Seeing Christmas lights in London

[MissyB1]

So normally we would see a show in London at the end of November, but tickets are out of our budget this year. Need low cost activities instead!
So we would like to see the best lights, is that Oxford street area? And which are the best decorated/ Christmassy shops?

Also is there a shop / department store you would recommend for hot chocolate and cake / light lunch?

If you're not fussy about what you see, you could get the todaytix app. Tickets go on sale on the day for a discounted price at 10am, usually about £20/head.

Picadilly Circus/Oxford Street, Bond Street are usually a good shout. I am also a fan of Liberty and their Christmas shop upstairs.

Carnaby street lights are usually good.

It might sound unlikely but if you don't mind perching at a counter in a crowded food hall, Harrods bakery section have very good cakes and savouries reasonably priced.

Oooh good suggestions already. I have never been in Liberty I know would love it!

There’s a nice route you can do:
Start at Selfridges and admire the window displays.
Walk east down Oxford street
Turn down Bond Street and walk all the way to the bottom.
Turn onto Piccadilly and browse around Fortnum and Mason’s
Continue down to Piccadilly Circus and walk up Regent’s Street until you get to Beak Street on the left. You can use cut down Beak Street to get to Carnaby Street.
Walk north up Carnaby Street to Liberty’s, where you could browse or at least look at the window displays.

That's a great route @Fivemoreminutes1 (think Beak St will come up on your right going up Regent St from Piccadilly)

@Fivemoreminutes1

oh thank you! That’s exactly the kind of thing I need!
And I’ve just been browsing Selfridges eat in options, their pizza place looks fab, and their cupcake cafe.

Bond Street is always my favourite. Then along Piccadilly to see fortnums, then up regent street and then cut over to carnaby street and Liberty.

Oxford street is usually very underwhelming.

Covent Garden always has lovely lights and an enormous christmas tree (always far better than the spindly thing in Trafalgar Square).

I have been wondering this too. Do you think the lights will be the same as usual with the energy prices. i usually visit Fortnums

@LifeOnATrain Yup, sorry Beak Street is on the right. I always get mixed up!

My route has been carefully crafted to NOT go past Hamley’s (because we normally do this route with the 3dc in tow!)

Yes, they won’t be scrimping because of energy prices.

Ok now thinking coffee and cakes in fortnums!

Definitely. Fortnums does Xmas very well!

Fortnums is lovely at Christmas, also nearby Burlington Arcade and Jermyn Strret which leads onto Leicester Square then Covent Garden. There is a delish chocolate shop in jermyn Street or The Wolseley for tea, i think the Lego shop will be fun too. St Martins in the Field church have Carol services and a good cafe in the Crypt if your dd would enjoy that.

Oh my goodness a Carol service would be so nice! And the Lego shop would definitely be a hit! I didn’t know there was one around there.

We often get cheap tickets for the Christmas Carol sing a long at the Albert Hall. Think they are usually a tenner in the gods. But it doesn't matter as you ARE the entertainment.

The lego store is in Leicester Square. St Martins is in Trafalgar Square so very near Regent St and Oxford St. They have various Carol service, kids, baroque, candlelight. You have to book on their website

Good hot chocolate and coffee in Fortnums which also has a good window display.

Ice skating at Somerset House is surprisingly good value. If you go in the evening it's very christmassy with all the fairy lights.

Ha ha I wish I was safe on ice skates but sadly not 😂