I was really hoping to go to Fortnum & Mason. Is there some other place with a wide selection of all kinds of food, tea, etc., but not as well known? Or if I get there quite early would it be tolerable?

Haven't hard times hit London at all? Shopkeepers in Italy can only dream about such crowds. I was at Rinascente in Milan, and in the famous Galleria, a few years ago during the Christmas season, and, yes, it was a little crowded, but certainly not packed.

Trek out to Hampton Court Palace - the English Versailles for their popular Tudor Christmas - Hampton Court is fab any time but so special at Christmas:

http://www.hrp.org.uk/HamptonCourtPa...TudorChristmas

There isn't really anything that compares to F&M in London.

I don't know where you are from, but I find Wholefoods Market in Kensington High Street amazing - there's really nothing like it where I live (Belgium). Even though we have some great food shops, nothing like having everything under one foor like Wholefoods.

Wholefoods in Kensington High Street is certainly large, and I was taken with its cute 1950's American signage. However, looking at some of the speciality cheeses, it seemed that they were about 50% more expensive than usual. Mrs Kirkham's Lancashire was the one I noticed particularly.

>>I was really hoping to go to Fortnum & Mason. Is there some other place with a wide selection of all kinds of food, tea, etc., but not as well known?<<

It's a while since I've been there, but you could try Partridge's off Sloane Square. Otherwise, it's a matter of speciality shops (e.g., around Covent Garden, the Tea House in Neal St, the Neal's Yard Dairy for cheese, and so on).

There isn't really anything that compares to F&M in London for absurd prices. Or for an almost complete absence of any Britons with an interest in food.

The most interesting "British" equivalent of an Italian salumeria you'll meet in your travels are probably the London branches of my local deli http://daylesford.com/our-locations/

If you're phobic about crowds, go onto the Waitrose site (which is where people interested in food go if they're too mean to pay Daylesford prices) and get the food delivered. I know a lot of the outside world hasn't grasped the web for food yet. But these days, it IS the British Way - though sadly Waitrose's ability to organise a grocery site isn't up to its food retailing standards, and it might be less of a pain going to the shop

Conventional branches of supermarkets are THE worst places for misanthropes in the two days before Christmas, but you're not going to find much in the poncier places that won't be in the Waitrose Victoria branch.

You can never be 100% accurate in predicting crowds around Christmas, but central London will be empty this year on Dec 24, and empty by its standards on December 22. That may not apply to food shops, but I - like most Londoners - would normally rate the John Lewis Food Hall in Oxford Street as London's best all-round food place (for most purposes it's Waitrose's flagship).

If you're thinking of F&M for twee food souvenirs, you'll do better in some ways at a decent-size M&S, though its Marble Arch flagship food dept does stay busy the couple of days before Xmas.

For sweaters etc: again, most non-food shops in the centre will be empty (by our standards, which obviously aren't those of Europe's depressed provinces) Dec 23& 24. I'm not sure what you're expecting from sweaters. M&S is better value than much of the world outside (though opinions differ on quality these days), Primark's dirt cheap, and London's got more different brands of fashion chain (especially foreign ones) than anywhere else on earth.

But for such global brands as operate in sweaters, prices are no different from elsewhere (indeed,some of the more amateur-night American chains, like A&F and J Crew, quite wilfully operate a "pounds for dollars" pricing strategy. But they'll go home soon, and are already publicly wondering why no-one shops there). We're not desperately fussed about what Americans and Italians call "quality"

Brain's switching off

The Victoria branch of Waitrose is in their micro-chain of convenience stores. The closest full size store is at 27 Motcomb Street, SW1X 8GG

I do like the Motcomb Street branch of Waitrose. For NYE stock up on Nyetimber, a British 'champagne', that is sold there. It's really quite good.

Whole Foods Market still around - flanner pooch was predicting its dismal demise several years ago when it opened!

When I lived in London, about twice a week, I would take the bus ( 6 or 36 at the time ) backwards from near Selfridges to the end and then back home ( Maida Vale ) just to see the Christmas lights.

I would try to get a top deck up front for the best view

Something else OP might want to check out. There's a Christmas market on the South Bank, outside the Festival Hall, with an old-fashioned carousel, and also up on the terrace of the Hall a couple of giant snow globes for people to power by pedalling away.

I see that the National Gallery has a Nativity trail

People who live in London might not mind terribly but for those visiting, the fact that London is virtually shut down on Christmas day might be a surprise. No taxis, no buses, no theaters, nothing is open really.

There are a couple of restaurants open, Sarastro (no affiliation whatsoever) near Covent Garden is usually open on Christmas but otherwise plan ahead for meals.

>>I see that the National Gallery has a Nativity trail<<

Does one dress up as a wise man, or as one of Herod's soldiers?

" No taxis, no buses," there are still taxis around.

Hi,
I'm a italian girl and I stay in London last month.
London is a beautful city and offers many things for both adults and children.
I recommend the Natural History Museum, inside there are many animal species and you can see the history of the earth.
After, near to Madame Trussaud's there is an aquarium fantastic!
You can buy the ticket from the internet.
Good trip and Marry Christmas

One Christmas Eve we tried to find a taxi to get us back to our Mayfair hotel after Midnight Mass at Westminster Abbey. It turned out to be hopeless and a long, cold walk.

>>there are still taxis around.<< . . . but not many -- most are pre-booked. But there are <i>some</i>.

Hooameye have you actually ridden in a London taxi on Christmas day?

I have spent three lonely Christmases in London in my life and never once have I spotted a taxi on Christmas day.