{"id":363,"date":"2018-11-29T15:44:02","date_gmt":"2018-11-29T15:44:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.washington-mayfair.co.uk\/blog\/?p=363"},"modified":"2020-03-04T16:38:23","modified_gmt":"2020-03-04T16:38:23","slug":"the-best-events-in-london-in-december-2018","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.washington-mayfair.co.uk\/blog\/the-best-events-in-london-in-december-2018\/","title":{"rendered":"THE BEST EVENTS IN LONDON IN DECEMBER 2018"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Can you hear those sleigh bells jingling? Of course you can. It\u2019s December in London and it is the most magical month to visit the city. London&#8217;s shopping streets sparkle with Christmas lights in December, and shops are full of gift hunters finishing off their Christmas shopping. A focal point of the holiday season in London is Trafalgar Square, which resounds with carol singing around the capital\u2019s biggest Christmas tree, and lights up with a giant Menorah for Chanukah.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Here at The Washington Mayfair we want to guide you to the best activities, events and fun stuff happening in London throughout December 2018.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><strong>TOP CHRISTMAS MARKETS <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><strong>Winter Wonderland \u2013 until 6<sup>th<\/sup> January 2019<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p>Only a 15 minutes\u2019 walk from The Washington Hotel, is the extravagant Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park. Get together with family and friends for a festive adventure in Hyde Park, with ice skating, fairground rides, big top shows, Christmas markets and seasonal food under sparkling Christmas lights. New attractions for 2018 include the Magical Ice Kingdom\u2019s Secret Forest, the immersive cinematic adventure with\u00a0The Snowman\u2122 Experience, presented by Backyard Cinema and the Ice Sculpting\u00a0workshops where you can create your own ice sculpture. Visit the official <a href=\"http:\/\/hydeparkwinterwonderland.com\/\">website<\/a> and book your favourite attractions.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><strong>Winter Christmas Market at Southbank Centre \u2013 until 6<sup>th<\/sup> January 2019<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Celebrate the winter season at Southbank Centre with festive shows, a Christmas market, seasonal food and drink, and family activities under the glittering lights.\u00a0The majority of the Southbank Centre&#8217;s outdoor attractions are usually open from 10am-10pm daily. The\u00a0Southbank Centre\u00a0is normally entirely closed on Christmas Day, with\u00a0outdoor attractions staying closed on New Year&#8217;s Eve.\u00a0Visit the official <a href=\"https:\/\/www.southbankcentre.co.uk\/whats-on\/festivals-series\/winter\">website<\/a> for more information.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><strong>Leicester Square Christmas Market \u2013 until 6<sup>th<\/sup> January 2019<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">See one of London\u2019s most famous squares transformed for the festive during Christmas in Leicester Square. Browse more than 25 stalls for handcrafted gifts, festive decorations and more at the traditional Christmas market, plus treat yourself to some warming winter fare. Families with young children can also enjoy exploring Santa\u2019s grotto and meet the man himself in the square\u2019s enchanting festive atmosphere. Visit the official <a href=\"http:\/\/www.christmasinleicestersquare.com\/#stq=&amp;stp=1\">website<\/a> for further information.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><strong>Christmas by the River at London Bridge City \u2013 3<sup>rd<\/sup> January 2019<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">With stunning views of Tower Bridge, The Tower of London and the iconic City skyline,\u00a0Christmas by the River\u00a0is the perfect setting for the market which boasts 68 stalls selling gifts, food and drink. Christmas by the River\u00a0will be the perfect place to relax and enjoy the sights, sounds and smells of a true Christmas market. Visit the official <a href=\"https:\/\/www.christmasmarkets.com\/christmas-markets\/christmas-by-the-river-at-london-bridge-city\/\">website<\/a> for further information.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"660\" height=\"371\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/YfpBDYdIxBc?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><strong>TOP CHRISTMAS SHOWS AND PANTOMIMES IN LONDON <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><strong>The Royal Ballet\u2019s The Nutcracker at the Royal Opera House \u2013 from 3<sup>rd<\/sup> December to 15<sup>th<\/sup> January 2019<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Loosely based on the story by E.T.A. Hoffmann, the ballet begins in the 19th-century German home of the Stahlbaums, where they are hosting a lively Christmas party. The period setting is captured in opulent detail by Julia Trevelyan Oman&#8217;s designs, which include authentic Christmas tree decorations that are magically brought to life. Wright&#8217;s choreography ingeniously incorporates surviving fragments of the ballet&#8217;s original material, including the sublime\u00a0<em>pas de deux<\/em>\u00a0for the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Prince. But in emphasizing the relationship between Clara and the Nutcracker, the production also gains a touching subtext of first love. Visit the official <a href=\"https:\/\/www.roh.org.uk\/productions\/the-nutcracker-by-peter-wright\">website<\/a> for further information or to book your tickets.