1. West End Christmas Lights
London lights up at Christmas - literally!
And it won't cost you a penny!
2. Ice Skating
Rinks
Every winter outdoor ice skating rinks
appear all over London.
Most are open late in the evening and
many have special events happening throughout
the season.
When? Open from mid-November to mid-January.
Click here for details of London
Ice Rinks
3. Trafalgar
Square Christmas Tree
Trafalgar Square benefits from a huge
Christmas Tree each year as a present
from Norway for the country’s help
during the Second World War. The tree
is usually over 20 meters high and 50-60
years old. The tree stays till the Twelfth
Night of Christmas, 6 January, when it
is taken down for to be chipped and composted.
When? The lights are switched on in the
evening on the first Thursday in December.
Click
here for more info...
4. Santa's
Grottos - Meet Father Christmas!
You can meet Santa in London's department
stores:
Sit on Santa's knee and tell him
what you want him to bring you for
Christmas. Of course, he would prefer
you take a small child to meet him
but Santa is always happy to meet
everyone!
When? Early December to 24 December
(Christmas Eve).
5. Festive Fairs
Shopping is a national sport throughout
December so join in by going to a Festive
Fair. The Frost Fair is becoming more
popular every year and the Country Living
Magazine Christmas Fair is the perfect
opportunity to get ready early for Christmas.
6. English National
Ballet
The English National Ballet Christmas
season is a fabulous tradition which has
included The Nutcracker for over 50 years.
When? From mid-December to mid-January.
Click
here for more info...
7. Pantomimes
We have a wonderful English tradition
of family theater where men dress as fat
ugly women and women star as the lead
'boy'. I always try to catch the annual
pantomime at Hackney Empire. You'll find
plenty of C and D list 'celebrities' from
soap operas and the like making complete
fools of themselves. Oh, how could you
not enjoy this? There's great audience
participation when we get to shout, "He's
behind you!" when they can't see
the baddies. Hilarious, and not just for
the kids.
When? Throughout December and January.
Click
here for more info...
8. Great Christmas
Pudding Race
For one Saturday morning in December,
about 150 race contestants wear fancy
dress and run around Covent Garden while
trying to balance a Christmas pudding
on a plate! Obstacles, such as balloons
full of flour, are put in their way to
make it even more fun to watch. It's a
charity event to raise money for Cancer
Research.
When? Saturday morning in mid-December.
For
more info see: www.xmaspuddingrace.org.uk
9. Geffrye Museum's
'Christmas Past'
Each year, the Geffrye Museum's twelve
period rooms are decorated in authentic
festive style, providing a magical glimpse
into Christmases past. Christmas Past
explores the origins and meanings of some
of our more common customs, from kissing
under the mistletoe to decorating the
tree and throwing cocktail parties.
When? Late November to early January.
For more info see: www.geffrye-museum.org.uk
10. Christmas
Carols
Carol singers from around the country
come to Trafalgar Square to sing and raise
money for charity.
When? Two weeks in mid-December.
Click
here for more info...
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