30 days to Christmas: 7 sights every visitor to London has to see this Christmas
It’s hard to believe that just a few short weeks ago we were talking about all the things there are to do in London during the summer months. Now we’re in the home stretch to Christmas with little over four weeks to go until the big day is here.
Undoubtedly one of our favourite times of the year, London comes alive at Christmas. There’s so much to see and do in the city right the year round, but at Christmas we see a whole host of new sights and attractions to visit and experience.
With many of our guests exploring everything the city has to offer on the run up to Christmas before cosying up in DUKES Bar for the evening, let’s take a look at seven sights you really should be adding to your list of things to visit in London this Christmas.
1. Hyde Park’s Winter Wonderland
As we talked about earlier in the month, the Winter Wonderland at Hyde Park is one of the biggest and most visited events of its kind globally. You’re stepping into a truly magical part of London.
Book now: stay with us at DUKES for an unforgettable Christmas experience
From rides and shows to games and food, hundreds of thousands of people enjoy the Winter Wonderland every year, and it’s with good reason – it’s difficult to not feel full of Christmas cheer after even just a few moments of walking around this spectacular part of London.
2. Hogwarts in the snow
From Saturday 17th November through to Sunday 27th January 2019, visitors to the Warner Bros Studio Tour can experience the magic of Hogwarts as it’s transformed for the festive period.
A must-see attraction at any point of the year (being multi-award winning is a great indication of its brilliance!), it’s breathtaking to see it in the winter and a strong recommendation is always made, Harry Potter fan or not!
3. Christmas at Kew Gardens
On the run up to Christmas, the ever-popular Kew Gardens also transforms, this time in the evening to offer guests an awe-inspiring light show along its winter trail.
With this year’s trail featuring over one million lights, if you appreciate how beautiful Kew Gardens looks during the day, at night on the Christmas trail it’s going to truly take your breath away.
4. Somerset House’s ice skating rink
Come mid-November, there are ice skating rinks appearing all around London, meaning you’re never a short walk from being able to slip on a pair of boots and glide around the ice.
However, our favourite has to be the rink outside of Somerset House. Able to skate day and night, Fortnum & Mason have an apres-ski lodge next to the rink to offer up food and drink to every skater who’s worked up a festive appetite!
5. Oxford Street’s Christmas lights
As one of the busiest shopping streets in the country, Oxford Street is packed full of all the big name brands that fill our homes. Making a perfect shopping destination for every Christmas shopper, the entire street is brought to life with the famed Christmas lights.
It’s busy, it’s noisy, but with the Christmas lights lit up, it makes it oh so festive.
6. Southbank Christmas market
Just as there are ice rinks, there are numerous Christmas markets located all around the capital, giving you the ability to grab a piece of stollen, a mug of mulled wine and a gift for every friend and relative.
But of all the Christmas markets on offer, Southbank’s is without doubt one of the most favourable.
Explore: our Christmas offers for all the family
Whether it’s because of its location right beside the River Thames, the generally trendy atmosphere of the Southbank, or something else entirely, it’s difficult to put your finger on why the Christmas market at Southbank is popular – but the reality is, after you experience it once, we’re confident you’ll be looking to go back again and again.
7. The Christmas windows
When we think of Christmas, we think of walking through London taking in the festive atmosphere. And wherever our imagination takes us, in the background we’ve always got the wonderful Christmas window displays seen throughout the city.
With the larger department stores – think Harrods, Harvey Nichols and Selfridges – often going above and beyond expectations, it wouldn’t be Christmas for many in London without giving an approving nod to the fantastic shop window displays on offer.
Planning your Christmas trip to London
We may only be 30 days away from Christmas, but that still leaves plenty of time to come and enjoy a break away to the city and enjoy everything it has to offer.
With there seemingly no weekdays or weekends during November and December – it’s very much a continued festive period of laughter and cheer – it would be a pleasure to host you at DUKES and help you make the most of your stay in London at this most wonderful time of year.
Image courtesy of alh1 (Flickr)