London Christmas day trip

[Justforchristmas]

Please could you give me your recommendations for things to do in London for day trip in December. Travelling with an older teenager and 10 year who wouldn't mind visiting Santa. So far I am thinking at seeing the lights on Oxford/ regent Street. A mooch in Fortnum and Masons and Selfridges. Possibly a trip on a cable car. Interested in anything that isn't ££££ and will appeal across ages groups.

What about a christmassy show and afternoon tea?

I might just be saying what I fancy! 😂

Covent Garden is lovely, especially at Christmas

Second Covent Garden. Fortnum and Masons is worth looking insides, Selfridges is more the outside windows. I'd also try to go skating at Somerset House.

Ice skating is a great shout!

Get to Fortnum and Mason for opening. Then you’ll have a lovely relaxed wander around. Leave it too late and there’s queues to get in and it’s packed. Not sure if it gets better later in the day as you could combine with the Bond Street lights which are pretty impressive.

Fortnum and Mason gets quieter again in the last hour or so before closing and seeing the outside all lit up at night is a must. One of the best things we ever did was an open top bus tour to see the lights after dark, but the traffic in the West End seems to be gridlocked in the evenings now and the pavements rammed too. Might be worth checking for recent reviews.

So the lights need to be after dark, check dusk time for your planned date

The Carnaby Street lights are usually the best in the W End, and the teen might like Liberty.

Ice Skating at Somerset House?

Time Out always has good lists of things to do and see in the run up to Christmas, the S Bank Centre generally has lots of free stuff.

We are going in December and doing the London dungeons, Selfridge's for Jellycats(My daughter did the Jellycats fish and chips experience last year). We've also booked a table for The Italian bear cafe in Soho. It looks amazing going by the videos.

I loved going into Liberty

Hyde Park Winter Wonderland, perhaps? My idea of hell, but kids love it.

There are free Christmas Carols in Trafalgar Square. And other Xmas performances nearby at St Martin's in the Fields.

Thank you for all the suggestions, especially the tips on seeing the lights.

The cable car is well out of the main area - it takes you to the 02, not very Christmassy.

Stay in central London. Covent Garden is lovely at Christmas and the ice skating at Somerset House is nice.

Londoner here. Don’t do Winter Wonderland, it’s really expensive and there’s so much great free stuff in the city anyway. For lights, Oxford St, Regent St and all the displays on Old Bond St are lovely. Covent Garden has a big Xmas tree plus the market for a wander around. It’s a very Christmassy area usually with pop up bars and so on. Selfridges windows are lovely as are Fortnum’s. Your youngest might like Hamleys still. M&M World is also fun for a browse and some sweet buying. The museums are mostly free so you could add one of those if you have time

Winter Wonderland is a total money pit.

I would do covent garden and the ice skating while it is still light, then aim to get to Oxford street/regent street in the later afternoon when it is dark to make the most of the lights.

Covent Garden generally has a Christmas market or alternatively to head over waterloo bridge to the south bank Christmas market - there will be lots of food stalls etc.

If you're going to Somerset house, book a slot early as it does get booked up.

A short stroll from there is the Peacock theatre which shows the snowman if that's something your kids would still enjoy. Or perhaps look at theatre deal websites to see if there's a deal on any show tickets for the evening.

Once it is starting to get dark catch a bus from Aldwych/the strand down to Oxford St/regent street as that will give you the best views of the lights and you will pass the Trafalgar square Christmas tree en route. My personal favourite Christmassy shops are Liberty and Hamleys. For DS the lego store is an essential visit.

Def go to Cov gdn then walk to Leicester Square which has a Christmas market - free to wander around. Then there’s Lego store and m&m store there too.

As someone else mentioned already the jellycat shop in Selfridges. Last year Selfridges had Christmas gospel singers and performers - have a look to see if doing the same again this year. Was v entertaining to watch and free. Massive Primark nearby nr Marble Arch (not especially Christmassy but mine love Primark!).

F&M will be rammed and unpleasant - I wouldn’t go inside but they usually have a nice window display.

Ice skating at Somerset house - I would book soon as gets v booked up. From there can walk to Trafalgar sq - see tree (usually underwhelming but need to see it 🤣) then onto Cov gdn.

The ice skating at Battersea Power station is good and the actual ice rink much bigger than any of the others. The power station shopping centre is really nice too, can imagine there will be lovely decorations and there is a lego shop and all the usual brands that teens like.