2 Days In London in December

We went up the Shard a week or so ago and the views are astonishing. Dearer than the London Eye but much, much more spectacular views. In addition you can stay up there as long as you like.
It is cheaper if you book ticket in advance but in December it might be worth an extra fiver to be sure of a clear day.
If you are at all interested in sport try to go to a Premier League football game although tickets can be bit difficult to obtain.

Well, the V&A, the Science Museum and the Natural History Museum are no-brainers if you are museum goers and are staying in South Kensington. Or check out the Serpentine!

For shopping and decorations, walk into Chelsea and stroll up the King’s Road to Sloan Square. Or walk through Hyde park to the West End and take in the bustle on Oxford Street and the amazing Christmas lights! Be sure to check out Carnaby Street – the decorations are fantastic: hundreds of huge gold records hung about.

Or just start at Harrods (87-135 Brompton Road), which is decked out like mad around Christmas, then walk up the Brompton Road and have a pint at the Bunch of Grapes (207 Brompton Road), a nearly perfectly-preserved Victorian pub.

Covent Garden can be crammed at Christmas but it’s wonderful – excellent street performers, terrific decorations, wonderful people-watching. We like the Round House pub nearby (1 Garrick St) for a pub lunch. The Lamb and Flag (33 Rose St) is gorgeous, but you may not be able to get inside. It’s ridiculously rammed at lunch and especially around Christmas. (Searching for someplace with a seat is how we found the Round House.)

Further afield (but just a short tube ride) is Camden – a visit to the Stables Market is really fun. It’s a warren of cobbled lanes studded here and there with immense bronze statues of horses and carts and blacksmiths and whatnot, with stall after stall of merchandise – everything from the cheap-n-cheesy to excellent antiques to alternative fashion to crafts to crazy vintage finds. There is food galore – fish ‘n’ chips, Chinese, Tibetan, Mexican, Indian, and more. Stroll south along Camden High Street – and be sure to take time to check out Regent’s Canal and its towpath.

And that is just off the top of my head! London at Christmas is AMAZING.

I always go to London for Thanksgiving and the lights are already up. So pretty. Check out the Christmas windows at Harrods, Selfridges and Fortnum & Mason. Lots of ice skating rinks. And Winter Wonderland through January 4. http://www.hydeparkwinterwonderland.com/

Can any one ice skate? The rink one at the Natural History Museum is popular and you could visit the lovely museum as well. The rink at the Somerset House. Definitely a Panto. (pantomime) !!! Timeout magazine will start listing them in November. Hysterical and a traditional festivity. Lights on Oxford street. I'd also check on line when the Santa Dash is to take place. Spitafields Art Market. Southbank Center Market. Lastly, check Timeout for choral or music performances. Try a neighborhood church. Most enjoyable.

Try and find a carol service in one of London's lovely old Wren churches.

In addition to the stores better known to Americans like Harrods and Fortnum and Mason, go to Liberty to see its Christmas decorations.

I don't have much more to add beyond what other travelers have recommended. When I was in London I enjoyed the markets and decorations on the shopping streets (such as Oxford and Bond Street). There is a Finnish Christmas Market that was pretty interesting (hope it is still the same as it was a few years ago) and you can find more information here (www.finnishchurch.org.uk).

After you have done the London Eye, try to walk east along the South Bank. Usually there are some booths selling various Christmassy things - and then visit the Boroughs Market (you'll need a map for that) :-)