Christmas is my favourite time in London!! Yes there is no transit on Christmas Day but if you stay central you can walk everywhere. Www.walks.com does a Christmas Day walking tour every year. There is so much to do, the city is all lit up and very festive!

Go for Christmas afternoon tea www.afternoontea.co.uk

Go see theatre, especially a panto!

Visit the many Christmas markets.

Eat some lovely food.

Here is some inspiration
https://flickr.com/photos/[email protected]

Enjoy!!

Also the palaces all have Christmas stuff on
http://www.hrp.org.uk/

Lilly- the more you tell us, the more I worry. I'm inclined to say just stay in London. You've got so much working against you- your mother's energy levels, potential weather, the dates, the short notice. Even the reduced daylight hours. I do change locations like that on longer trips and I've come to the conclusion that no matter how organized and energetic you are, changing hotels and towns just about kills your entire sightseeing day. Ask your mother to consider the fact that many attractions are open 10-5. Unless you are very early risers, you'll spend each moving day mostly in transit. And it's tiring.

I've two suggestions:
1. Encourage her to make this trip all about the UK and point out that it would be both practical and fun to do a whole separate trip to Spain. There's no reason that she can't continue to travel. If budget is a concern, there's elderhostel. Or just normal hostels. My grandparents did Tauck tours into their 80s and really enjoyed that, if money is no object.

2. If she says no, this is her last hurrah and she wants to take full advantage- look into how much it would cost to alter your return flight. You might have to pay only the change fee because flight prices drop after January 1. You could stay for more days and economize in other ways. And hotels get cheaper after New Years too.

You have booked flights to London so I would make this a trip to London which is a wonderful city to visit with much to do. I have been there several times and hope to make a trip there in the near future spending a couple of weeks exploring it further. It think you and your mother can have a terrific time there. This can't be the marvelous trip to Spain that your mother hoped to do with her husband so I wouldn't try to make it a less than ideal substitute.

Why not plan another trip to Spain when you have more time to spend there and more time to plan? For me, much of the fun of travel is debating the choices of where to go, taking a good amount of time planning the trip, anticipating the trip, talking about the trip, and finally going on the trip.

I do not think your husband and son have as much free time as you think.
Arrival time is touchdown time and your plane still has to taxi to the gate, you have to disimbark and walk to immigration which can easily take another 30 minutes. LHR is also one of the worlds busiest airports and services more than 75 million passengers a year with 5 million last year between December 19-25. Traffic is almost all international so immigration is going to be jammed. I would be surprised if it was less than an hour. So you are down to about 8 1/2 hours at best. On the other end your husband and son will have to wait in line to get their boarding passes and check their luggage in and go through security. Probably also may need to change terminals. I have no idea how long this is going to take but I don't think it will be quick. One to two hours? Gate announcements happen about 30 minutes before departure. So possibly 6 hours left. This is just guesswork of course. Two hours for the Piccadilly line to and from London if there are no delays gives you 4 hours left. The Picadilly line was/is experiencing significant delays at the moment but hopefully that will be fixed by the time you arrive. I personally would just rent a room at the Yotel in Terminal 4 and rest.
I also would advocate London for you. Going onto Paris, which is the cheapest and easiest second destination is going to leave you close to dead by the time you get to your hotel. It also makes you rush through two great cities that have much to explore. Leave Spain for another time when you have time to see more than one city of a whole country.

Personally, I'd just do London and Paris. The decorations, roasted chestnuts and holiday feel are had to beat in both cities, I think only NYC comes close.

If your mom still wants warm weather, I'd chose a cheap flight to Seville on a Eurobudget airline. But I'd also go back the night before returning to London to get a hotel there.

Just be aware that older people get tired easier. I took my parents aged 72 to Turkey and they both tired faster than they used to.

There are no direct flights from LHR to Seville the day they arrive on any airline. It makes no sense to do an overnight in London at both ends of an already very short trip.

"Warm" weather is in any case not guaranteed.

Lilly,

I do hope you can convince your Mom to listen to all those advising you to stay in London.
I won't go into all my personal experiences that validate those opinions or the time I wasted on a trip trying to make an itinerary work that just didn't, and am not trying to be unkind to your Mom. The fact is the itinerary she wants to do is crazy anytime in 7 days, but impossible in 7 days of winter during a prime holiday, departing from Canada via London. You would be traveling at least half or more of 4 of your days, leaving only 3 whole days to be anywhere. That is a bad ratio of travel time (and money spent) to time being and experiencing a great European city. It is the exact opposite of a cruise where everything is planned and done for you and you travel at night, in a comfortable bed.

