20 December 2009
A Merry Christmas to you!
We hope you have enjoyed the last eight or so weeks with us, riding the annual journey that turns us all into children, as everything builds up to the fantastic Christmas Day.
We've enjoyed Carols by Candlelight, A Christmas Carol, A Christmas Cracker, Ice Skating and the infamous light switching-on events. We hope that you got as much out of London as we always do ... and if you didn't do it this year, be sure to plan it for next.
If you are still stuck on which production of A Christmas Carol to watch, we can unreservedly recommend the Southwark Playhouse. A truly inspired production that brings you into the heart of the timeless classic as you follow the story - and actors - through the vaults of London Bridge. We loved it and if you love Christmas you'll love it too!
And so, as Tiny Tim observed, God Bless Us, Every One!
13 December 2009
Christmas tunes
Well we've got nothing special to talk about this week, so instead we've been thinking about our favourite Christmas tunes. Here's our sort-of top ten ... we're 100% on number one, but 2-10 could really come in any order.
- Do They Know it's Christmas? - Band Aid
- Last Christmas - Wham
- All I Want for Christmas is You - Mariah Carey
- A Fairytale of New York - The Pogues Feat. Kirsty MacColl
- Stop the Cavalry - Jona Lewie
- In Dulci Jubilo - Mike Oldfield
- A Spaceman Came Travelling - Christ De Burgh
- Wonderful Christmastime - Paul McCartney
- I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday - Wizzard
- Mistletoe and Wine - Cliff Richard
Enjoy the, no doubt, hectic week ahead, but don't forget to enjoy the build up. Give yourself some time to wrap up a few pressies whilst munching on a mince pie with your favourite Christmas movie or song in the background ... it really does help.
06 December 2009
Check, check, check ...
Looks like we're good to go! All the lights are on, Santa's out greeting the kids every weekend and the shops are finding all sorts of ways to attract customers, loyalty cards, vouchers, crazy deals. Presents, well that's what it's all about ... isn't it? Well maybe not ...
We received an interesting email this week from the BRF, the Bible Reading Fellowship, who have come up with the Paperless Christmas, an interesting concept that brings back the non-commercial aspects of Christmas, i.e. the Nativity. A truely innovative way of telling the oldest story of our time in a smart and interesting way. If we hadn't thought this was interesting we certainly wouldn't have included it in the blog, but we do, so we did. If you're interested, read on, if not, get back to your online shopping ...
Most of the story is familiar but, instead of angels, expect postmen and don’t be surprised if most of the traditional animals are replaced by cars and motorbikes. "The Adventures of Mary and Joseph – the Road Movie" consists of nine film clips that take you along with Mary and Joseph on the road from Nazareth to Bethlehem and Egypt and back home. Travel along the road and stop off at the billboards to view the 90-second clips. No words are spoken and, just like Charlie Chaplin, the primary soundtrack is music, composed and performed by Gerard Brooks of Central Hall, Westminster.
See you next week! Oh, and don't forget to send out those international Christmas cards if you hope to get them to friends and relatives before Christmas!
29 November 2009
So this is Christmas ...
This week sees the final piece of London's Christmas puzzle gently fit into place. Be sure to visit Trafalgar Square this Thursday evening as the infamous tree is lit for Londoners and visitors to enjoy this festive season. The lighting of the Trafalgar tree symbolises the beginning of Christmas, without the fanfare of the much-hyped shopping street switch-ons. Even those who don't love Christmas as much as you and us cannot deny Christmas is here when the lights go on in Trafalgar Square. Don't miss it.
So far, while we've enjoyed the Christmas adverts, we are disappointed with the lack of narrative in the M&S advert. Regular vistors of London for Christmas will know how much we look forward to the M&S advert each year, but if you've seen the advert you won't be surprised by our judgement. It's still good, just not that good.
But have no fear, there is one advert out there that makes us cheery and all Christmassy. This year, the quality food store, Waitrose, has more than captured that warm feeling of Christmas ... watch it here:
After that small interlude, time to get writing those cards and finalising those Christmas present lists.
See you next week!
22 November 2009
Light's alive, it's almost Christmas!
So we're down to the final lighting countdown. London's sparkling with fairy lights, just one big ceremony to go, but we'll need to wait another week until Trafalgar Square is ready to say, "Merry Christmas" to all.
This past week saw the lights go on in Bond Street and Marylebone High Street, both great successes for visitors and locals alike, but also for the charities supported by each event. If you missed them this year, get the dates in your diary for 2010, these are real treats.
We just heard about a british Christmas-themed movie coming out this week, Nativity! We can't think of anything Christmassy from this shores since 2003's Love Actually, so we are really looking forward to this one. View the trailer here.
