Christmastime in London

December 2023

London is a metropolitan city that you can easily spend months exploring and not really see everything.  Here are highlights from my ten days.

Shopping: Oxford Street, Covent Gardens

A major road in the Westminster area of West End of London.  It is Europe's busiest shopping street and fully decorated for the Christmas season. London is a shopping mecca especially during the holiday season.

Westminster Abbey 

No visit of London is complete without doing an audio tour of Westminster Abbey.  It has been the setting for every royal coronation since 1066 as well as sixteen royal weddings.  Eighteen British, Scottish and English monarchs are buried within the church.  

World War II sites.

England played a big role alongside the Americans in World War II.  While I did not get a chance to visit Churchills War Room, I did take a free walking tour of various sites associated with the war.

Day Trip to Windsor Castle

Probably the most famous castle in all of England, Windsor Castle is the oldest and largest occupied castle in the world.  Founded by William the Conqueror in the 11th century, it has been the home of 40 monarchs.  An easy train ride from Central London.  

Jack the Ripper Tour

Two-hour walking tour of the murderous streets of East London, where Jack the Ripper found his victims in the murky world of Victorian Era London.  Play detective and uncover the clues to the five known victims.  Maybe you can solve the case of who is Jack the Ripper, the oldest known serial killer. Check out the tour that I did. Jack the Ripper Walking Tour in London

Harry Potter walking tour

Many sights about London were used as movie locations for the Harry Potter Series.  If you are a Potterhead, I highly recommend a walking tour.  See another side of Covent Garden, Trafalgar Square, Boro Market and Soho.  Be sorted into houses and test your trivia knowledge. Original Harry Potter Locations Tour

West End Theatre

Spend a little extra money and treat yourself to Broadway ummm West End Theatre tickets.  I ended up seeing the Lion King which was magical after seeing the inspiration for Pride Rock in Kenya.

Christmas Shopping in The Arcades and Piccadilly Circus. 

There is nothing like London at Christmas.  The markets, the streetlights, the arcades all decorated up for the holidays.

Museums

While I only spent a day exploring museums, you owe it to yourself to visit as many as possible.  I love the British Museum.  Check out the mummified cat.  Also, a side trip to the British Library for original manuscripts of Lewis Carroll, Magna Carta, Shakespeare and the Beatles.