It was kind of others to check flights to Spain. It did seem logical to do two cities, one in Spain, plus London. I hoped one flight would actually work for someplace in Spain, but none do, so that kills going to Spain because you really do not want to split time in London.

This can be a fantastic trip for Mom and you. All you would need to do is book a nice hotel, make sure you have meals arranged for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Check times that palaces, museums, etc. are open. Pick a nice place to see fire works on NYE. The day you arrive, pick up last minute tickets for shows and concerts for evenings. Great shopping!

There are direct flights to Madrid (and Lisbon). However, checking historical weather at weatherunderground confirms that while it might be a little warmer in the daytime in Madrid, it will be significantly colder at night.

thursdaysd,

Not talking about LHR on the afternoon of 24th, I was reffering to 15 direct flights from London to Málaga on the 23rd. But 15 direct flights on the 24th as well (from Gatwick/Stanstead)

>>I was reffering to 15 direct flights from London to Málaga on the 23rd.<<

Since they are flying over night on the 23rd and arriving on the 24th that won't help them much.

>>15 direct flights on the 24th as well (from Gatwick/Stanstead)<<

They are already going to be frazzled enough without having to transfer from LHR to LGW, or even worse, Stansted. And they would have to leave 5 hours between flights

It does help if you actually read what the OP says before giving advice, lol.

<Barcelona is her top choice in Spain. Seville is mine from what i found online, also my dad played acoustic guitar and loved flamenco dancers - I was told Seville has the best shows.>

Contrary to what many people think, there is a great flamenco culture in Barcelona, much due to earlier immigration from the South/Andalucía. In fact, many of the greatest artists on the current scene are from Barcelona and surroundings. And the greatest of them all, Carmen Amaya (1917-1963), grew up in a poor neighbourhood close to the Barceloneta beach where - as she said - the waves taught her to dance.

Her grand-niese Karime Amaya dances at Tablao Cordobes right on Las Ramblas all December, one of the most famous tablaos (flamenco restaurants) in the country. Her career is taking off right now, but only top of the shelf artists perform here: http://www.tablaocordobes.es/es

Clip of Karime Amaya: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CklXLAvSIyc

Tablao de Carmen (yes, the same Carmen Amaya) is also excellent. It's on the site where she made her public debut in front of king Alfonso XIII during the World Expo in 1929. http://www.tablaodecarmen.com/

One of my favourites, El Junco, in Tablao de Carmen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sENoCuTQYPs

Here is the greatest dancer on the current scene, Rocio Molina, doing her tribute to Carmen Amaya on the Amaya monument a few meters from the Barceloneta beach. An almost magical experience: https://vimeo.com/68734588

Trailer to a recent documentary about the flamenco culture in Barcelona: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4BibV3tYo0U

The greatest flamenco artists perform in Barcelona theaters regularly. The program is updated here: http://www.deflamenco.com/conciertos...barcelona.html

@kimhe - I know you see your role on Fodors as encouraging people to visit Spain (do you work for a Spanish tourist office?) and you often provide valuable advice, but please stop cluttering up this thread with irrelevant information. The OP can't get a direct flight to Barcelona the afternoon of the 24th either.

She needs to either stay in London, or go to Madrid or Lisbon, and once she decides she needs help finding somewhere to stay and eat, not a lot of links about flamenco.

thursdaysd,

Something I missed here?

The Op wrote: "Barcelona is her top choice in Spain. Seville is mine from what i found online, also my dad played acoustic guitar and loved flamenco dancers - I was told Seville has the best shows."

As you said, it does help if you actually read what the OP says.

OK, let's back up and try to be reasonable. Is it possible for the OP to get from LHR on the 24th to Barcelona or Seville? Direct flight? I can't imagine them being comfortable with that scenario after the drive from Buffalo to Totonto, and overnight flight to London, but if it's possible maybe they could endure it.

PS. I'm NOT going to do their flight scheduling for them. It's late here in Europe and I've had a long day. If someone else wants to do it fine.

And if there isn't a direct flight from LHR to Barcelona or Seville at the right time on the 24th I'm back to my original advice, which is just stay in London for &*ˆ%%'s sake!

kimhe: >><i>Something I missed here?

The OP wrote: "Barcelona is her top choice in Spain. Seville is mine from what i found online, also my dad played acoustic guitar and loved flamenco dancers - I was told Seville has the best shows."

As you said, it does help if you actually read what the OP says.</i><<

But the OP has ALSO told us -- the travel dates (problematic), her mom has physical limitations (problematic), their flights are in/out of LHR (problematic), the very short timeframe (problematic) and more.

