Best Area to Stay in London over Christmas

You do realise that there is no public transport on Christmas Day, it starts to run down on Christmas eve and is limited on Boxing Day.

I enjoy the Mayfair neighborhood. Easy access to Winter Wonderland, Leicester Square Christmas Market and theatres, Carnaby, Oxford and Regent Streets for beautiful lights.

This area also has good transport options but as is mentioned above - you'll need to fend for yourself on the actual day. Good walking available from the Green Park area.

We always stay in the area just south of Victoria Station on Belgrave Rd -- Pimlico area. Remember London is pretty well shut down on Christmas Day and the day after (Boxing Day) so plan accordingly especially regarding food.

We stayed at the Hilton on Trafalgar Square so we could walk places Christmas Eve/Day but honestly didn't walk anywhere but Christmas Eve dinner at nearby pub. You could check the Hilton-they might have a reduced price at that time since there won't be business travelers. It's one of my husband's favorite hotels and of course the location can't be beat.

Just because the tube, buses and trains all completely shut down on Christmas Day (with one or two exceptions only) I would suggest staying near whatever you might want to do on Christmas Day and Christmas Eve so that you can walk them, and wherever that is will be good for the rest of the stay.

You may be able to find a taxi if you look very hard on Christmas Day but you'd better know the bank manager real well.

I had been researching a Christmas trip to London and had decided on the Trafalgar Square area. Why? Because London Walks does TWO Christmas day walks and they meet at the big Christmas tree! One is also close to theatres and concerts there. Now we aren't going but I know about it in case we do it next year.
They also do a cool sounding New Year's Eve walk if you are there that long.

Last Christmas we stayed at both Citidines Trafalgar Square and Christmas Eve at Club Quarters Trafalgar Square. We booked a car service to Heathrow to fly home on 26/12. We took in several Christmas programs at the Royal Albert and at St-Martin-in-the Fields. Buses ran to the RA along the lighted shops and streets and we easily walked to St. Martin's. We enjoyed the nightly caroling around the huge lighted tree from Norway at Trafalgar Square and easily walked across the Thames to Southbank and the wonderful Christmas market. We stayed in Marleybone on a previous Christmas and found staying near Trafalgar Square ideal and it's quite near the theaters around Covent Garden. For a bargain room, you might try to book a room at the London School of Economics' Northumberland House over the holidays when the students are absent. It's adjacent to Club Quarters and about a block from Trafalgar Square.

We are traveling over Christmas also. I found a GoldenTours greyline tour that offers a Hop off /Hop on Bus Tour on Christmas day. Their website indicates they pick up near several hotels in the morning and then drop off in the evening in order to get to the tourist areas. None of the tourist sites will be open but we plan on using it as a good way to get orientated to go back when sites are opened. Might get some great pictures with less crowds on Christmas Day.