London: Would you rather..
 

...go to London in November 4-15 or December 8-16?

I am a female solo traveler taking my first trip to London, and am completely okay with cold weather. I just can't decide if it's better to go in November to enjoy Guy Fawkes and Lord Mayor festivities or to go in December and enjoy Christmas decorations and carolers and whatnot.

I would love input on which dates would be more worthwhile, or if neither are all that spectacular. Please advise!

P.S. How long are the days that time of year? I can't seem to find the info on all the typical sites. Thanks!

Imf, I've been to London in both Nov and Dec.

Guy Fawkes, is on Nov 5, if you are in London at this time, head to Battersea Park, but only if you're willing to deal with crowds, which can sometimes be quite rowdy. When I've visited in early to mid November, off and on there have been road closures, as X'mas lights have been put up. Granted, these won't cause major problems but these can be annoying.

London at Christmas time would be more interesting, IMO. It's more festive (than visiting in Nov) the main disadvantage is that the shopping areas can be quite crowded, especially during weekends.

As for day light, well, days will be short. The sun will start to set sometime between 4 pm and 5 pm. Obviously, days will be longer in November.

I notice if you plan on visiting in Nov you will be in London for more time than if you were to visit in Dec. Before, you deceide whether to visit for 8 days or 11 days, check a guide book, and deceide what you'd like to see. Realistically, there's plenty to do in London and I'd prefer to spend 11 days, instead of 8 days in the city, especially since this will be your first visit. If your dates aren't flexible than ignore what I said about Dec and visit in Nov. With 11 days, you can also consider a day trip or two.

Hope this helps.

I agree, if November means a longer trip I would go then.

I haven't been to London in November but I spent a couple of days last December. It would start to get dark around 4 pm.

There were some decorations up but not a lot. Overall London didn't feel particularly Christmassy to me with the exception of Borough Market but it was a short visit and I didn't delibrately seek out Christmassy things to see and do.

Depending on what you're used to and the behaviour of the weather, London might not feel all that cold. It was practically balmy last December.

November 4: Sunrise: 6:58am Sunset: 4:28pm

December 8: Sunrise: 7:51am Sunset: 3:51pm

From this handy website: http://www.sunrisesunset.com/

If everything else was equal, I'd pick December. I was there for a semester, and November just seemed dreary to me; December was more festive. The days will be short at either time, although slightly longer in November.

I think eight days is a nice long first trip to London, so the extra time in November isn't as much of a motivating factor for me. But especially if you were interested in adding another place to your trip, the extra days could be the deciding factor.

Thank you so much for all your suggestions! It's hard to make these decisions just by reading guidebooks and I really appreciate the advice from wonderful fodorites who have actually been there.

I always seem to overplan on my trips (like to the hour!) so I'm trying to go without an itinerary and just go where my heart takes me that day. Fitting in day trips aren't too much of a priority for me on my first trip so I think I will go for the December dates and just add a day or two since you all seem to agree there is much to do and see!

Thank you all again and I can hardly wait the 8 months!

I'd go with festive too. And I've never been in London for Guy Fawkes, but if I were I'd want to be up a hill somewhere- Greenwich? Hampstead Heath?

Greenwich's fireworks (the best in london. natch) are a joint effort with Lewisham and are held on Blackheath.

They're fabulous (but you do have to be mobile, you will have to walk there and back as all the roads are closed for the event).

If you come in November you wil be here for my birthday and you can buy me a present!

Other than that, either are fine, as London is pretty much the same all year round.

In november you would also be here for the remeberance events, which are sombre and moving.

I really can't see much either way.

Seasonal festivities really aren't a London thing, though doubtless there are a few third-rate travel writers who like to pretend different.

The Lord Mayor's Parade is the kind of civic event people of a certain age take their grandchildren to and wonder why the kids aren't as excited as they thought they were at that age. A lot of ponderous corporate floats ("Amalgamated Polluters: Creating a better world through strip mining") followed by one stunning Mayoral coach - all in a part of town no-one goes to much, except to work. Absolutely NOT a Macy's-style parade. But there's a decent fireworks display on the Thames.

You can only see one firework display on or near Bonfire Night: I'm sure CW's is triff - but it's still just a two-hour long display. There's nothing (except a few miscreants letting the occasional firework of elsewhere) except the fireworks (and effigy burning): it's not a Festival of Britishness.

