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We plan to be in London Xmas week - looking for a cold holiday place unlike the Middle East where we stay. I'm told that many attractions and transport are shut down Xmas day. Do you have any recommendations for Xmas Eve and Xmas day? We are staying near Hyde Park (Queensway Tube Station) and would be interested in Christmas Day lunch and holiday festivities. If the tube is closed, is the train running on Xmas for trips to Brighton or Greenwich?
No transport runs in Britain either Christmas Day or Boxing Day.Trains tend to stop about 8/9 pm Christmas Eve.There are taxis of course but be prepared to pay double.
All attractions are shut Christmas Day and many are on Boxing Day,and shut early on Christmas Eve.Obviously theres parks and the like you can explore.
December weather is usually dark and dull only daylight 830-345 roughly,and often quite cold.Temperature about 40,but can go quite a bit lower.
If you want Christmas Day lunch etc if your hotel doesnt do it,you must book somewhere NOW.I cant stress that enough.Places will have been taking bookings for a couple of months now.A lot of people now dont cook Christmas dinner at home.Dont book now it will be sandwiches.
The good news to all this is London largely empties over Christmas period,as people head back to families etc.There are people living in London from every town and village in the land.
If you want a day trip to Brighton either go before Christmas Eve or from the 27th onwards.Fastest train journeys are about an hour.
I would alter those dates if you can. If the weather is bad on the 25/26' you will have nothing to do for 2 whole days except sit in your hotel room watching the rain.
I would alter those dates if you can. If the weather is bad on the 25/26' you will have nothing to do for 2 whole days except sit in your hotel room watching the rain.
Im not sure how this is majorly different from other countries. Christmas day is the biggest holiday(religious) and still traditionally one you spend with family NOT shopping or doing other stuff apart from getting out and walking off the food excesses and I for one am happy its that way. Thanksgiving used to be like that in the US but now seems to see more and more places open
Agree book now for Christmas dinner, alot of pubs/restaurants are open for christmas day but obviously charge a premium for a meal . Everyone deserves a day off and I for one am glad we get these 2 days off to enjoy being together and retail follows suit (athough some places are open on boxing day) In London buses do run boxing day as do some train lines but depends on the train company. Also for longer distances National express coaches run from places like Victoria Station on a limited timetable
Boxing day is one of the biggest shopping day for retailers in the UK. While it's been years since I was in London over Christmas, I don't think the Christmas shutdown does not extend into boxing day.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ian Loves Dogs
All attractions are shut Christmas Day and many are on Boxing Day,and shut early on Christmas Eve.Obviously theres parks and the like you can explore.
Boxing day is one of the biggest shopping day for retailers in the UK. While it's been years since I was in London over Christmas, I don't think the Christmas shutdown does not extend into boxing day.
I was on about the sights more than shops.A lot of the shops that do open are the carpet and furniture shops. The tourist attractions are also often closed on boxing Day.
Central London is usually packed like a zoo on boxing day. I'd say close half, if not more than half of the tourist attractions are open.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ian Loves Dogs
I was on about the sights more than shops.A lot of the shops that do open are the carpet and furniture shops. The tourist attractions are also often closed on boxing Day.
No transport runs in Britain either Christmas Day or Boxing Day.Trains tend to stop about 8/9 pm Christmas Eve.There are taxis of course but be prepared to pay double.
All attractions are shut Christmas Day and many are on Boxing Day,and shut early on Christmas Eve.Obviously theres parks and the like you can explore.
December weather is usually dark and dull only daylight 830-345 roughly,and often quite cold.Temperature about 40,but can go quite a bit lower.
If you want Christmas Day lunch etc if your hotel doesnt do it,you must book somewhere NOW.I cant stress that enough.Places will have been taking bookings for a couple of months now.A lot of people now dont cook Christmas dinner at home.Dont book now it will be sandwiches.
The good news to all this is London largely empties over Christmas period,as people head back to families etc.There are people living in London from every town and village in the land.
If you want a day trip to Brighton either go before Christmas Eve or from the 27th onwards.Fastest train journeys are about an hour.
In the North East perhaps but in London you will get a good 20 minutes more daylight than you get in Newcastle, on the shortest day the sun rises at 8.03 and sets at 3.53.
In the North East perhaps but in London you will get a good 20 minutes more daylight than you get in Newcastle, on the shortest day the sun rises at 8.03 and sets at 3.53.
Im a bit south of Newcastle but youre right its 8.25 sunrise and 3.40 sunset making just 7 and a quarter hours of daylight where i live.Got to say its one of the things i like least about living here. Still often very dull in London in December though.Here we have sky thats steel grey most of December.
Im a bit south of Newcastle but youre right its 8.25 sunrise and 3.40 sunset making just 7 and a quarter hours of daylight where i live.Got to say its one of the things i like least about living here. Still often very dull in London in December though.Here we have sky thats steel grey most of December.
It sure is, I think perhaps that's why it has the reputation it seems to get? At 50 degrees north the sun only rises to 15 degrees above the horizon in mid winter and you only need a bit of cloud on the horizon to block it out, in my opinion its not so much the weather but the lack of daylight that is the worst thing about winters here, Summers down here seem to surprise the (foreign) guys I work with though, they can be quite pleasant. I really hate cold weather too, I guess it could be worse in that respect, I am glad I don't live further East in Europe but also wish I lived on the Canary Islands from Nov to Feb!
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