Mandarin Oriental hotel in Knightsbridge, London
The stunning Christmas lights that decorate the West End and brighten up the winter months are famous throughout the world. Top five streets to see these are Oxford Street, Regent Street, Carnaby Street, Covent Garden and Trafalgar Square.
Each year a large Christmas tree, which is usually over 20 metres high and 50-60 years old, is put up in Trafalgar Square (nearest tube: Charing Cross, Leicester Square). The Christmas tree lights are switched on in the evening of the first Thursday in December. It’s worth just passing by here after an evening out in Leicester Square or Covent Garden.
Ice Skating
Each year, Christmas time in London is filled with various open-air ice rinks. The atmosphere in the evening is much more magical and enchanting. Favourites are Somerset House (The Strand, London WC2R 1LA, www.somersethouse.org.uk, nearest tube: Embankment, Charing Cross, Covent Garden), the ice rink at the prestigious Natural History Museum (Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD, www.nhmskating.com, nearest tube: South Kensington) and Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park, London’s largest outdoor ice rink and a toboggan slide (Serpentine Road, Hyde Park, London W2, www.hydeparkwinterwonderland.com, nearest tube: Hyde Park Corner).
Shopping
Oxford Street will be brimming with shoppers getting their Christmas gifts and looking for great bargains. If you want to miss the crowds in central London this year, head to Carnaby Street (nearest tube: Oxford Circus), to Elizabeth Street (nearest tube: Victoria) or to Marylebone High Street (nearest tube: Bond Street, Baker Street). You’ll also find great eateries in all these areas.
Westfield shopping centre, the pioneering new shopping destination, only opened at the end of October and boasts not only the top brands like Chanel, Valentino and Prada, but also a 14-screen cinema, 50 restaurants, a gym and a spa (nearest tube: Shepherd's Bush).
Covent Garden
This cobble-stoned piazza takes on a new Christmas energy and festive character this season. With interactive lights which create patterns of falling snow, live entertainment on the streets and a wide selection of delicious eateries and shopping boutiques, it’s a place you can't miss out on. This year, Covent Garden has also teamed up with Crisis to provide shelter for the homeless for the Christmas period (Christmas Delight, www.coventgardenlondonuk.com).
Since this lively area is also the heart of Theatreland, book a musical or play for the evening. Choose from a wide selection of performances including the popular Lion King, Chicago, Mamma Mia, Dirty Dancing, Stomp and Les Miserables (www.officiallondontheatre.co.uk).
Southbank & Waterloo
Lit up beautifully, evening is the best time to enjoy the London Eye (nearest tube: Waterloo), so if you get there for about 4pm, by which time it is starting to get dark, you can finish that, then afterwards have dinner and enjoy an arts performance at the revamped Southbank Centre. You can even hire your own private capsule in the Eye, where you can enjoy wine and mince pies and chocolate truffles.
It’s also worth getting out of the cold and going for dinner in one of the cosy, delicious restaurants here. Choose from Ping Pong, Strada, Giraffe, Pizza Express, Las Iguanas and others. It’s always lively and buzzing.
Then you can head to the Southbank Centre or National Theatre to watch an evening arts performance. And once you’ve finished that, if you’re wrapped up warm, take a walk along the river, enjoy the lights, the bridges and fantastic atmosphere.
Along Queens’ Walk, stretching from the Southbank Centre to the London Eye, you’ll also find the Cologne Christmas Market, a true German Christmas market with decorated wooden chalets filled with roasting nuts, pancakes, jewellery, bags and little trinkets (Southbank Centre, Belvedere Rd, SE1 8XX, www.xmas-markets.com).
Santa
The little ones can spot Santa around London at the interactive Santa’s Wish Kingdom in the new Westfield shopping centre in London, where all donations will go to Capital Radio’s Help a London Child.
He’ll also be at his famous Grotto in Harrods (nearest tube: Knightsbridge). Selfridges (nearest tube: Bond Street) is one of the top grottos in town with a ride in the Santa Express before you get to see him. Kids can also join Santa for a magical breakfast at Hamleys (nearest tube: Oxford Circus, Piccadilly Circus).
You can also meet the famous man and enjoy some storytelling at a 30-minute Santa's Secret Village Christmas Experience, part of the Cologne Christmas Market on the South Bank (nearest tube: Waterloo).
Where to stay
Staying in Central London is great in the festive season. For something stylish and grand in one of the most prestigious areas of this city, book yourself in at the Mandarin Oriental in Knightsbridge (66 Knightsbridge, 020 7235 2000; www.mandarinoriental.com/london). It’s opulent, chic and suave, just like its surroundings. Not only is it the perfect location with Harrods just a stone’s throw away, but it’s also got one of the most exclusive spas in town, where a spa visit is in fact a journey with restorative treatments called ‘Time Rituals’. So after a day’s shopping, you can descend into the warmth of this calming arena, away from the commotion outside, indulge in a massage and relax in the Amethyst Crystal steam room or Zen Colour Therapy Relaxation room.
And if you prefer to be located in the heart of fashionable Marylebone, right next to Regent’s Park, with Madame Tussauds on the doorstep, and Oxford Street only a walk away, choose the Landmark (222, Marylebone Road, 020 7631 8000, www.landmarklondon.co.uk). It’s homely, luxurious, has a fantastic spa, and is certainly the ideal place to stay when you’re going to the theatre, want a day at the spa and simply want to shop. The rooms here are among the largest in London, have white marble bathrooms and are both elegant and luxurious.
Where to Escape
If you’re looking to get away for a night or two from active energetic London, then head to Pennyhill Park Hotel and Spa (London Road, Bagshot, Surrey GU19 5EU, 01276 471774, www.pennyhillpark.co.uk), only 45 minutes from the centre of London.
It’s an elegant old country house set in 123 acres of rolling parkland. The 123 individually designed rooms are unique, with antique furnishings and modern amenities like rainforest showers. Housing one of England’s leading spas, with natural and organic treatments designed to cleanse and calm, along with eight indoor and outdoor pools to choose from, Pennyhill is a haven of relaxation.
A Quick Spa Fix
Out and about in London? Need a good treatment? Head to Spa at Chancery Court for the Ashtaag, eight-handed massage for two (252 High Holborn, 020 7829 7058, www.spachancerycourt.com) or for a fusion massage at Brown’s Hotel (Albemarle Street, Mayfair, 020 7493 6020, www.roccofortecollection.com). A cleansing facial is great at Spa Intercontinental (1 Hamilton Place, Mayfair, 020 7318 8691, www.spaintercontinental.com). If shopping in Bond Street, you could do with a cooling hot stone body facial at the Elemis Day Spa (2-3 Lancashire Ct, 0870 410 4210, www.elemis.com).
