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London Christmas

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ARGRGHHHH The C word!!!

100 days though!

Me and my friends are planning a girly day out in December for some (last minute!) Christmas shopping and tagging along will be my 9yo

We plan on doing the "usual suspect" of shops (Harrods, Hamleys, Choccywoccy etc) and visiting the Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park

Is there anywhere else that we ought to visit?

Thanks in Advance
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Comments

  • Sharon87
    Sharon87 Posts: 4,011 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Westfield in White City is usually pretty good, it has great shops and it usually has an ice rink at Christmas or events in the middle. Go to Shepherds Bush Station on central line.

    If you like ice skating there's loads of places in London that has it around Christmas, I'm not sure where this year, but the London Eye and Somerset House usually has it.

    There is usually a Christmas market on the Southbank, but you may need to google for dates.

    Be warned it gets really busy around Christmas so prepare for crowds!
  • daveyjp
    daveyjp Posts: 13,533 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    You are brave going anywhere near Hamleys!
  • I don't know how far south you live - but I would highly recommend Edinburgh rather then London for a Christmas city break - its so beautiful! The Ice rink and German market in Princess St gardens are the best I have ever been to and the understated fairy lights on the trees on Castle Hill are magical. The architecture of the city lends itself so well to Christmas - almost every street in the old town looks like a Christmas Card.
  • newgirly
    newgirly Posts: 9,331 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Mortgage-free Glee! Name Dropper
    M and M world if you have a nine year old would probably go down well, although it is always very busy- but so is everywhere else! :D

    The snowman at the peacock is very reasonably priced for a theatre show, I'm going to book for my girly shopping day this year. I have to say I would personally skip Westfield it's not as central and most of the shops are in regent/Oxford street anyway.

    Have fun :)
    MFW 67 - Finally mortgage free! 💙😁
  • daveyjp wrote: »
    You are brave going anywhere near Hamleys!

    haha will be our 3rd trip into hamleys (once before in London and once in Glasgow) I hate the place but the kids love it (Plus choccy is round the corner)
    I don't know how far south you live - but I would highly recommend Edinburgh rather then London for a Christmas city break - its so beautiful! The Ice rink and German market in Princess St gardens are the best I have ever been to and the understated fairy lights on the trees on Castle Hill are magical. The architecture of the city lends itself so well to Christmas - almost every street in the old town looks like a Christmas Card.

    We've just got back from Glasgow, maybe next year though, thanks for the info :)
    newgirly wrote: »
    M and M world if you have a nine year old would probably go down well, although it is always very busy- but so is everywhere else! :D

    The snowman at the peacock is very reasonably priced for a theatre show, I'm going to book for my girly shopping day this year. I have to say I would personally skip Westfield it's not as central and most of the shops are in regent/Oxford street anyway.

    Have fun :)

    Theatre - we plan on skipping the theatre in London (unfortunately) - its a tradition that we go to the panto on Christmas eve

    M&M world sounds fab, definitley need to go there ;)
  • Rail tickets with the Network Rail logo get you quite a few 2 for 1s. Have a shufty at the link.

    https://www.daysoutguide.co.uk/2for1-london
  • martindow
    martindow Posts: 10,566 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    newgirly wrote: »
    M and M world if you have a nine year old would probably go down well, although it is always very busy- but so is everywhere else!
    M and M World's attraction always astonishes me with crowds emerging with carrier bags of sweets. Do you really want a child with a manic sugar rush?
  • Sharon87
    Sharon87 Posts: 4,011 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    martindow wrote: »
    M and M World's attraction always astonishes me with crowds emerging with carrier bags of sweets. Do you really want a child with a manic sugar rush?

    It's not just sweets, it's merchandise like t-shirts, toys, sweet dispensers.etc It's worth a look in if you like M&Ms! But very expensive to buy M&Ms lol.

    I know Westfield White City is not central London, but it's only a short tube ride away from Oxford Street on the central line and is a much nicer shopping experience, especially if it rains! It also has the 'posh' part in the Village to visit, as well as really good restaurants. As a Londoner I avoid Oxford Street near Christmas as much as possible and go to Westfield. Yes it's still busy but there's more room to walk and is warmer inside and the Christmas decorations usually are amazing. If you're going with kids they're less likely to get trod on! lol, plus they have a whole kids section near the Lego store to keep them entertained.
    (I don't work for Westfield btw lol, I just like going there!)

    Foodwise I would suggest avoid Oxford Street and venture into Soho - a couple minutes walk and you will find amazing restaurants/cafes, depending on what you fancy. Google maps is your friend to find hidden amazing restaurants.
  • martindow
    martindow Posts: 10,566 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Sharon87 wrote: »
    It's not just sweets, it's merchandise like t-shirts, toys, sweet dispensers.etc It's worth a look in if you like M&Ms! But very expensive to buy M&Ms lol.
    I have been in and found it hard to see the attraction. I'm obviously in the minority as it was packed with tourists emerging with carrier bags full of stuff. The lighting is so bright it's a relief to emerge into sunlight!

    http://londonist.com/2015/10/why-the-hell-do-people-go-to-m-m-s-world
  • martindow wrote: »
    I have been in and found it hard to see the attraction. I'm obviously in the minority as it was packed with tourists emerging with carrier bags full of stuff. The lighting is so bright it's a relief to emerge into sunlight!

    http://londonist.com/2015/10/why-the-hell-do-people-go-to-m-m-s-world



    Lighting is awful! maybe its so you don't see the prices?! I'll be mindful to take some shades
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