Oddly Remembrance Day is turning into the closest thing there is in England to a National Day (totally different from the US Veterans'Day, though they're the same day and started off the same thing). Hardly enjoyable - but if you're unfamilar with Britain, the public flowering of poppies from November 1 is an extraordinary site. In a country that rejects any kind of dress code, the way poppies have become mandatory attire for many people during those two weeks is possibly the oddest change of the past decade, and Remembrance Sunday parades are quite unforgettable sights.

By US standards, public Christmas starts early here (all shops are pretty much fully decorated by the last Saturday in October), and is relatively low-key, except for drunken office workers around the streets in the last week or two. It doesn't get much colder in December, and I don't think I've ever encountered a caroller (except among the drunken office workers) in central London, though there's a reasonable smattering of Salvation Army bands and the like.

Given the generally frenetic nature of London once we're all home from our holidays and we've got the place back from laid-back tourists, the seasonal stuff is a very small part of the overall noise level.

If I had 11 days I would not spend it all in London....I think you could at least think of going somewhere else as well but to each their own.

Yours in Nov. too Cholmondley_Warner!! I'm the 10th how about you?

I'd pick Dec and as Dukey said if you have 11 days I wouldn't spend it all in London but I'd go further and add I wouldn't spend all 8 days there either. Consider combining your visit with a side trip to Paris.

The weather tends to be generally wetter in November than Dec or at least I think I was in London for the wettest November on record (2003).... TORRENTIAL RAIN! We survived but we know London well and for a first timer I think weather matters.

and am completely okay with cold weather.>

not sure what you call cold - but London is unlikely to be really cold either time IME - rarely under 40 though could be.

I agree, with cold weather statement, I was hesitant to comment earlier. Not sure if you are aware that the cold and dampnest can really get to your bones. If you are used to cold dry weather, the cold in the UK is quite different.

yes cold is relative as to whether you come from Florida or Minnesota.

Take a Paris side trip.You have plenty of time.I would definitely split my time between London and Paris.

flanner is right - I'd forgotten about Remembrance Day. It can be quite moving, especially if you are from the States and don't experience anything similar.

A side trip to Paris would be a great addition, although from your previous posts it appears you've been before, so that may not be of as much interest.

Oh wow! Thanks for all the responses. You sure are giving me something to think about.

First, thank you all for your take on the festivities during that time of year, especially flanneruk for your descriptive details. My original question is pretty much moot as I have decided on December due to vacation-time issues. Now I'm just second-guessing spending all my time in one place!

Regarding the side trip suggestions, I have indeed been to Paris and loved it. I didn't want to spend too much money on getting to the side trip destination so I just nixed the idea altogether. I originally wanted to see the Cotswolds area but thought maybe Nov/Dec wouldn't be the most enjoyable time to visit. I welcome any other suggestions you have though!

As to the cold weather comment, I lived through ten cold damp winters in Japan so I don't think London will be too uncomfortable. I'm just going to expect cold, short, dark and damp days and accept that as part of the scenery.

Imf, not sure what side trips you are looking at. There are many places you can visit within the Uk, but as you've already mentioned weather in Dec isn't exactly the best time to visit the country side.

Easy day/side trips from London include, Oxford, Windsor, Bath, Salisbury, York and Brighton. I've been to all these places, and I'd rate Bath and York as a must see compared to the other sights. Again, Dec isn't the best time to visit these places. These are all easy to visit by rail, however, you often get better discounts if you book you tickets in advance.

Now I have a suggestion, if this appeals to you, there are many festive Christmas markets in Europe in Dec. If you haven't been to Brugges, this is easy to travel to by eurostar from London to Brussels and then by Belgian Rail to Brugge. Brugge is a nice city to explore on foot and the Christmas market atmosphere is something to savour if you haven't experienced similar markets elsewhere. Honestly, this would be more festive than what you'd find in the UK.

Brugges will not beacheap side trip unless heavily discounted eurostar tickets are available. Also, I really think before you start planning side trips, you should consider what you'd like to do in London. I'm going to London again next month, must have been 20 plus times and I always find new places to explore and new things to see.

Well, I've given you a few options, you need to deceide what appeals to you and how you'd like to spend your time in each place.

London can eat up 11 days no problem. I would love to have that much time in London and it isn't even my favourite city.