Christmas Markets in London

London is a globally renowned shopping destination and it attracts millions of tourists every year from all over world for shopping. Every year several shopping fairs and festivals are organized in the city. Shopping becomes even more important and exciting during the festive seasons and thus various shopping fairs are also organized during Christmas. Some of such Christmas markets, exhibitions and fairs are listed below:

· Parklife Oxford Street Christmas Market

Oxford Street offers a variety of wooden chalets offering unique and creative Christmas gifts, jewellery and much more.

Venue – Parklife Oxford Street, Oxford Street, West End, London W1

Date – 20^th November 2009 – 3^rd January

· Hyde Park Christmas Market

At Hyde Park you can explore a traditional German Christmas market. You can enjoy several activities such as funfair and ice skating at this venue.

Venue – Winter Wonderland, Hyde Park, London W2

Date – 21^st November 2009 – 3^rd January 2010

· Putney Christmas Market

With more than 30 stalls, Christmas Market at Putney is one of the biggest Christmas markets in the town. You can look for gifts, art and craft and bikes at this market.

Venue – Church Square, Putney High Street, Putney London, SW15

Date – 27^th November 2009, 3pm – 7:30pm

· Christmas Markets at British Red Cross

It hosts more than 80 unique and exceptional stalls offering bags, clothes, accessories and much more.

Venue – Guildhall, Off Gresham Street, London EC2

Date – 1^st December 2009, 10:30am – 8pm

Ticket Price - 5£

· Rich Mix Christmas Design Market

At Rich Mix you can pick some stylish and designer clothes for yourself and your loved ones.

Venue – Rich Mix, 35 – 47, Brethnal Green Road, Shadwell, London E1

Date – 7^th December 2009, 11am – 5:30pm

· Greenwich Christmas Market

This covered market will offer art and craft and food stalls.

Venue – College Approach, Greenwich, London SE10

Date – 9^th – 31^st December 2009

· Slow Food Christmas Market

You can give a luxury treat to your taste buds at this Christmas Market as it offers a wide variety of food stalls including British Ham, Italian Olive Oil, French Cheese and much more.

Venue – Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, London SE1

Date – 19^th – 22^nd December 2009

Besides a wide range of trendy and designer clothe, home ware, food items, jewellery and accessories you can also enjoy some entertaining activities and food stalls at these venues.

Ice Skating Rink at Tower of London

When – 21^st November 2009 – 10^th January 2010

Where – Tower of London

Nearest tube station – Tower Hill London Underground

This Christmas season you can indulge yourself in the London Ice Rinks and make the most out of it. You can enjoy some great skating at various ice rinks in the city including one of the bests at Tower of London. Most of these ice rinks offer spectacular sightseeing in the city with exceptional ice skating. Ice skating near the famous London landmarks offers a great experience especially during the festive season of Christmas. Besides Tower of London, the Natural History Museum, Canary Wharf and Somerset House are some other places where you can enjoy Ice skating.

You can also enjoy outdoor London ice rinks at night with your friends and family. Various ice rinks offer late night sessions for skating during this festive season of Christmas. It is truly a mesmerizing experience with festive decorations all around. Ice skating is amongst the best activities that can offer maximum fun to a family.

This will be the 4^th year of Ice skating rink at the Tower of London. Indeed it is even bigger and better this year. This probably is one of the best rinks in the city. This breathtaking ice skating venue will offer deliciously festive activities. You can also visit the Moat Café available at the rink and enjoy a variety of delightful food and drinks. You can also watch the skaters from the free viewing galleries.

Tickets for Ice skating at Tower of London

Adult: off peak @10£ and peak days @12£

Family: off peak @30£ and peak days @32£

Kids under 16 years of age: off peak @ 7.50£ and peak days @ 8£

Peak Tickets:
All Saturdays and Sundays, evening sessions from 5.15pm,
21^st , 22^nd and 23^rd Dec, Christmas Eve, Boxing Day, 28^th , 29^th and 30^th January, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day

Off Peak Tickets:
Weekdays morning and afternoon sessions up to 4.00pm.session The ice rink is closed on Christmas Day.

Santas Grotto at Selfridges London

When – 22^nd November – 24^th December 2009

Time – Sunday – 12pm – 5pm and 10am – 7pm on other days of the week.

