Santa’s Grottos to Visit during Your 2019 London Christmas Tour

London is jam-packed with tourists during December. There are many Christmas-related events and attractions to see after all. Among them are the numerous Santa’s grottos in the city.

Basically, a Santa’s grotto is a site where kids can get gifts from and talk to a man dressed up as Father Christmas. Also called Santa’s workshop, it’s decorated with Christmas trees, toys, and lights. One or a few employees may also play as elves. 

Santa’s grottos can be found in London’s tourist spots and stores. The best ones are as follows:

 

• Hyde Park’s Santa Land

 

Santa Land forms part of Hyde Park’s Winter Wonderland. The entrance to the royal park and its holiday-themed attractions are free. This covers the visit to its Santa’s workshop.

Every kid will get a gift from the park’s Santa. But because it’s free, expect long queues. Make sure you arrive early at Hyde Park Corner Tube Station to lessen your waiting time or to reach on time you can book any budget hotels near Wembley Stadium. There’s no need to book a ticket.

 

• Chelsea’s Christmas Grottos

 

For £27.50, your child can enter Chelsea’s Christmas grotto. While it’s not free, the fee saves you and your child from waiting for so long. Your kid can join the storytelling sessions and games as well.

Located at Pavilion Road, you can go there by riding the tube and alighting at Piccadilly station. Book your ticket in advance to further save time. If you have a preschooler, he or she is more suitable for the baby grotto. The regular grotto is for school-aged children.

Santa’s Grotto in Leicester Square

A few steps from Leicester Square tube station, you can reach the nearby Santa’s grotto. With a ticket worth £11.50, your child can listen to Father Christmas’ story. Afterward, Santa will listen to his or her requests. 

A small cabin serves as the grotto. Up to 20 children can join each reading session.

You can also read: Looking for Family Fun in London?

Father Christmas’ Headquarters in Royal Albert Hall

The holiday-inspired decors and activities delight kids visiting the century-old concert hall. Meeting Father Christmas is among the said activities. The ticket costs £39.24 per child.

The ticket covers an hour-long set of activities spent with Father Christmas, his elves, and other well-loved characters. There’ll be puppet shows and live music, too. After the activities, your child will bring home a toy. 

You can visit the hall before or after a stroll in Kensington Gardens. High Street Kensington and South Kensington are the nearest tube stations.

Museum of London’s Victorian Grotto

Fantasy meets history in the Museum of London’s Victorian-inspired grotto. Located near the South Kensington tube station, a child can enter the grotto for £10. 

Expect to see decors and listen to carols from inspired by the Victorian era. Aside from meeting Santa and taking home a gift, finding the grotto is also a fun experience for kids. It’s at the end of a walkthrough filled with Victorian decorations and designed like a wonderland.

Experience London Christmas at its finest by staying in a family-friendly place like Best Western Palm Hotel. It’s near three tube stations namely Golders Green, Brent Cross, and Kilburn.

Kids can feel the joy of giving and receiving in a Santa’s grotto. Visiting one is enough for them to have a memorable holiday in London.  

Little One Approved: The Most Child-Friendly Restaurants in London

Want to take your kids to a treat? While it’s easy to resort to a pizza-and-soda combo, why not try something new? Give your little ones a new set of food palettes to choose from with these nine child-friendly restaurants in London!

All-Star Lanes

Address: Brick Lane, Holborn, Westfield Shepherd’s Bush, and Westfield Stratford

Pricing: £6.50 to £17.50

If you don’t want to give drastic food changes for your kids, try All Star Lanes’ variety of US diner-style cuisine during your stay at Best western Palm Hotel Golders Green. Aside from eating, you can also

have a short bowling session at All-Star Lanes!

Bodean’s

Address: Balham, Clapham, Covent Garden, Fulham, Old Street, Soho, and

Tower Hill

Pricing: £4.95

With its burgers, mac ‘n’ cheese, chicken wings, ribs, and pulled pork

sandwiches, Bodean’s will surely make anyone’s tummy happy. If you’re

worried about your kids eating too much, they have a specialized kids’ menu

that serves food in small, bite-sized pieces.

