Lovely London Christmassy thing to do for DC

[Rainallnight]

I’d love some recommendation for our Christmas outing this year. DD is 9, DS 7. We’ve done Kew Gardens lights a couple of times and are ready for something new.

DD not great with loud noises and very busy environments.

thank you!

We mooch around London rather than doing a big “thing”. Fortnums is always on our list then the Christmas lights

My two aren't fans of busy either so we wandered through the parks from Notting hill gate towards Buckingham palace and stopped off at pizza express on the way. We then wandered past Big Ben, over the river and back to Waterloo. It was nice and relaxed and not expensive.

Not fans of busy places? Are you sure London is the right choice for your family?

Well, we live here, so…

Thabks to everyone who’s made suggestions! Keep them coming!

If you live there why ask for suggestions? Surely you know what kinds of things there are to do that your kids would like? Weird. And I’m all about Christmas fun and not being bah humbug at all I just find it odd you’re looking for non busy things to do in the busiest city in the UK at the busiest time of year? 🤷🏻‍♀️

If you live in London, why not venture out to the countryside. Lots of stately home type places do pretty grottos, winter wonderland walks etc. They're often really pretty and peaceful.

One of the ice skating rinks? I think Somerset House is the prettiest, always feels very special.

A Christmas show? The Christmas Carol they do at the Old Vic is magical. They may just be old enough for this.

The water museum at Kew (the place, not the garden) usually does some nice Xmas events -Victorian style fairs for example. Also have a look at the London Wetlands Centre - your DC might be a little old for their Santa, but they also do campfire type things, winter wildlife spotting, and it's lovely on a crisp winter day. London Wildlife Trust also do Xmas events for children which are a bit more understated but really fun. Also check out some of the smaller museums - the Horniman museum for example put on nice Xmas things in their galleries and grounds.

I didn’t think I was. I have a dd who gets overwhelmed by loud noises and busy places and I wouldn’t have been planning to take her to London at Xmas. I didn’t realise in your OP that you lived there so had questioned did you have to choose London (though I guess you could still look at a trip elsewhere). When you replied saying you lived in London I was surprised that you needed to ask. But then London is pretty big so I guess living there doesn’t mean you know everything there is to do…
FWIW I wasn’t being a bitch or certainly wasn’t meaning to. I just thought London at Christmas was kind of synonymous with busy and crowded. Maybe a Christmas lights tour on a bus where you could get on and off would work?

Christmas carols at the Royal Albert Hall are fabulous

London is about 1500 square kilometres in size. There's no way anyone could know everything that's going on at Xmas, and not every part of it is busy. There are loads of lovely, mellow and understated things going on across the city for the whole of December - celebrating all kinds of religious and non-religious events.

Oh my god op I am of no use as I no longer live in London but I can't understand why mumsnet has changed so much

I hope you have a lovely time whatever you plan

The zoo had lots of Christmassy stuff last year https://www.londonzoo.org/plan-your-visit/events/magic-of-christmas

Brigit's bakery in Covent Garden does all year tea bus tours. They have done a Christmas one previously. Book the top deck.

Hampton Court Palace is lovely at Christmas time too. Lots of space there.

We did the Xmas lights open top bus tour about 10 years ago and it was fabulous, but having been in the West End in the evenings in December more recently the traffic seems to be gridlocked so not sure how good it would be.

Christmas Carols at the Royal Albert Hall is good too but crowded getting in and out. Maybe look for similar at smaller theatres?

I'd suggest heading out of London TBH maybe one of the steam railways that do a Christmas train. Go to a Christmas tree farm and cut your own tree.

hi, London mum whose kids also prefer quieter events.

i wrote this post last year which will give an idea of the sheer range of free and local Christmas events available for families. It will be updated nearer the time: https://museummum.com/free-christmas-london/

our hits have been:

• looking at the smaller light displays not in the West End eg Granary Square, ideally not on the weekend
• a smaller light turning on ceremony, usually put on special activities for kids
• one of the smaller Santas grottos - e.g. Sutton House, London Museum
• Magic Circle Christmas family show - done this twice now!
• Meet Santa at London Transport Museum now an annual tradition (a quick low key photo opp)
• did a great fairy wings and crown making session with London Heritage Quarter last year
• family Carol service in St Paul’s - this was quite busy but we managed to get a seat arriving about 25 mins beforehand
• the Snowman at the Peacock Theatre
• immersive theatre show at Battersea Arts Centre
• Meeting artists and having mince pies at Eel Pie Island open studios
• Nativity Service in the church in Lincoln’s Inn Fields / my daughter got to dress up and join in!
• sculpture trail around Fleet Street Quarter (have done The Snowman and penguins)
• go buy a Christmas tree from a farm in Enfield
• the camel procession in Fulham

Open Topped Bus Tour

we went a couple of years back (on the top deck) it was cold but thankfully dry . It is really interesting hearing the history and seeing the lights without the crowds (apart from the other passengers , obvs )

I’m waiting to see what Eltham Palace are offering this year - my DC are the same age as yours and last year their offering was too young but before they’ve done a light trail and funfair which was awesome. There’s also Chelsea Hospital doing something this year that looks really good.

Or we’ve done west end panto before and considering The Snowman this year xx

Don't go to Fortnums. It is absolutely heaving before Christmas. We go every year, but not a place to be if you don't like crowds.

Not necessarily, I went last year, at the very end of November midweek in the evening, just after 7 and it was pretty quiet, had a lovely festive atmosphere with being dark outside and it is always nice seeing it dressed up as an Advent Calendar.

That's not a very child friendly time to go. We were there during the day in the middle week of December and it was just as busy as when we'd been in the last few days before Christmas.