There are a couple of unique places to shop in London; the London Christmas Shop inside Hay’s Galleria is open all year, and the Christmas fair outside the Natural History Museum features handmade gifts and seasonal and traditional foods, and an ice skating rink. In West End, small shops line Oxford and Regent Streets and cars are banned from the area during your London Christmas holidays. Hotels in London near Winter Wonderland at Hyde Park are often full; it also has a large outdoor ice skating area, a carousel and other amusement rides, caroling, and a traditional German Christmas Market mixed among numerous bars and cafes. In East London, find a nearby London Hotel and catch caroling at the Greenwich Christmas Market and sing carols by candlelight at Canary Wharf. In Trafalgar Square, the London Christmas tree is the sight of choirs singing Christmas carols, and visitors often join in while sipping cocoa or mulled wine. At Somerset House, there are torch-lit late-night skates. Many people like to take horses out for the evening from the Hyde Park Stables, where you can ride along Serpentine Lake. Many celebrations are held during your Christmas in London holiday aboard the London Eye, which are massive revolving glass bubbles from which you can see the amazing Christmas lights around the whole city. New Year’s Eve in London features an annual fireworks show over the river Thames. Good viewing spots are from the South Bank, Embankment at Westminster, Waterloo Bridge, and Victoria Embankment. Stay in a nearby London hotel and walk for the most convenience.
