england at christmas
 

is this a really bad time to visit ?

is the weather bad?

is it crowded?

This would be our first visit.

Thanks

Melissa

England is always crowded, and tourists make little difference. We virtually never have bad weather: tornados, hurricanes, droughts, blizzards and the like are unknown. We do have weather some people dislike, though since no-one comes here to sunbathe and virtually no-one comes here to do any outdoors activity, it's hard to see why it matters.

Others will give you impressions of chaotically crowded shops and trains in the period immediately before Christmas, and of a nearly-deserted London from Dec 24-26.

But since Duxford seems to be important to you, do remember that it is closed from Dec 24-26, and open only from 10-4 in the winter (which at Christmas roughly corresponds with daylight hours). Many museums and the like are also closed over the two or three days of Christmas, as well as on New Year's Day.

Duxford is also a way from London, and our short winter daylight makes travel round the countryside less rewarding in midwinter than it is right now, when it's light from 3.30 to 10-ish. However, a trip to Duxford followed by choral evensong in the Cambridge gloom can be glorious.

The only problem with England at Christmas is that everything shuts down for a couple of days - nearly everything is shut on 25 December and public transport is very limited on the 26th (no trains, and few buses outside London). Apart from this and the limited daylight, it's as good a time as any, but it depends on what you want to do when you're here. There are very few tourists around which may be a big advantage.

I noticed on your other post you're also considering May or Sept., either of which would be preferable for weather and daylight hours (days are short in Dec). Your Father will have an easier time.

IMO Christmas is a lovely time to visit England especially if you have family and/or friends there. But for a first time tourist visit with a handicapped person, it's less than ideal.

If you have a choice, I would suggest May or September. The weather is more pleasant, you have longer hours of daylight and you are more likely to find all of the places you are interested in visiting open. I was in London on business last December and while the weather was not at all unpleasant, our trip for pleasure in May was much preferable. Around Christmas it gets dark before 4:30.

Don't go at Christmas time - the hotels are more expensive, and the weather is poor, shops are shut as are attractions, as others have suggested autumn (fall) or spring/summer is a far better time to go!

Hey, I posted nearly the same message before this past Christmas, as I planned to travel to London with my hubby and sister (she had never been to Europe before). I got a lot of "everything will be closed," and "bad weather" responses, but went anyway, because as a teacher, I only travel during Christmas and summers, and get the best deals during winter of course. To answer your questions, the weather will be chilly, damp and a bit cool. I grew up in Virginia and now live in Chicago--no weather issues in England during Dec. were extremely different from a temperate winter in the states. The tourists were still all over the place, but certainly not crowded as compared to my previous trips in the spring or summer. To make it fun for my sister's first trip abroad, I overplanned our itinerary...including: Evans Evans tours on Christmas Day and Boxing Day (bought online) to Salisbury, Stonehenge, and Bath. We traveled by train on our own to Canterbury and toured the cathedral there. It was ice cold and windy that day, but after touring the beautiful cathedral there, a hot chocolate at the coffee shop was so fun! The shops were open on the 27th! Anyway, we even took a New Year's Day cruise down the Thames complete with 3-course dinner and gifts. A felllow tourist stood up and led the entire group of guests in a rounded version of the 12-Days of Christmas. We saw all of the London sites, and even did Harrod's and other shopping trips, although I really had to plot out their open days during the trip because they were so spotty. Finally, our nights were complete by taking advantage of every London Walks tour available--the Jack the Ripper tour with Nigel, in the cold rain, was even spookier than I imagine it would be if the weather was perfect. Is there such a thing in Britain? Go--have fun. Of course spring would be better for the countryside, but Christmas can be fun too.

How far out of london is Duxford?

what are my options for getting there?

GeoffHamer - Do you really mean that there are no trains at all on 26th December. We arrive into Heathrow on the 26th. Will we be reliant on a cab to get into London itself? On re-reading your post it sounds more like you mean limited transportation outside of London. Hopefully this is the case.

By the way anyone got suggestions on what to do for New Years Eve for a family (3 teenagers 13, 15 & 17). If we go into town will we be able to catch the tube back to our hotel after midnight. I don't fancy standing around in the freezing cold trying to get a taxi along with the hundreds of others.

MelissaBeckoff - I have never heard of Duxford. What is there that is so interesting. Perhaps I should be putting it on my to do list.

Thanks
Shandy

There are no tubes or buses on Christmas Day, but they do run on the 26th. Most other trains do not run on the 26th - the Gatwick Express is one of the rare exceptions - and very few places outside London have buses. On New Year's Eve, the tubes do run later than normal, so you can get home after midnight; they're normally free, as well.

Public transport will be limited all over the UK, but remember UK is a multi cultural country and not everyone celebrates Christmas as we do.
Even though its a bank holiday there are many people willing to work on these days at premium rate too, and subsequently you can expect a reduced and expensive service over christmas.
Why not find a nice country cottage with a log fire and lock yourself away for a few days with nothing much to do but walk read and whatever takes your fancy.

Weather will probably be wet as it usually is.

Muck

There is the american air museum. My dad is a WW11 vet and supports this museum.
if you enjoy aviation you would enjoy it

On New Year's Eve you could join the throngs at Trafalgar Square. On New Year's Day you can go watch the people waiting to get into the big department stores for the major sales.

We've spent two Christmas vacations in London and enjoyed them very much, even when we had to walk back to Mayfair from midnight mass at Westminster Abbey in the snow because there were no taxis.

A for getting to Duxford, my brother in law, a huge WWII fan, went last time we were in London. He took a train (I think from Waterloo Station) to Cambridge and got a bus from there to Duxford. He had a fabulous time and was back in time for tea!

Melissa:

The train goes from either Kings Cross or Liverpool Street to Cambridge. Then bus to Duxford.

Can also take a coach (bus) www.nationalexpress.com

I answered on your other thread. Take a look at www.americanairmuseum.com - many answers to your questions.

From your other post I vote for September as the best time to make this trip. If your dad wants to see a air show you need to check when that is before making a decision.

Good luck.
Sandy

If you're still there on January 1st, go to see the New Year's Day Parade-London. http://www.londonparade.co.uk/

It's got huge balloons, floats, marching bands, etc. Reminds me of Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in NYC. Starts at 12 noon.

Kamahinaohoku - thanks for the tip. I've never heard of the parade before.

New Year's Eve isn't a great event in London - there isn't an organised event and if you're lucky the Mayor will let off a few paultry fireworks which he'll tell you to watch on telly. Don't be tempted with the advise to go to Trafalgar Square - it will be ram-packed with drunken youths and the crush will make you fear for your life. NOT a pleasant experience.

The best choice is to get tickets to a private event - most restaurants and hotels will be holding some kind of function, although these won't be cheap.

"On New Year's Day you can go watch the people waiting to get into the big department stores for the major sales." Actually these days the sales start on all sorts of funny days, before and after New Year's Day.