New years Day

Q: We will be arriving in London on New Years Eve and wonder if there are any attractions/shops/museums open in London on New Years Day.

A: Yes, most places should be open in London on New Years Day, though if you have some specific museums in mind it might be worth checking on their websites.

You may however find that some places operate Sunday opening hours so for example, might not open until after lunchtime.

Free events at Christmas

Q: I am visiting London with 12 Dutch bilingual teenagers, (15-16 yrs) the week before Christmas. I would love to hear of any suitable (Christmassy) events during that week on top of the usual. Especially the 'for free' things. We are already planning St.Pauls Evensong. But I am short on any disco (ok, with a fee) or 'cool' items in London during that week. I hope you can help me.

A: There are bound to be loads of christmassy events happening the week before Christmas in London. I'd suggest looking at the following web sites for ideas. You might need to keep visiting them over the next few weeks, as new things get added.

Time Out
Lists lots of events including music, theatre and film. The free stuff isn't listed separately, however.

www.timeout.com/london

London Free List
Not the best designed web site you'll ever see but nice and practical. It lists free events, enough said!

www.londonfreelist.com

All in London
Provides a nice list of events that are totally or partly free.

www.allinlondon.co.uk

Visit London
Free events and exhibitions.

http://na.visitlondon.com

Supermarkets, travelcards and routemasters

Q: Hello: I am going to London next 26th December and I have some doubts: - Is easy to find supermarkets in the center of London? To buy bread, water... - Is necessary a photograph to get a travel card for 3 or 7 days? - Where can I take the remaining Routemaster? I think I have read somewhere it only goes in a line, but I wanted to know the place to take it.

A:
1 - Supermarkets: yes, there are a number of "metro" type supermarkets in central London these days and they are usually easy to find. Your hotel can also probably tell you where your closest one is. They aren't as big as the "weekly shop" type supermarkets but they have a good selection of the sort of stuff you might need when here as a visitor for a short time. e.g. you can buy bread, water, fruit, toiletries, wine, beer, etc etc.

Look out for stores such as Sainsbury's, Tesco Metro and (if you can't find either of those), Costcutter. They also tend to be open late and seven days a week, even over xmas.

2 - Travelcards: As far as I know, you don't need a photograph in order to get a one, three or seven day travelcard. See this site for more information.


3 - Routemasters: I believe the remaining routemaster buses run on routes 9 and 15 through central London. You can use them for the same price as normal buses. To read more, see here.

Things to do in London at Christmas

Q: we are off to London with 3 kids, 10, 12 & 17 for the week starting 12/26/05. Do you have any idea what fun things there are for kids for New Years Eve.

A: This web site has lots of ideas.

Xmas eve Midnight service at St Pauls

Question: I would like to go to the midnight service at St Pauls cathedral on Christmas eve. Are there any restrictions as to who may attend? Thanks

Answer: According to St Paul's web site, the service is open to everyone.

Christmas Services in London

Q: When and where might my wife and I attend a nice Christmas or Christmas Eve church service? The religious denomination is not as important as knowing that the service will be in a beautiful setting with excellent music

A: There are lots of churches around central London so your choice may depend on where you are staying. Some ideas include Southwark Cathedral, St Martins in the Fields (I think this is its name, its in trafalgar square), the small church at on piccadilly, just off piccadilly circus, even Westminster Abbey may have a service open to the public on those days.

London at Christmas - 2

Q:

I would like to visit London between 26.12-3.01.05.

I am asking you if and which museums are opened in that period? I really hope that I can visit anything without being afraid that because holiday they'll be closed.

What about stores? Are they opened?

I also like to visit London's surrowndings. Are the buses traveling?

A: most London museums and stores are open during that time, apart from on christmas day.

And yes, the buses will be running - even on christmas day, though probably with a reduced service on that day.

Christmas lights

Q: Whats the best way to see the christmas lights of london without having to pay to go on a tour bus ?

A: you could get on any bus from Marble Arch that goes down to Piccadilly Circus. Then you will see the lights on Oxford Street and also Regent Street. Then get off at Piccadilly Circus and walk along to Jermyn Street to see the xmas lights there, too.

London at Christmas

Q:

I live in Spain. I will travel in London next Chrismas. I arrive in London 23 desember and return Spain 26 desember.

What can I do in London at Christmas?

A: just about everything will be open in London over Christmas, apart from many of the shops and public places on Christmas day, so you can really do whatever you might like to do here at any other time.

In addition, you could go along Oxford and Regent Streets and look at the christmas lights, and also see the big christmas tree given to London by the people of Norway every year. It is in Trafalgar Square.