January 27th, 2011 | 
Author: Ace Skating
Visiting London over Christmas: Finding Cheap Hotels in London by Isabel Clift
It's magic to visit London over Christmas - and while you're more likely to be confronted with grey skies and slush than the snowy winter-wonderland of Dickens' novels, there's still plenty to see and do in the city to put you in the Christmas spirit.
Even if you're on a budget, it's easy to enjoy visiting London over Christmas this year - see the guide below to find out how to make your money stretch further.
Where to Stay.
First things first - you'll need to decide from a choice of good, centrally-located cheap hotels if you're going to properly explore on a budget. Saving money on your hotel stay means you'll have more to spend on seeing the city.
Grapevine Hotel is five minutes' walk from Victoria tube and rail station, and offers great free extras like Wi-Fi, breakfasts and a London map which gives you 20% off 70 major sights. Alternatively, you could stay at Ace Hotel in Kensington, which offers private rooms and dorms as well as a bar and relaxing garden with patio heaters.
Cheap and Free Things to Do.
1. Hyde Park's Winter Wonderland event runs from November to January and charges no admission fee: you can stroll round the Christmas market and traditional fairground, plus if you're happy to pay a little extra you can go ice-skating on the outdoor rink (London's largest) or check out a big top show from the world class Cirque d'Hiver.
2. Head to Trafalgar Square to see the huge Christmas tree that's donated by Norway every year as a thank-you for liberation from Nazi occupation. The tree is usually over 20 feet high and 50-60 years old - it's taken down on January 6th, the 12th night of Christmas.
3. Go for a stroll along Oxford Street to see the capital's most extravagant Christmas lights. These are switched on to by a celebrity around mid-November every year, and stay lit into the January sales.
4. See the changing style of Londoners' Christmas decorations and visit the free-to-enter Geffyre museum in Shoreditch. Over November and December, the Christmas Past exhibition means each of the interior décor museum's 11 period rooms are decked out for Christmas in authentic period styles. A fascinating look at how Londoners celebrated Christmas in bygone times, both recent and historic.
Where to Shop.
Saved a bit of spending money until the end? Want to pick up some authentic Christmas souvenirs from your London visit? There are a few classic stores you can call in at. Neal's Yard Dairy in Covent Garden is perfect for selecting Christmas cheeses, and you can pick up amazing wine and foodie treats from Fortnum & Mason.
If you've got little ones to buy for, your only port of call should Hamleys, which has seven floors of toys. A wander around Harrods department store is a must too, if only to see the lavish window displays!
Like the sound of visiting London over Christmas? Find and book cheap hotel London and start planning your trip today.
About the Author
Isabel Clift is a London-based writer and editor for AnyTrip.com. Check HostelBookers to browse a huge range of backpackers hostels or check out Anytrip for a great collection of cheap hotels around the world.
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