<p>We are arriving in London on Christmas Day and flying back to NY on New Year’s Day. Travelling with D’s (1 a sophomore in HS, the other a sophomore in college.) I have been several times (but not in the last 20 years), but it is a first trip for the rest of the family. Besides the usual touristy places and museums…any good suggestions of where to go or places to eat? Any ideas for New Years Eve or Christmas Day (in the evening).</p>
<p>Thanks!!!</p>
<p>I hope you have arranged onward transport from the airport, because there won’t be any.</p>
<p>The country is closed on Christmas day. No buses, no trains, no taxis, no shops, no restaurants (except a few Asian ones, but even non-Christians like to have a free day off work). Some pubs open in the evenings. Unless you already have a reservation, it may be very difficult to find any restaurants open on Christmas day. A few convenience stores may be open in the evening.</p>
<p>All you can do in the evening is go to church (and only to a church within walking distance of your accommodation). It’s kind of nice wandering around London when it is so deserted on Christmas Day. </p>
<p>The only way out of transport problems is if you have already reserved a hire car, or booked a taxi in advance (taxis will probably charge double, maybe even triple, on Christmas day too).</p>
<p>Transport may be severely limited in any case due to the heavy snowfall of the last few days. It’s been chaos! Trains trapped in tunnels, planes jumping runways, general motoring disaster. </p>
<p>From Boxing Day (26th December, also a public holiday so shops open but transport limited) the sales are starting. So you could always queue overnight at Harrods (or possibly not since it’s so very cold!). If you don’t like crowds, avoid the manic shops. This day is a bit like US “Black Friday”.</p>
<p>I don’t know what to suggest that is not touristy. Everything is touristy. What are your interests?</p>
<p>Have you tried the trip advisor web site? </p>
<p>WRAP UP WARM!</p>
<p>[Reviews</a> of vacations, hotels, resorts, vacation and travel packages - TripAdvisor](<a href=“http://www.tripadvisor.com%5DReviews”>http://www.tripadvisor.com)</p>
<p>On New Years Eve there is a firework display at the Eye. It will get crazily crowded (and drunken) though. The tube is free all night so partiers can get home. The best view of the fireworks is probably on TV.</p>
<p>^^ Agree with cupcake, we lived in the suburbs for a few years and the ONLY time my h drove into central London was Christmas, because of lack of public transport. Everything in central London will be closed, and grocery stores will be closed on Boxing Day as well.</p>
<p>Asian food is a good bet - we had 3 Indian restaurants on the High Street in our neighborhood. Are you staying in central London?</p>
<p>Be prepared for it to be dark from 4pm to 9am - though it may be that way in NY anyway.</p>
<p>I waited in a long line to attend Midnight Mass at St Paul’s Cathedral, the church Princess Di got married in. I love to look at the inside of the church. You might want to try that.</p>
<p>Christmas Day will probably be shutdown, but perhaps a nice day for checking out some cool architecture or park-like spots in the city…</p>
<p>I suggest purchasing a Lonely Planet Guide as it never fails to reveal some of the more offbeat and fun places in a city…from museums/cultural things, to restaurants, to sights and sounds, to clubs and shows. My friends and I have used it to explore various cities in and outside of the US…including the one in our backyard! It is definitely an adventure every time…good for the young or young at heart ;).</p>
<p>Depending on the city you can also go to the Lonely Planet website and look at free information - I say depending on the city, because some free online guides are more useful than others (I thought San Francisco’s was particularly fleshed out - no need to buy a guide! - but for others the online guide was very sparse and incomplete, suggesting to me that if you want to play it safe and get the best info, just buy a book, they’re under $20). If you don’t want to go to a bookstore I believe you can download the book/chapters from it in pdf format.</p>
<p>Good luck! :).</p>
<p>Thanks for the heads up regarding transportation…but luckily we were aware of the situation and have arranged for a limo.</p>
<p>The restaurants in our hotel are open on Christmas…and as Jews we have an Asian restaurant tradition on Christmas anyway. Any good Chinese/ Thai/ Japanese restaurants in the Mayfair area? (We are staying at the Marriott.)</p>
<p>So there is snow that is on the streets in London? We just had a major snowstorm in NY, too. We are mostly taking boots to wear anyway. Now I know I won’t be too hot!</p>
