One Christmassy day in London

[sparklyfee]

Please tell me what you would do if you had one day in the lead up to Christmas in London.

We will have DS7 and DS4 with us. Shopping for Christmassy things, looking at lights etc, a Xmas market?

I want a perfect Christmas Day out! I did look at winter wonderland but apparently it's not very good

Hamleys

stepoutsideguides.com Try the Christmas one of these we really enjoyed it

We do treasure trails sometimes so I'll take a look.

Yes, hamleys needs to go on the list!

hydeparkwinterwonderland.com/about-winterwonderland/

This is brilliant

Christmas at Kew, we went last year. It's absolutely magical. Going again this year, it's a perfect start to the Christmas season.

Ice skating at Somerset House, go and look at the Christmas tree in Trafalgar Square, Covent Garden to visit the Christmas market, Oxford and regent street for the lights and Hamleys. All in the same bit of London so minimal travel between things required.

We'll be going to the Portobello winter festival, but eating somewhere else first, as the DC really didn't like the international food on offer.

Some fab ideas thanks.

I heard that winter wonderland was way too busy and my friend couldn't get in.

They were glad they hadn't bought advance tickets so we are planning to avoid that.

Hamleys always gets extremely busy at Xmas time! Think sardines and if you have a buggy just don't bother (been two years in a row and waited 30 mins for a lift - the place had 6 floors!!) !! I am sure it was actually very dangerous as if there had been a fire or similar no one would have been able to get out properly! A walk along the south bank is nice - lots of stalls etc out and obviously to see the lights but again the Main Street is very very busy.

There is ice skating outside the natural history museum

• Kew at Christmas is really fantastic
• South bank market
• Covent Garden usually has a reindeer
• See window displays at Liberty and Fortnum & Mason
• Christmas shops at Selfridges and Harrods
• Christmas lights on Regent & Oxford St.
• Icing skating at Somerset House or Natural History Museum
• Royal Albert Hall do lovely events for kids

If you get to Hamley’s at opening time it will be slightly less hellish than if you go later!

Yes to Royal Albert Hall concerts, also we did an open top bus tour of the lights last year after dark, beautiful but very, very cold.

I’ve always thought Hamleys a bit ordinary. Much prefer Harrods toy department and their Christmas shop.

Kew Gardens gets all sparkly at Xmas. My two used to love it sparkly or not when they were little

Kew added to the list!

I'll check out the royal Albert hall for the dates we visit.

Covent Garden, south bank and seeing the lights all must be done too.

We found Harrods toy department a bit underwhelming last year, and the decorations department - John Lewis was better for the latter.

I found kew Christmas trail a bit boring. Although, I think for younger kids they would enjoy it. There’s a little kids panto that lasts for about 5mins as well. Everything is super expensive such as the food stalls. Remember to wrap up warm if you go!