wildlight28

Hi guys!

I'm a single mom and I will be traveling with my four kids 12 years old and above this Christmas (2016) until New Year for about 3 weeks for school break. I have been to London several times before but that was almost a decade ago and my children were still very young so I wasn't really into going around. Now that they've grown and are easier to travel with, I want to take them to London again. I also want to go to Paris since we do have enough time for that.

I was thinking of cutting 3 weeks in half but, is it better to spend Christmas in London and New Year in Paris or the other way around?

I was thinking of inserting Strasbourg when we're in France and Edinburgh when we're in the UK for probably a day or 2.

Would you mind helping me decide which way to go?

I would appreciate all the help and information you could give me.

Thank you in advance!

jamikins

Both are great at that time of year. But be aware that things close early in Xmas Eve and there is no public transit at all on Xmas day so you would need to plan around that. Things open up again on Boxing Day as it is a big shopping day here. Transit runs on a reduced schedule that day - like a weekend or Sunday service rather than a business day.

Enjoy planning

flanneruk

Public transport runs more or less normally in Paris on Xmas Day, and a significant proportion of its shops opens normalish hours on Xmas Eve.

The (downright naff, IMHO, but...) Paris Xmas Market at the eastern end of the Champs Elysees traded this Xmas just gone on Xmas Day pretty much like any other (though traders were so unhappy with takings, you can't assume it'll go on again this year). So much of central Paris by mid-afternoon on Xmas Day feels like an ordinary Sunday: most of central London remains close to empty all day.

It depends what motivates you. London's major uniqueness at New Year is a huge fireworks display on the South Bank: so huge it's horrible to be in the crowd for, and definitely best seen on TV. Otherwise: New Year is a non-event in London, whereas Paris restaurants make more of a thing about it. Paris dept stores have slightly better window displays - and keep them till early Jan, whereas London strips its out by early Xmas Eve.

London's other public Xmas decorations are more widespread, and better - but stay up till Jan 6 anyway. London's relative emptiness on Dec 25 is an astonishing contrast with the other 364 days - and makes it the one day in the year when hiring bikes might not be lethal for most visitors. But there are far fewer really good restaurants are open than in Paris: even in Paris, though, there are still lots of good places closed on Dec 25, so some pre-planning is needed in either city.

Musically, London's in a different galaxy from boring - and if we're honest: insular and philistine - Paris. Church services in particular are light-years apart, and especially so over Xmas. Underpinning all of the Xmas season, there's a constant sense in Paris of an alien festival clumsily transplanted from the country's more Germanic, Protestant and musical neighbours.

Except in food retailing. Not just in the posh specialists, but in the range of seasonal game and seafood at the most basic Carrefours. But that continues past Xmas into the city's real food peak: preparations for St Sylvestre, as New Year's Eve is known.

Personally, I'd plump for Xmas in London and New Year in Paris. But it's a personal decision - and I'm happy walking everywhere on Xmas Day. Others might find getting about London that day too challenging.

nytraveler

London is closed dead essentially for 3 days at Christmas - from afternoon on Christmas day through Christmas through Boxing Day (day after Christmas). On Christmas itself all public transit is stopped - so you are on foot only and few restaurants are open so you need to reserve in advance. On BD thing are on holiday schedule and activities are limited.

So I would do the reverse - Paris for Christmas and London for New Years.

janisj

Either option has definite pros and cons. It is not correct that London is shut down for 2.5 days. Christmas Day itself -- pretty much. But as flanner mentions -- that makes it a wonderful day for long walks or a bike ride.

Re Edinburgh -- Hogmanay (New Year's Eve) is the biggest crowd of the year and accommodations will be triple the cost that weekend over the the following week. Plus a big section of the city center is fenced off for a huge ticket-only street party (like Mardi Gras on steroids -- not that fun for a 12 yo). So Edinburgh would best be visited either near the front end of your trip
or after New Years.

There might be a significant difference re which option gets you the best open jaw airfare So that might factor into the equation.

cw

There is more to do in Paris on Christmas Day. A few museums are open and the metro runs. There are lots of families walking and looking at the department store windows and many bistros and brasseries are open. I'd vote for Paris.

Rich

I really enjoyed Christmas in London when I lived there . . the reduced traffic and bustle made the Holidays for me! I did go to Paris for NY once and it too was enjoyable!

I don't think you can go wrong either way!

wildlight28

Thank you so much for all your inputs. So far, the plan is to go to Frankfurt for 4 days, fly to Strasbourg and stay there for 3 days, take the train to paris and stay and spend Christmas there for 7 days. Then we take the train to London and stay 7 days, train ride again to Edinburgh for 4 days then back to London for 2 days before we fly back home.

I'm just worried about the weather being that we live in a tropical country. I hope the adjustment is not that harsh. I guess we just have to bundle up a lot and keep warm.

Thank you guys again. I really appreciate it a lot.

Rich

Sounds like a great trip!

wildlight28

Recent incident in Nice makes me want to change my itinerary. I mourn the loss of all the innocent victims of that tragedy. Some of them were just there on vacation. Some victims were children. France is such a high target for terrorist attacks. It's heartbreaking.

In my mind, will we be safe? Is it a good idea to still go to France in light of recent events? What should I do?

RM67

If it were me I would stay in London near to a great park or heath, or possibly even the river, in self-catering accommodation. That way you could spend the lead up to Christmas buying goodies to cook from the markets, have a great walk to work off your xmas lunch and then resume touristic things (museums, galleries, theatre etc) from Boxing Day onward. I'd then head to Paris on Eurostar for the new year - see the glittery Tour Eiffel with a bottle of champers in hand.