Glamial went on an all-in-one city trip to jolly London!
The end of the year is in sight, and before we collapse on the couch with a Christmas dinner, it’s time to take a quick city trip. Glamials Sandy went to London to get some Christmas inspiration!
Christmas City London
When we are asked if we have any ideas about which city we want to visit in the run-up to the holidays, the answer is clear: London!
Since the Dutch travel platform now offers much more than just hotels, we quickly book our flight, accommodation, and another interesting attraction via Booking.com, and less than a week later we are at Schiphol last-minute Googling for the best must-visits around Christmas in the British capital. And let’s be clear: there are quite a few.
The Rubens at the Palace
But before that, we can first check in at The Rubens at the Palace, a picturesque hotel at the rear of Buckingham Palace (overlooking the Buckingham Mews and around the corner from the official Buckingham Palace Gift Shop) with an ever-cheerful doorman , endlessly helpful staff and a decadent breakfast menu that we remember with nostalgia.
The facade of The Rubens, decorated in Christmas colours
With the attractive interior…
…and a small preview of the Afternoon Tea
Image: Glamial Editorial
It is clearly not without reason that this accommodation is so highly rated: every detail is correct, right down to the gold-embroidered sheets. No wonder that The Rubens at the Palace scores a wonderful 8.6 in reviews from more than four thousand visitors to Booking.com.
From coffee and fresh toast…
…to the fluffiest pancakes you’ve ever had…
…and of course the traditional Full English!
Image: Glamial Editorial
In addition to comfortable beds and luxurious breakfasts, you can also enjoy a real Afternoon Tea here, with a view of the back door of Buckingham Palace. Royally approved, we think!
Christmas markets
We visit quite a few Christmas markets in the few days we are there, because we are of course very curious to see how the British interpret these picturesque markets.
All in all, we think the markets on Leicester Square and Trafalgar Square were a great success. The stands (in a cozy Alpine style) basically sell the drinks and treats you expect from a Christmas market, but for your Reibekuchen you will really have to go to our eastern neighbors. We can also recommend leaving the mulled plum cider for what it is, and just go for an old, familiar warm mulled wine (or as the British call it: a mulled wine).
Small-scale and cozy on Leicester Square
Grand and open on Trafalgar Square
The real winner of the weekend? That really is the South Bank Winter Festival. Right next to the Thames, you can enjoy endless delicacies from local street food joints, pick up some Christmas gifts from local entrepreneurs, and attend performances by various talented street musicians. And all this with a view of two London icons: the London Eye and Big Ben.
Image: Glamial Editorial
Jolly London
During our stay we will largely explore central London on foot, excluding a few quick Underground rides. On a regular day the British capital is already buzzing, and even more so in the run-up to the dark days around Christmas!
Image: Glamial Editorial
It is pleasantly busy, and along the way we listen to various musical Christmas performances, meet The Grinch himself in Camden Town, and spot how the luxury department store Fortnum & Mason has even transformed their entire facade into a real-life Advent calendar.
Jolly old London also has plenty of entertainment to offer in addition to the Christmas atmosphere. For example, we spend most of Saturday morning in the beautiful Victoria & Albert Museum, where there are currently two exhibitions that are completely Glamial: the Gabrielle Chanel exhibition. Fashion Manifesto, and DIVA. You’ve undoubtedly guessed what both exhibitions are about, and you’ll immediately understand why the editors spent hours here. Although both of these exhibitions were not included in the free offer, the vast majority of museum exhibitions in London can be visited for free. Now that’s an advantageous experience of culture!
We also booked a visit to the Tower of London via Booking.com. Here you can indulge your history-loving heart with exhibitions about prisoners and political intrigues of seventeenth-century London, and be guided around by the Yeoman Warders, the current generation of guardians of the Tower. There are few places in the English capital where so much royal history can be admired in one location.
But of course Glamial also visits here to admire the Crown Jewels. And as much as we would have loved to take pictures of all the splendor on display… you’ll really have to go for the glitter and shine experience yourself, because taking snapshots of the royal jewels is strictly prohibited. In any case, we can reveal that all those diamonds, sapphires, rubies and pearls seem to shine even more up close than on TV. Definitely worth a visit!
Cheerio!
After a quick spin around the wonderful depths of Camden Market on Monday, it’s already time for our flight home. This time we fly from London City, a compact airport located opposite the O2 on the other side of the Thames. Easy to reach, simple to navigate, and fully equipped – that’s how we like it. Because we booked our entire trip via Booking.com, we are also kept informed from A to Z about our flights. Ideal!
All in all, we can look back on a very successful weekend, and we highly recommend a city trip to London for anyone who loves culture, Christmas and royal history. We certainly can’t wait for our next visit!
Header image: Unsplash, Ruth Gedhill