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><strong>Snow White at the London Palladium \u2013 from 8<sup>th<\/sup> December to 13<sup>th<\/sup> January 2019<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Produced by the team behind Olivier award-winning Dick Whittington, this classic tale of good and evil is retold with the help of a stellar cast, including\u00a0Dawn French,\u00a0Julian Clary,\u00a0Paul Zerdin\u00a0and\u00a0Nigel Havers. Visit the official <a href=\"https:\/\/snowwhitepalladium.com\/\">website<\/a> for further information or to book your tickets.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><strong>Mariah Carey\u2019s all I want for Christmas is you Tour at the O2 \u2013 11<sup>th<\/sup> December 2018<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Join record-breaking performer\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitlondon.com\/things-to-do\/event\/45915156-mariah-carey-at-the-o2\">Mariah Carey<\/a>\u00a0for a musical celebration of Christmas. The superstar singer entertains audiences with a collection of festive favourites, including All I Want for Christmas is You. Visit the official <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theo2.co.uk\/events\/detail\/mariah-carey-2\">website<\/a> for further information or to book your tickets.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><strong>Circus 1903 at the Royal Festival Hall \u2013 from 19<sup>th<\/sup> December to 5<sup>th<\/sup> January 2019 <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Fresh from the Paris Theatre in Las Vegas, Circus 1903 visits Southbank Centre for its European premiere. The show includes sensational life-sized elephants stunningly created by puppeteers from\u00a0War Horse, putting elephants back in the ring as never before. The circus boasts a huge cast of jaw-dropping and dangerous acts from all corners of the globe. Featuring acrobats, contortionists, jugglers, trapeze and high-wire performers and more, this show captivates and transports audiences of all ages to the golden age of circus. Visit the official <a href=\"https:\/\/www.southbankcentre.co.uk\/whats-on\/121485-circus-1903-201819\">website<\/a> for further information or to book your tickets.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><strong>Walking with Dinosaurs \u2013 The Arena Spectacular at SSE Arena Wembley \u2013 from 27<sup>th<\/sup> to 30<sup>th<\/sup> December 2018<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">After a worldwide tour seen by over 7 million people in 206 cities, the stunning theatrical event Walking with Dinosaurs &#8211; The Arena Spectacular is back!Internationally renowned designers have worked with scientists to create 20 life-size dinosaurs, including the terror of the ancient terrain, Tyrannosaurus rex. Be amazed and thrilled as the greatest creatures ever to walk the earth return before your eyes. It&#8217;s a dazzling \u00a310,000,000 arena spectacle of unprecedented size and quality set to captivate young and old alike. Marvel at the story of their 200 million year domination of life on earth. Watch them walk. Hear the roar. Be there as they fight for survival and supremacy. From the ripple of their skin to the glint in their eye, you will know the dinosaurs really have returned. Book your tickets here: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ticketmaster.co.uk\/walking-with-dinosaurs-the-arena-spectacular-sse-arena-wembley-london-tickets\/venueartist\/451730\/1117759\">website<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><strong>The Snowman at the Peacock Theatre \u2013 until 6<sup>th<\/sup> January 2019 <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Snowman,\u00a0tells the story of a boy and his magical snowman&#8217;s wintery wonderland adventure. As a friendship is kindled, the two embark on a starry-skied journey to the North Pole, where they meet dancing penguins, Ice Princess,\u00a0Father Christmas and escape the clutches of Jack Frost. Visit the official <a href=\"http:\/\/peacocktheatre.com\/whats-on\/the-snowman\/\">website<\/a> for further information or to book your tickets.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washington-mayfair.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/woman-190897_1920-pixabay.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-570\" src=\"https:\/\/www.washington-mayfair.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/woman-190897_1920-pixabay-300x224.jpg\" alt=\"woman-190897_1920-pixabay\" width=\"300\" height=\"224\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.washington-mayfair.