Have a Magical Christmas With a London City Break

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Cities are usually wonderful places to be during the Christmas period – and one location in particular that is perfect for a festive break is London.

The capital is home to plenty of youth hostels offering cheap accommodation, as well as a host of events and attractions sure to make for an unforgettable Christmas getaway.

One of the first things you will want to do while in the city is take advantage of its excellent shopping facilities. Large high street chains rub shoulders with smaller specialist shops and temporary markets, offering something for everyone in the process.

If you want to sample some delicious food while buying gifts for your loved ones, head to the Cologne Christmas Market at the Southbank Centre.

Alternatively, Spitalfields Market and Greenwich Christmas Market are other locations where you could pick up a bargain.

Some of London’s specialist stores include L Cornelissen & Son on Great Russell Street, which is a popular haunt for artists seeking the best supplies, as well as the Beatles Store on Baker Street.

Once you’ve bought all of your gifts, why not sit down to a festive afternoon tea? You can enjoy sandwiches, cakes and tea with a Christmas twist at the likes of Brown’s Hotel, The Ritz, The Sanderson, The Dorchester and Claridge’s.

If you’re feeling active, you may want to head to one of the ice rinks that are set up across London every winter – locations include Canary Wharf, Hyde Park’s Winter Wonderland, Hampton Court Palace, the Tower of London and Somerset House.

Afterwards, why not take in a carol concert? World-class singers and choirs will be performing at venues such as St Martin-in-the-Fields Church, St Paul’s Cathedral, the Barbican, Westminster Abbey, the Royal Albert Hall and Southwark Cathedral throughout the winter.

You could also find out more about how we celebrate Christmas and how this differs from previous decades and centuries by heading to the Geffyre Museum.

The Christmas Past: 400 Years of Seasonal Traditions in English Homes exhibition runs until January 5th 2011 and offers a unique insight into how families marked the special day from the 17th century until the 1990s.