Where - The Ultralounge, Selfridges

400 Oxford Street, London W1A 1AB

Nearest tube station – Marble Arch and Bond Street

A dazzling Santa Grotto will be organized at the well known Selfridges in London. It is going to be one of the most exciting Christmas events in London. This year Santa will make appearances in several parts of the city. At Selfridges you can take an exciting train ride from winter wonderland till the Santa’s grotto. Kids can also take a Christmas tale book while visiting the grotto and they can also click their photo with Santa. Stunning Christmas Windows at Selfridges will also be a major attraction which should not be missed by anyone.

You an also savor the penguin and polar bear animatronics in the Grotto at Selfridges. This years Grotto at Selfridges is special and thus it will also make your Christmas festivities and celebrations special. This year’s Grotto will surely be a magical experience for you and your family. The tickets for Santa Grotto are limited so make sure you grab your share.

Besides Selfridges you can also visit Santa Grotto’s at the following venues:

· Winter Wonderland on 21^st November – 24^th December 2009 at Hyde Park.

· WWT London Wetland Centre Grotto on 5^th – 6^th December 2009 at Wetland Centre.

· Royal Air Force Museum from 19^th – 23^rd December 2009 at Royal Air Force Museum.

· Kew Gardens Grotto from 12^th – 23^rd December 2009 at Kew Garden

· Santa’s Wish Kingdom from 14^th November – 23^rd December at Westfield London.

· Harrods Christmas Grotto from 7^th November in Harrods Christmas Parade.

Christmas in London Winter Wonderland

When - 21^st November 2009 – 3^rd January 2010

Opening Time – 5pm – midnight

Where – Hyde Park, London W2 2UH

Nearest tube station – Hyde Park London Underground

This is the third consecutive year when the Winter Wonderland is in London during the Christmas. It will again set you all in the festive spirit with spectacular rides, sparkling attractions, dazzling lights and fascinating Christmas markets. Last year also this beautiful wonderland attracted 1.5 million visitors and this year it is expected to be even bigger and better as the festival will cover around 32 acres of land.

You can enjoy 200 unique and truly amazing rides with your friends and family at this year’s Winter Wonderland. Besides these exotic rides you can also explore the sparkling festive attractions, phenomenal observation wheel and the simply outstanding German Christmas Market.

Winter Wonderland Highlights

· Choirs and Live bands

· Santa’s Village

· Ice Skating Rink

· 50m high Observation Wheel and 40 heated gondolas

· 66m Power Tower

· Snow Ball Bungee Dome

· Zippo’s Christmas Circus

· Giant Ice Monster

Kids can also get a chance to meet Santa and get a special gift. Besides all the above major highlights the restaurant and bars at the Winter Wonderland will also be a delight to be at you can avail several exclusive Christmas dining offers. These bars and restaurants will also dazzle with stunning decorations and thus, you can savor a delightful dinner in a mesmerizing ambience. Winter Wonderland will also offer several festive food treats which can be enjoyed at Café Grell, Bavarian Village, German Christmas Market and House of St Nikolas.

Also enjoy an exceptional shopping experience at the 50 wooden chalet style huts hosted at the Winter Wonderland. Christmas celebrations will remain incomplete without the Mulled wines so also taste them at the Winter Wonderland.

Firework Displays at Bonfire Night London

Watch the free firework display at ……..

Date: Saturday 7 November 2009
Time: German Beer Festival: from 4.30pm. Fireworks display: 7.30pm
Venue: Alexandra Palace, Alexandra Palace Way, Wood Green, London N22 7AY
Nearest Tube Station: Wood Green
England's largest German Beer Festival, German drink and food, funfair.
Admission free, but suggested donation.

Venue: Ealing Cricket Club, Corfton Road
Date: Saturday 7 Nov 2009
Gates: 6pm. Fireworks display set to music: 7.30pm, followed by bonfire
Admission: adults £5. Children under 14 (accompanied) £3.00
Extra features: bars, mulled wine, BBQs, candy floss, children's fun rides and glow novelties
Station: Ealing Broadway, North Ealing

“Remember the fifth of November, gunpowder, treason, and plot, I see no reason will ever be forgot”. Indeed, 5^th of November is afresh and the famous traditional rhyme will be heard once again to commemorate the failure of Gunpowder plot, which targeted to blow up the Houses of Parliament, in London. Food plus fireworks plus Holy smokes equals… It’s Bonfire Time! The contemporary Bonfire Night happens every year on and around 5^th of November. Like never before, the whole London is passionate about fireworks at this time of the year. In the days leading, out of old clothes and paper material children will make “Guys”, by tradition an effigy of Guy Fawkes, the embodiment of Gunpowder plot. Later, these “Guys” are set on fire along with the fireworks to fill the sky. Children use these “Guys” to collect money by asking “penny for the guy”. Usually, adults give money on the basis of how good the “Guy” appears. Earlier, children used to spend this money on buying sparkles (crackers) but now they are barred to do so, instead they spend this money on fast-food centers with proceeds. It’s not recommended to buy fireworks as they can cause serious injuries and therefore can prove fatal, its better to attend an organize firework display. Nothing can beat these exciting fireworks display that will take place throughout the London. Most of them are free to attend.