<p>Any restaurants or pubs that are favorites would be appreciated.</p>
<p>Husband has already been warned about the shopping we plan, although there may not be any great deals considering the exchange rate. Luckily he enjoys shopping himself. (He does mall leasing for a living.)</p>
<p>[London</a> Travel Information and Travel Guide - England - Lonely Planet](<a href=“http://www.lonelyplanet.com/england/london]London”>Experience London - Lonely Planet | England, Europe)</p>
<p>^Looks like the free info is pretty intense for this one.</p>
<p>[Restaurants</a> in London - Lonely Planet Travel Information](<a href=“http://www.lonelyplanet.com/england/london/restaurants]Restaurants”>Best restaurants London, England - Lonely Planet)</p>
<p>^You can search by cuisine type. There’s 46 under “Asian” and a bunch of other non-Christmasy odd ones, too, haha.</p>
<p>China Tang in the Dorchester has silver chop sticks. It’s spendy though.</p>
<p>You’re staying in a great location. Hope you all enjoy your visit - do you fly soon?</p>
<p>Oh and I agree about walking around London when it’s deserted - that will be a rare treat. The architecture is amazing. Walking will help you recover from jet lag as well.</p>
<p>Hope you’re planning to take in a show while you’re there. :)</p>
<p>I’m a frequent visitor in London and have a few suggestions. Usually I’m working, but get to take in a few good things anyway.</p>
<ol>
<li> The theater.</li>
<li> Restaurants. Masala Zone for reasonable, good Indian. Veereswamy and Tamarind for upscale Indian (one of the best). Also very good are Quilon and Rasa. Yauatcha for inventive, really upscale Asian Fusion Dim Sum. Busaba Eathai for Thai (communal tables, inventive). There is a Chinatown area near Soho. I think I’ve eaten in a mediocre Thai restaurant there but not Chinese. There’s also Wagamama, which is in lots of places.<br></li>
<li> Not likely open on Christmas, but for non-Asian, high end food, I love Pied a Terre, and have had very good meals at Orrery and Aubergine. More standard good fare at Patterson’s and Wilton’s. In Mayfair, there are some very expensive sushi places. Rasa and Tamarind (see above) are there as is Patara (Thai) and Kay Mayfair (Chinese). I haven’t been to the last two. I’m pretty sure one of the Gordon Ramsey restaurants and Nobu are in Mayfair as well.</li>
<li> Museums (though not on Christmas)</li>
<li> I haven’t been there in years, but try Foyle’s bookstore.</li>
<li> Visit Oxford or Cambridge (I’ve taken the train to Cambridge and assume one goes to Oxford) or to Windsor to see the castle.</li>
<li> I have found over the years that there isn’t that much that is sold in London that you can’t get in Boston or NY. I used to bring back stuff, but consumer goods are largely a global market. Liberty of London has better stores in London. But, shopping really isn’t that different and it is substantially more expensive.</li>
</ol>
<p>We are on the plane now. Thanks so much!!!</p>
<p>My D and I spent August in London. Our favorite restaurant was Clos Maggiore - elegant atmosphere and very well prepared food. We ate at Safra on Regent Street several times - really good and not too expensive for the area. Surprisingly, the restaurants in Harrods are good. I liked Veraswami, my D not so much. Carluccio’s are everywhere - a decent, reasonably priced chain - good for family dinners, the various Gauchos are okay - nothing great. We loved the Wolseley near Piccadilly. Joel Robuchon was good. Beware: dining in central London is expensive!</p>
<p>Try [London</a> Eating - London Restaurants Guide](<a href=“http://www.london-eating.co.uk%5DLondon”>http://www.london-eating.co.uk) for reservations</p>
<p>As a Londoner, ideas:</p>
<ul>
<li>walk along the south bank of the Thames. Beautiful, you get to see all the sights, and there’s some good places to eat</li>
<li>THEATRE - don’t worry, there’s not such ridiculously jacked-up prices over xmas as in New York!</li>
<li>definitely go to eat in Chinatown, and walk around there…</li>
<li>just wander around central London at night! the xmas lights will be up on Oxford/Regent street, it will be beautiful</li>
</ul>
<p>Enjoy our lurvely city!</p>
<p>Shawbridge! You’re The Man when it comes to LD discussions but you’ve missed the mark on transAtlantic shopping. Those of us who’ve lived in both the US and the UK know there are definitely things that we can get here that you can’t get there and vice versa. These things are well worth picking up when travelling. To take one example, the third Steig Larsson book won’t be published in the US until March or May but has been out here since summer. That makes a very nice gift to take back to the US to fans of the series. And if the OP is still checking in on this thread: visitors to the UK at Christmas should definitely go to a panto - that’s just one of those cultural experiences that will never make it across the Atlantic!</p>
