London - Last minute trip before Christmas. Would you?

[Workyticket]

Madness or loads of fun?

Would be me, DH and ds who is 9. We've been before but not for years.

Wondering where we could stay / what we could get up to last minute. Maybe the 20th and 21st?

[Titsywoo]

@Workyticket

Friends of ours are stuck on an overcrowded train back from London so we'd definitely prefer to drive now!

What do I need to know about charges please? We'd literally drive to a hotel and park up (Probably Tower Bridge Premier Inn. We've stayed there before unless i can find another with parking) then the car would sit there for 2 days

Just hit pay on this page and you can put in your reg number then it tells you which you need to pay tfl.gov.uk/modes/driving/pay-to-drive-in-london

[Titsywoo]

@HundredMilesAnHour

If you do drive in remember you will need to pay ULEZ as well as the congestion charge now (depending on what car you have). London is fine at the moment

Fine apart from gridlocked much of the time. Between deliberate road closures, roadworks, tube strikes and people driving in because they mistakenly think it'll be quiet, some of the main road arteries in/out of London are horrendous. Where I live traffic is now stationary from 2pm in the afternoon. It's worse than before Covid.

Glad DH is working from home now as he used to drive to Canary Wharf every day and it was often awful. I always get the train or drive up in the later evening which is generally quiet.

[TheFutureIs]

We're booked to go to London for a few nights just before Christmas. We've booked the Natural History Museum. Planning on going to Buckingham Palace and probably the Diana playground. Little one is desperate to see "Paddington's" house so will head to that and probably do Camden market at the same time. I want to do Covent Garden, Liberty's and Carnaby Street lights

[DedalusBloom]

Don't drive once you're in London it's completely pointless.

Winter wonderland has more atmosphere once it's dark - you can't see the sparkles during the day.

Bond Street lights have been beautiful for the past few years. Carnaby street also a good shout and the food court at Kingly Court is handy. Also: Liberty < genuflects>

Get to as many things including shops and museums for the second they open where possible

Christmas trees in the city at The Royal Exchange// Mansion house are all lovely. Trafalgar Square this year is very sad looking ( sorry Norway, and thank you!)

Southwark cathedral and lots of churches have bookable Carol services between now and Christmas.

[alh26]

Definitely go! I'm 27 and live in London, you won't be more at risk than anywhere else.

Go ice skating at national history museum or Somerset House. Science museum is also great. If uou can get tickets the lights at Kew Gardens are beautiful. Oxford St and regent St are so pretty at the moment.

Avoid winter wonderland - overpriced and over crowded. Southbank sometimes have market stalls.

Matilda is a great theatre show If that's in budget. Have fun!