Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
London at Christmas is especially appealing, with its buildings dressed in their holi-
day best. Many holiday traditions have their roots in 19th-century Victorian Britain. Be-
ginning in the 1840s, Queen Victoria's German husband, Prince Albert, popularized the
decorating of Christmas trees and the sending of Christmas cards. And what could be more
traditional than seeing the setting of Charles Dickens'
A Christmas Carol
come to life?
God bless us, every one.
Pantomimes,
or “pantos,” are a British holiday tradition. Though they have nothing to do
with silent mimes—and they don't mention Christmas—these campy fairy-tale plays en-
tertain with outrageous costumes, sets, and dance numbers. Verbal participation is defin-
itely encouraged, and it doesn't take long to learn the lines. Adults will laugh at the more
risqué jokes; kids will giggle at the slapstick. Two London theaters that usually stage pan-
tos are the Hackney Empire (291 Mare Street, northeast London, Tube: Bethnal Green,
then 10 minutes on bus #106 or #254, tel. 020/8985-2424,
www.hackneyempire.co.uk
)
or the Old Vic (corner of Waterloo Road and The Cut, southeast of Waterloo Station,
Tube: Waterloo, tel. 0844-871-7628,
www.oldvictheatre.com
)
. For a rundown of all theater
events, see
www.timeout.com/london
,
www.theatremonkey.com
, or
www.officiallondontheatre.co.uk
.
For more about the panto tradition, see
www.its-behind-
Get some exercise at the
outdoor ice rinks
at the London Eye, Somerset House,
Tower of London, Natural History Museum, and Hampton Court Palace, among other loc-
ations (rental skates, generally mid-Nov-mid-Jan, reservations smart).
The
Hyde Park Winter Wonderland
offers kitschy carnival fun with a Ferris wheel,
carousel, and other rides, as well as an ice rink and vendors selling silly hats and plenty
of food and drink (late Nov-early Jan, southeast corner of park, Tube: Hyde Park Corner,
Stroll around and enjoy the elaborate
light displays
and store windows on major
shopping streets from mid-November to early January, especially on Oxford Street, Bond
Street, Regent Street, and Brompton Road. Post-holiday sales start December 26 for many
stores, including the famous Harrods January sale.
The Trafalgar Square
Christmas tree
is given to London every year from the people
of Oslo, Norway, in appreciation for British help during World War II (lighting ceremony
first Thu in Dec, stays up until Jan 6,
www.london.gov.uk
). Free carol concerts are held
beneath the tree in December.
The
Geffrye Museum'
s 11 historic rooms are decorated for Christmas every year,
