LEGO Santa, sleigh and reindeer at Covent Garden. Copyright Gretta Schifano
Four days before Christmas my daughter and I head to London to explore some of the Christmassy things which are happening there.
There will be 16 of us at our house for Christmas and only three of them won’t be staying the night. I love having a houseful at Christmas but I know from experience that the days before December 25th will be taken up with chores: the house needs cleaning, beds need making, presents need wrapping, food needs preparing and the garden table needs to come inside so that everyone can sit down and eat together. I also need to get a second pee sample from the cat (the vet lost the first one), take the youngest to the doctor about his asthma and find someone to fix our dishwasher.
So I want to get away from the house before all of that. My 16 year-old daughter has a rare free day and readily agrees to come to London with me. My husband and son have a date with the TV and Arsenal so they’re not going anywhere.
Southbank Winter Festival
First we head for the Southbank where a cheery Winter Festival is laid out in the pedestrianised area between the Southbank Centre and the River Thames. There are wooden huts with food from around the world and we buy some delicious handmade fudge which we eat as we stroll along. There’s a Christmas tree maze, a children’s train, a traditional carousel and a Macmillan Tree of Light where you can write a message in memory of a loved one who has died. The Tree of Light looks very pretty and it’s a lovely idea but I can’t take part as it will make me cry and I don’t want to cry today.
A little further along the Southbank by the London Eye we find an ice rink being prepared and swept for skaters. There’s a sign at the entrance saying that it’s all booked up for the day. We’d wanted to ice skate today and had tried to book online before leaving home but everywhere we tried was fully booked. We’ve skated before at Hyde Park’s Winter Wonderland but the place where we’d really love to skate is the ice rink at the Natural History Museum because the setting is fantastic. We decide to catch the tube there anyway to see what we’re missing.
Natural History Museum ice skating
The Natural History Museum ice rink is as lovely as we’d imagined it would be and I hope that we organise ourselves to skate there one day. The museum building opened to the public in 1881 and is a work of art with spires and arches and stone carvings inspired by nature. We’re consoled slightly for our state of not-skating by the chocolate we’re given at the Lindt stand next to the ice rink. You can also write a letter to Santa there and enter a competition to win a load of chocolate (my kind of competition, I’m keeping my fingers crossed that I’ll win).
V&A gift shop
From there we can’t resist popping next door to the wonderful V&A museum gift shop. This day isn’t about shopping but we’re handed a ‘25% off everything’ discount voucher as we go in to the museum so we can’t NOT buy anything. We find a couple of Christmas presents and my daughter persuades me to buy a tree decoration in the form of a penguin – I’m not quite sure where penguins fit in to the Christmas story but this one seems happy that evening when he joins the other animals on our Christmas tree.
Covent Garden Christmas decorations. Copyright Gretta Schifano
Covent Garden
Our next stop is Covent Garden. I’ve heard that there will be reindeer there this weekend and I’m curious to see these creatures so far from their natural habitat: I’m hoping that they’re well cared-for and happy. I’m relieved when the only reindeer that we see there are some amazing ones made entirely of LEGO bricks and pulling a full-size LEGO sleigh and Father Christmas. Covent Garden is looking gorgeous, extravagantly decorated with giant baubles. A huge tree twinkles with lights above the piazza and street performers are busy entertaining the crowds. We’re pleased to find two of the Paddington Bear statues which have been decorated by celebrities for the release of the new film. (The statues are to be auctioned for children’ charities and so your last chance to see them is December 30th).
Paddington Bear by Darcey Bussell. Copyright Gretta Schifano
Trafalgar Square
We walk from Covent Garden to Trafalgar Square and another, huge Christmas tree. This one, famously, is donated to Britain by Norway every year in thanks for the help which we gave them during WWII. The tree stands between Nelson on his column and the giant blue chicken on the fourth plinth and below it is a group of Carol singers raising money for Cancer Research by belting out Slade’s So Here It Is (Merry Christmas) and Let It Go from Frozen.
It’s time for us to go home so we walk along the Mall to Victoria Station via Buckingham Palace and catch our train. Here’s a video about our day:
I didn’t make the ice skating at the National Museum either as weekends got so busy through December. I love covent Garden too and they do make Christmas so pretty and special. I know it’s too early to say but can’t wait for next Christmas!
Mari recently posted…Disney on Ice – 100 Years of Magic
I’m the same, I love Christmas and am looking forward to the next one already!
Love your video – that Lego Father Christmas is amazing and loved the choir too! Hope you had a great Christmas and a fab 2015 to follow.
Sarah Ebner recently posted…Travelling Times: Our Top Places to visit in 2014
Thank you Sarah, I hope that you’ve had a good break too and best wishes for 2015.
I’d love to go ice skating by the natural history museum! We tried to visit the museum the other week but it was so crazy busy (it was a sat) I’d defo try the ice skating next year though mid week! x
Fritha recently posted…January Sales – wish list
I think that you just need to book ahead and then it’s OK but I’m sure that mid week would be quieter than weekends too.
there is always so much to see in London and Christmas is especially busy time … good planning for the trip is a must
agatapokutycka recently posted…Thank you Secret Santa
What a great day – London is fab at Christmas!
Bet you were tired after all that!
Emma 🙂
We were a bit tired but we had a really fun day so it was worth it.
I really want to got and do the Paddington trail. I have to admit that I find London too busy this time of year, although I could be persuaded to skate at the NHM
Kara recently posted…Christmas at Eden Project
It’s not too bad if you avoid the shops! I know what you mean but it didn’t feel crowded where we were, just walking around the tourist sights.
We had a great weekend in London to see all the Christmas sights too – it’s such a lovely thing to do isn’t it? We loved Southbank and I’m exactly the same as you with the tree of light and have to keep moving!! (16 for Christmas?? wow!!)
Globalmouse recently posted…Wahaca, Great Portland Street – restaurant review
I love going to London and just walking around the sights. It was great being with just one of the kids too – I like to go out with them individually sometimes.
London is always lovely to visit but its spectacular at Christmas time.
Nayna Kanabar (@citrusspiceuk) recently posted…Snow Man Shaped Tree Decorations
Ah, what a lovely time you had. Could kick myself, I was in London on Saturday and decided not to go to Covent Garden as we thought it would be too busy – we missed so much! Merry Christmas x
Merry Christmas to you too – maybe you could pop back to Covent Garden another day?
I would love to make it to London and spend sometime exploring come Christmas, it just so very magical. x
Sarah Bailey recently posted…Last minute decoration ideas
Wow you are brave going to half of those places! Covent Garden is always crazy regardless of the time of year x
Rachel recently posted…Christmas Gifts for the Nail Lovers
It was fine, quite relaxed really – probably because we didn’t go into any shops (apart from the V&A gift shop).
Although it can be very busy London is such a lovely place at Christmas. I love your video, the Lego Father Christmas looks fab and the ice skating too.
The Diary Of A Jewellery Lover recently posted…I’m Dreaming Of A Boux Avenue Christmas
Thank you, we’re trying to do more videos so I’m pleased that you like it.
I do love covent garden area around Christmas time. Always reminds me of trips to the city as a tiny child.
Julie Martin recently posted…Do you like Bingo?
These are our favourite things to do in London too! I’m struck by how many different “hubs” there are in London which help with the congestion – between the Southbank, Trafalgar Square, Covent Garden etc. there’s lots of places to enjoy the festivities.
Shobha recently posted…Exploring Dublin at Christmas
You’re right, there are many different places to go and it didn’t feel too busy anywhere as a result.