- Shoned
- Dec 29, 2023
- 6 min read
I recently visited London with two girlfriends to experience the wonders that Christmas has to offer in the capital.
It was a short break over two and a half days and this is what we got up to!
We arrived by train on a Monday in December and checked into our airbnb in the heart of Covent Garden. Check it out here:
I cannot stress how handy it is to have a centrally located property especially as we were on a short stay.
So on Day one we dropped off our luggage off at the property and headed for the Cheese Bar which is the only fully cheese-focused restaurant in London! Their flagship restaurant is in the heart of Camden Market, they also have a conveyor belt of cheese dreams in Covent Garden, but we visited their latest opening – The Cheese Barge in Paddington Central and yes, it was on a boat! What a wonderful culinary experience this was with a menu dedicated to championing British cheese.
All dishes are freshly made with locally sourced ingredients, and each contains at least one of their favourite British cheeses.
We washed it all down with a lovely bottle of red wine.
We then returned to our accommodation to unpack, change to our sparkly numbers and headed out on foot to Archer street, which was about a 10 minute walk away.
Archer Street is a hidden gem nestled in the heart of Soho.
It is the ultimate destination for those seeking an unforgettable experience!
We were serenaded by an extraordinary cast of talented performers which comprised of singers and actors who have graced the stages of the West End.
We booked online beforehand and the theme was Christmas Carol night.
As well as being captivated by the singers, we were given complimentary mulled wine, a mince pie and a Christmas Carol hymn sheet to join in with the entertainers during the evening.
This was a 2 hour experience and it was free to book and so much fun.
Must also mention that the staff went above and beyond to make us feel welcome.
We were slightly merry on departure and jumped on the back of a bike taxi that was kitted out in tinsel and blaring Christmas songs! We howled laughing all the way until got dropped off in Leicester square which was just around the bloody corner!
But it’s one of those things that has to be done on a night out in the capital right?
We then headed for an Italian restaurant and sat in the outdoor seating area with warm patio heaters enjoying a pizza and pint to finish off our tipsy night out.
On Day two we had a chilled morning before catching a train two stops away to Borough Market.
This is a Huge market under the railway lines, for British-reared meat and artisanal baked and speciality goods.
There were lots of coffee pop ups,oyster bars & seafood, and a huge paella being cooked throughout the day! This is without a doubt one of the most popular dishes at Borough Market, judging by the large queue.
After grabbing a coffee and some goodies at the Market we headed for the Shard as we’d booked afternoon tea.
This was on the 68th floor, 800ft up the high skyscraper in the Sleek, stylish Asian-inspired ting restaurant.
We marvelled over panoramic city views where you can see landmarks including the Tower of London and HMS Belfast as you gaze across the River Thames.
A whimsical Over The Rainbow Afternoon Tea is served at the wisteria clad TĪNG Lounge, featuring a showstopping miniature milk Shard building for two to share, filled with indulgent hazelnut praline, lemon jelly and Valrhona Dulcey mousse.
A selection of finger sandwiches were served including coronation chicken, smoked salmon and cucumber, classic Reuben and truffle egg and cress. Savouries such as hibiscus flower and a Rata burger with ratatouille and green pesto followed.
This was a one off experience for the bucket list, and one of my top choices for a London experience!
An unexpected piece of luxury at the shard was experiencing the Japanese Toto washlet toilets.
This is basically the 'Mercedes Benz’ of toilets!
Not only was the seat heated but the Washlet offers the functionality of a bidet within a toilet allowing you to clean yourself with the assistance of warm water without moving to a different fixture! Another one off the bucket list - how sad am I!
After an unforgettable afternoon tea followed by an unexpected bum wash we decided to get some steps in and enjoy the festive Christmas lights.
So we had another quick outfit change to tracksuit and trainers to start our projected hour long walk starting at Tottenham court road. You’ll find a 360-degree immersive wonderland, with 23,000 square feet of floor-to-ceiling digital art. Removing ourselves from the hustle and bustle of central London was just the activity we were looking for, and it’s free!
