Our family is considering going to London for a 5-day family outing, arriving in London on Sunday, 12/26/99. Is this a good time? Does everything close in London because of Christmas falling on a weekend? Is Boxer Day also a day when everything is closed. We're coming just as tourists - simply to do the tourist sites. Please advise.

My family spent Christmas through New Year's in London several years ago. I don't remember Boxing Day being too much of an inconvenience, certainly not compared to the depressing weather (very cold, grey, windy, etc.). If there happens to be snow you may find the Underground to be in a shambles, but other than that there should definitely be options for you. I can't remember what day we did what, but on that trip we saw all the major museums and the Tower, went to the Botanic Gardens at Kew, did some shopping, saw a play, the usual stuff. One highlight, which you would miss coming in on the 26th, was the Christmas Eve Midnight Mass at Westminster Abbey. My sister and I didn't make it there in time to be in the Abbey but were in the smaller chapel, I think it's St. Margaret's, on the same site. We're not even religious but it was great. We also went to Trafalgar Square for New Year's Eve, which was a bit hairy then and will probably be a madhouse this year. New Year's Day there was a fun parade down Oxford St., complete with trained dogs, an elephant, and several US high school marching bands! Unfortunately the weather really did make walking outside truly miserable. That's my only caveat.

Louis, <BR>If you arrive on the 26th I don't see where you have a problem. Yes, it's Boxing Day but unless you are arriving at dawn I can't see where it's an inconvenience. We've been in London over Christmas and found it to be no problem - yes, the Underground runs on holiday schedule and few stores were open, but it's not a major problem. Assuming you have a bit of jet-lag anyway you probably won't be doing any heavy duty sightseeing until the next day so just relax and go for a walk or something and take in the city sights without too many crowds. A plus of arriving on a "holiday" is that traffic will be light and if you take a cab in from the airport (Heathrow - if arriving at Gatwick take express train into Victoria) you should not run into much traffic. Do be aware that it gets dark very early - about 4:30 so it can cut down on your sightseeing possibilities. <BR>Go and enjoy - even if the weather turns out less than wonderful duuring the 5 days you are there you can still have a great time,it's a matter of attitude!

With Christmas occuring over a weekend the Monday and Tuesday (27th and 28th) will be holidays 'in lieu'. This year you may (or may not) find that Christmas is a rather extended weekend compared to normal. I'm not sure how museums and galleries that might normally shut on Christmas Day and Boxing Day will handle the Monday and Tuesday, they may stay shut or they may keep Sunday hours.

Louis, your trip will put you very close to the Millenium celebration in London, which is supposed to be one of the largest in the world. You should check to see if it's even possible to get a room now.