I would like to go to England and be able to see some Christmas decorations.<BR><BR>I know that Christmas week a lot of places are closed for a few days. So I was thinking of going Thanksgiving week. Are there any decoration up yet and is this a good time to go? We have 2 children so it has to be during school holidays.<BR><BR>Planning on London and then a few days in the country somewhere, probably the cotswolds.<BR><BR>Thanks<BR>

I was in London on 2 separate visits (1999 and 2000) during the first week in November and Harrod's Christmas Village and Santa Claus visits were open. I met a woman on the underground who told me she goes to Harrod's the first weekend in November every year to buy her granchildren the annual Harrod's Christmas teddy bear. I can't think of the name of the famous toy store in London, but it too, was decorated.

Jo, the toy store is named Hamley's and it's on Regent Street. I bought Barbie dolls dressed in Hamley's logo outfit for my nieces. I forgot to mention that Harrod's has a nice ice cream parlor that reminds you of being in an English country garden. The Christmas Shop on Tooley Street (London Bridge station) sells some really cute London themed ornaments. I also bought some really nice "charity" Christmas cards available at various churches throughout the city. And finally, The Nutcracker is performed at Sadler's Wells Theater.

PERSONAL OPINION.<BR>November is London's darkest month, the sun sets and it is pitch black by 4PM or earlier, as it gets later in the month. It is also cold, rainy and dreary. Christmas, as you stated, is dead as a doornail and very depressing for visitors with nothing to do and everything closed. What would I do. I would go to London in January which is a very nice time of year, I was there late Jan. this year and the weather was pleasant, all the sales were on at Harrods and all the stores with some great values, and the town was tourist free and the days were much, much longer than in November. The prices were great since it was off season! I would do NYC in December to see really the very best Xmas decorations, spirit, cheer, etc. and take the kids to London in late January to max. the sales. I would also avoid the Cotswolds like the plague at this time of year, dreary, grey, grim. We stayed at Claridges in January, negotiated the rate directly with the hotel, got a fair deal and were treated like kings. Super location too! Think it over.

PS Rereading your note, I see it has to be on the kids' holidays. Tgiving in New York would work, and the city is hopping on Tgiving Friday-weekend tho very, very quiet on Tgiving itself. Maybe go there on Tgiving night after celebrating at home. Try London during Spring Break instead. Again, skip the countryside prior to April and after mid-October every year.

We took our 8 year old son to London for a week at Thanksgiving time and it was magical. All decorations were up, Harrods and Hamley's very impressive. Yes, it does get dark, but we planned short days and then tea and the theatre or pre theatre meals. The theatre district is never dark. Shopped for antiques at Shepherd's Market and the silver vaults. I do think I would avoid the country at this time of year, unless you wanted to go someplace like Bath, Canterbury or Stratford. Touristy, but not as bleak as the Cotswolds might be. Another plan might be to take the train up to Edinburgh for a few days. Don't know how old your kids are.

I don't want to turn your post into a weather debate, but I do have to say that it's difficult to predict exactly what the weather will be like during your visit. For sure you probably won't experience bright and sunny days, but it could be just cool and overcast. I lived in London for 3 years and I always felt that the gray skies added to the city's charm. All you have to do is dress in layers and you and your children will be comfortable.

No, Nov is not, London's darkest month. The shortest day of the year is 21 Dec so obviously mid Dec tp Mid Jan would have shorter days than November. January is usually much colder than Nov. The weather can be iffy but will undoubtedly be warmer that in the NE or Mid-west USA.<BR><BR>By thanksgiving time all of the indoor and most of the outdoor Xmas decorations are up. It is actually a GREAT time to visit London. There are plays, concerts, and LOTS to see and do. And if it gets cold, stop and buy roasted chestnuts on a street corner. Put them in your pockets as hand warmers fro a couple of blocks. They are then cool enough to eat - really delicious!

