London/Bath(?) in December

Bath's Christmas market is large and very good. It makes a nice day trip by train from Paddington. You could do Canterburry on your own also. They usually have a smaller Christmas market with lots of local food and crafts vendors. Canterburry trains leave from Victoria or there are "newer" routes of slightly faster trains from Charring Cross (I think). We have enjoyed going to Kew Gardens in the winter. You could wander around, see the greenhouses, etc. Or some years we would just go to the gift shop (they let you in on a limited pass for free if you do that)- it is great for unique gifts. I also like Covent Garden Market- each day the vendors are different. Friday and Saturday good days. There is also (or was) a Christmas shop in the "store" part of the market- you have to look for it- it is up some stairs. Windsor often has a French Christmas market (as opposed to a German one) and there is excellent shopping there (both "highstreet" brand name shops and small boutiques and "stalls" and a very good year-round Christmas shop). Greenwich has a wonderful market on Sundays (maybe on Saturdays, too). There is a small market on Picadilly in the churchyard of old St. James church. Have found really different Christmas ornaments there.

Shopping- moderate prices- many many stores on Oxford Street, including the Department stores. Pricier- Regent Street and Piccadilly. Jermyn Street for men; priciest- Bond street. Also Harrods of course

There are Marks & Spencers all over London and lots of DeBenhams, too. They are both moderate department stores. Oxford St. is a good place to start. There is also Primark and White Lilly - I think near Picadilly Circus. You'll also find sutff at some markets- esp. Covent Garden and Camden Locks.

Actually you may have to look at the out of London web sites because each town has their X-Mas market for only a set time. I believe Bath is the beginning of Dec as is Lincoln (very large all day XMas market) but I was at Hyde Park last year and it was big and fun at night, Bath is also nice but smaller by the Cathedral. There is a "Original London Walks" trip out to Rochester as they have a Dicken's X-Mas festival in Rochester the first week end of Dec every year with a parade of Dickens charcters, bands playing on various stages, food, it is fun. Go to Oxford St etc for shopping, they light up the streets in a theme each year (last yr they closed the streets off to traffic on the 1st Sat of Dec), one year it was Disney, last year it was Scrooge (for Jim Carry movie) go to Selfridges, or Harvey Nicoles (stay away from Harrod's it's a zoo of tourists) Liberty is nice. The Camden market on the weekends has good bargins but crazy with crowds get there early. Any any "Original London Walks" won't disappoint. Have fun

Covent Garden is a good place for tourists to shop, and there're also many boutiques and shops in the streets around the market. In the run-up to Christmas, you can feel the excitement in the main shopping areas like Oxford & Regent Streets and department stores like Selfridges which will be bustling and full of shoppers. I'm not sure if the recession will dampen the mood this year, though. For fashion, I'd recommend Topshop, Miss Selfridge, Dorothy Perkins, H&M, Next, and Karen Millen (more expensive). You'll find branches of these on the main shopping streets or go to their websites and use the store locator. Marks & Spencer has good value basics, some of which are pretty trendy too.

Hello Cyndi. I recommend going to Bath. Could you stay at Bath one night ?

Cyndi,
I am biased, but the Bath Christmas market is gorgeous, and you can duck into the Abbey for Christmas carols on Saturdays. It's an easy train ride from London Paddington. Even without the Christmas market, Bath is a wonderful shopping town, with lots of unique shops. And you can navigate the whole place on foot from the train station, so it's not too overwhelming. Have fun!

One evening pop along to Somerset House, on the Strand, to watch or take part in the iceskating. There is a heated seating area with refreshments available. http://www.somersethouse.org.uk/ice_rink/default.asp You may even get to see some seasonal snow! The forecast is for the (very) cold weather which has just arrived to last a another fortnight at least.

Based on one of Rick's books, we stayed at the Henry B&B in Bath, I think it has changed hands but not sure. Reasonable, right in town near everything, buses, trains and in the center of town. Lots of stairs and no elevator though. If you go, take the Bath tour, free and very informative.

Looks like you'll get to see some (for you) homelike winter weather. Just south of London they have 18 inches of snow right now!!! It's been snowing for at least 3 days.