My wife and I will be in London for Thanksgiving and would love to have a 'traditional' Thanksgiving dinner. I've googled and found some dinners, but they are anything but traditional...no turkey but lots of crab...?

If anyone knows of places in central London to have such a meal please let me know.

Thanks folks.

I'm a bit confused... are you looking for somewhere that might celebrate American Thanksgiving? Because it's celebrated on different dates, for different reasons, in Canada (ours is to give thanks for a good harvest)... and it's not a holiday or celebration in England. Unless you are trying to find somewhere that puts on a turkey dinner especially for visiting Americans. ???
But otherwise I'm not sure why people there would have a holiday that basically celebrates getting out of England!

&quot;<i> . . . . anything but traditional</i>&quot; You want what is traditional in the States - but that isn't traditional in the UK.

There are US-style T-day dinners - like for the ex-pat community. And at a few hotels marketing to US tourists like http://www.royalgardenhotel.co.uk/de...p;subpage=1451

Don't have any idea what you searched for but I found a lot of info w/ a 2 second google . . . . .

I'm with the other guys - &quot;traditional&quot; varies. A friend of mine grew up in a very Italian family and always had a big Xmas Eve dinner of fish. She didn't know most people did something different (turkeys, hams, etc) till she was in high school

Found this on the website for the US Embassy in London.

http://london.usembassy.gov/cons_new...ter_nov05.html

The embassy website that Grcxx3 has listed has pretty much all of the places I've heard about doing a traditional turkey Thanksgiving this year and the service at St. Paul's is supposed to be quite good as well if you're so inclined.

Mdtravel, like janisj I found several references in Google for Thanksgiving dinners in London, including one in the Nov 2005 US Embassy newsletter at http://tinyurl.com/ybdbj9. You might keep an eye out for this Nov's newsletter, which should be out soon.

Taggie, although America and Canada celebrate Thanksgiving on different dates, they are both for the same reason - thanks for a successful harvest. Americans celebrate independence from Britain on Jul 4th.

Whoops! I gave the same reference as Grcxx3.

heimdall - great minds.......

Hi...my very first trip to London, was at Thanksgiving time, almost 13 years ago and I had a wonderful *traditional* Thanksgiving dinner with all the trimmings at a Carvery near the Tower of London.

Good information folks. I'd honestly not considered that the UK would celebrate their own thanksgiving...I knew Canada did but didn't even consider the UK.

I had found the American Embassy page from 2005 previously but it was dated, along with the Texas Embassy (Tex-Mexn restaurant)announcement from 2004.

Janisi, your google abilities are to be awed at.

I don't think the UK has any sort of Thanksgiving celebration. I think it's mainly a US/Canada thing.

&quot;I don't think the UK has any sort of Thanksgiving celebration.&quot;
True, in the sense of national celebration with a public holiday and special family dinner.
Untrue, as harvest thanksgiving is an important date in any village calendar, with a service in church usually followed (or preceded) by communal lunch or supper. Also you find similar celebrations in urban churches and and in most schools.

If you are in London at thanksgiving - get hold of a copy of Time Out. They always run a list of restaurants offering yank style thanksgiving dinners for the expats.

Alec - that's what I mean, I just didn't make myself clear. Thanks for clarifying!

ditto what audre said. There are even quite a few places around London with names like American Diner and BBQ joints that specialize in &quot;American cuisine,&quot; cornbread included.

In the alternative, Thai, Turkish and Indian food in London is excellent. (I despise thanksgiving turkey and creamed or sugared veggies.)

You might look at Maggie Jones in Kensington. While they may not do turkey that day (but then again they might) their rustic, dried flowers and antiques interior, and their meals always seem like Thanksgiving to me. Roast chicken with sage stuffing, roast duck, lots of vegetables, candlelight at rustic pine tables -- I don't think you'd be disappointed.

Just found the 2006 announcement on the US Embassy webpage if anyone is interested. They need some educating as well...

&quot;Thanksgiving will be here next month, and many Americans may be wondering how best to celebrate this uniquely American holiday.&quot;

http://www.usembassy.org.uk/cons_new...ter_oct06.html

mdtravel:

You mean you seriously believe the US Embassy here ought to know about what goes on in America's next door neighbour, with which it shares a language and a 3,000 mile border?

How naive people can be!

What do the canadians give thanks for? The safe arrival of their furniture from england?

Well, to be honest - I didn't know Canada celebrated Thanksgiving until I moved overseas! But hey I'm from New Orleans - and it took me YEARS to realize the rest of the US didn't get off school/work for Mardi Gras!