What would it be like to have a London Christmas one year? I spent 5 days there in the 2nd week of December and am hooked! Find out where to shop, eat, drink and be amazed in London. Listen to me chat with Mark Lloyd on The Ticket Dubai Eye 103.8 about a London Christmas.
London Christmas The Atmosphere
The streets in central London are alive with festive decorations, amazing light displays and a general warm feeling wherever you go! Yes it’s cold outside but that just adds to the authentic festive atmosphere. I loved the Cosmic themed lights that criss crossed Oxford Street this December 2015. Did they plan it to coincide with the release of the new Star Wars movie?
The floral displays outside many of the shops using artistic wintery twigs and snowflakes were gorgeous and created a real winter wonderland effect. Stop to take in a flower shop like Jane Packer off Marylebone High Street.
London Christmas Selfridges Windows
This Christmas Star was the inspiration for those iconic Selfridges windows this year and each of the 12 windows was dressed in a different sign from the zodiac! The jewel in this years’s crown was the Orrery space model on the 3 corner windows of Oxford Street and Orchard street. A mechanical model of a solar system designed with help from the Greenwich Observatory that accurately represents exactly how the planets move in relation to one another.
Reach for some more stars or even diamonds encrusted in gold crowns that formed part of the amazing headgear on display.
London Christmas Where to Eat and Drink
Try out the food market at Borough, or for something close by that’s a bit more formal I recommend lunch at the Shangri La at the Shard for some contemporary Christmas fare. Make sure it’s a clearish day so you can take pictures of the magnificent views. We ate at Ting on the 35th floor of the Shangri La, right next to London Bridge station. Ting means Living Room in Chinese.
Make time and space for tea at the Rosebery lounge at the Mandarin Oriental in Knightsbridge for a magical afternoon. More Narnia Kingdom here with fabulous food to accompany.
I loved the beautiful free standing cake stands that didn’t obstruct the faces of my fellow diners! And choose from a Champagne, TeaMasters or even a Sake tea! And did you know you can get special tea for Little Ladies and Gentlemen under 12 years too!
And I recommend the Cavendish in New Cavendish Street just off Marylebone High Street for an elegant drink and some grown up tapas, who knows what you’ll see outside! These jolly folk were doing a seasonal Santa Skate round London! Find out more about skating round the streets of London for fun.
London Christmas Presents
This year, make it personal! Go to Selfridges and get buy some customised Nutella (pronounced Nootella) for everyone you know. The lady next to me was doing 40 jars!
Just type your name into the ipad and submit, takes about 2 minutes for your jar to be ready, but make sure you’re first in the queue! Available on the ground and the fourth floor. Or give a Mini Moet bottle for 17 pounds with a photograph uploaded from your phone as the label, head to the basement for this stand. You could always get an Elfridge to help you out! Selfridges personal shoppers that help you for FREE!
Anything from Kusmi tea or Pierre Marcollini is also sure to please, both located on Marylebone High Street, a short walk from Selfridges.
The PODCAST for this post will be added as soon it’s up on the Dubai Eye Website. This blogpost will also be up on the Dubai Eye 103.8 The Ticket blog shortly. Happy Christmas from London, which sometimes reminds me very much of Dubai! 2 tonnes of glitter sand used in this window.
Thank You
Monica
And here are the PODCASTS for this post listen to a lot more detail.
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