London Things to Do

With ice rinks popping up all over town and the streets awash with glittering Christmas lights, London’s holiday season makes for an atmospheric shopping experience. Here are a few pointers to get you started.

There’s a myriad of festive fun to be had in London this Christmas, but to get you started, here are a few suggestions.

1) Christmas lights: London’s shimmering decorations are some of the best in the world and none are as impressive as the Oxford Street display, in the heart of London. November 5th was the official lights-on date, marked by a celebrity studded ceremony and crowds of thousands. This year’s lights were switched on by British pop stars Robbie Williams and Leona Lewis, and viewing places will be ticketed so book your place now.

With its reputation for gloomy horizons and relentless drizzle, it’s easy to see why London might be boycotted during the winter season, but Londoner’s know that the most atmospheric time to discover the capital is by braving the cold.

‘Remember remember the fifth of November, gunpower treason and plot.’ These are the words to a nursery rhyme that every child growing up in England knows. The rhyme tell the story of Guy Fawkes and his twelve co-plotters who decided to blow up the Houses of Parliament in 1605 because they were sick of feeling persecuted for being Catholic.

If you like art (and I do), or even if you just like saying ‘I could do that’, and you don’t have the time or the knowledge to hunt down and visit all the important contemporary art galleries of the world, then the Frieze Art Fair was made for you.

The dramatic site of the 2012 London Olympics, Olympic Park has been taking a break since the close of the games but plans are well under way to transform the space into the ‘Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park’. Set to become East London’s biggest public park, equipped with event stages, children’s playgrounds and 35km of walkways and cycle routes, the idyllic parklands will be back on the tourist itinerary in July 2013, as the North Park reopens its gates. The remainder of the 560-acre (230-hectare) park, including hockey and tennis facilities, The South Plaza and stadium, the aquatic center and the Orbit, will be open by Easter of 2014.

Winning over a legion of new fans as the host of the London 2012 Olympics sailing events, Weymouth and Portland are among England‘s most attractive seaside resorts, drawing thousands to their shores each year.

Weymouth, with its sandy beaches and rugged coastal cliffs is the perfect antidote to London’s urban sprawl, earning itself a stellar reputation among outdoor adventurers. Rock-climbing, paragliding, hiking and cycling are all popular ways to soak up the scenic surroundings, and the resort has fast made a name for itself as a water sports hot-spot, with kite surfing, water skiing and wind surfing all on offer.

Hitting headlines recently as the 2012 Olympic Shooting venue, the London Royal Artillery Barracks boast a long military history, built in 1776 for the companies of the Royal Artillery and used by them until 2007. Not only that, the Royal Artillery Barracks once hosted the Royal Arsenal complex, home to the British Government’s principal armaments manufacturing facility, and the Royal Military Academy which trained officers and engineers from 1741 to 1939. Nearby Woolwich Common is still a military training area, so if you’re lucky, you might catch a glimpse of the Royal troops marching through the park.

30km South of London nestled in the vibrant student hub of Surrey, Box Hill is one of South England‘s most popular lookout points, famed for its sweeping panoramas. A popular picnic spot since Victorian times, Box Hill cemented its tourist itinerary status when it hosted the cycling portion of the 2012 London Olympics.

All eyes have been glued to the British capital this year, with the epic Queen’s Jubilee celebrations and the upcoming Olympic games thrusting the city firmly into the limelight. Of course, London has long been renowned for its cosmopolitan population, rich history and trailblazing status in art, fashion and music, but this year the city is set to reclaim its ranking as one of Europe’s most popular destinations.

If you’re joining the masses in London this year, you’re sure to be swamped with sightseeing options, but for those looking to get a taste of the real London alongside checking off their to-do list, here’s the insider lowdown on what, where and how to get the most out of the Big Smoke.