Best of a London Christmas

	Father Christmas 1

BEST WAY TO REMEMBER CHRISTMASES PAST

Visitors can reflect on over 400 years of Christmases at the Geffrye Museum, which specializes in historic English domestic interiors. The museum features period rooms from 1600 to present day, all adorned with original furniture, paintings and accessories that the middle-class English used over the years. From late November to early January each year, the museum's period rooms are decorated for the holiday season. Visitors can see how rooms such as a 1745 parlor room or a 1955 living room would have looked at Christmastime. As visitors explore the museum's exhibits they can take note of how decorations have changed over the years, for instance the trend from homemade to store bought decor. Each display features information about how the holidays were celebrated at a particular time. They also offer an explanation of festive customs that have emerged, such as kissing under the mistletoe.

Natural History Museum Ice Rink2

BEST PLACE TO ICE SKATE UNDER THE MOONLIGHT

Illuminated by the winter moonlight, twinkling trees and located next to a cathedral-like museum, the Natural History Museum Ice Rink is a magical setting to spend the evening skating. Every November to mid January, the museum's gardens are transformed into a winter wonderland with a 84-sq-m (900 sq ft) ice rink. There is also a 9-sq-m (100 sq ft) junior rink, where young skaters can perfect their twirls and stops. Those who don't want to venture onto the slippery ice can watch from the viewing platform or from Café Bar's open balcony while sipping a creamy hot chocolate. The festivities on the museum's grounds also include an annual Christmas Fair, where crafts, toys, clothes, hot food and more items are for sale.

	The Beloved Christmas Pudding3

BEST BIZARRE USE OF A CHRISTMAS PUDDING

The English originally invented Christmas pudding and they've also come up with a new use for it. Since 1980, Covent Garden has played host to a strange relay race in December, where participants show up wearing anything from shiny green wigs to reindeer costumes for the Great Christmas Pudding Race. The dressed-up racers face an obstacle course filled with flour balloons, foam and other challenges, while carrying a wobbly plate of Christmas pudding. Racers must keep a firm grasp on the festive dessert throughout the entire race. Funds raised from the annual event go towards cancer research. However, the fun doesn't stop at the finish line. Spectators can watch shows by street entertainers before and after the race.

BEST CHRISTMAS LIGHT DISPLAY

A walk down Oxford Street close to Christmas can be mesmerizing with the dazzling collection of holiday lights the shopping area displays. Every November, Oxford Street's new Christmas light theme is revealed at the flick of a switch by a celebrity and the evening includes performances by a variety of bands and entertainers. The Oxford Street Christmas Lights have been drawing thousands of Londoners out into the cold since 1959, when the tradition first began. The extravagant lights brighten the night sky along Oxford Street for the remainder of November up until early January.

Holiday Time In Trafalgar Square4

BEST DECORATED TREE

Every year in Trafalgar Square it's a tradition to celebrate the lighting of London's enormous Norwegian Christmas tree. Since 1947, Norway has given a Christmas tree to the people of London in gratitude of Britain's support during World War II. The tree is decorated with vertical strings of lights and usually towers over 20 m (66 ft) high. Positioned in front of the National Gallery, the tree lights up the square until the 12th night of Christmas. Throughout mid December Londoners can gaze at the magnificent Christmas tree and listen to the sound of carolers.

BEST WACKY HOLIDAY ENTERTAINMENT

A classic form of theatre entertainment to take in during the holiday season is a
pantomime. These plays have been a popular art form for hundreds of years in the United Kingdom. Pantomimes typically take the plot of a classic fairy tale, like Cinderella or Peter Pan, and reverse the lead roles. A female is cast as the daring lead male, while the damsel in distress is played by a male. Audience members will most likely let out several laughs as casts perform outrageous scenes in wacky and elaborate costumes. Audience participation is usually encouraged throughout the performance.

	Harrods Department Store5

BEST ENTRANCE BY FATHER CHRISTMAS

The legendary Harrods department store in Knightsbridge is known to do everything grand and Christmas is no exception. The outside of Harrods is lit up by thousands of lights year-round, but during the festive season so is the inside. The store is meticulously decorated and features a Christmas grotto for Father Christmas. For over 100 years, Father Christmas has paid an annual visit to the store. Hundreds of shoppers line the streets in early November to watch the famous holiday figure make his way to the department store in the Harrods Christmas Parade. As Father Christmas arrives in front of the store he is greeted by the Harrods owner and then led to his Christmas grotto. Throughout the holiday season children can visit Father Christmas in Harrods to reveal what they want for Christmas. While inside Harrods, the store's holiday department is worth checking out. Glass tree ornaments, boxes of cookies, dressed up teddy bears and many more seasonal gifts are available.

If you enjoyed this feature, take a look at these great WorldWeb.com articles:
ˇThe Abbeys of Yorkshire
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1. Father Christmas; London, England, UK
2. Natural History Museum Ice Rink; London, England, UK
3. The Beloved Christmas Pudding; London, England, UK
4. Holiday Time In Trafalgar Square; London, England, UK
5. Harrods Department Store; London, England, UK