Christmas in London

Forget skiing in the Alps or sun baking in Australia; there is no place more festive to spend Christmas than London. Whether it's late night shopping at Selfridge's,  family-friendly visits from Santa and his reindeer, or the traditional carol service at St. Paul’s Cathedral, the city is full of Yuletide offerings. 

Here’s my guide to the perfect Christmas in London.

Ice-skating at the National History Museum

Ice-skating is a popular family activity this time of year and London offers so many amazing events to skate at (Winter Wonderland, Canary Wharf, Winterville, South Bank and more!) My favourite location this year was ice-skating at the Natural History Museum. Located beneath the ornate terracotta façade of this majestic 19th-century building, the sparkling atmosphere makes for perfect skating conditions. Don’t forget to warm up afterwards in the rink-side café bar and balcony, where you can enjoy a steaming cup of hot chocolate or mulled wine.

Southbank Christmas Festival 

The chalet-style stalls set up beside the Thames between Waterloo Bridge and the London Eye are still worth a visit due to its prime riverside location - strolling along the South Bank at any time of year is one of the best free things you can do in London but with the pretty market lining the pedestrian promenade it becomes a real treat. The traditional wooden chalets sell all kinds of gifts, such as hand-crafted trinkets, wooden toys, jewellery, candles, ceramics, clothes and glass ornamental Christmas tree decorations. Of course, it's also all about the food and drink, with sausages, hog roasts, candy floss, chocolates and sweets all on offer.  The Southbank Centre Christmas Market comes under the umbrella of the Southbank Winter Festival, which includes music, theatre and comedy for all ages. 

Christmas at Selfridges

The Selfridges Christmas Emporium is a one-stop shop for everything you might need, from twinkly baubles and luxury food items to custom-made jewellery, unique art, and bespoke gingerbread houses. In-store you will be greeted by roller-skating fairies and Selfridges’ very own “Elfridges” whose mission is to find you that perfect last-minute gift. Don’t miss out on the personalised gift-wrapping service also, which lets you choose from a selection of wrappings and luxury gift boxes for the perfect finishing touch.

Meet Santa at ZSL London Zoo

Not the typical department store meet-and-greet with the man in red, this year kids can visit Santa and his reindeer at Meet Santa at ZSL London. Visitors can purchase an exclusive Meet Santa ticket that allows children to lend a hand at the daily Keeper’s Little Helpers sessions, and get involved in festive activities such as gingerbread decorating and preparing treats and presents for the Zoo’s many animals.

The Christmas Arcade at Somerset House

For shoppers looking to avoid the annual Oxford Street rush, stop by The Christmas Arcade at Somerset Houseinstead, where you’ll discover a Narnia of boutique shopping options. Participating retailers, which comprise British brands and independent artisans, include the exclusive Scottish cashmere company Brora, florists Pinstripes and Peonies, and traditional hat makers Christys’. The Arcade also includes a Champagne & Chocolate Bar, serving up Piper-Heidsieck bubbles and William Curley cacao creations, so you can polish off the last of your Christmas shopping in style.

Winter Wonderland

Winter festivals are very popular in England, practically the Christmas festivals and markets. This winter season London displayed a total of six christmas festival and over 100 christmas markets. My favourite Christmas related festival would have been without a doubt Winter Wonderland. 

Hyde Parks hosts Winter Wonderland annually providing a spectacular festive destination with something to excite people of all ages. Take a trip to Santa Land, browse the Christmas markets or experience the thrilling rides and popular attractions; Winter Wonderland has it all... and best of all it's FREE. 

However I recommend these 5 top tips in order to enjoy the festive fare:

1. Buy Tickets in Advance

Winter Wonderland is free to entry but certain attractions get fully-booked during peak periods. To avoid disappointment buy tickets in advance for ice skating, The Magical Ice Kingdom, Zippos Circus and the Giant Observation Wheel.

2. Rug Up

It can get pretty chilly in the winter months in London and since the festival is an open-air event, I highly recommend wearing a beanie, scarf, gloves and a warm (and water-proof) coat. 

3. Bring Cash

Rides and attractions are accessed by tokens, which cost £1 each and are available at the token booths dotted around the site and cannot be bought in advance. Children's rides start at £2, while other rides start at £3. If you're looking for gifts, the Christmas market features more than 200 fairylit wooden chalets, selling everything from handicrafts to traditional Christmas decorations, accessories to culinary delights.   

4. Meet Santa 

See Father Christmas and his magical elves in his Santa Land grotto every day from 10am to 6pm – except Christmas Day. Meeting Santa is free and children receive a small gift. An official photographer will be taking souvenir shots that are available to buy on the day, but you can also take your own photos if you prefer.  

5. When to Visit 

The festival is busiest during weekends and evenings, so be prepared to queue to get in and to get onto rides during these peak times. If you want to escape the crowds, visit on weekday mornings. Visit during the evening for a fabulously festive atmosphere as the attraction's bars and restaurants spring to life with live music, DJs and twinkling lights.  

Stockholm, Sweden

After spending five days in Scotland I returned to London to repack my bag for Sweden. I caught the 8:30am plane from Stansted Airport landing in Sweden only 2 short hours later. I fell in love with Stockholm almost instantly! But who can blame me, the city is absolutely beautiful.

The picturesque setting on Lake Malaren and 36 islands that make up Stockholm are what makes this city so special. Not to mention the impressive architecture of Gamla Stan (the Old Town), beautiful green spaces, with one-third of the city covered by parks and amazing views from many different points of the city. 

