/2017 14:38

How old are the kids? The best place we've ever seen FC is Bocketts Farm near Guildford. The kids go on a tractor ride to a big barn built out of hay bales. It's really well done.

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SpiritedLondon · 15/09/2017 16:31

The Snowman definitely could work for me and DD. Bocketts is just down the road and I did try to get tickets last year but was too late. I'm " on it" this year though. Museums might work between Christmas and New Year if it's quiet.

Any alternatives to Liberty for nice decorations? It's lovely but awkwardly positioned and was hell on earth in there.... but maybe we just need to go earlier ( we only buy 1 or 2 just in case you think we're made of money)

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SpiritedLondon · 15/09/2017 16:32

Kid singular is 5.

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Belle1409 · 15/09/2017 16:33

Kew at Christmas is great, but tickets sell out fast!

ButFirstTea · 15/09/2017 16:39

Go and see a film at Backyard Cinema. They have a winter wonderland/enchanted forest that you walk through to get to a huge cinema room, everyone sits on beanbags and there's fairy lights and decorations everywhere. It's incredible. Last year we saw Elf and the year before it was It's A Wonderful Life. Doesn't matter if you've seen it before, it's a magic experience.

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 15/09/2017 21:53

I took DD to see The Little Matchgirl a couple of years ago but IIRC there's a minimum age.

The Snowman is lovely (both of these show at The Peacock)

DS went to see The Snowman when he was 5yo, he's nearly 18 now and still remembers it.

Though he did shout "That's a man, that's a man dressed up" Xmas Blush

Solasum · 15/09/2017 22:00

If you like Christmas carols, the Carol service at St Margaret's Westminster is very atmospheric and not as crowded as the Abbey

KC225 · 15/09/2017 23:13

Enchanted woodland at Soon Park is much better than the light at Kew. Try to book a carol concert at Festival Hall. Very Christmas's. Christmas morning has to be a walk in Richmond be Park. It's packed with Christmas walkers and everyone is in a good mood wishing each other Merry Christmas

TwigTheWonderKid · 15/09/2017 23:32

For a really magical FC experience the grotto at Painshill Park is wonderful : www.painshill.co.uk/father-christmas-in-the-crystalgrotto/

Saffydarling · 16/09/2017 07:45

The grotto at Chessington garden centre is very good. Watch a short film before entering their wonderland made up of various different snowy/xmas scenes before meeting FC.

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 16/09/2017 08:07

One of the seasonal skating rinks at Hampton Court etc? Used to take a visiting niece as well as dds, always popular and very Christmassy.

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SpiritedLondon · 16/09/2017 08:11

Chessington is good but we've done it a couple of times now ( it's quite close to where we live ) so I'm keen to try something different. I've looked at Bocketts farm before but had forgotten about Painshill park.

I think the Snowman looks great and I am a member at Sadlers Wells so could get some discounted tickets - not sure the other adults will love it as much as me and DD. ( could do it before they arrive). I'm going to see if something like Mathilda is available but I'm guessing I can't afford it for 6 of us.

Loving all these other suggestions - I've signed up for email alerts for Backyardcinema but it did imply it was a waiting list ( already? Could it be a waiting list already?).

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SpiritedLondon · 16/09/2017 08:13

I think I was about 13 the last time I skated but HC would be a lovely back drop.

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AnnPerkins · 16/09/2017 08:25

We have tickets in the gods for Matilda on Boxing Night. They were about £30 each.

Last year on Boxing Day we went to the Science Museum, which was pretty quiet. The following day we went to the NMH and queued for an hour to get in, despite arriving before it opened.

fucksakefay · 16/09/2017 08:54

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 17/09/2017 01:13

One lovely thing we took a visiting niece to one year was The Nutcracker at the Royal Opera House. It's expensive and you do have to book early, but it's magical. There were lots of little kids there when we went.

Hollyhop17 · 17/09/2017 07:37

Carols by candlelight at the Royal Albett Hall. They have a daytime one suitable for kids. Its magical!

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