Christmas Week in London
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2016
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Christmas Week in London
I am planning a trip to London from December 21-28, 2016. I am looking for ideas/things to do with my husband and two daughters (ages 17 & 20). While we look forward to seeing the holiday spirit and decorations in Hyde Park, we do not celebrate Christmas, so we aren't really interested in Christmas shows, etc. Any suggestions? Thank you!
#3
Pantomimes are only Christmas shows in the sense that are only on at Christmas.
There are several temporary outdoor skating rinks, I like the one at Somerset House.
Not sure what holiday spirit you are looking for. If it is mega-crowds of shoppers you will have come to the right place.
There are several temporary outdoor skating rinks, I like the one at Somerset House.
Not sure what holiday spirit you are looking for. If it is mega-crowds of shoppers you will have come to the right place.
#4
Join Date: Apr 2003
Posts: 17,268
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hyde Park is just one of many London parks, with a small part given over to a commercial pop-up Christmas theme park with some silly brand name, practically indistinguishable from other commercial Christmas theme parks in many other European cities. And, to my mind, part of the reason many people get iffy about public Christmas events. Other than that, there are no particular Christmas decorations in the park - or any others I can think of.
What London does moderately well are street decorations through most of the main thoroughfares in the centre from early Dec to Jan 6). We don't really do department-store Christmas windows (we don't really do department stores much these days really: they are a bit 1950s), and most are stripped out by Christmas Eve anyway.
I suspect by "Christmas shows" you mean things like Radio City: we don't do that sort of thing either. BUT:
- You'd be absurdly dogmatic if you allowed your distaste for our national celebration of the family to keep you away from pantomimes, Britain's traditional Christmas-time theatrical treat. Usually about a dozen somewhere around the London tube system.
- Dozens going on scores of light classical concerts and the like in all sorts of venues from churches to the very largest classical auditoria. Opera houses and specialist dance theatres do a decent line in pop classics, like Nutcracker and the Mozart biggies
- London's incomparable range of other kinds of theatre typically sells out fast over Xmas, so you need to book in advance (https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/whats-on is reasonably complete)
One other set of pop-ups is ice-skating rinks in grand picturesque settings. Christmas temps here are VERY mild by most North American or Continental standards, so there's something rather weird about ice-skating at 50 F. A list of last year's at http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/de...est-ice-rinks/
Time Out, London's major listings magazines, has now published its first stab at its 2016 Xmas edition (http://www.timeout.com/london/christmas ). Most of the blurbs so far DO seem to refer to Xmas 2016: typically the runup to Xmas DOES start in mid-July here.
What London does moderately well are street decorations through most of the main thoroughfares in the centre from early Dec to Jan 6). We don't really do department-store Christmas windows (we don't really do department stores much these days really: they are a bit 1950s), and most are stripped out by Christmas Eve anyway.
I suspect by "Christmas shows" you mean things like Radio City: we don't do that sort of thing either. BUT:
- You'd be absurdly dogmatic if you allowed your distaste for our national celebration of the family to keep you away from pantomimes, Britain's traditional Christmas-time theatrical treat. Usually about a dozen somewhere around the London tube system.
- Dozens going on scores of light classical concerts and the like in all sorts of venues from churches to the very largest classical auditoria. Opera houses and specialist dance theatres do a decent line in pop classics, like Nutcracker and the Mozart biggies
- London's incomparable range of other kinds of theatre typically sells out fast over Xmas, so you need to book in advance (https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/whats-on is reasonably complete)
One other set of pop-ups is ice-skating rinks in grand picturesque settings. Christmas temps here are VERY mild by most North American or Continental standards, so there's something rather weird about ice-skating at 50 F. A list of last year's at http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/de...est-ice-rinks/
Time Out, London's major listings magazines, has now published its first stab at its 2016 Xmas edition (http://www.timeout.com/london/christmas ). Most of the blurbs so far DO seem to refer to Xmas 2016: typically the runup to Xmas DOES start in mid-July here.
#5
>>Pantomimes are only Christmas shows in the sense that are only on at Christmas.<<
And you should definitely go to at least one of them.
Last year I went to the first ever Panto (Dick Whittington) at Wilton's Music Hall and it was a hoot. I don't know for sure they are doing one this year but it was such a hit I'm sure it will become a tradition.
I also saw Cinderella at the Lyric Hammersmih . . . Different shows would be offered this year and there are other venues.
And you should definitely go to at least one of them.
Last year I went to the first ever Panto (Dick Whittington) at Wilton's Music Hall and it was a hoot. I don't know for sure they are doing one this year but it was such a hit I'm sure it will become a tradition.
I also saw Cinderella at the Lyric Hammersmih . . . Different shows would be offered this year and there are other venues.
#6
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,038
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
If you don't celebrate Christmas, why bother to go then ? Perhaps because the kids have vacation time ? The weather is likely to be miserable ( rain and yet more rain), and it will make you miserable. Christmas 2007 was SO bad that I vowed never to return at that time. May is the best month to go, and that is after many years to living there.
Trending Topics
#9
<B>brighton: </B>>>Curious whether the rain comments scared you off<<
Why on earth would rain comments scare anyone off. If they did, no one would travel to the UK . . . ever. You do know it rains -- even in summer, right?
>>We are currently deciding between Marriotts.<<
If you do need advice/suggestions - maybe start a new thread
Why on earth would rain comments scare anyone off. If they did, no one would travel to the UK . . . ever. You do know it rains -- even in summer, right?
>>We are currently deciding between Marriotts.<<
If you do need advice/suggestions - maybe start a new thread
#12
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 57,886
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Yes, be aware that public transit does not operate on the 25th and MANY restaurants are closed so you need to have reservations or have picked a place within walking distance of your hotel. The 26th is also a holiday in the UK, but I believe that some public transit is operational.
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
marvelousmouse
Europe
49
Sep 7th, 2017 01:02 PM
vacaman2
Europe
5
Dec 4th, 2014 06:07 PM