London At Christmas TWENTY6 things to do and buy this festive season......
London was the home of Dickens, so while in celebration of the birth of a baby some distance away (Bethlehem) many of the traditions we now enjoy were invented and entrenched in 19th Century London. Mr Scrooge awoke on Christmas morning to discover the joys of Christmas so join us on our London journey and letās āParty like itās 1899!!!ā NOT TO MISS ā¦ā¦ on every Wednesday on the run up to Christmas Columbia Road Flower Market opens up for mulled wine and Carols ⦠ all the independent shops are open late and mulled wine is available on every corner. Ā Follow the old Joanna (piano) on the barrow up the street and sing-along with the Christmas Carols lead by local Vicar Adam Atkinson, raising money for local charities whilst offering up a real slice of the old East End. Ā What a Cockney āknees upā āding-dong sing alongāā¦ā¦. āAll that glitters is not goldā but for the most brilliant festive glitter head to Marks and Spencers and grab a bottle of their Clementine Gin Snow Globe. Twenty6 Christmas Cocktail Recipeā ā¦.. 20% Clementine Gin, 10% Grand Marnier, 50% Prosecco, 20% Soda Water Sparkle and luxury can be found in the fabulous Burlington Arcade. Itās the perfect Christmas cut-through from Bond Street to Piccadilly. Perfectly placed between Cartier and Fortnum & Mason, this has so much glamour. Celebrating its 200th Anniversary, having opened in March 1819, luxury leather goods, cashmere, new and antique jewelry, this is real old time elegance, and do drop into Laduree for your macaroons, a hair cut at Ā Atkinsons or a shoe shine. Enter one end and pop out the other polished, buffed and groomed. āHark the Herald Angels Singā and other Carols ā¦. Ā Enjoy a service in one of the historical Abbeyās or Cathedrals this Christmas. Many hold services to raise funds for homeless charities. Ā Check with each one to see what and when their services are. Visit the Antiques Market at the historic Spitalfieldsā Market. Ā Held every Thursday during the year, there remains a very 19th Century feel to this market. Find something totally unique; everything from an 18th Century teapot from Andrew Coram or pre-owned Dior Earringsā¦.. itās a wonderful place to wander and soak up the atmosphere whilst āhooking a bargainā. Take time to write to those you see seldom, an actual card cannot be replaced by any digital alternative, spend an afternoon catching up with old friends, its so worth the investment, any post these days thatās not a bill is such a pleasure. Charity cards available widely from many outlets. āWe Three Kings of Orient Areā; we donāt expect you travel to the Orient but the Kings Road hosts its own Christmas Bazaar on the 7th December, horse carriage rides and chestnuts roasting bring festive cheer to this very glamorous corner of town. Afternoon tea is a tradition not to be forgotten at this time of year, a real treat, all the fine hotels do fabulous afternoon teas; The Ritz, Ā Claridgeās Ā and if you need a venue where doggy friends are welcome, book the wonderful drawing room at The Lanesborough, ā¦.. for afternoon tea Ā (or champagne), assorted sandwiches and an irresistible selection of cakes, the diet starts in January ā¦ā¦.
Is Santa coming down your Chimney? We love Santa visiting, but also itās fabulous to make sure he visits your nearest and dearest. Scented candles that make your home feel luxurious, āJo Lovesā Christmas Candleā is the very essence of Christmas, with fresh pine, wood smoke and a hint of plum pudding. YUM. Oh and donāt forget to re-purpose the holder next year into a bulb holder for your Christmas hyacinths. The White Company has also captured the scent of Christmas, try either the Old Fashioned with a smooth mix of zest of orange and amber whiskey, warm and familiar; or their Classic Winter Warmer with spices of cinnamon, clove and orange. Itās like Santa just left the roomā¦ā¦ Personalised presents are always extra special. Itās fabulous to get your bedding all up close and personal with Stranos Linen of London, pillow cases or full sets, pure luxury just for the ones you love, rest your head everyday on love and luxury. Something not just for the 12 days of Christmas but 365 days of the year.
We love stationery, āThank you notesā (always so handy to write to say thank you for your wonderful Christmas prezzies) personalised notelets, or for the most traditional among us a set of writing paper and envelopes. Ā Useful, beautiful and personal. Win win win. Check out Smythson or Wren Press . Everyone wants to smell niceā¦ā¦. So many options but so very personal, itās a minefield choosing fragrances. Ā I personally love the joyful experience of entering and inhaling the perfumed interior of Floris in Jermyn Street, W1, with its gorgeous interior as exhibited at the 1851 Exhibition. Ā Santa Maria Novella, 117 Walton Street, SW3, or the Piccadilly Arcade Ā itās like shopping in the 19th Century, huge range of scents and lotions, the pomegranate terracotta room diffuser, literally lasts for yearsā¦. Pure class. Make your own Christmas wreath. Iām never one to take work away from a good florist, but a wreath making course with a few chums is a real hoot and you take away something to show off to your neighbours; Ā a really fun few hours and once you know how itās a gift that comes in handy year on yearā¦ā¦. There are courses at Fortnum and Masons, Petersham Nurseries and Columbia Creative. Prices from Ā£50 I am a huge fan of the Christmas Shopping Trip. A genuine trip to shop and not just clicking and collecting. This gives you the chance to enjoy the festive lights and experience a wander, make this Christmas old fashioned and take a day to shop with your best friend(s). Our Historic Christmas route to take in the lights, smells and tastes of Christmas. Stroll around St Christophers Place, South Molton Street, Old Bond Street, Burlington Arcade, Piccadilly Arcade. You will cover everything from Selfridges, Fortnum and Mason, the perfumers mentioned above, plus many more⦠For the perfect pit-stop and refuel, try Francoās in Jermyn Street. Itās perfectly placed in the epicenter of the shopping district. Literally the best lasagna in London. Its classical elegance is like a step back in time; itās the perfect spot on your Christmas shopping day out, perfect for lunch, early supper or a night out (BOOK!) 13th December is āSave the Children Christmas Jumper Dayā. Wear your jumper with pride and give generously click here! Pantos and HO HO HOā¦. There are many options of live shows, Sandi Toksvig is hosting a Carol Sing A-long at the Globe theatre; Ā the Christmas Tree in St Paulās Cathedral, is illuminated on the 22nd December, and for the off beat check out Wiltons Music Hall, or the Hackney Empire for their festive fare. Check on line whatās on. Chelsea Christmas Lights Switch on is the 23rd of November, Christmas with illuminated Sloane Square, Sloane Street and Duke of Yorkās Square. Celebrations start at 2pm in Sloane Square with Carols and entertainment, with the lights to be turned on at 5pm. Christmas Candlelit suppers... Petersham Nurseries are running a number of lovely evenings, Ā 6th, 12th, 19th and 20th December. Ā Reservations on 0208 332 8665. Amazing atmosphere and wonderful food. Also take a peek at the Christmas decorationsā¦ā¦ Donāt break a leg, but take a spin around the skating rinks that pop up, Somerset House, The Natural History Museum, Hampton Court Palace, Ā wonderful surroundsā¦. Have go or just have a drink and watch. Its My Birthday - just sayingā¦ā¦ā¦ Have a wonderful Festive Season, eat drink and be Merryā¦ā¦. And in the famous last lines of āTwas the Night Before Christmasā ā¦.. āBut I heard him exclaim as he drove out of sightā, āHappy to Christmas to All and to All a good nightā. Words by Andrew Downs











