Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Christmas

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

Flip

1 2

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?

OP posts:

butterfly990 · 17/09/2017 08:05

Many years ago we went to midnight mass at The Chapel Royal at Hampton Court Palace for Christmas Eve.

As I recall it is only a small chapel and they let regulars in first and then visitors.

BeaLola · 18/09/2017 14:17

re The Snowman at the Peacock - watch for offers- last year I got 2 for 1 on top prie tockets if I went on a Thursday night - saved me a fortune & was magical.

Christmas Lights in Piccadilly - beautiful

Original poster

SpiritedLondon · 19/09/2017 18:42

Thank you for all those suggestions

OP posts:

SpringBreak · 19/09/2017 18:47

The museum of London do a Victorian Christmas which is lovely
Olympia horse show

Original poster

SpiritedLondon · 19/09/2017 19:24

Oh Olympia horse show! I forgot all about that. Went as a teenager I think and saw Harvey Smith jump the puissance ( showing my age).

OP posts:

SpringBreak · 20/09/2017 08:45

oh my god that would have blown my mind! I tried to book puissance night earlier in the week but it's already sold out - thought I'd got there smugly early this time but no. It's still wonderful and the First Nowell with santa in his sleigh and all the shetlands makes me well up every single time!
(I had a lesson with H. Smith once - a group clinic sort of thing, I was only about 12. "give yer pony a good pull in the mouth" was the advice)

maybeitsbecauseim · 21/09/2017 10:28

What age would you recommend the Nutcracker from? Haven't yet taken DC (6) to a full ballet and worried it may be a bit long/dull to sit through at that age?

SunSeptember · 21/09/2017 10:53

i took my 5 year old - and was amazed - she sat through enraptured! but my other dd - no bloody chance!

HoldMeCloserTonyDanza · 21/09/2017 11:07

I think lots of 6yos would be fine but I wouldn't want to chance it if it was the first time they had ever done something like that iykwim? Unless they really loved ballet.

Kew looks really good. Has anyone been before - is there a grotto to visit Father Christmas? It isn't clear on the web page if he's actually there all evening or not. Is there a long wait to see him if he is?

HoldMeCloserTonyDanza · 21/09/2017 11:08

Also anyone who's been before - what's the food like? Food carts or open restaurants and again, are there long lines?

Thanks in advance

MrsSchadenfreude · 21/09/2017 11:16

Fortnums is lovely and Christmassy with fabulous windows. And the lights in Bond Street and Carnaby Street are usually good.

South Bank can be fun (Christmas market) but also a bit of a crush.

GimbleInTheWabe · 21/09/2017 11:22

There's a new winter festival opening near me in Crystal Palace park. Think it's called 'Crystal Palace winter fest'. Similar to winter wonderland but will hopefully be less busy/trashy. Looks like they're trying to get as many local traders there which is good and the restaurants in Crystal Palace are fab. It is its first year though so could end up being a shambles!

wendz86 · 21/09/2017 12:37

Best father christmas i have used in london is at duke of york square in chelsea and is free. You book a time and he talks to the kids for a bit and then you get a pic which they e-mail you. They usually start taking booking Oct. Books up very quick. I'm pretty sure he is the real deal haha.

Original poster

SpiritedLondon · 21/09/2017 20:16

maybe I did take my DD5 to a Sadlers Wells ballet production of Cinderella this year but it was marketed as My First Ballet so not too long. I would love to go to the Nutcracker at the ROH but I don't want to fork out £150+ if she is not going to sit properly to the end. I think this year we might do the Snowman and maybe reconsider next year.

OP posts:

SunSeptember · 21/09/2017 21:22

Spirited are all the cheap 10 pounds seats gone?

SunSeptember · 21/09/2017 21:28

Just had a look op, certain days are sold out but others still have the cheap seats at the top, if you can get front row and further back they are excellent value. I know, I have sat down in stalls, in a box and up in the gods... in gods if you are further away from stage but front row as it were they really are brilliant, better in my opionon than being in half way price seat but right at rear of auditoriam.

ChippyMinton · 21/09/2017 21:45

English National Ballet at the Coliseum usually have a Nutcracker production.

Last year we loved La Soiree cabaret, which was in a tent in Leicester Square, but is in the Aldwych Theatre this year - adults only though!

Original poster

SpiritedLondon · 21/09/2017 21:52

sun. I think they were for the dates I'm looking at - but I didn't check every day.

OP posts:

bakingaddict · 21/09/2017 21:52

We went to Kew at Christmas last year, it was a bit meh. I wouldn't bother travelling into London for it IMO.

maybeitsbecauseim · 22/09/2017 08:44

Thanks everyone! We've done the Snowman and My First Ballet too, so may try and up the stakes with Nutcracker this year...

I don't remember a Santa's grotto at Kew last year, although didn't specifically look for one. It was more just wondering round in the dark past lots of pretty light displays, some mulled wine stands and a fairground. We quite enjoyed it but I wouldn't travel far for it TBH.

More low key, but I always enjoy a wonder along the South Bank around Christmas time - there are usually a couple of markets there, plus street performers, carousels, etc. It is free, the views across the river are lovely and it doesn't feel as busy as the Winter Wonderland type events.

Holidayaddict · 27/09/2017 18:22

You can do a 2.5hr open top bus tour of the Christmas Lights. Little bird have a good deal on tickets atm. They also have a deal on the Ideal Home at Christmas show that I was considering.

Did Kew Gardens a few years ago and was not impressed but may have improved after lots of negative feedback. Syon Park Enchanted Woodland was much better (& cheaper!).

Flip

1 2