Regarding pubs: The Albert is Very close to your hotel.

I do like JanisJ's suggestion... Stonehenge is iconic and all but it can wait until you will be touring the countryside sometime.

I think you are confusing high tea and afternoon tea. Very different things!

See: http://coffeetea.about.com/od/histor...ernoon-Tea.htm

Thursdaysd: Thanks! We looked up the definition of High Tea vs. Afternoon Tea and we got "sorted out"!!

Janisj: I love it you can read my mind!!! hahahahaha

Trophywife007: Thanks! We've got Albert's on our pub list!

Bilboburger: Thanks for the pub tip!

So would I let the pub know whether we want full service or just a drink?

Any other pitfalls I can stay away from? Like the whole High Tea thing - yikes - good thing you corrected me before I got there!!!

Practically all pubs you order and pay at the bar. Even your food. The food will be delivered to your table. You take your drinks yourself.

So...get your table first and then head to the bar. Your table may or may not have a number on it.

It's a great system - when you finish your meal you just get up and go. No need to flag a server down and go through all the bill payment thing

Thanks kmowatt. Are pubs considered restaurants? Or is it like saying Taco Bell Restaurant? Weird?

Do pubs/restaurants have usual hours? Our nicer restaurants here close during 2-5 and are closed Mondays. It seems pubs are open more often than food restaurants?

Is it usual for tips to be already included in the bill (read this but want to confirm). Is it usual to add more?

From Lonely Planet on London:

Tipping

Hotels Pay a porter £1 per bag; gratuity for room staff is at your discretion.

Pubs Not expected unless table service is provided, then £1 for a round of drinks is sufficient.

Restaurants Service charge often included in the bill. If not, 10% for decent service, up to 15% if exceptional.

Taxis Round fare up to nearest pound only.

Just was poking around on youtube and found several videos of Christmas light displays in Hyde Park. some of them looked fabulous.

Just put London Christmas Lights in the search box on youtube and tons of video choices will pop up. Hyde Park, Oxford St., Regent St. etc.

Thanks Thursdaysd!

We're watching them now on our apple tv! Thanks Irishface! We're watching other people's vacations too! Great idea!

The restaurant you picked sounds lovely. He might be interested in The Ledbury which has wonderful food and service. Also the restaurant at the top of the National gallery is worth considering - views of London and excellent food .
BTW Covent Garden is not a garden but worth having have a look at - not on Boxing Day though .
St Martin in the Field (church ) also has beautiful candlelit concerts - have a look at the program

Great Northie! We got a reservation to The Bread Street Restaurant for Christmas Eve. We'll look into the Ledbury next!

Hubby just reminded me our first leg of this trip starts in New York City where we will be looking at Christmas decorations there too for four days. We're planning on three Broadway shows as well as some nice dinners with friends.

One thing to note, most restaurants in London already include an 'optional' service charge of up to 15% on your bill so look carefully. You do not have to tip on top of that and you can ask them to take it off if you don't want to pay it.

g8travels: Bread Street Kitchen? That's nice. I remember they have a cover charge of 2 pounds per person + service charge included in their bill; absolutely no tipping extra after that!

Ledbury is fantastic, I don't know if you can get a table this late. Lunch perhaps (which is a better deal).

One of my favorite restaurants at the moment is Kurobuta. The food is fantastic. 3 restaurants in London, one is on the 5th floor at Harvey Nichols. Book ahead!

Pubs; some have a table service for food. Some have a separate restaurant area and bar. And sometimes you order at the bar. Most are open all day, those in residential areas close at 11 pm.

Just so you are aware

"Pubs Not expected unless table service is provided, then £1 for a round of drinks is sufficient."

would be considered eccentrically generous. Best to just pay the bill.

Thanks Tulip and Bilboburgler about pubs! None of my guide books say anything about that! We'll do one pub a day and two if we can squeeze it in!

Jamikins: Yes I hope it is good! Did not know I could ask for service charge to be reduced or taken off completely! I will for sure look to see if it is added to our bill. We do have a habit of tipping here without thinking. It's nice to not have to think of it but I will be looking at each bill! London is expensive and we will be watching our $$.!

Pantomime. Childrens plays right? Not the scary people with painted faces? I'm actualky terrified of those (clowns, puppets and masks -stupid Chucky movies) and pretty much creep me out so I"ll pass but will definite let daughter and hubby know if they wish to enjoy it.

"Oh no it isn't"

"behind you"

are the high points of what is normally a very camp (at least one dame(up to 3 normally)) with a local female TV celebrity wearing thigh high boots and trying to be the leading man.

Lots of allusions to kid's TV/Films a little something naughty to keep the drunken fathers quiet in the back and a great time is had by all. Sweets are normally hurled to the back row, kids go up on stage etc etc

Panto is nothing like that which is available on the continent it is earthy and rough but very much hi-humour for the Christmas period.

Painted faces, well a lot of "slap" but no actual clowns and nothing really scary, this has to work for 5 year to 85 year olds

I go about once every 5 years and come out in pain from the laughing while Mrs B just gives me the silent look

Bilboburgler you've convinced me!! I will go - and if they serve spirits. Laughter involved? I'm there! Just as long as there are no clowns or real mimes...seriously. : )

Thanks for clarifying! You are great at knowing the information I'm after! Any trip reports of yours I can read? Don't mean to put you on the spot but love to hear (or read) your experience!

We've been asked to bring back Scotch, whiskey or other spirits harder to get than here. We have many liquor stores and in SF there is one that sells 180 year old whiskey ($450) last we checked it was stupid expensive. Are these gifts easier to find and purchase there? Keeping in mind London is pricey should be bag it?

Any other "must buy" in London because you can't in states? Last year I brought home a ton of sunscreen only passed in Europe for use but not here in US by our (failing) USDA. Better product for people with extremely sensitive skin and better UV protection!! Are we allowed to speak of it here?

sorry no idea of booze prices in US. You can find single barrel whisky (with an e is from Ireland I think) which might not be very expensive but very exclusive. I've never been but one of my hipster nephews speaks of nothing else

https://www.thewhiskyexchange.com look for London shop

Sorry I live in UK so nothing for London, but follow my name back for other parts of Europe.

>>Pantomime. Childrens plays right?<<

Neither actually. Nothing at all to do w/ what Americans call 'Pantomime'. And not a "childrens' play" really. Sort of Fairy Tales w/ a Monty Python sense of humor/humour w/ the female lead (the "Dame") performed by a male. Great for kids, great(er) for adults.

A Panto is to be seen to be believed. You really must.

don't ask for the service charge to be removed, unless service is actually awful. It's the UK equivalent of the US tip, but usually it is added onto the bill for you. Where it is not added, there will be an obvious line 'service not included'. If they do add service charge (and sometimes a cover charge too), you do not have to add an additional tip to that.