bvlenci

Our multi-continent family is meeting in London for Christmas. We're a group of six, five adults and an eight-year-old girl. One of the adults has never been in London before, while the rest of us (except the child) have been multiple times. We're renting an apartment near Victoria Station. We'll be in London for a week.

I've already reserved some things, but I want to keep our schedule flexible. We have tickets for the Lessons and Carols at Westminster Abbey on Christmas Eve, for a pantomime (Cinderella), and for a concert at St. Martin in the Fields on Boxing Day. All of these are late afternoon or evening events, so the days are mostly free.

One day we'll surely go to visit the Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park. Another day, we should visit the Tower of London; my granddaughter learned of it when studying Elizabeth I in school and wants to see it.

We'll see Trafalgar Square when we go to the concert at St. Martin in the Fields. I hope to get to Covent Garden as well, and maybe to something on the other bank of the Thames; I've heard that Borough Market is very nice.

My granddaughter is also a Harry Potter fan; I found a self-guided Harry Potter tour on the internet that looks interesting, but I think we'll try to do parts of it on different days. My granddaughter has read the first four books, but hasn't seen any of the films, so things related only to the films wouldn't interest her.

We were thinking of going one day to the Duxford site of the Imperial War Museum, which would be very interesting to the pilot in our group. (The rest of us may stay in Cambridge most of the day.) We won't have a car, so we would need to get there by train to Cambridge, followed by bus (which runs only on Sundays) or taxi.

We will probably also visit a museum while we're there. I was thinking of the Courtald Gallery. I usually return to the British Museum every time I'm in London, but was thinking that this habit is impeding my visits to the many other museums in London. I'd also love to see the British Library (which I visited once before, years ago) and the Samuel Johnson Museum, but those may be places that would interest only me.

I would welcome suggestions for other things that might be fun for a child.

Also, my husband and I will arrive a day and a half in advance of the others. I was thinking of doing some shopping, and would like to know a place to get good woolen sweaters. I don't think I want to try shopping on Boxing Day. Is it really the madness that I've heard? I don't care much for crowds.

Underhill

Once you arrive in London, book a restaurant for lunch on Christmas Day. Brown's Hotel is wonderful and festive.

Underhill

Friends of mine were in London last April with a 12-year-old, and she loved the Black Taxi Harry Potter tour.

King's Cross Station is a do-it-yourself visit.

For a different museum, head to the Sir John Soane and look especially at the Hogarth drawings. I'd also recommend the Wallace Collection and, of course, the Victoria and Albert Museum.

Bedar

Sounds like a great trip ! Yes to the British Library and the V&A. May you have some non-rainy days !!

nytraveler

Have a look at the Museum of London - it's not huge and has a bunch of things a child would like - interactive displays, giant royal coaches etc.

Also, if she is into anything royal - or equine (as so many little girls are) - she might like to visit the Royal Mews and see more coaches, horses, footmen, etc.

MissPrism

We like the Museum of Childhood in Bethnal Green. There's quite a lot of hands on stuff and nostalgia for adults.

jamikins

Another vote for the museum of London. It's a great little museum and pairs well with St. Paul's which is just down the road.

Sounds like you have a great trip planned!

jamikins

This link may help for ideas for kids
http://www.londontown.com/Most-Read/London-for-Kids

laurie_ann

Many of the museums have available special kits or treasure hunts or the like geared for kids, in particular the V&A and Natural History. Check those out on line in advance or ask at the information desk when you arrive. With so many of the London museums free it is great with kids you can pop in just to see a couple of things and not feel like you "wasted" the entire admission fee.

Remember too that there is no public transit on Christmas Day. So you will need to walk or taxi to your Christmas dinner. www.timeout.com/london is a good resource for what is open and going on that day.

bvlenci

Thanks so much for the advice. The Museum of London sounds like a great idea. I'm still checking the London for Kids link.

