Sadler’s Wells have a christmas show. This years it’s the Snowman (the Raymond Briggs kid’s book).

Details and a video clip here.

http://www.sadlerswells.com/peacock/...nowman2005.asp

apologies if this has been mentioned- I haven't read all the replies- but once when I had a friend visiting just before Christmas, we went to Westminster Abbey during the daytime, and the Choir was rehearsing their evening Concert- it was wonderful and FREE! St Pauls/other churches may have something similar.

Was in London two Christmases ago, expecting to see elaborate Christmas decorations and was sadly disappointed by the paucity of them - oh a few here and there but nothing like in the States.

No, it is true that the there is not much OTT Christmas decoration in town- you may find some houses where they have LOADS of lights etc, but the main thing is the big shop window displays; I guess it's the same in every big city

fraukie:

It's not what happens on houses. Actually, outside the gentrified bits of central London and its immediate surroundings, scaled-down versions of US-style domestc exterior decorations are becoming increasingly common. Indeed Mrs F and I are debating right now whether a series of Father Christmases climbing up the outside of our Cotswold gaff would be more tasteful than a nativity scene in neon.

But it really is universally acknowledged that London's street illuminations don't altogether whelm. No-one has ever had a good word to say for what goes on over Oxford St, though one or two of the smaler shopping streets are sometimes - well, quite nice really.

None of the big shops ever has Christmas windows to rival New York's (though Horrids OTT lights are just as naff at Christmas as during the rest of the year). And there are many huge expanses of space in central London which go almost entirely undecorated. Indeed, Traf Sq works precisely because there's only its Christmas tree and the crib underneath (if that's not been banned by the Celebration Police).

Pre-Christmas London certainly has its own charm. But it isn't New York, it isn't Nuremberg, and it isn't suburban Cleveland. Anyone looking for a cross between the three will be sorely disappointed.

yes, I completely agree. Although I do think Nuernberg is overrated, too.

My partner and I spent 10 Days in London over Xmas last year and had a glorious time. "Very quiet indeed" = minimal crowds at tourist attractions and easy theater ticket availability.