I have a last minute business trip to Cambridge next week and I scheduled time to meet with friends, but they can't. So, I have found a hotel in London at good rate near Paddington. I've stayed in the area before. But I would love any suggestions for things to see and do at that time of year. Are there special Christmas places to go? I may do some Christmas shopping despite anticipated high prices, but maybe someone has suggestions?
Pam
If you are into James Bond at all, there is an amazing exhibit at the film museum near Convent Garden. Visited a few weeks ago and took like a hundred photos:)The entire exhibit is top notch:
http://tinyurl.com/nr9f9yz
Thanks Michael...
Take the tube (or the train) out to Kew and go to Kew Gardens. If you don't want to tour the gardens (they are wonderful even in winter), they will let you go into the shop for about 15-20 min. for no charge. It is one of the BEST places to shop for gifts. I LOVE it!
Covent Garden is also fun for shopping in winter. Each day has different crafts people and different themes, but we usually found Friday and Saturday to be excellent days for finding unique (often hand made) items.
The Hyde Park Winter Wonderland in London with its Christmas market is pretty to walk through in the evening when all the decorations and lights are lit. If you have any extra time while still in Cambridge there are two National Trust properties that will be decorated for Christmas and have special activities going on that are worth a visit. Look up Anglesey Abbey, Gardens and Lode Mill or the Wimpole Estate.
Look at the South Bank Christmas markets, Covent Garden, Marylebone and Kings Road for some different shops rather than the chains. The museums all have shops for unusual gifts.
Hyde Park Wonderland is misnamed in my view as it can be so busy, it becomes hideous and seems to get worse each year.
There will be Christmas lights on the major shopping streets. You maybe a little too early for any carol concerts in churches. There are a few small outdoor ice rinks such as at Broadgate in the city. London on the whole doesn't do Christmas as well as other places.
Pamela, for all things Christmas, have a look at the Time Out London and Londonist's websites:
http://www.timeout.com/london/christmas
https://londonist.com/tags/christmas
If you dig a bit, there's a lot of information and ideas.
Personally I would be interested in carol and music services at the various churches, a pantomime performance, ice skating outdoors, and the Christmas markets, but, to each her own.
When shopping, don't overlook the gift shops at galleries, museums, et cetera. I have found great gift items at the shops at the British Library, National Theatre, Globe Theatre, V&A, St Martin-in-the-Fields, et cetera.
Hope you have a great trip!
Thanks everyone! It should be a great weekend. I'll take further suggestions. :)
If you haven't been to Dennis Severs House before, it's extra special at Christmas. It's hard to describe what it is other than an experience. It's in a great part of London that isn't on many first-timers lists. We went a couple of years ago around this same time and followed it with a Sunday roast at The Hawksmoor Spitalfields and a walk around the neighborhood. It was a highlight of our trip. The Christmas markets seemed to be less quality than the previous couple of Christmas trips we made.
Thanks for the suggestions...
Thanks for the suggestions...
Leslie - thanks for the suggestion on Denis Severs hours-- i'd never heard of it, and it sounds fascinating!
Oh Leslie, I agree with Kim, thanks so much! That looks wonderful! Definitely added to the list of things-to-do-on-one-of-my-visits-to-London!
Another lesser known site we visited a few years ago, again in December, was Spencer house. It's only open on Sundays. I wouldn't make it a priority but if you've seen the major sites and are there on a Sunday, it's worth the visit, and it's pretty empty. We ended up on a tour with some French aristocrats that knew the family so that made it very entertaining. They where very nice, humorous, and humble people. You also are in an area of town that many, like myself, probably wouldn't spend time in. My husband bought a hat from a maker on the street that specializes in bags for the queen! We spent 49£ on what he calls his official 'fancy drinking hat'.
I went to the Dennis Severs House today and it was quite interesting. How anyone read anything in candlelight is truly astounding.
Pam
I think that's one of the things that drew me into that place unlike other 'house museums'. Docents can tell you how people lived but here you get a kind of peek at how it was. It was cold the day we went and it was shocking how little warmth the fires really gave off. I loved the notes on the stairwell telling when the upstairs children should be quiet! Not to give too much away but just the storyline about how many people lived in this place was shocking to me. I can only imagine what the outside conditions where like as this was probably a sanctuary on the inside.
