Welcome to my last post of 2017! I planned to stop writing earlier but well, I had too much to say before the year was out.
Rather than sign you off with a hotel review, I thought I’d share some of the festive things I’ve been up to over the last 6 weeks. I made a promise to myself last year that I would make the most of this Christmas in London and well, I think I kept it! Most of the below are still around for you to snap up before the Christmas season is over so if you’re still in the city over the festive break, here’s a bountiful of ways to celebrate…
A Christmas Cocktail; Butterbeer at The Booking Office
After seeing the fantastic Harry Potter exhibition at the British Library (a must!) we popped over to the St Pancras Renaissance Hotel’s Booking Office bar for a quick cocktail from their magical themed menu. Allyn’s Elixir of Love wasn’t exactly sparkling but my hot rum Butterbeer was absolutely delicious – a definite winter warmer! They also have a selection of snacks including a luxuriously rich chocolate frog with fresh mint.
A Festive Show; A Christmas Carol at the Old Vic
I managed to snap up £10 preview tickets to this live action festive story and sweet baby Jesus was it magical. Rhys Ifans was a natural at lovable Scrooge with the perfect mix of heartfelt humour and happy tears. And that’s without mentioning the immersive round theatre seating and creative stage production that will truly take you by surprise! A Christmas Carol is now usually shown each year at the Old Vic with different incredible actors taking the lead role.
A Celebratory Feast; The Bloggers’ Christmas Get Together
Last year a bunch of London bloggers headed for a festive feast at OXBO Bankside and this year we carried on the tradition, taking us to the Riding House Café for far too much wine and pigs in blankets. Their sharing menu was a perfect way to dine casual style with giant plates of smoked salmon and crispy roasties.
Rooftop Drinks; Roof East
Whilst the swarm of igloos that take over London during Christmas were a bit too cliche for me and my two girls, we still wanted to experience a festive pop up, so headed to Roof East in Stratford for mulled wine and posh hot dogs at their Social Fun and Games Club. The indoor tent with live music and giant Jenga was pretty packed but we didn’t mind being huddled up by a heater with our mittens. On the roof is also a bunch of curling lanes which seems to be the fashionable sport of the city this year!
Christmas Carols; St Pauls Cathedral
It’s been years since I went to a carol service so when I finally remembered to grab tickets for the St Pauls Celebration of Christmas show I was over the moon! Tickets are free and released in November but make sure to arrive early to grab a seat. We were near the back and although the sound was slightly faint it was still completely magical. Also… I got to hear Allyn sing along to O Come All Ye Faithful 😉
Getting Mulled at the Christmas Markets; Rekorderlig Cider Lodge
You can’t celebrate Christmas in London without going to a market – well anywhere in Europe actually. I’ve ticked off most of them but on our last weekend before the big day, Allyn and I headed down to Southbank to sip mulled cider at the Rekorderlig Cider Lodge. It was cheap, cosy and not heaving with crowds. Obviously we tucked into to tiny Dutch pancakes smothered in Nutella afterwards…
Touring the Christmas Stores and Lights
One of my favourite things to do in London at Christmas is mooch around the department stores’ festive shops and shopping areas, from Covent Garden to Fortnum and Mason’s. Yes it’s horrendously busy, yes there’s a lot of the same stuff. But who can resist Marks and Spencer’s Christmas pudding liqueur and a moving talking reindeer that costs over a grand in Selfridges?!
A Beast of a Roast Dinner; OXBO Bankside
Roast dinners aren’t just saved for Christmas Day during December – no no. I have to expand my stomach during the festive month(s) in preparation and this year I well and truly doubled in size at OXBO Bankside’s bottomless Sunday lunch. Unlimited starters, desserts and Prosecco created the perfect practice run.
How have you celebrated Christmas this month? I’d love to hear about what you’ve been up to!
