Family Christmas Ideas 2003
Capital Christmas in London
If you want shops, eating out, entertainment and lights, then London is the place to go. While you'll likely want to avoid hectic shopping thoroughfares like Oxford Street, you can make the most of the delights of the season: ice skating, window-shopping, seeing the lights and enjoying the hustle and bustle.
Where to stay
Location is all-important, since kids as well as adults can get over-stimulated faster than normal during the Christmas season.
London Marriott Hotel County Hall
The London Marriott Hotel County Hall on the River Thames is a convenient base for exploring nearby attractions like the London Eye, the South Bank, Pantoland and Covent Garden. Christmas lunch is served in the Riverside County Hall Restaurant; the high ceilings, grand windows and seasonal decorations make it a memorable setting. Lunch starts with a glass of champagne for adults, followed by a choice of five starters, main course and dessert. Then coffee is served with mince pies and stollen. Finally, Santa Clause arrives with a gift for each child. Christmas lunch must be pre-booked. Adults: £95; children aged 5-13: £60; children under 5: £40. Tariffs for hotel rooms start at £199 per room, including one night's accommodation and breakfast, based on two adults and two children aged 16 and under sharing a room, subject to availability.
51 Buckingham Gate
If you want a luxury home-from-home, stay just around the corner from Buckingham Palace, in a five-star apartment at 51 Buckingham Gate. The suites are kitted out to suit the tech-literate child in your family - all are equipped with TVs and DVD players and the first-floor e-centre has video games. A nanny service can be booked 24 hours a day and, for fresh air, 51 has its own courtyard garden, with St James's Park just two minutes' away. A Superior two-bedroom suite costs £339 per night; Superior three-bedroom suite costs £439. Quote iVillage when booking.
For details:
Things to do around and about
London's tourist board has full listings of events in and around the capital. For the first time this Christmas, skating comes to Hampton Court Palace (pictured above and at top) from 6 December 2003 until 18 January 2004. The ice rink will be outside the west front of Henry VIII's famous Thameside residence. Sessions last one hour and cost £8.50 per adult; £6.50 per child (under 16); £26.00 family ticket for four. Booking in advance is recommended at www.hamptoncourticerink.co.uk. The outdoor ice rink at Somerset House is also a long time favourite for families and it's advisable to book ahead there as well - www.somerset-house.org.uk/icerink.
For details:
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Created: 12/11/2003 Updated: 09/08/2006
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