Christmas Day trip to London with 13 year old

[Halfachristmas]

Hi , going to London for a day trip late November on a Friday, any recommendations of Christmassy things to see or do appreciated. He loves Camden so we will be visiting there but not sure what else to do.

walking around central seeing all the Christmas lights is nice to do, we always head to Oxford Circus, carnaby steet and Covent Garden.

Winter wonderland at Hyde park

Southbank Christmas market

Battersea power station

ice skating at NHM or Somerset house (not sure if they still do it at these places, they used to)

Thank you will look into those

Coven garden is nice. No ice rink at NHM now I don't think - sure I saw they had opened something in the space.

If you go winter wonderland go very early, it gets very busy and it's very expensive.

Would he like a show - something like back to the future?

Thanks he might like a show , we saw back to the future last year though.

Operation mincemeat is one that I always see recommended that looks like it might be suitable age wise.

Ah I thought from the title you were taking him on Christmas Day ( I thought you're bonkers )

Sadly Oxford Street is a bit rubbish compared to what it was . When DD was a teen we went on the 23rd to have a nosy , just last minute things but no mad panic buying . more FOMO.

Selfridges was always lovely
Libertys
Never got round to Harrods

Last year we went on an OpenTop Bus Tour , I could never appreciate the lights from the street as it is too busy to stand or walk just looking .

SouthBank they have lights and a Christmas Market

Borough Market is nice , some good food stalls

Not been to Winter Wonderland for years but it got busy and ££ over time but if you like FunFair rides it's worth a look.

This year I want to try and get to Dennis Severs House at Christmas

My DS13 preferred Greenwich last year to Central London, he loved the ice skating in front of the Old Naval College, the lights around the Cutty Sark were nice, plenty of places to stop off for hot chocolate and pizza, and the DLR journey in the dark from the City to Greenwich was also a hit as he got to look at all the lights on the way.

If you want to stay central, then you could try to visit Fortnums as their Christmas windows are usually excellent (be prepared to queue to get inside though), and there was a small ice rink at the back of Regents Street last year which looked interesting.

Westfield at Shepherds Bush was also a pre Christmas hit for the teenagers.

We were just deciding whether or not to do panto this year but we’ve decided to take the kids to Camden market instead to try all the viral foods from there (they’re getting a bit older now). We’re also going to go to Hyde park Winter Wonderland and walk down regents street on another day 🎅