I think we'll probably just have Christmas Dinner at the apartment. One reason we chose the apartment near Victoria Station is that it would have more possibilities for walks on Christmas Day than some of the others I considered.

jamikins

London walks does a tour on Xmas day which could be of interest www.walks.com

SamanthaCanyon

Don't forget to look at the windows of Harrod's. It is magic for kids of ALl ages.

flanneruk

"Don't forget to look at the windows of Harrod's"

Views about anything to do with the shop everyone in London calls Horrids vary (though among Londoners, not much). It's not where Londoners shop - or in a street much respected in London for windows or decent shopkeeping (Harvey Nicks being the one exception)

London's seen a huge improvement in its Christmas windows over the past couple of years, especially around Oxford St/ Regent St/ Piccadilly/ Bond St, with Selfridge's, Liberty and Fortnum's leading the way. But window dressing still isn't something we lead the world in. Having streets so crowded you can't see the windows anyway most certainly is

There's a depressing (for visitors, though most of us have left by then) tradition that Xmas windows get dressed out on Xmas Eve, and sometimes even the day before, to be replaced by pre-advertising for the post-Xmas Sale.

Street illuminations are unaffected, though there's also a longstanding tradition for Oxford St's to be disappointingly underwhelming (a tradition as old as moaning that shops start Xmas too early), and for Trafalgar Square to have an understated Nordic asceticism. Many side streets have better Xmas lights than the main shopping streets

PatrickLondon

I second flanner's comments on shop windows and lights (Harrod's = vulgar at best, Harvey Nicks usually a bit wackier). Try Covent Garden and Seven Dials for street decorations (not that I've checked for this year).

Something else that might be of interest - seasonal ice rinks:
http://www.timeout.com/london/things...ting-in-london

And for children of all ages, a panto (if you can find one with seats still available).

bvlenci

We already have the tickets to the panto, Wind in the Willows. I thought we had reserved Cinderella, but I see that I was mistaken.

I looked into skating, but at the places I checked (Winter Wonderland, Somerset House, and the Tower of London), it was not only expensive, but you had to reserve a time and tickets were nonrefundable. It seemed to me that if it rained, we might have wasted the money. I can't see trying to convince my granddaughter that it's fun to skate in the rain. Anyway, she skates a lot at home, where it's practically free, although not with the spectacular surroundings. We'll just have to enjoy the surroundings without the skating, and she'll have to enjoy the skating without the surroundings.

Is the shopping really madness on Boxing Day? The bargains tempt me, and probably will tempt my daughters even more, but I have a very low tolerance for crowds. From what I've read, the crowds may be unpleasant before Christmas as well. Is there some lesser-known shopping area with good shops?

I would love to find a place where I can buy a few good wool sweaters, nothing high fashion, but definitely high quality. This is the kind of thing it's hard to find in Italy.

PatrickLondon

Wind in the Willows sounds great, but isn't a panto (by which we mean a fairly raucous variety entertainment strung loosely around a well-known children's tale, but with plenty of audience participation).

stokebailey

When you're at the Courtauld Gallery it's fun, and free, to stand and watch the Somerset House skaters for awhile.

Tulips

Boxing day is mostly shopping madness. Oxford Street/Regent Street are packed, and I've seen long queues for some of the designer shops in Bond Street.

Away from the main shopping streets it's much better. Notting HIll (Westbourne Grove/Ledbury Road) is quiet during the holidays, as many locals are away.

Westfield Shepherds Bush is open at 8 am on Boxing Day. We did this two years ago; if you're there that early, it's not busy. The shops in the upmarket Village area have good sales, with 50% off Prada etc. Spend 2 hours there, then leave!

bvlenci

Actually, I remember now that Wind in the Willows wasn't a pantomime. I had forgotten altogether that I had reserved that instead of Cinderella, the pantomime. I've been organizing too many things in the past month.

I remember now that Wind in the Willows is a combination of song, ballet, and puppetry. It looked to me as though it might be more accessible to my granddaughter (8 years old) and my husband (with limited English language skills). Also I always loved the book, as did my kids (now adults, who will be part of our group). My granddaughter hasn't read it yet.

janisj

If you can't abide crowds - then Harrods/Horrids, Fortnum & Mason, Oxford street, regent street, Harvey Nicks, et al will be totally intolerable. Same for portobello road (unless you arrive extremely early and leave by 9:30 AM) and Borough market. All are very crowded at the best of times and absolutely slammed during the holidays.