London Kids Christmas Guide 2012

Where to take the kids in London this Christmas!

ICE SKATING IN LONDON

EyeSkate at London Eye, South Bank, SE1 (Waterloo tube)
Glide on the spectacular rink in the shadow of the London Eye. Stabilising seals for younger skaters (ages 4+). 10am-9pm daily; adult from £9.45/child from £6.75/under 4s FREE (until Jan 6)

Skate at Somerset House at the Strand, WC2 (Charing Cross tube)
Live DJs, a Skate School for beginners (Penguin Club for under 8s) and a dazzling setting at London’s coolest ice rink. Hour-long sessions between 10am-10.30pm; adult £12.50-£15/child £8.50 (until Jan 6)

Westfield London, Shepherd’s Bush, E20 (Shepherd’s Bush tube/overground)
Skate under the open roof at London’s busiest shopping centre. Varying times from 10am-9pm (Mon-Sat) and 12-6pm (Sun); adult £10.50/child £7.50 (when booked online, box office prices slightly higher) (until Jan 8 ) Also go Ice Skating at Westfield Stratford City.

Tower of London Ice Rink EC3 (Tower Hill tube)
Winter cocktails and hot choc from the bar keep skaters fuelled on the stunningly lit rink outside the magnificent fortress. 10am-10pm daily (except Christmas Day); adult £11-£13/child £8.50-£9 (until Jan 6)

Natural History Museum Ice Rink Exhibition Rd, SW7 (South Kensington tube)
You’ll have room to shine on the 950 square metre ice rink, with Bob skates for toddlers (two blades on a shoe) and sessions for wheelchair users. Hourly from 10am-10pm (Mon-Wed), 9am-11pm (weekends), late openings Christmas to New Year; adult £11.50 off peak-£13.50 peak/child £8 off peak-£9 peak/family £38 or £39 (until Jan 6)

There’s more ice skating action at glorious Canary Wharf Ice Rink (until Jan 13), turn up and skate at Broadgate Circle Ice Rink (until Feb 24), day trip to Hampton Court Palace Ice Rink (until Jan 13) and of course, all year round skating at Alexandra Palace Ice Rink

SIGHTS & SCENES

Hyde Park Winter Wonderland, Hyde Park, W2 (Hyde Park Corner tube)
Probably the most jam-packed Christmas event in town returns with more attractions including Cirque Beserk and Zippo’s Circus, Santaland, Ice Age 4 Ice Rink, walk through Magical Ice Kingdom, German Christmas market, fairground rides, Giant Observation Wheel and more! daily 10am-10pm; park entry is free, rides cost £1 and start at £2 for kids rides, £3 for adults; book for special attractions and skating in advance at www.hydeparkwinterwonderland.com/tickets (until Jan 12)

Trafalgar Square Christmas Tree, WC2 (Charing Cross tube)
See the tree from Norway, sent every year since 1947 and hear diverse groups sing carols nightly in the square. Daily from 5-9pm, FREE (Dec 5-22)

Gingerbread House and Sweet Emporium at Dorchester Hotel, Park Lane, W1 (Green Park tube)
More than 2000 individual pieces of gingerbread go into model custom model of the Dorchester, measuring 5.5” wide by 4.5” tall. Designed by the hotel’s pastry team, the front of the gingerbread house is almost identical to the frontage of the world famous hotel. In the actual hotel lobby, you’ll find a carousel and life-sized toy soldiers guarding the entrance to the pop-up Sweet Emporium, stocking traditional English sweets. Daily, FREE (until Jan 6)

Dick Whittington themed display at Fortnum & Mason’s; Anya Hindmarch Christmas Windows at Selfridges; and fairy tale themed dressings at Harrods windows — three dazzling displays to gawp at this Xmas!

FESTIVE FUN

Christmas Storytelling at Fortnum & Mason, Regent St, W1 (Piccadilly Circus tube)
Hear the fable of Dick Whittington, who comes to London to seek his fortune on ‘streets paved with gold’. 12pm, 2pm & 3.30pm (Sats & Sun); £20 per child — booking advised (until Dec 23)

Festive Fun at Museum of London Docklands, West India Quay, Canary Wharf E14 (West India Quay DLR)
There’s storytelling, Christmas crafts, Santa’s Victorian grotto, Scrooge’s grotto and more seasonal activities. Dates, times and prices vary; £5 grotto, most activities FREE (Dec 22-Jan 6) Also at Museum of London