Don’t miss the Spooky and Sparkling event of the year.

The Nutcracker Royal Ballet London

When – 26^th November 2009 – 1^st January 2010

Where – Royal Opera House

Covent Garden, London WC2E 9DD

Nearest tube station – Covent Garden tube station

 

Time

26^th – 30^th November 2009, Monday, Thursday and Friday – 7:30 pm

2^nd – 9^th December 2009 Wednesday – 7:30 pm

5^th December 2009 – 12:00pm

11^th – 16^th December 2009, Wednesday, Friday – 7:30pm

12^th December 2009, Saturday - 2:00pm, 7:00pm

23^rd December 2009 - 12 pm

28^th December 2009 – 7:30 pm

29^th – 30^th December 2009, Tuesday, Wednesday – 2:00pm, 7:00 pm

31^st December 2009 – 1pm, 6:30pm

1^st January 2010 – 5pm

The classical royal ballet at the Royal Opera House will add to the charm of Christmas events in London. You can see the best ballet troop performing on the magical sounds of Tchaikovsky’s best scores. The ballet theme is all about the favourite Christmas gift of Clara – a nutcracker with which she is drawn into the world of magical adventure. She also battles with the king of Mouse and then visits the Kingdom of Sweets. The Nutcracker is fully packed with various exceptional magical moments so, don’t miss your chance to see this magical splendor.

The magical tree at this balley that grows and grows will also leave you amazed. Nutcracker has designs of Julia Trevelyan Oman and choreography is done by Lev Ivanov. This phenomenal ballet is directed by Peter Wright and the star cast of the balley is as follows:

The Prince: Thiago Soares, Rupert Pennefather, Valeri Hristov, Johan Kobborg, Federico Bonelli, Ivan Putrov, Steven McRae, David Makhateli and Sergei Polunin

Sugar Plum Fairy: Laura Morera, Miyako Yoshida, Yuhui Choe , Roberta Marquez, Alina Cojocaru, Sarah Lamb, Lauren Cuthbertson, Marianela Nuñez

Nutcracker can also be viewed at the London Coliseum at St Martin’s Lane but, the show timings for the same show differ at this venue.

Christmas Shopping At London Eye

London is a well known exciting and fascinating shopping destination in England. It offers several popular shopping streets, markets and shops. These shopping destinations include a wide variety of branded showrooms as well as street wear brands. London, although is considered to an expensive city but with so many shopping streets located in the city, you also have an option of pocket friendly shopping in London.

Shopping is even more fun when Christmas is around the corner. London itself is well known for its Christmas celebrations as several Christmas fairs, Christmas Shopping Carnivals and Christmas Markets are organized in the city. One such Christmas Shopping Market will be organized at Southbank Centre, London Eye. This market is well known as Cologne Christmas Market at South Centre/London Eye.

You can shop some of the most unique silver jewellery, hand crafted toys, glass ornaments, hand made ceramics, tin toys and beautiful wax candles. This typical Christmas Market will also organize several wooden chalets along the Queens Walk. This will completely give you a feel of German style Christmas Market. You can also relax with the exceptionally delicious German Mulled Wine offered at the Market.

Cologne Christmas Market Details

Opening Date – 20^th November – 23^rd December 2009

Address – Southbank Centre/ London Eye

Nearest tube station – Waterloo London Underground

Market Timings

Monday 11am - 8pm

Tuesday 11am - 8pm

Wednesday 11am - 8pm

Thursday 11am - 8pm

Friday 10am - 10pm

Saturday 10am - 10pm

Sunday 11am - 8pm

Thus you can savor a variety of drinks and dishes while listening to the mesmerizing traditional music. Merry g o round rides are also available at the market which will be enjoyed thoroughly by the kids. Santa at Queen’s Walk is also amongst the major highlights of this spectacular Christmas Market.