Forget New York, Christmas in London is truly magical. There may be no ‘Miracle on 34th Street’ here, but there’s Christmas lights on Oxford Street, Christmas trees in Trafalgar Square, and ice skating by Somerset House, plus plenty of places to stock up on presents!
The setting for Charles Dicken’s A Christmas Carol, Christmas in London can be as traditional or quirky cool as you like. Want an old-fashioned yuletide? Then visit Santa’s Grotto at Harrods or sing carols in Trafalgar Square. Prefer a quirky Christingle? Then browse an eco-friendly shoppers-market or run with a pack of jogging Santas!
The capital is surprisingly affordable during the holidays, with hundreds of cheap and free events in December. We even know a London hostel or two offering guests Christmas parties and presents! So we’ve scoured the city and come up with a list of original London events worth travelling for.
Santas on the Run
Think Santa is a fat old codger who stays strapped up in his sleigh? Then think again. Raising money for Children’s Hospices UK, the 2009 Santas on the Run event sees hundreds of runners don a Santa suit for a dash across the South Bank.
Kicking off at the OXO Tower at 6:30pm on Thursday 3rd December, it costs £12.50 for adults, and £3.50 for children to enter, and you can run, walk or jog the 3km track, before ending the race with a little present from the real Santa himself! Even if you don’t fancy getting dressed up in red, watch the race for a surreal sight!
Traffic Free Christmas Shopping
Oxford Street is manic at the best of times, and trying to do your Christmas Shopping there can be a nightmare. But on Saturday 5th December 2009, the West End is being transformed into a completely car-free zone, with Oxford Street, Regent Street and Bond Street closed to all traffic. Not only will it be easier to pound the pavement, there will be loads of free live entertainment and special offers and promotions in the top stores – that’s guaranteed stress-free shopping.
The 29th Great Christmas Pudding Race
London is far from scrooge-like at Christmas, with yet another top charity event to watch. The Christmas Pudding Race raises money for Cancer Research, and is completely free to watch. Various companies form teams, dress up, and then compete in a relay race across an obstacle course in Covent Garden Market, all whilst balancing a Christmas Pudding on a tray! Taking place on Saturday, 5th December at 11:30 am, the event raised £17,000 for charity last year.
Check out a video of last year’s event here:
Christmas Circus at Hyde Park
Roll up, roll up! Hyde Park is transformed into a ‘Winter Wonderland’ during the festive period, with a German Christmas Market and Ice Rink to enjoy. But our favourite yuletide treat is Zippo’s travelling Christmas Circus, held in a heated big top in the park. The 40 minute show of daredevil acts with a festive slant- so expect to see Santa walking the tightrope. Tickets start from £6.50 on the Winter Wonderland website, and the circus runs from the 21st November – 3rd January.
Ice Skating at the Tower of London
It’s rarely a ‘White Christmas’ in London, but you can still make like Torville and Dean and get your skates on this winter. The Ice rinks outside Somerset House and the Natural History Museum are a little pricey, and packed with wobbling skaters at peak times.
So our top tip for this year is Ice Skating by the Tower of London – what could be more traditional than skating beneath one of London’s top monuments? Tickets include skate hire and booking fee, and peak tickets are £12 for Adults, and £10 off peak. Beat the queues by buying ice skating tickets from View London online.
Chocolate Festival at the Southbank Centre
Christmas is often a glorified excuse for scoffing heaps of chocolate, so why not tuck in at the FREE Chocolate Festival at the Southbank center? Aspiring chocolatiers can learn how to make and cook with chocolate, or just watch the masters whip up some sweet treats in the free demonstrations. There’s also book signings from top choccy chefs, chocolate ‘art’ and of course, stalls and stalls of chocolatey goodness. The festival takes place from the 11th-13th December (the nearest tube is Waterloo).
The Fair Christmas Fair
Want to give gifts with a conscience? Then do your Christmas shopping at this ethical and Fair Trade shopper’s market on Oxford Street, on the 5th December. Held in the Salvation Army’s Regent Hall, you can score some unusual stocking fillers and hand made gifts from around the world at this feel-good shopping event.
There’s also Fair Trade Christmas Cakes on sale, and a Swap Shop where shoppers can exchange clothes to update their Christmas wardrobe. Get crafty at the knitting workshop and craft corner, designed to inspire you to create your own gifts this year!
Reindeer Petting
Say hi to Rudolph and all his reindeer friends at the Piazza in Covent Garden. From the 9th November – 21st December, big kids everywhere can come and pet live reindeer for free! Just don’t try to attach them to your sleigh…
Marmite Pop Up Cafe
Ok, so it’s not exactly Christmassy, but we couldn’t resist mentioning this cool new cafe. Pop Up Shops have well, ‘popped up’ all over London in recent years, and this latest creation comes courtesy of Marmite, that classic British foodstuff. Love it or hate it, the Marmite Shop and Cafe is only open for ten weeks on Regent Street, so pop by for a cup of tea and Marmite on toast after your Christmas Shopping, or browse the shop full of cult gifts covered in the Marmite logo.
Any Antipodeans out there should stay tuned to the Marmite Shop website for details of the ‘Marmite vs Vegemite Taste Off’ in December – which bitter spread shall win? Located on 2 Regent Street, Quadrant Arcade, The Marmite Shop is open now, until the first week of January.
Want more inspiration for Cheap Christmas holidays? The check out our guide to the best Christmas Markets!
Images – Thanks to red planet, G Travels, funkypancake and Graham Racher on Flickr.
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