How to Plan the Perfect Trip to London: Holiday Edition
Thinking of heading to London for the holidays? There might be no better idea, especially since many London natives head for warmer weather when winter rolls around. Fortunately, London is a beautiful city around Christmas time, with lots to see and do and plenty of festive decorations to take in.
That said, it’s a good idea to plan the perfect trip to London so you don’t miss anything important and so you know how much everything will cost. Let’s break down how to plan your trip so you have a great time.
Pick Your Accommodations Well Ahead of Time
For starters, plan out your London accommodations well ahead of time so you can snag the best hotel rooms, top restaurant reservations, and much more. Generally, the earlier you make your reservations, the cheaper they are.
This is doubly true if you want to stay at a stellar London hotel or inn instead of something less comfortable. Alternatively, you can figure out different accommodations for your luggage, transportation, and travel arrangements. For example, you can take advantage of London luggage storage services like Bounce to keep your luggage safe and secure while touring the city, especially if your hotel room isn’t yet ready for your arrival.
In any case, pick out your accommodations very early to maximize your flexibility and London touring budget.
Don’t Try to See Everything
Secondly, we understand that it’s tempting to try to see everything London has to offer during your holiday vacation. But here’s the thing: it’s impossible.
Instead of whipping yourself up into a frenzy, don’t try to see everything on your first trip. Instead, make peace with the fact that you only have time to see a little bit of what’s great in London on this upcoming adventure.
Why do this? You can pick and choose the best holiday attractions and experiences to check out during this trip and you’ll enjoy your time more as a result. Fortunately, there’s no shortage of excellent attractions to see within and just outside of London…
Check Out London’s Free Attractions
Even better, lots of those attractions are totally free! For example, many famous London museums can be visited by paying a penny, such as the British Museum, the Natural History Museum, the National Gallery, the Victoria and Albert Museum, and much more.
Or you can check out the parks, playgrounds, and gardens that are free to visit throughout this historic city. Don’t forget to visit the Camden Market or Greenwich Market, both of which are totally free and perfect for shopping during the holiday season.
If you’re interested in something more formal, see the Changing of the Guard: a top free thing to do in London that takes place at Buckingham Palace at 10:45 AM Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays.
Visit the Hyde Park Winter Wonderland
The Hyde Park Winter Wonderland was first established in 2007 but now sees over 2 million visitors per year. It’s free to get in, but everything else does cost some cash. It runs from November to early January and features a giant wheel, live shows, figure skating, a circus, live music, over 100 rides, and plenty of Christmas-themed markets.
In other words, it’s a smorgasbord of holiday-themed activities perfect for the whole family! Consider visiting this on your trip to London during the holidays if you want to find some nice souvenirs for your friends back home.
Try Ice Skating at the Natural History Museum
The above-mentioned Natural History Museum has one of the most beautiful ice skating rinks in all of London. It also features a 30-foot Christmas tree plus cafés on the border that serve cake, hot chocolate, and similar treats.
What if you aren’t the best skater at your party? In that case, you can still come with your friends and family members by checking out the viewing platform, which lets you view all of the skaters below in comfort. It’s open on most days, except for Christmas, from 10 AM to 9 PM.
Pay with Credit Cards
One last tip before you head off to London for the holidays: try to pay for everything you can with your credit card. Why? Identity theft is much more rampant around the holiday season, probably because people spend more money.
But if you use your credit card, it doesn’t matter as much if thieves steal your credit card information. You can simply call your bank and get the stolen information changed and the falsely used credit refunded. It’s much easier to fix this kind of problem with a credit card as opposed to a debit card or cash.
All in all, planning out these few things well ahead of time will help you make the most of your London holiday trip. Good luck and have fun!