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/woman-190897_1920-pixabay-300x224.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.washington-mayfair.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/woman-190897_1920-pixabay-768x572.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.washington-mayfair.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/woman-190897_1920-pixabay-1024x763.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.washington-mayfair.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/woman-190897_1920-pixabay.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><strong>NEW YEAR\u2019S EVE FIREWORKS \u2013 31<sup>st <\/sup>December 2018<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Hear\u00a0Big Ben&#8217;s famous &#8220;bongs&#8221; ring out at midnight on New Year&#8217;s Eve in London, followed by the UK&#8217;s\u00a0largest annual fireworks display\u00a0over the\u00a0Coca-Cola London Eye, presented\u00a0by the Mayor of London. If you want to join in the celebrations on the night, you must have a ticket to attend. Visit the official <a href=\"https:\/\/www.london.gov.uk\/events\/2018-12-31\/london-new-years-eve-fireworks-2018\">website <\/a>for further information or to book your tickets.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"660\" height=\"371\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/21EJMIdK1_g?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><strong>NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM ICE RINK \u2013 until 6<sup>th<\/sup> January 2019<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Skate in a magical winter haven in the heart of the city at the Natural History Museum\u2019s open-air ice rink. The spectacular rink is surrounded by thousands of fairy lights and features a glittering 30ft (9m) Christmas tree. Book your skate session online to guarantee your place or buy your tickets from the box office when you arrive. Remember, you may have to wait for your turn on the ice if you haven&#8217;t booked your session in advance, especially during peak times. Visit the museum\u2019s Caf\u00e9 Bar for winter warmers, and watch the skaters glide on the ice from the cafe\u2019s balcony.\u00a0Non-skaters are welcome. Visit the official <a href=\"http:\/\/www.nhm.ac.uk\/visit\/exhibitions\/ice-rink\/visit-and-booking.html\">website<\/a> for more information.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"660\" height=\"371\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/G-hwP95vCRM?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><strong>Don\u2019t miss our special packages:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><strong>Winter Wonderland<\/strong><\/span> \u2013 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washington-mayfair.co.uk\/winterwonderland.html\">click and learn more<\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><strong>Winter Warmer<\/strong><\/span> \u2013 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washington-mayfair.co.uk\/winter-warmer-offer-2018.html\">click and learn more<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Can you hear those sleigh bells jingling? Of course you can. It\u2019s December in London and it is the most magical month to visit the city. London&#8217;s shopping streets sparkle with Christmas lights in December, and shops are full of gift hunters finishing off their Christmas shopping. A focal point of the holiday season in &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washington-mayfair.co.uk\/blog\/the-best-events-in-london-in-december-2018\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">THE BEST EVENTS IN LONDON IN DECEMBER 2018<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":365,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[12,9,10,7,2,3],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.washington-mayfair.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/363"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.washington-mayfair.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.washington-mayfair.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.washington-mayfair.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.washington-mayfair.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=363"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.washington-mayfair.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/363\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":572,"href":"https:\/\/www.washington-mayfair.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/363\/revisions\/572"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.washington-mayfair.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/365"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.washington-mayfair.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=363"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.washington-mayfair.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=363"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.washington-mayfair.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=363"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}