8 November 2009
Christmas Arrives
This past week saw a great kick-off to the London Christmas season. Not only were the Oxford and Regent street lights switched on by celebrities from the new Disney Christmas Carol movie, the annual Harrods Christmas parade made it's welcome way into town. Both events were a great treat for Christmas lovers.
Jim Carrey, Colin Firth and Bob Hoskins switched on London's Christmas lights on Tuesday, 3 November, and attended the world premiere of the new 3D "A Christmas Carol".
The three stars turned on the lights at Oxford Circus and Regent Street — London's main shopping areas — and at St. Paul's Cathedral. After that, tenor Andrea Bocelli and the St. Paul's Cathedral Choir led more than 14,000 people in a Christmas carol event.
1 November 2009
Harrods helping the kids while remembering Oz
At 17.00 on Thursday, 29th October, The X Factor's Dannii Minogue transformed Harrods into The Emerald City.
Dannii Minogue and the Chairman of Harrods, Mr Al Fayed, officially turned Harrods into a glittering Emerald City. Mr Al Fayed and Ms Minogue were accompanied by ten-year-old Dominic. A patient of Great Ormond Street Hospital, Dominic was born with Foetal Alcohol Syndrome. In addition to turning on the lights, Dominic also had the opportunity to wander though the magical toy department.
Harrods is helping to raise £300,000 for Great Ormond Street Hospital Children's Charity to fund three bedrooms in the new kidney unit, which will make a real difference to the lives of the patients and families.
Make a minimum donation of £10 and help Harrods to support Great Ormond Street Hospital Children's Charity.
The first big (and we mean big) Christmas lights switch-on
On Tuesday, 3rd November London will be brought to life with three sensational
free concerts from a wide range of recording artists in The City, Regent
Street and Oxford Circus, before the World Premiere of Disney's 'A Christmas
Carol' in Leicester Square as part of London's biggest ever coordinated
Christmas lights switch-on and celebration, London's Christmas Carol.
- Oxford Circus with Jim Carrey turning on the Christmas Lights
- St Paul's Cathedral with Bob Hoskins turning on the Christmas Lights
- Regent Street with Colin Firth turning on the Christmas Lights
- Leicester Square World Premiere Event featuring performances from Andrea Bocelli
Celebrated Italian superstar tenor Andrea Bocelli will then lead a world record breaking Christmas Carol sing-along joined by St Paul's Cathedral Choir in London's Leicester Square to open proceedings for the World Premiere of Disney's 'A Christmas Carol'.
- 17.00 Performances start
- 18.15 (approx) Switch on moment
- 18.20-18.30 Christmas Carol World Record sing-along
- 18.30 Oxford Circus & Regent Street event ends
- 18.45 (approx) St Paul's cathedral event ends
Followed by the world premiere of Disney's A Christmas Carol (in 3D) in Leicester Square.
The star-studded premiere is expected to include appearances by Jim Carrey, Colin Firth, Bob Hoskins, Robert Zemeckis and Andrea Bocelli. Additional UK celebrities attending premiere: Alice Temperly, Daniel Merriweather, Denise Van Outen, Faryl Smith, Lisa Butcher, Little Boots, Meg Matthews, Ozwald Boateng, Peter Andre, Phil Tufnell, Richard Hammond, Saffron Aldridge, Spandau Ballet, Taio Cruz, The Noisettes, The Saturdays and many more.
Tickets for the premiere are now on sale at www.londonschristmascarol.com supporting Great Ormond Street Hospital Children's Charity. A donation will be made to Great Ormond Street Hospital Children's Charity as part of Disney's partnership with the hospital, to help towards an ongoing Disney campaign to raise an invaluable £10 million towards their much-needed redevelopment appeal.
11 October 2009
Welcome to a new Christmas season - always much closer than we ever expect it to be. How did we get to 75 days so soon? Anyway, it's a great time of the year, and there's no better place to enjoy it than London.
Each year, whilst compiling the the entertainment listings we scratch our heads and say, 'do the theatre's discuss which pantomime they will be running?'. This year Aladdin is certainly the fairest of them all with no less than six productions right here in London, so if that's your kind of panto, you really are spoilt for choice.
There are four versions of Dickens' A Christmas Carol, definitely a favourite here at London for Christmas, but of course, if you have not yet heard, the biggest performance of the story is the one taking place in Leicester Square. The Walt Disney Company has signed a deal with the City of London, Oxford Street and Regent Street to provide this year’s Christmas lights across the capital. Illuminations in the three areas will be themed around Disney’s new film version of A Christmas Carol, which will have its world premiere in London on Tuesday, 3 November, when the lights will be turned on simultaneously.
If you're crazy about Christmas, fortunately a few stores are here to help out. Harrods and Selfridges opened the doors to their Christmas departments back at the beginning of August.
Don't forget to start planning your Christmas activities by browsing through the listings, either via the left navigation, or using Christmas at a Glance.
This blog will be updated weekly from 1 November, so please keep returning.
