Christmas outing in London/Surrey for 9 and 13 year old

[TwigTheWonderKid]

Last year we went to Harry Potter Studios. Is Dennis Severs' House more suited to adults?

Not ice skating, Lapland UK or Winter Wonderland. Any other suggestions?

Dennis Severs house would probably be a bit boring for the 9 year old. Kew Christmas lights are fantastic, and Royal Albert Hall has lots of nice events but unsure of age suitability.

We did the Kew lights a ref ew years ago and were on the whole a little underwhelmed by them (and totally overwhelmed by the cost of refreshments!). I'm guessing they are quite similar each year?

Have booked a Christmas big band jazz thing at RAH which I suspect kids may hate but I will love!

We live abroad but I'm from London. When we come in December, (DC 10 and 7), we walk around seeing lights, go to Hamlet's and Harrod's toy stores for a play, eat some food (nowhere pricey...like Maxwell's in Covent Garden or similar) and sometimes take them to one of the West End cinemas. It all adds up but not as expensive as stuff like Winter Wonderland, and it's nice to be flexible when you don't know how the crowds and weather will be.

Yes the Kew lights used to be rubbish so they invested a lot more in them, last year was really great.

There is Winterville at Clapham Common but might be too much like Winter Wonderland for you (not actually been). I want to see the Nutcracker. Following with interest as want to do things in the same area.

The old vic has performances of a Christmas carol. People seem to like the southbank market although I wouldn’t recommend. I usually enjoy a walk over Covent Garden with a nice hot chocolate and look around the shops.

Carols around the tree at Trafalgar Square

There is some sort of immersive experience called Alice in winter land at southwark Park, I’m not keen on winterville. Also look at backyard cinema.