Christmas is a special time, and nowhere is this more true than London. Tuesday, 3rd of November at 5pm marks the annual turning on of the Christmas lights in Oxford Street and Regent Street – announcing the Christmas season well and truly open. Flicking the switch this year will be the stars of the new 3D animation of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol: Jim Carrey and Colin Firth.
Department stores such as Harrods, Harvey Nichols and Selfridges each have their own special take on Christmas celebrations. Harrods hosts its annual Christmas Parade through the local streets on Saturday November 7th and each year releases a new Christmas Teddy, this year's bear is named Maxwell.
Selfridges' Christmas shop has been open since the 8th August to give customers plenty of time to get in the festive spirit! If you're on the hunt for some festive fare, why not pick up a Harvey Nick's Christmas hamper ranging from a cool £60 to a very hot £2,500! Even if you don't have the cash to splash this year, the Christmas window displays in these stores are a sight to behold and not to be missed!
Hyde Park hosts it's very own Winter Wonderland from the end of November until the beginning of January. With a Christmas market, Santa's Grotto and London's largest ice rink to keep you entertained, this is the perfect place to get in the spirit of Christmas.
If you'd like to take a trip to London this festive season and need somewhere to drop off your purchases at the end of a marathon retail therapy session, hotelbook would like to recommend some of the most shopping friendly hotels in London.