BEFORE YOU GO: TRAVEL TIPS TO LONDON

November 2007
Are you traveling to London over the Christmas and New Year's holidays? Our affordable 4+ day London Go-Any-Day and 8-day London departures offer a variety of flexible holiday dates but space is limited so be sure to book now. Follow our London travel tips to make the most of your vacation.

You'll find a lot to celebrate in London but make sure you plan ahead as this year Christmas Day (Tuesday, December 25), Boxing Day (Wednesday, December 26) and New Year's Day (Tuesday, January 1) fall during the week and are public holidays. You'll find that nearly everything is closed for business in London on Christmas Day, including London restaurants, shops and attractions. Some places, like banks, remain closed on Boxing Day. As far as visiting London attractions, please note that all will be closed at least one day over Christmas and some through Boxing Day. Contact the attractions you'd like to visit before traveling to confirm or check out our travel tips below.

A number of London's hotel restaurants are open for Christmas dinner but reservations are strongly advised. As far as getting around, there is no bus or Tube service on Christmas day, and there may be reduced service on Boxing Day and New Year's Day. The good news though, especially for American's with flagging dollars, is that some of the London shops start their sales on Boxing Day.

And what is Boxing Day? Also known as St. Stephen's Day, this holiday is celebrated in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand and Canada. Thoughts on its origin vary, ranging from 19th century Victorian England when the upper class gave boxes of food, clothing or money to their servants on the day after Christmas as a thank you for services rendered over the year. Another theory is also related to boxes and comes from the tradition of taking alms from local church boxes and giving them out to the poor the day after Christmas. Today, Boxing Day is usually celebrated with friends and family, exchanging gifts, volunteering for charities or shopping at some of the post-Christmas retail sales.

London For First-Timers

• Tower of London & Crown Jewels - (Hours: Open daily, except for December 24-26. Winter hours through December 31 are 10 AM-5 PM. Last admission is one hour before the attraction closes.)
• St. Paul's Cathedral - (Hours: The Cathedral is open to visitors Monday to Saturday 8:30 AM-4 PM. Services only on Christmas Day.
• Westminster Abbey - (Hours: Open to visitors on weekdays and Saturdays; on Sundays and religious holidays such as Easter and Christmas, the Abbey is open for worship only. All are welcome to services)
• Guard Change at Buckingham Palace (Hours: varies by month - starts at 11:30 AM when scheduled. Provisional December schedule - December 21, 23, 26, 28 and 30.)
• Covent Garden - open year round
• British Museum - (Hours: Open daily 10 AM-5:30 PM; closed on December 24, 25 and 26 and January 1)
• If traveling with children, visit Madame Tussauds - (Hours: Daily 9:30 AM-5:50 PM; closed Christmas Day)

Classic London Experiences

• Flight on the London Eye - on a clear day views as far as Windsor - (Hours: Daily from 10 AM-8 PM; closed Christmas Day and close early at 3 PM on New Year's Eve. Flights operate every half an hour.)
• Gilbert Collection and dancing fountains at Somerset House - (Hours: Daily 10 AM-6 PM; closed December 25 and 26; open 10 AM-4 PM on December 24 and 31, and 12-6 PM on January 1.)
• Egyptian Room at the British Museum
• London Zoo - (Winter Hours: daily 10 AM-4 PM, last admission is one hour before the attraction closes; closed Christmas Day)
• Ice Skating in London - (November - March, varies by location; ice skating rinks throughout the city including Sommerset House, The Tower of London, the Natural History Museum and next to Windsor Court, Kew gardens, Canary Wharf, Hyde Park's Winter Wonderland and the indoor rink at O2)

Shopping Holiday Hours & Sales

• Harrods - (Hours: Monday-Saturday 10 AM-8 PM, Sunday 10 AM-6 PM, Christmas Eve 10 AM-5 PM, New Year's Eve 9 AM-6 PM; closed December 25, 26, 27, 29 and January 1. Sale starts December 30)
• Fortnum & Mason - (Hours: Monday-Friday 10 AM-7 PM, Saturday 9:30 AM-7 PM, Sunday 11 AM-5 PM; Christmas Eve & New Year's Eve 10 AM-4 PM; closed December 25 and 26. Sales starts December 27)
• Marks & Spencer - (Hours: Thursday-Friday 10 AM-9 PM, Monday-Saturday 9 AM-9 PM, Christmas Eve 9 AM-5 PM, New Year's Eve 10 AM-6 PM, New Year's Day 11 AM-6 PM; closed Christmas Day. Sale starts December 27)

Best Lunch Spot

• 5th Floor at Harvey Nichols 

London Specialty

• Fish & Chips

Best Splurge Restaurants

• Nobu, Metropolitan Hotel, W1
• The Ivy, West Street, WC2
• Gordon Ramsay, SW3

Best Afternoon Tea

• Claridge's Hotel
• Ritz Hotel
• Georgian Restaurant at Harrods
• St. James Restaurant at Fortnam & Masons

Using the Underground

• Best to buy your Underground passes once in London, go to the tube station nearest to your hotel. The Oyster Pass is usually the best deal.

All dates and hours are subject to change.

Take the advice of other club members and make your next vacation the best one yet.
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