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Summer may not be long gone, but that’s no reason to delay preparing for the festive season. If you can’t get enough of these celebrations, it’s never too early to get excited about Christmas. The best thing is, you can start making your plans now, and what better way to kick things off than by booking a trip to London? The English capital is the perfect place to soak up the atmosphere leading up to December 25th, and there is plenty to see and do within the city. Enjoy some pampering with a luxurious hotel stay Everyone needs to relax and recharge from time to time, and there is no better place to do this than in one of the city’s top-class hotels. For example,The Landmark London is conveniently situated in the heart of the action on Marylebone Road and it boasts fabulous rooms and suites, a luxurious spa and health club and fantastic restaurants and bars. Better still, the five-star establishment loves to get into the festive spirit. You can book yourself in for pre-Christmas lunches in the hotel’s impressive Winter Garden or in the refined twotwentytwo eatery. There is even a Christmas pudding master class on offer, during which you can learn to make a sumptuous pud that will wow your friends and family back at home. If you don’t want to be on catering duties yourself over the festive period, you can make the most of the Christmas Eve and Christmas Day dinner and lunch options and there is also a New Year’s Eve dinner celebration. In addition, the hotel is putting on Boxing Day and New Year’s Day champagne brunches. Shop ‘til you drop London is a great place to get stuck into some Christmas shopping, and by hitting the city’s high streets over the coming weeks, you can spread year’s festive gift buying out, meaning you can avoid last-minute panic purchases. There are virtually endless shops in the capital where you can indulge in a spot of retail therapy, but highlights include Oxford Street, which is home to the likes of Selfridges, Debenhams and John Lewis, and Carnaby Street. On this road and the surrounding streets, you will find more than 150 brands to peruse. Meanwhile, if it’s designer clothes or jewelry you’re after, Bond Street and Mayfair are well worth a visit. The city’s most exclusive shopping areas, they feature big names such as Louis Vuitton, Tiffany & Co and Burberry. Meanwhile, if you’re after something altogether quirkier, perhaps Notting Hill will tick the right boxes. It offers an array of shops selling everything from unusual gifts and vintage clothing to organic food. Catch a festive show You can also time your trip to London to coincide with one of the many festive shows on offer. If you’re traveling with your children, perhaps a traditional pantomime would be ideal. There are plenty of performances to choose from. For example, Jack and the Beanstalk is playing at the Park Theatre on Clifton Terrace from 26th November until 4th January. Other options include Cinderella, which is on at the New Wimbledon Theatre and runs from 5th December until 31st December, and Dick Whittington and His Cat. You can catch this show at the Lyric Hammersmith from 22nd November until 3rd January. If you fancy something a little more grown up, you can combine your pre-Christmas trip to London with shows such as Billy Elliot the Musical at the Victoria Palace Theatre, Les Miserables at the Queen’s Theatre or Thriller Live at the Lyric Theatre. Booking a trip to the city in the run up to December 25th is guaranteed to get you in the festive spirit.
