There is no place like London around Christmas time. The city centre is full of amazing Christmas lights, there is a smell of mulled wine in the air, there are more Christmas trees than I can bother counting and the ice skating rink are all prettier than the last.
1.
Go see the Nutcracker
It is the most Christmassy ballet that you will ever see, the music by Tchaikovsky is magical and I can Guaranty that you will skip all the way home! And maybe think of starting a ballet class in January…
Here is the plot: On one sparkling Christmas Eve in a frost-dusted Edwardian London, Clara and her enchanted Nutcracker doll discover a magical world, where she battles with the Mouse King and meets a handsome stranger.
2.
Go to a reading of Charles Dickens Christmas Carol
Every year the Charles Dickens museum organize readings of “A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens by an actor or a professional story teller. A beautiful moment in the House of Dickens decorated for Christmas!
Tickets: http://dickensmuseum.com
3.
Go ice skating!
Put your Skates on at Somerset House, Tower of London or at the Natural History Museum. Skating at the Tower is very special as the skating rink is in the Moat of the tower of London, 1000 years of history surrounds you. A magical moment.
This is a picture of my favourite ice skating rink: Somerset house. Yes, the setting of the rink is less impressive than the tower of London but the mulled wine, the music and the beautiful Christmas tree offered by Fortnum and Mason make it my favourite place to skate.
4.
Roam the Christmas Market on the South Bank
It is a small market but they have a few good stalls with old board games and ancient books. The perfect place to find unusual gifts ideas.
5.
Go to Greenwich
Walk the little street, drink mulled wine, enjoy the very quaint Christmas market and head back to the city by boat to admire the Thames and the riverside. A perfect afternoon in perspective!
6.
Go to Richmond Park
I know we don’t have reindeer but you can always go watch the deer play as they are the closest thing to them really and they are beautiful! A soothing moment in the Christmas madness! Then head back to the village, get yourself a nice hot chocolate and drink it by the river watching the swan go by and disappear in the fog.
7.
Visit Hampton Court Palace all decorated for Christmas
The occasion to visit the palace’s famous Tudor kitchens, taste a pie cooked with a recipe from Henry the VIIIth time, see a costumed Anne Boleyn roam the corridors of the castle and skate in the castle grounds.
8.
Go to Winter Wonderland
This year is the 11th year of Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park!
It is the biggest Christmas fair in the UK with a huge Christmas market, an observation wheel and the biggest Ice skating rink in England!It is always a good laugh and it’s nice to see so many happy people in the same place if you don’t mind queuing British style for a cup of mulled wine.
9.
Listen to Christmas Carols in St Martin in the fields
This old tradition is always a nice one, just don’t sing too loud if you decide to sing along, the acoustic is amazing in the church so unless you want to die of embarrassment just hum along!
Have a great christmas everyone!
