WITH Christmas fast approaching, now is the perfect time to hop on a train and head for the dazzling lights of the UK’s capital.
London has some of the best shopping in the world, so it’s the perfect place to pick up gifts for your nearest and dearest. It’s also a great location to spend a festive weekend with someone special, taking in the charming sights and smells that only come to a city at Christmas.
Here’s our guide to the perfect Christmas shopping trip in London.
Places you have to visit
Some of the stores in London are as iconic as Buckingham Palace, the Tower of London and Big Ben, and are visitor attractions in themselves.
No shopping trip to the capital would be complete without a visit to the likes of Harrods and Selfridges. These stores go all out for Christmas and you could easily spend your entire trip exploring the stores and marvelling at the lights and decorations.
For a truly festive experience, pay a visit to the traditional Christmas market at the Southbank Centre. This collection of more than 80 traditional chalet shops is within sight of the Houses of Parliament and makes for a magical evening of mulled wine and mince pies overlooking the Thames.
Where to stay
London is such a vast place that it’s difficult to find one location that puts you close to all of the shopping opportunities the city has to offer. Rather than stressing about finding the perfect hotel, opt for something that’s in keeping with your budget and taste, and invest in an Oyster card to get you around the city.
You can find more information about Oyster, including the different packages that are available for tourists, here.
What to take
When you’re visiting one of the most fashionable cities in the world, it’s important that you look as fabulous as the London natives.
When it comes to choosing weekend luggage, nothing achieves sophistication and style like a classic leather weekend bag. Take a look at the selection of leather holdalls at Teals Boutique; their pieces rival anything that the likes of Mulberry has to offer, at a fraction of the cost, and are the perfect weekend accessory.
Vintage Leather Satchel Bag, £120; Large Leather Weekender Bag, £170 – Teals
A unique experience
To make your visit truly memorable, why not finish your trip with an enchanting skate around the Natural History Museum Ice Rink in the South Kensington area of the city? The rink is like a scene from a romantic movie and visitors can take in the numerous stalls selling hot chocolate and festive favourites, before taking a spin on the ice.
The rink is open from Halloween right through until the 5th January and costs around £11 for adults.
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