Gor goodness sake, you make London sound like something out of a Dickens novel! We have moved on in Britain since Victorian times - and not only by opening McDonalds everywhere.<BR>Okay, so London closes down a little on Christmas Day itself as it is a time to be with the families, but I can't imagine that it is any different in New York, Sydney, Paris or Rome. At the end of November and early December, London is buzzing. Regent Street and Oxford Street are full of colour (and Christmas Shoppers). The window displays of Hamleys and Liberty alone are worth a visit. Yes it may be chilly, but the coldest I have ever been in my life was in NYC in February.<BR>I agree that the Cotswolds may be dreary, but that means tourist free. <BR>By all means give London a miss, but just because it gets dark at around 4:30, it doesn't mean that you need a flashlight to get around and everyone goes to bed.

It gets dark in the late afternoon in the US ,too, in winter. LOL<BR>It is just a fact of Nature..so it always is a bit odd to read dire warnings that the sun sets early in England in the winter .

I haven't been to London over Thanksgiving, but I have been in Galway ('95) and Paris ('99). It's a great time to be in Europe, with fewer tourists and the cultural season in full swing - - plus decorations.

xxxxx - the point about short days is valid. Look at a globe, man. London is much farther north than any of the lower 48 states. It DOES get dark earlier than in the States. But that doen't mean one should avoid the UK in winter. it is a great time.<BR><BR>And the latitude means it is light till after 11PM in June. Nice trade off.

I live in Minneapolis, MN where the sun sets at 4:30 in late November. People here do not fear going out after dark, anymore than people in London do. If we did then we would all be better off hibernating. <BR>But if all the residents of London, Minneapolis, Chicago, New York, Stockholm, Edinburgh and so on, hibernated all winter then we all would be missing out , wouldn't we?<BR>The point I was trying to make earlier was that there is no reason to postpone a November trip just beacause the sun will set earlier than it would in June. <BR>

I've been reading the comments about the time of November sun sets in London as compared with the time of sun sets in the the US.<BR>It's true the sun sets earlier in the UK than in the US but I am wondering how much earlier , what do all of you think ,perhaps a difference of a half hour between London and NYC?<BR>If I were going to visit to either of those cities because I wanted to see Christmas decorations with my school aged children, I would welcome the early darkness... the decorations dazzle then.<BR>In the evenings we could all stroll along the streets, enjoy the Christmas lights, browse the decorated toyshops, have a nice dinner ,and Mom & Dad could tuck the little ones in by 8:30. <BR>Of course this is assuming the 'school-age' children are not teenagers. In that case they could tuck Mom & Dad in by 8:30. *S*<BR><BR><BR>

polite notice to US folk - can you state what date Thanksgiving is. This is not a celebration in the UK, just as Guy Fawkes night isn't celebrated in the USA!! <BR>I believe Thanksgiving is in November sometime?

Thank you everyone for all of your replies<BR><BR>My children will be 7 and 9 at the time of the trip. We went to Italy last summer and they had a blast.<BR><BR>I know that the sun sets early but that isn't a big factor as we are going to enjoy London during the holiday season.<BR><BR>Liz I live 30 minutes away from NYC and we always go in and to the touristy stuff there during the holidays, it's a family tradition. Since we live so close we usually don't stay overnight as the prices during this time are ridiculous.<BR>The best time to see NYC during the holidays is at night when everything is lit up.<BR><BR>One more question, any recommendations for hotels that sleep 4? We like Hyatt type of hotels but Hyatt has sold their 2 properties in London<BR><BR>Thanks again<BR>

Please remind me -<BR><BR>Thanksgiving is the last thursday in November.

"Thanksgiving is the last thursday in November." - not necessarily so. It is the FOURTH Thursday in Nov. There CAN be 5 Thurs' in the month, you know.

Here is a link to hotels in central london at discounted rates.You can compare up to 50 hotels and bed and breakfast establishments.<BR><BR>www.londonrooms.biz

Regent and Oxford streets are the places for christmas decorations, though there is much more to london at christmas. Covent Garden is at its best on a winter's evening, with the smells of roasting chestnuts and onions (for the sausages) and the street performers all contributing to the magical feel. The Southbank by the Thames is a must see and take in a show at the theatre. Also, up to Christmas is the season for game, and you can get some great food - try Rules, it has been around since the Napoleonic wars rules.co.uk