Christmas in London

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Designed by James Gibbs, a disciple of Christopher Wren, and completed in 1726, this classical church stands at the northeast corner of Trafalgar Square, opposite the National Gallery. Its spire, added in 1824, towers 56m (184 ft.) higher than Nelson's Column, which also rises on the square. The steeple became the model for many churches in colonial America. Since the first year of World War I (1914), the homeless have sought "soup and shelter" at St. Martin, a tradition that continues.

At one time, the crypt held the remains of Charles II (he's in Westminster Abbey now), who was christened here, giving St. Martin a claim as a royal parish church. His mistress, Nell Gwynne, and the highwayman Jack Sheppard are both interred here. The floors of the crypt are actually gravestones, and the walls date from the 1500s. The little restaurant, Café in the Crypt, is still called "Field's" by its devotees. Also in the crypt is The London Brass Rubbing Centre (tel. 020/7930-9306; www2.stmartin-in-the-fields.org/page/visiting/brass.html), with 88 exact copies of bronze portraits ready for use. Paper, rubbing materials, and instructions on how to begin are furnished, and there's classical music...

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This magnificent Victorian elliptical hall is a memorial to Prince Albert. The Albert Hall is now the venue for a variety of events, including pop concerts, beauty contests, sporting events and most famous of all, the Henry Wood Promenade Concerts - simply known as The Proms - performed daily between July and September. The Last Night of the Proms is probably the single most famous event to take place in this elegant piece of Victoriana.

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Thanks to modern technology now Londoners and tourists alike can experience the diversity of the wetlands of which only a few places in the world have the ability to offer. Despite it not being an actual, natural occurring wetlands, you will still see a huge amount of wildlife from rare birds and fish, as well as learning about the smaller creatures in the marsh which help keep this delicate ecosystem together. Originally used as an old Victorian Reservoir, the space covers over 40 hectares and offers several activities from an introduction to bird watching as well as a wildlife walk. Members and London Pass holders have free admission.

Our Local Expert Says:

If you have children in tow, you just have to come here!

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Hamleys claims to be the oldest toy shop in London, established in Holborn in 1760 as Noah's Ark. Two centuries later it was also the world's biggest toy shop, though that honour (a dubious one if you're a harassed parent) now goes to Toys R Us in New York. But it's still biggest in Britain and the holy grail for thousands of school children who swarm all over its six floors. enjoying the full Willy Wonka experience, complete with dozens of toy and game demonstrators. Beware, huge crowds make it the original nightmare before Christmas!

Our Local Expert Says:

The food halls are not to be missed; sample an English afternoon tea at the Georgian Restaurant on the top floor.

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"The Corner Shop", as Knightsbridge locals call it, is probably the most famous store in the world, selling everything from its ubiquitous green-and-gold branded carrier bags (its best selling item) to a 12.5kg solid gold bar, its latest ultimate luxury accessory. It may not have all the latest fashions these days (look opposite in Harvey Nichols to find those) but it's not far behind and for all but the hardest to please shoppers it's usually a great experience. Harrods began on its present site in 1849 as a small grocer's shop. These days 15 million customers per year come to explore its 7 floors and 4.5 acres. Don't miss the daily cornucopia in the fabulous Food Halls and return by night to see its famous terracotta façade, illuminated by 13,500 lightbulbs.

Our Local Expert Says:

Pedestrianized shopping zone filled with history, boutiques, pubs and restaurants

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Home to over 30 flagship stores and some of the world's top clothing companies, including Ben Sherman, Levi, Diesel, and Vans - you're sure to find everything you can possibly dream of here. With close proximity to Oxford Street, Regent Street, and Piccadilly Circus, this is definitely where trend begins. However if your feet, along with your credit card, need a break, stop in one of the many cafe's that line the street for a pint or some coffee while you watch the latest fashions stroll down the street.

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Visiting Oxford Street is essential on any trip to London. Towards the end of the 18th Century it was bought by the Earl of Oxford and soon after this, Oxford Street started to become popular for shopping. When Debenhams and Selfridges opened in 1909 the street became the place to go for good quality shops. It now has over 600 shops and there are over 200 bars, cafes and restaurants in close walking distance as well as many other places of interest. Many of the more popular stores consider their branch in Oxford Street to be the flagship store and the one where they have their special openings and promotions.

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The Canary Wharf Ice Rink in London blooms with the city's ice skaters. The rink is large in size, located at Canada Square Park and is surrounded by the magnificent Canary Wharf Towers. Come here in winter from November to February and experience the festive atmosphere. Open all days of the week during fall, Christmas time at the rink is all about food, drinks and skating. Many school programs are hosted here during this time. You can also take skating lessons. Large groups and Corporates too can book the place for a party and allow their workaholic staff a good break.

