In London the Christmas excitement is shaping up with window displays, lighting on the main streets, flea markets and extraordinary events.
Markets and Thames dressed up for the party
The most famous Christmas market is Leicester Square (open from November, the 8th, to January, the 5th), where you can browse through the wooden houses overflowing with handicraft gifts, Christmas decorations and street food. But you can spend a whole day at the Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park (November, the 21th to January, the 5th), which also offers a multitude of fun games and activities, including ice skating shows, a Ferris wheel, a huge Christmas market, live music and ice sculptures. From November, the 8th, to January, the 5th, the banks of the Thames come alive for the Southbank Center’s Winter Festival, which presents a whole program of festive events and fun activities for the family around a huge Christmas tree. One of the most famous images of London in winter is the outdoor ice skating rink in front of the Natural History Museum illuminated by suggestive lights and adorned with a magnificent Christmas tree and, with regard to ice, from November, the 13th to January, the 5th, at the SSE Arena, Wembley and O2 will be staged Disney on Ice, the incredible show set up to celebrate the 100 years of Disney history.
Decorations, decorations, decorations!
The streets, from Oxford Street to Regent Street and Covent Garden, begin to shine with magnificent Christmas lights, while department stores such as Harrods and Selfridges set up splendid themed shop windows. The famous Fortnum & Mason store on Piccadilly displays luxurious packages of all types of tea. The Kew Botanical Gardens will be opened exceptionally after sunset from November, the 20th, to January, the 5th. You can walk in the enchanted atmosphere of the gardens illuminated by a million lights between live shows, engaging installations and spectacular floral displays.
Great sport and great music
In November (the 10th to the 17th) the O2 Arena will host the ATP Finals, the most important professional tennis tournament of the year after the four Grand Slam events. There is a very rich prize pool up for grabs and the best eight players of the singles and doubles ATP rankings take part. Fans of this sport will have the opportunity to support tennis stars like Nadal, Djkovic, Federer and Medvedev. Jazz lovers will instead be able to listen to the best performers in large theaters and in intimate bars scattered around the British capital at the EFG London Jazz Festival (November, the 15th to the 24th). At the grand opening gala “Jazz Voice” at the Royal Festival Hall at Southbank will perform inter alia stellar voices such as Corinne Bailey Rae, Cécile McLorin Salvant, Urban Flames, the “Vocalist of the Year” Cherise Adams-Burnett. The Charlie Pyne Quartet will play at the Spice of Life jazz bar and the legendary saxophonist Steve Williamson Experience will be at the PizzaExpress Jazz Club.
Food&Drink and Pudding
The best of contemporary cuisine and mixology will be on stage at the Olympia in November, the 20th to the24th, for Eat & Drink Festival Christmas, an opportunity to make exceptional food experiences. Coming out of London, you can see the magical world of Harry Potter in a winter version at Warner Bros. Studio Tour London with Hogwarts in the Snow. Sparkling Christmas trees will delimit the great hall and the puddings, the quintessential English Christmas desserts, will flame on the long tables. There will be orchestras of magic instruments, special effects, desserts of all kinds in the common room of the Gryffindor and a model of the snow-covered castle.
Royal hospitality
Even the iconic 11 Cadogan Gardens Hotel, in the elegant Chelsea neighborhood, begins its Christmas preparations and organizes traditional, sumptuous afternoon teas. Its atmosphere, made of privacy and luxurious exclusivity and the welcome formed largely by Italian staff, have made this hotel so special and appreciated by members of the aristocracy, politicians and famous personalities. The facade has retained the traditional Victorian red brick architecture, but the stylistic interior of this charming urban retreat plays on sumptuous details and boldly combines the classic with the contemporary, achieving a strong sense of individuality. The furnishings are complemented by four-poster beds, fireplaces, marble bathrooms and sophisticated amenities and services, such as fine Egyptian cotton sheets, soft bathrobes, courtesy sets signed by the prestigious Ormonde Jayne brand, Nespresso coffee machines in-room, mineral water available. (Free WiFi, Gym with personal touch-screen TV, 24-hour room service). The Chelsea Bar at Cadogan is the right place to enjoy a perfect Negroni or another cocktail from the menu, while Hans’ Restaurant & Grill offers a menu for all hours of the day created by Chef Luke Phillips using the best English products. Booking in advance the stay will enjoy a 15% discount on the best available room rate (www.11cadogangardens.com).
(London pictures credits @visitbritain, @visitlondon)
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