Christmas / New Years in London

Here's just a few things you may like to consider.

On Christmas Eve: take in a midnight mass at one of the smaller churches in central London ( St. Paul's and Westminster Abbey will be packed solid ).

For Christmas Day make sure you have booked yourself a place to eat in a really good pub at lunchtime.

On Boxing Day ( 26th December ) hit the sales on Oxford Street really early - there are real bargains to be had.

Apply on the BBC website for free tickets to see a TV programme being made at the BBC television centre on Wood Lane.

Visit one of the smaller non West End theatres and see a traditional British Pantomime.

Don't try and celebrate the new year in Trafalgar Square unless you are really good at handling crowds. The same goes for Parliament Square. Instead get to a small friendly pub really early and join in the fun.

Hi Cindy...in case you are not wild about spending Christmas meal eating in a pub, try booking into a more upscale hotel and lunch is the big deal....not dinner. Maybe you have to be staying there, but I don't think so. I suspect New Years is much the same...pricey and more formal attire is required.

Al is pretty spot on as he lives there only in Nottingham...

Mollie Bee

On New Years Eve there is a huge fireworks display over the Thames @ the London Eye. It was a great atmosphere when we went. As was mentioned the big watch out is the crowds AFTER midnight. You have half of the people trying to get out of the area who came only for the fireworks, and the other half who are just getting started. The cops try to do make the traffic work but there is a lot of pushing and shoving. If you are comfortable in that scenario the payoff is well worth it.

Wow, lots to think about. When does holiday information get posted? Web site??

Cindy -
First - Hello neighbor!!
Second - keep in mind that some places may have shortened times during that time. Don't rely on guidebooks alone - check the websites for the places you're planning on visiting to see if there are restricted times during the holiday season.
Enjoy your trip!

Harrods is closed until the 29th.

As I said in an earlier post TimeOut.

These links may help as well: http://www.viewlondon.co.uk/christmas.aspx,
http://www.londontown.com/London/Christmas_Lights_in_London_2007 (for last year but should give an idea of stuff for this year.

I am often in London for Christmas. Definitely book a place for a Christmas dinner. In parts of London like Bayswater many immigrant family owned eateries will be opened. Had a wonderful Indian dinner feast one Christmas. On Christmas day some pubs maybe open, the tube is shut down, few cabs and fewer buses. No theatre but the Queen does a live Christmas day broadcast on the the telly. A perfect day to explore the London neighborhoods on foot. Take one of the London Walks. www.walks.com. On Christmas morning I always stroll into Hyde Park to watch annual Peter Pan Race in the Serpentine and then sit on a bench watching all the Londoners out and about after opening presents. Harrods will be closed that entire week. There are bank holidays as well in that week. I love seeing a city virtually shut down for a day. The day after Christmas try going to Lilywhites for some "sports" shirts, i.e. rugby, soccer, etc to take home as presents. Have a great trip.

Harrods will be closed Christmas Day and Boxing Day the 26th they will be open before Christmas Day and after Boxing Day.

I heard that Harrods is closed from xmas until Dec 29th? Or is that Museums? Im so confused! too much to remember!

I called Harrods today to order a gift to be sent to a friend in England. Well I was on the phone I asked them when they will be closed for Christmas and she stated Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
This is from Harrods website~~~~~What are the Christmas opening hours?

Monday to Saturday 10am - 8pm and from 11.30am - 6pm on Sundays (browsing only from 11.30am -12 noon). The store is closed Christmas Day and Boxing Day.