<p>Samuck, I spend about a few days to a week a month in London and bring back M&S tea, but don’t spend a lot of time shopping as I’m working with clients, but I’m eager to hear what is worth buying in London. I used to bring back Harry Potter books months before the US edition was set to come out and found Foyle’s had great books for intellectually oriented kids. My wife would be undoubtedly be in your debt if you would identify things that are worth buying in the UK that I can’t get in Boston (or on the web). When I have shopped recently, I have found noticeable price differentials (US usually significantly cheaper). </p>
<p>Going the other way, they don’t have Trader Joe’s in the UK (or in Western Canada) and people sometimes ask me to bring their favorite thing from Trader Joe’s when I’m visiting. What else would you say one should bring from the US to the UK?</p>
<p>I’ve emerged from Boxing Day festivities to find the above question directed to me and although it is off topic and this thread is on its last legs, I’ll take up the challenge and answer . Yes, standard shopping basket items will be cheaper in the US - what sells for $20 at an American Gap sells for £20 at an English Gap but nobody coming here would bother shopping at Gap. The trick is to focus on things quintessentially British, eg cult comedy. The Mighty Boosh series one DVD costs $30 on US Amazon but UK RRP is £8 - and can be found at less than that. Here are some things I’ve been asked to take to friends in America: Beano and Dandy annuals, Dr. Who stuff (I’m told we’re about six months ahead of the US schedule), black current jelly squares (for making jello), haggis (even at the height of foot and mouth I was allowed to bring in the tins) - as you can see we’re catering to rarified tastes here! What about Patum Paperium (Gentleman’s Relish)? Maybe this is sold at upmarket food emporia in the US but here at certain times of the year you can find it in round china pots, very decorative. And at this time of year, the range of Christmas crackers is incredible. There’s been discussion as to whether one can legally bring boxes into the US as there is actual gunpowder on the ‘snaps’ but packed in checked luggage should be OK. I’ve been asked to bring back children’s sunscreen because apparently the UK brands are stronger (??). What else: branston pickle, aero bars, pear drops, sherbert drops. Obviously food is a biggie - check out not only the obvious places like Fortnum and Masons but Waitrose (the posh supermarket). I notice that Tea and Sympathy, the Manhattan shop for homesick Brits, stocks tins of Birds Custard. I also bring back packets of Royal Icing - invaluable stuff - you add water and beat to get the icing traditionally used on wedding and christmas cakes here. If you know anyone who does tapestry (needlepoint), things like Elizabeth Bradley kits are definitely cheaper here - Boots the Chemist is another favourite source for goodies - friends in NYC who can slather on creme de la mer still beg me to bring pots of evening primrose lotion. And although TopShop has now opened a branch in NYC, the Oxford Circus Mother Ship is still a first stop for many young (and not so young) ladies I know visiting from America. Lots of other stuff - books books books - because so many titles don’t even make it across the Atlantic. Foyles is a London institituon but the service is notoriously awful - better to ask for suggestions at Hatchards in Picadilly. Anyone with students toying with the idea of applying to uni here might be amused by 'Oxbridge, The Real Rules." My favourite item to buy here that I can’t there: beautifully soft wool tights. And what do I bring back to the UK from the US? Double acting baking powder. Sorry to go on at such length (and I could continue even longer) but the High Street and Main Street are still quite distinct in many ways… Happy Shopping!</p>
<p>Thanks, Samuck. I’ll pass on the haggis which seems an acquired taste. Not sure about many of the other things on the list. Although I lived in Oxford when I was a kid and my wife is Canadian with aunts and cousins in London, our tastes are clearly North America-formed and I suspect I wouldn’t win kudos for bringing back sherbet drops, Birds Custard or Patum Paperium. But they may be of value to the OP.</p>
<p>Books should be on my list and I agree that Foyle’s service was bad (though the selection of books not easily found in the US was good). I’ll try Hatchards. Thanks. Tea is something that I bring back, but somehow the organic Marks & Spencer tea is what is requested, though I’ve made pickups at Fortnum & Mason.</p>