Christmas Past & Farewell to Christmas at Geffrye Museum
Explore 400 years of English seasonal homes and finally say Farewell to Christmas with carols, mulled wine and 12th Night cake (Jan 6). 10am-5pm; Farewell to Christmas 4-5pm (Jan 6); FREE (until Jan 6)

Christmas at Kew Gardens, Richmond, Surrey, TW9 (Kew Gardens overground)
Seek out Santa in his grotto, ride the Christmas carousel, go on a 12 Trees of Xmas family trail and catch up on Xmas shopping. Opens 9.30am, adult £14.50/under 17s free (until Jan 6)

Christmas Fun at V&A Museum of Childhood
Hear seasonal tales including the tale of the Nutcracker, take part in crafts and catch a Christmas Magic Lantern Show (Dec 28-29). 10am-4.30pm, FREE (Dec 27-Jan 6)

SANTA AND FRIENDS

Santa’s Grotto at Duke of York Square, off King’s Rd, SW3 (Sloane Square tube)
Is he here already? Line up in the magical Lapland setting to meet Santa himself, take a photo, catch up with old Red Nose and maybe bag an early Xmas gift. 10am-5.45pm throughout November (Sats), extra opening times in December 10am-5.45pm (Wed-Sat), 11am-4.45pm (Sun); FREE (until Dec 23)

Meet Santa & His Reindeer at London Zoo, Regent’s Park Rd, NW1 (Regent’s Park tube)
Hang out with the big guy (weekends, daily from Dec 20-24) and meet Rudolph and buddies strolling through the zoo (until Dec 24) or hanging out in the Reindeer Lodge. 10.30am-4.30pm; adult FREE entry to grotto (regular zoo admission £20)/child £22.50 (includes Santa £7 and regular admission £15.50)/under 3s £5 (for Santa, admission FREE) (until Dec 24)

NB: You can also Meet Live Reindeer at Covent Garden, East Piazza, 12-4pm (Sats), FREE (until Dec 24)

I Met Father Christmas at Hamleys, Regent St, W1 (Oxford Circus tube)
You can have brekkie, brunch, lunch, high tea or dinner with Father Christmas and his elves and bag a gift. 9.30am-6pm (1 hour slots); £45 per child + 1 adult (photos from £10) (until Dec 24)

Westfield 5D Santa’s Grotto at Stratford City, E20 (Stratford tube/overground)
Enter Santa’s amazing 5D experience with animated film and personalised gift. 10am-8pm (Mon-Fri), 9am-8pm (Sat), 12-6pm (Sun), 9am-6pm (Christmas Eve); £3/£30 family – booking ahead advised (until Dec 24) Also at Westfield London, Shepherd’s Bush.

Victorian Grotto at Museum of London, 150 London Wall, EC2 (Barbican tube)
Go back in time to meet a period Santa in Sail Town (Dec 8-23) then get a taste of bah humbug in Scrooge’s Grotto (Dec 27-Dec 31). 10am-6pm; museum entry FREE, child grotto entry £5 (with gift) (until Dec 31)

CHRISTMAS MARKETS & SHOPS

Real Food Christmas Market at Covent Garden, WC2 (Covent Garden tube)
Browse specialist stalls for handmade minced pies, chocolate treats and spiced drinks. From 11am-7pm; FREE entry (until Dec 20)

Street Feast Xmas Grotto at Shoreditch Tunnels, 347-349 Old St, EC1 (Old St tube)
Enjoy warm winter cocktails, customised gifts, art events from End of the Line, live screen printing and London’s hottest street food including Big Apple Hot Dogs, Luardos, Bleeker Burger and more yummy eats. 12-11pm (Tue-Sun), FREE entry (until Dec 23)

Southbank Centre Christmas Market at Belvedere Rd, SE1 (Waterloo tube)
The annual winter fair returns with more than 60 chalets along the riverside, selling hand-crafted gifts, food and drink. 11am-10pm (Mon-Fri), 10am-10pm (Sat-Sun), FREE entry (until Dec 24)

Hyde Park Winter Wonderland Christmas Market, W2 (Hyde Park Corner tube)
The German-style market is the largest in London, with over 100 chalets selling anything from gourmet honey to handmade ornaments. Daily 10am-10pm, FREE (until Jan 6)

The Christmas Arcade at Somerset House, the Strand, WC2 (Charing Cross tube)
Find festive ornaments, jewellery, design and gift sets at this pop-up mall featuring the best of British boutiques including Tatty Devine and Bonbon Balloons. 11am-7pm (Mon-Wed), 11am-8pm (Thu); 10am-7pm (Fri-Sun); FREE entry (until Jan 6)

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