Stockholm is also home to 100 museums, like the Museum of Modern Art and Skansen, the oldest open-air museum in the world & the Vasa Museum which contains the oldest preserved warship in the world. 

Extensive public transportation system makes Stockholm very easy to get around. However travel, food and some shops are quite expensive. Nevertheless shopping in Stockholm is not worth missing - Its the birthplace of world-famous H&M and the city has numerous shops and boutiques. Klarabergsviadukten is the main shopping area although Stockholm is spotted with lots of boutiques and beautiful homeware stores all over the city. 

Once again I brought a ticket on a Hop On Off Bus as they really are the best way to explore the city. I highly recommend it, especially if you are only in Stockholm for a short period of time like I was. The tickets are valid for either 24 hours or 48 hours so they are great value! 

Edinburgh, Scotland

Two weeks ago I was lucky enough to have some time off work to travel! In the one week I managed to travel across three countries: England, Scotland & Sweden.

Edinburgh in Scotland was my first travel destination. I took the train from Kings Cross London and it roughly took five hours to arrive at Waverley Station, Edinburgh City.  Edinburgh would have to be one of the most beautiful and historic cities I have visited yet. The inspiring capital is a city of story tellers and ghost tours but it is undoubtedly an absolutely wonderful place to live with a calendar jam packed with events and festivals all year round. 

The compact size of Edinburgh means that getting around this beautifully architectural city is easy. It is possible to walk, cycle or catch a short bus to most/all attractions and areas of Edinburgh. Other than the hop on off bus, I walked everywhere as everything was within a 10-20 minute walk from the city centre.  

The main part of the city is made up of two haves; The Old Town and The New Town both with a real distinctive character and atmosphere. The best thing about Edinburgh is the incomparable location due to the countryside being a stone's throw away and the Highlands only a short drive. 

I found that the best way to see everything within a short period of time was undoubtably the Hop on off Bus Tour. Edinburgh Bus Tour offer five different bus tours to suit your sightseeing preferences. I brought a ticket on the Edinburgh Tour which was great with very entertaining and informative live commendatory. 

My favourite sites would had to have been the Queen's Summer Resident: The Palace of Hollyrood House, The Edinburgh Castle & Carlton Hill. 

Here are some photos from the trip:

                               Old Town

                                Old Town Edinburgh 

                                Grassmarket Lane

                                The Palace of Hollyrood House

                               The Palace of Hollyrood House

                                The Palace of Hollyrood House Gardens 

                                The Palace of Hollyrood House Gardens 

                                Carlton Hill

                                Edinburgh Castle

                                Edinburgh Castle

                                Edinburgh Castle

Harrods Department Store, London

Probably the most overrated but largest department store in the world is Harrods. It is extremely overprice and overcrowd no matter what time of the year you visit. Harrods is a tourist attraction in itself and would definitely take hours to explore especially when you are battling against the crowds. However in saying this, i do highly recommend a visit to the food courts! The food courts are amazing! You could spend an hour in itself browsing (and drooling) their different departments of delicious goodies like their cheese, chocolate and seafood departments. The quality of the food is next to none but you will pay for it of course! I recommend exploring Harrods food courts before the lunch rush hour!

Brighton

I am absolutely in love with the sea-side city of Brighton! The pebbled beach, Brighton's Pier's amusement arcade, the Royal Pavilion and the amazing shops, restaurants and bars. I now understand why Londoners travel to Brighton for weekend getaways. Brighton is buzzing with activity and seems to have something for everyone!

The Beach & Pier 

Brighton beach front is fill of bars, restaurants, nightclubs, sports facilities and amusement arcades. The pebbled beaches are armed with rent-a-chairs to rent and relax in.

There is always something exciting happening at the Pier. Brighton Pier is decked out with the latest video games, thrill ride and retail shops to ensure for the best seaside entertainment. There are also three bars and over thirty food kiosks, traditional seaside stall and two amusement arcades for the whole family to enjoy. 

Shopping Lanes

Crammed with quaint and wondrous shops and funky restaurants and cafes, the Brighton Lanes are the best wandered lazily and explored as you find them. I reckon Brighton would have to offer some of the best shopping on the South Coast at any time of the year. Whether you want to soak up the sun with a spring or summer shopping trip or take the chill out of winter with a heaven sent shopping spree, Brighton is the place to go. The city  lane ways are packed with independent shops offering an extraordinary mix of antiques and jewellery shops nestling alongside specialist contemporary and designer fashion boutiques. 

South Bank, London - Summer Festival

South Bank is full of attractions and events all year round, particularly in summer. The Summer Festival South Bank showcases every year creates a wonderful place for all to enjoy. I recently spent my entire Saturday roaming the banks of the Thames exploring South Bank. Without a doubt it would have been one of the best days I have had to date. 

I started my day from London Bridge Station where I wandered through Borough Market for the second time that week before I continued along the river front. I past the Millennium Bridge, the OXO Tower, Gabriel's Wharf, Shakespeare's Globe, Tate Modern and the South Bank Book market before finally arriving at the world-famous art centres of South Bank. 

This year's summer festival was the Festival of Love which showcased a different performance each week, free workshops for the public to get involved, as well as many theatre productions. There was so much to do and see around this area including the Real Food Markets located behind the South Bank Centre, street performances, and a wide range of restaurants, cafes and shops to enjoy. 

I so happen to wander into the Queen Elizabeth Hall just in the nick of time to purchase a discounted ticket to watch Grove on Down the Road - Best thing I did all day!! The show re-imagines the beloved story of The Wizard of Oz, showcasing an exhilarating Hip-Hop dance adventure for the whole family. It was amazing!


here are some photos from the Real Food Markets: