After breakfast, we head to Buckingham Palace. Sadly, we can’t actually drop in for tea, but we can see the famous balcony, get a photo in front of the impressive gates, and walk around the statue of Queen Victoria in front. Then we stroll along the Mall (where all the royal processions…uh…process) and on to Trafalgar Square to see the huge Christmas tree and market stalls there. We catch the Afternoon Tea Bus nearby and what better way to enjoy our first day in the city than watching iconic London sights while riding on top of a double-decker red bus?? Oh, and the Christmas-themed treats are absolutely delicious!

Later, we head to the famous department store, Harrods, where we check out the holiday window displays and ride the multistory Egyptian Escalator.  Of course the store is filled with many high-end gifts, but the famous food court has delights on offer that won't break the bank.

That evening, we experience a real British pantomime which is a holiday tradition that’s been around for generations – full of singing, dancing, and audience participation. The enthusiasm is infectious and before long before you’ll be cheering the Hero (always played by a girl), laughing at the antics of the Dame (always played by a man), and yelling, “He’s behind you!” along with the rest of the delighted audience.
Meals included: Breakfast and Lunch (in this case, afternoon tea).

This morning, we head for one of my favorite museums anywhere, the Victoria & Albert Museum of Art & Design. It houses everything from statues to vintage clothing to wrought iron to micro-mosaics so tiny that they provide a magnifying glass so you can get a better look. The stunning jewelry room has a spiral staircase in the middle and the café (where we’ll have lunch) is a testament to Victorian opulence decorated by William Morris. We’ll pop into the Museum of Natural History across the street to see its impressive main hall (stopping to greet the larger-than-life statue of Charles Darwin), then walk past the Royal Albert Hall and very much over-the-top Albert Memorial. This area was once nicknamed Albertopolis, in honor of all Prince Albert (Mr. Queen Victoria) did to promote British business. We take our time strolling through the Gardens on our way to Kensington Palace. Queen Victoria grew up there, Princess Diana lived there after her divorce, and it’s now home to Wills, Kate and the kids.  Taking the self-guided (but well-curated) tour, we also see an exhibit with gowns belonging to the Queen, Princess Margaret, and Princess Diana. For dinner, we head over to the Christmas-tree-covered Churchill Arms (often called Britain’s most festive pub) for a well-deserved pint and some yummy Thai food.
Meals included: Breakfast and Dinner.

We start our day at Covent Garden, one of the most Christmassy places in London, according tp The Lady magazine. There is an interesting combination of high-end boutiques and market stalls, in addition to the festive decorations. Then we walk the short distance to St. Martin’s in the Fields church to have lunch in their crypt. Yes, it *is* a real crypt (although the bodies were moved long ago) and, yes, the food is delicious. Catching a river cruise to Greenwich gives us a chance to see London from a different perspective. Once we reach the place where time is 'mean', we have a chance to wander around, stand on either side of the Prime Meridian, and visit the open air Christmas market.  You have the option of visiting the Maritime Museum, one of the last tea clipper ships (the Cutty Sark), the Queen's House, or all three!  You can also walk *under* the Thames to the Isle of Dogs which, sadly, is not filled with roaming puppies, although it does have excellent views of Greenwich across the river! Dinner is at my favorite pie and mash place, Goddards. Then we take the DLR (Docklands Light Railway) back to Earls Court.
Meals included:  Breakfast and Dinner.

We start our morning at Kings Cross, checking out Platform 9 ¾ and their Christmas Under the Canopy Market. Then we enjoy the Victorian splendor of St. Pancras Station before the short walk to see The Treasures of the British Library. (The library also has one of the best gift shops anywhere!) From there we head to the Charles Dickens House. If weather permits, we’ll have tea in its courtyard garden. That afternoon we tour what had been the author’s house as we discover so many of our Christmas traditions come from his stories. Our next stop will be the British Museum to spend a bit of time with its treasures before walking across the street to the Museum Tavern for a pint and dinner.
Meals included: Breakfast and Dinner.

Today is a free day – and your choices are enormous. You can head to the Tower of London to view the Crown Jewels; visit Warner Brother’s ‘World of Harry Potter’ to see Hogwarts in the Snow; get a bird’s eye view of the city from the London Eye or the Shard; take an afternoon Beatles in London’ walk; do some more shopping; or simply wander the ancient streets and drop by a pub or two. I am available with suggestions or to help you plan your day. Those who want, can meet up to share the day’s adventures over dinner at a restaurant near our hotel.
Meals included: Breakfast and Dinner.

We start the day checking out the historic department stores, Selfridges and Liberty, then get groovy (or go punk) at Carnaby Street. If there are Harry Potter fans among us, we can also stop by the House of Minalima, which is nearby. (These are the people who created all the graphic designs for the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts movies.) They have a fantastic museum and shop. (See what I did there?)  Our next stop will be the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew for lunch. They grow many of their vegetables in their kitchen garden and the food never disappoints. Once we’re fed, we take a tram around the gardens to visit the historic Palm House, the enormous Temperate House, the stunning Marianne North Gallery, the Princess of Wales Conservatory, and the interactive Hive before taking a break at a nearby restaurant for dinner. That evening, we return to Kew to wander through an enchanting world festooned with over a million twinkling lights. We’ll drink hot cider or mulled wine and have time to peruse the gift shop as well.
Meals included: Breakfast and Dinner.

The next morning, we visit the Museum of the Home, a collection of 11 rooms all decorated in styles spanning four centuries. What I like best about this place, is that it focuses on how middle-class Londoners lived, not the aristocracy. Then we’re off to Westminster Abbey where we take a verger-guided tour. This place of worship been the setting for every coronation since 1066 (that is not a typo!) plus sixteen royal weddings including that of Prince William and Kate Middleton. Not even the Abbey officials know exactly how many people are buried there, but the permanent inhabitants include numerous kings, queens, playwrights, poets, scientists, and statesmen. The Lady Chapel (resting place of both Elizabeth I and Mary Queen of Scots) is exquisite.  After a restorative cup of tea in their Cellarium, we walk around Westminster (to see the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben) before returning to the Abbey for their Evensong. We enjoy an Indian dinner near our hotel.
Meals included: Breakfast and Dinner. 

This morning, we take the Tube to the Museum of London, nestled next to a section of the ancient Roman wall. In addition to the regular exhibits focusing on the lengthy history of this incredible city, there will be special holiday exhibits too. After our visit, we walk back toward St. Paul’s Cathedral, stopping at the garden-filled ruins of Christchurch Greyfriars on the way. It was destroyed by incendiary bombs during World War II but was turned into a lovely garden spot in the 1980s.  We enjoy a three-course lunch at Cote Brasserie before visiting St. Paul’s. After our visit, we cross the Millennium Bridge to the Southbank and take a leisurely stroll past Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, the Tate Modern (which we can visit if we’re so inclined – it’s FREE), and numerous galleries and shops on our way to the Southbank Christmas Market for one last opportunity to shop!  Then we pick and choose our dinner from the many offerings nearby and eat surrounded by Londoners enjoying their city.
Meals included: Breakfast and Lunch.