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This is the home of the national collections of living and fossil plants, animals, and minerals, with many magnificent specimens on display. The zoological displays are quite wonderful -- not up to the level of the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C., but still definitely worthwhile. Exciting exhibits designed to encourage people of all ages to learn about natural history include "Human Biology -- An Exhibition of Ourselves," "Our Place in Evolution," "Origin of the Species," "Creepy Crawlies," and "Discovering Mammals." The Mineral Gallery displays marvelous examples of crystals and gemstones. Visit the Meteorite Pavilion, which exhibits fragments of rocks that have crashed into the earth, some from the farthest reaches of the galaxy. The dinosaur exhibit attracts the most attention, displaying 14 complete skeletons. "Earth Galleries" is an exhibition outlining humankind's relationship with planet Earth. Here, in the section "Earth Today and Tomorrow," visitors are invited to explore the planet's dramatic history from the big bang to its inevitable death. The latest development here is the new Darwin Centre. Dedicated to the great naturalist Charles Darwin, the center reveals the museum's...

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The 16th-century palace of Cardinal Wolsey can teach us a lesson: Don't try to outdo your boss, particularly if he happens to be Henry VIII. The rich cardinal did just that, and he eventually lost his fortune, power, and prestige, and ended up giving his lavish palace to the Tudor monarch. Henry took over, even outdoing the Wolsey embellishments. The Tudor additions included the Anne Boleyn gateway, with its 16th-century astronomical clock that even tells the time of high tide at London Bridge. From Clock Court, you can see one of Henry's major contributions, the aptly named Great Hall, with its hammer-beam ceiling. Also added by Henry were the tiltyard (where jousting competitions were held), a tennis court, and a kitchen.

Although the palace enjoyed prestige and pomp in Elizabethan days, it owes much of its present look to William and Mary -- or rather to Sir Christopher Wren, who designed and had built the Northern or Lion Gates, intended to be the main entrance to the new parts of the palace. The fine wrought-iron screen at the south end of the south gardens was made by Jean Tijou around 1694 for William and Mary. You can parade through the apartments today, filled as they were...

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The Tower of London Ice Rink is located in the dry moat of the Tower of London, adjacent to the Outer Curtain Wall. It is open to public for some time during the year in the months of November to January. And with the coming festive season a trip here is all the more delightful as the cafes surrounding the rink offer warm festive drinks. For all this and more, come down to Tower Hill, with your loved ones and enjoy!

Our Local Expert Says:

In summer, the courtyard is filled with fountains for the children to run through & hosts a movie series. In winter months Somerset House is the perfect backdrop for the outdoor ice skating rink, advance booking required.

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Year round Somerset House located not far from St. Paul's Cathedral is worth a visit. In winter there is an outdoor ice skating rink while in the summer the same space is used for outdoor concerts and water fountains where London children can be found enjoying the heat. Home to three impressive galleries, The Hermitage Rooms, The Gilbert Collection, and the favorite Courtauld Gallery. Free until 2:00pm on Mondays the Courtauld boasts a collection of famous Impressionist and post-Impressionist paintings by Monet, Manet, Degas, Renoir, Cezanne, van Gogh and Gauguin, as well as works from Rubens and Michelangelo. Small and intimate, even children will recognize and appreciate these masterpieces.

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During World War II, newsreel footage reaching America showed St. Paul's Cathedral standing virtually alone among the rubble of the City, its dome lit by fires caused by bombings all around it. That the cathedral survived at all is a miracle, since it was badly hit twice during the early years of the bombardment of London. But St. Paul's is accustomed to calamity, having been burned down three times and destroyed by invading Norsemen. The old St. Paul's was razed during the Great Fire of 1666, making way for a new structure designed by Sir Christopher Wren and built between 1675 and 1710. The cathedral is architectural genius Wren's ultimate masterpiece.

The classical dome of St. Paul's dominates the City's square mile. The golden cross surmounting it is 110m (361 ft.) above the ground; the golden ball on which the cross rests measures 2m (6 1/2 ft.) in diameter, though it looks like a marble from below. In the interior of the dome is the Whispering Gallery, an acoustic marvel in which the faintest whisper can be heard clearly on the opposite side. Sit on one side, have your traveling companions sit on the other, and whisper away. You can climb to the top of the dome for a 360-degree...

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With its identical square towers and superb archways, this early-English Gothic abbey is one of the greatest examples of ecclesiastical architecture on earth. But it's far more than that: It's the shrine of a nation, the symbol of everything Britain has stood for and stands for, and the place in which most of its rulers were crowned and where many lie buried.

Nearly every figure in English history has left his or her mark on Westminster Abbey. Edward the Confessor founded the Benedictine abbey in 1065 on this spot overlooking Parliament Square. The first English king crowned in the Abbey may have been Harold, in January 1066. The man who defeated him at the Battle of Hastings later that year, William the Conqueror, had the first recorded coronation in the Abbey on Christmas Day that same year. The coronation tradition has continued to the present day. The essentially early-English Gothic structure existing today owes more to Henry III's plans than to those of any other sovereign, although many architects, including Wren, have contributed to the Abbey.

Built on the site of the ancient Lady Chapel in the early 16th century, the Henry VII Chapel is one of the loveliest in Europe, with...