You are focusing on the Spain bits and ONLY the Spain bits. If they were planning from scratch they could have a terrific trip to Spain and your info would be helpful. But they are sort of boxed into a corner and their dream Spanish holiday probably isn't doable/practical . . .

As I said a number of posts ago, NO IT IS NOT POSSIBLE to take a direct flight from LHR to Barcelona or Seville. I did check. Try reading the whole thread, kimhe, instead of automatically pushing places in Spain.

Thanks, thursdays, for doing the actual research. I'm dragging here after a very long and tiring two days and would have checked it, but meh! Since we haven't even heard back from the urgent original poster, I figured it would be best to just get in bed and read and sleep.

I think it's pretty damn obvious the OP can't do any justice to Spain on this trip, flamenco or anything else aside.

Thank you again to all of you who replied. I am immensely grateful.

I have read your posts, I just had out of town guests to entertain and was not able to write back.

I actually did print them all too, and I re-read them as well.

Is there any way I can reply to each post or i have to do one general reply here ?

Just do one general reply.

Dear JanisJ:

thank you for all your information. We arrive at 11:30 am at Heathrow on 12/24 if all goes well and flights are not delayed.. what do you think about being able to see just a little of London with a car and grab lunch?

Yes I understand no comparison bw river cruise and flying to different cities and explained this to Mom (sigh).

We would be staying in London and flying out wherever on the 25th (what we thought anyway).

I was told Malaga is way too windy during winter ?

You just reply here. If you want to address a specific member(s), just use those screen names at the beginning of your sentence . . . sort of like:

janisj: blah blah blah

kimhe: yadda yadda yadda

StCirq: yabba dabba doo

Or - if you want a little more work you start a new post for each response -- but there is no need really.

HistoryTraveler :

I was wondering what you meant by going through passport control and security 2x ? since my husband and son are going to another destination - wouldn’t their luggage just go straight to final destination? they would have the carry ons …
Ps thank you for suggesting Winsor too.

Update:

I finally had a chance to speak to mom and explained all your responses… told her that based on the amazing information you have provided, our Best option would be to either Stay in London Or do London and Paris.
Told her I would’ve loved the London and Paris option (as It’s the most convenient and easy to travel - due to the fast train in bw the two) and the other things you all said to keep in mind with travel time.

In addition these two destination would be sooo enjoyable for me child free as this is my ONLY opportunity to go away child Free.

BUT she says she has NO interest to see London and she has been to France (granted 50 years ago), and Wants to go to Barcelona and Madrid …

I told her - we can NOT do both, she picked Barcelona. Told her it will be cold and that most of you suggested that we go back to Spain another future time when it’s warmer. She said she doesn’t think that would ever happen.

If you leave the airport, you have to go through passport control on the way out and passport control and security on the way in. (Customs is different, and in Europe is generally a walk through.) Whether or not luggage goes through depends on whether the flights are on the same ticket, and whether the airlines have an interline agreement (usually it will).

Thursdaysd:
Thank you so much for checking flights too for me, so thoughtful of you. we were thinking of flying out Dec. 25th the next day after arrival in london.
When you say London is great christmas time… I have a question about that..
From what i found online all the decorations and markets stop exactly on Dec 25th .. Thus, will we even see any of it realistically?

Ps thank you so much also to be checking weather for me too. It was sooo helpful.

I did find flights that were direct from london to barcelona on google flights, But i don’t think they are out of Heathrow.. would that be a problem? we would be leaving on the 25th not the day we arrive on the 24th .. unless we leave on the 24th .. and arrive in second city late at night. not to lose a day at both ends like you said..

Sorry about the 2X not sure what I was thinking. Of course you do know that if you exit airport you will have to go through security and passport control on reentry.

I think you are overthinking this. A quick check on sky scanner ( there may be other possibilities but they usually show all flights ) and I did find flights to Barcelona,Malaga and Seville on the 25th but no non- stop flights and most were of 8-14 hour durations. Not something I think mom would handle well.

You can have a wonderful trip to London, and I'm sure all here will be able to offer excellent suggestions on places to visit and things to do that would appeal to both you and your mother and make for a relaxing trip.

I just did a quick check with Britush Airways since they don't usually show up on sky scanner. No flights to Malaga on the 25th, no flights to Seville on the 25th and a couple of flights from Gatwick but prices are about £ 600 per ticket, one way.

BTW, didn't clarify but those flights on BA from Gatwick are to Barcelona but at nearly £600 a ticket one way not very practical.

No, the lights will not turn off on the 25th.

See: http://www.timeout.com/london/things...ghts-in-london

See also:

http://www.timeout.com/london/search...rom=2016-12-25

If you fly out of LHR on the 25th, you will presumably spend the night in an airport hotel, which will, hopefully have shuttle service to the airport. (Check before booking - and you need to book NOW.)