We then headed to Bond Street station to start our walk tour via the light filled South Molton Street, then Brook Street through to the fabulous Old Bond Street and of course the iconic Bond Street Christmas displays at Chanel, Dior, Boodles and more.
Next down to New Bond Street, and then through the festive filled Burlington Arcade and catch the annual Fortnum And Mason Advent calendar.
Fortnum & Mason claims to have invented the Scotch egg in 1738! For this reason, we had to visit and to witness the dancing christmas puddings suspended from the ceiling. It’s a fascinating central store display watching christmas puddings dance in an orchestrated performance that is three storeys high! I highly recommend stepping up a few stairs to take in the full scale of this in operation!
We then followed secret passageways to the angels of Regents streets and caught the 139 bus to see the lights from the top deck for £1.75!
Christmas lights walk can be purchased here by London blogger Candace Salters: Christmas Walk #1 – CandaceAbroad
We hopped off the bus in Covent Garden and upon arrival we headed straight to the Royal Opera House for another hidden gem!
Located at the top of the Royal Opera House, you can sit with a drink or some food in the Piazza Terrace Bar.
They do cocktails and mocktails at the bar but you can also buy food and hot drinks in the cafe downstairs and bring it up with you. It’s walk in only, it’s super chilled and it’s ideal for a quick respite in-between sight seeing. You can choose to be properly outside (it’s cold!) or inside where it’s covered.
On our last evening we visited the iconic Bob Bob Ricard Soho, we had a late sitting as we’d indulged in afternoon tea on the same day!
The restaurant is located just off Regent Street, it serves classic British & French cuisine and we enjoyed Jersey rock oysters, steak tartare & Salmon En croute with champagne sauce. Their signature dishes are highlighted on the menu and the best bit was that every table is equipped with a “Press for Champagne” button! The restaurant is famous for pouring more
champagne than any other restaurant in Britain- and we certainly put it to the test!
On our last day we decided to visit Liberty and Carnaby street.
We dropped off our suitcases at the property agents office which was 2 minutes away from the airbnb. This was arranged prior via an email agreement. Then we grabbed a quick brunch on the go in Pret including some much needed ginger shots for an energy boost!
Liberty is just an iconic department store within a Tudor building filled with high-end fashion and luxury homeware, and its own fabric line. Prices are not for the faint hearted but the products are very high end quality and we just visited to browse.
Staff are super friendly and approachable and the ladies loo had the best wallaper- very posh!
Next stop was Sophie Tea art in Carnaby which is well worth a visit. This is not your typical gallery, it’s a place to interact with the art in an immersive experience!
It’s been specially created to make you feel like you’re right at home in the centre of crazy London! With a surprise room behind the Smeg fridge. Set across 3 levels, with an elevated aesthetic, the gallery pays tribute to Sophie Tea Art’s history.
I particularly loved seeing her nudes journey and collabs in particular with the late Nicky Newman who became a digital creator after being diagnosed with stage 4 incurable breast cancer. She coined the phrase #gograblife and raised much awareness for secondary cancer. She dealt with her cruel disease with a smile on her face and even became an ambassador for Tanya Whitebits which I am forever grateful to her for.
After wonderful couple of hours in Carnaby street we visited the instagramable EL&N cafe for espresso and cake, picked up our suitcases and headed for Euston station.
This London trip was an unforgettable experience and I can’t underestimate the importance of planning beforehand.
I can’t take credit for some of the bookings as my wonderful friends put the work in and I feel like I just turned up!
It was months of planning and sharing ideas and itineraries. We did a mix of free and paid experiences, however we also pushed the boat out when it came to food and drink!
London has a population of around 8.8 million, it stands on the River Thames and is one of the oldest cities in the world.
There really is something for everyone there, and our short break was just the tip of the iceberg which I strongly suspect will become an annual event!
Watch this space!
