I'm thinking of going to London (maybe Paris or Salzburg or the like) during Dec, to see how it is during the Christmas season(likely Dec 1-18-ish). I've been to London (any many day trips out) many times, and I love it. I was wondering what I shouldn't miss that might only be seen/doable during the Christmas season (in or near-ish to London). Cheers!
Posted by
Downingtown, USA
2367 posts
Since you have been to London before, why not try for place you haven't been for the holiday? Suggest you look at Graffiti Wall and there is a section about Christmas in Europe, although a lot of people do recommend London. We have been there and Paris on several Christmas trips and do like London better than Paris for Christmas.
Posted by
Charlotte, NC, USA
3428 posts
I love London (and the rest of the UK and Austria) in Dec. Kew Gardens is lovely even in December(and their shop has great small Christmas presents). Bath has a huge Christmas market, York and good one, Catnterbury a very good one, and Windsor has a small French style market (a bit different from the usual German style markets). Edinburgh also has a very good market.
London usaully has several ice skating locations- one is often at Kew, but I don't recall the others right now. The lights and store decorations are usualy nice around Oxford, Picadillly, and other main streets. The tree at Trafalgar Square is great and there are often good performances by choirs or children's groups. Covent Garden is fun at Christmas, too. As are other markets. Vienna has several markets around the city. We have been to the one near the Rathskeller- it is nice. Salzburg has a very large and very good market. It seemed to have a larger proportion of truely handmade crafts and decorations. Innsbruck also has a nice, but smaller market.
Posted by
Land of La
8682 posts
Definitely a Panto (pantomime). Mulled cider. Hyde Park Winter Wonderland. Ice skating there or outside Somerset House. Christmas Caroling at churches. Regent and Oxford Streets Christmas lights. Fortum and Mason's Window displays. Burlington Arcade. Southbank's Christmas market, along the Queen's Walk. Outside London, Waddesdon Manor http://www.waddesdon.org.uk, http://www.christmas-markets.org/england/waddesdonmanor/location.php Might also review this website for seasonal activities: http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/about/news/more-to-explore-winter-new-events-programme-launched/ Just remember that public transport slows down to nothing on Christmas Day.