If you fly out of Gatwick, you will need to get to Gatwick on the 24th. This will be by coach (National Express) on the M25, which will probably be jammed and therefore slow, but you will eventually get there. Ditto re: airport hotels. (The B&B I stay at is not available.)

I would point out that you will have half a jet lagged day the day you arrive in Spain, assuming you take a morning flight. You will then have five days. You MUST fly back on the 31st, as your connection is not protected. You will also add to your costs. If you stay in London you will have a whole jet lagged day on the 25th, and six more days.

Your best, and cheapest, option is a 9:35 am flight from Gatwick to Barcelona. According to skyscanner there are no non-stop flights to Seville on the 25th. Or at least none with space.

Kimhe thank you for telling me barcelona has flamenco dancers to and providing the detailed info.

Sassafrass
TY so much for the info - mom is not listening.. :(

MJs - TY for the info on the airport - had no idea.

KTtravel - i know i booked it to london bc people and travel agent told me that its so easy to get to other parts of europe with the fast train.. :(

MJs TY for the detailed airport info, had No idea.. our airport in Buffalo is tiny in comparison i guess (With only 15 gates total and one terminal) lol

StCirq - as far as i can see the direct flights from London to spain - Barcelona are about 2 hours direct ? i think that would be ok for the next day? what do you think?

historytraveler
omg no i can't afford that price at all...


and

Thursdayssd -- OMG thank you so much for the info, i have copied it all. I will not see what flight i found, to c if it's still available.

If this is okay with you and your mom, you can choose the entire country of Spain on Skyscanner and see what comes up leaving London the 25th and returning from...wherever...in Spain on the 31st. I clicked direct flights only and see Alicante, Barcelona, Bilbao, Madrid, Lanzarote, Granada and more.

Don't know if my search link will work once pasted here but:

https://www.skyscanner.net/transport...e&ref=day-view

My father, who died several years ago, was also fascinated with Spain and Spanish culture. We lived in Span for nearly a year before I started kindergarten, so in some ways I get where your mom is coming from. But this will be a very tiring trip.

ok and the flight i had found was

Vueling airlines? about 250 round trip from London to Barcalona
Leaves from LGW airport? is that far from central London Area? should i have just looked at Heathrow?

god i wish mom would have been ok with Paris and London :(

now would you do


Leave London Dec 25 in Am to Barcelona
than Leave back on Dec. 30 to London
Stay there until Jan 1 when we leave back from Heathrow to Toronto?

Please LMK thank you again

Leely - just saw your post.. Thank you so much, will check the link now.
My mom is so lost without my dad. :(
I struggle with making her happy so much now that she is alone and my husband is not supportive of her (so I feel even more guilty)

vs struggling with when i know deep in my heart she is making wrong decisions and if it is worth arguing with her...

It's so difficult. My father was the logic in their relationship.

FYI, the prices I got for flight to Barcelona were from the BA website. Double-checked and thursdaysd's information about flight leaving Gatwick at 9:35 is, arguably, your best option.If I remember correctly it's on Vueling. I guess mom is adamant about visiting Spain and that undoubtly leaves you with no options. I would argue that mom has little idea as to how tiring this trip will likely be for her, but she has left you with little choice. As it's getting late in the planning process, I'd book tickets and quickly make arrangements for spending the night of the 24th at Gatwick.

BTW, I have not given any consideration to return flights but once again thursdaysd seems to have that in hand as well.

Good luck!

If the travel agent directed you to take a flight to London when Spain is where you want to go, I would go back to the travel agent and let them know you want to switch your flight to Spain and see what they can do for you. Did you book your flight through this agent? If somehow you are able to link your flights with the flight to London you are much more protected when trying to make connecting flights.

I wouldn't worry so much. You both might be exhausted but if your mom is really excited about Spain, you'll have a wonderful time.

You will get off the plane at Heathrow and go through immigration, then collect you luggage and go to the central bus station where you will get a coach to Gatwick. You may need to pre-book this bus because there will be a lot of travelers on Xmas Eve and you don't want to get stuck at Heathrow. The drive could take as much as 2 hours -- could even be more if the traffic is really bad. You will need to book a hotel AT Gatwick ASAP - there are several including several Premier Inns which are usually moderately priced. Then the next morning you will catch an early flight to Spain.

But I would definitely book one of the Gatwick hotels that are right AT the airport so you can walk to the terminal, and not just a 'nearby' hotel because it may be difficult to get a taxi on Christmas morning.

This wil be a very hectic 2 full days of travel . . .