Café Murano

Address: St. James’s and Covent Garden

Pricing: £10

Want to give your children a laid-back, Italian cuisine experience? Head over

to Café Murano and try their top-notch pasta while your kids devour their

self-made kids’ menu.

You can also read: London’s Top Sites for Harry Potter Fans

Cubana

Address: 48 Lower Marsh, SE17RG and Smithfield

Pricing: £25 and under

Is your child a fan of bright, well-lit places? Then the Cubana is the right one

for you and your little one! Aside from a kids’ menu, they also take pride in

their pudding and mocktails that will give your children a glimpse of the adult

dining.

HIX Soho

Address: 66-7-Brewer Street, W1F 9UP

Pricing: £7

Want to take you and your child down to a luxurious meal? Try HIX Soho and

its wide menu of English meals. Did you know that kids under 10 years old

can also get a free, special treat?

Homeslice

Address: Fitzrovia, Marylebone, Neal’s Yard, Shoreditch, and White City 

Pricing: £60 for a meal of two

Are your kid’s craving for the good, old pizza? Let them have Homeslice

20-inch pizza to satisfy their savory cravings. If you’re on a budget, you can

even buy them per slice!

Masala Zone

Address: Bayswater, Camden, Covent Garden, Earl’s Court, Islington, Soho

Pricing: £8.50 to £12.50

Want to treat your kids to an Indian food trip without leaving the country?

Try Masala Zone and their huge selection of biryanis, curries, and dhals.

Mudchute Kitchen

Address: Mudchute Park & Farm, Pier Street, Isle of Dogs, E14 3HP, Hackney

City Farm, and Surrey Docks Farm

Pricing: £4

If you’re into a countryside-themed escapade, head to Mudchute Kitchen.

This independently-owned café will truly satisfy your kids’ taste buds with

their healthy and organic dishes.

Wahaca

Address: Check their website for a full list of their 16 locations

Pricing: £35 for a meal of two

Want to let your little ones have some Mexican food? Head to the

ever-bustling Mahaca! Knowing that Mexican food can be quite spicy, their

kids’ menu tones their spices down to match your little one’s taste buds.

They also offer allergy-friendly dishes!

Getting There

Knowing that these restaurants are scattered around London, the nearest tube lines aren’t one-size-fits-all. To find the nearest tube station around your area, pick your destination first and start searching from there.

Where to Stay

Planning to have an extended vacation? Don’t let your budget cut short and choose Palm Hotel as your accommodation which is also one of the best wedding venues in North West London. With its high-class services at an affordable price, you can spoil your little ones without breaking the bank!

Your Handy Guide to the London Craft Week

 

Got nimble fingers and creative mind? If you’re staying at any of the hotels near Wembley Arena, then you should check out this year’s London Craft Week. But what awaits you at this annual crafts festival?

Here’s everything you need to learn about London Craft Week.

About London Craft Week

London Craft Week celebrates British and international creativity through a week of exciting programs held across the capital. This is the time to appreciate skill, passion, individuality, and imagination.

This non-profit event showcases craftsmanship from design to art to fashion and food. Enjoy five days of a whole range of events including workshops, demonstrations, exhibitions, meet the makers, talks, interviews, and live discussions. This is your chance to meet new and emerging craftsmen including notable luxury brands in this weeklong festival.

When and where is it happening?

Now on its fifth year, London Craft Week is happening on May 8-12, 2019 in various locations across London. Events will be held in a wide range of workshop spaces, studios, galleries, museums, and even in shops of luxury brands throughout the capital. Feel the celebration from Greenwich to Hampstead and from Mayfair to Shoreditch.

How to book tickets?

If you’re coming from outside the country, the good news is that you don’t have to book tickets because half of the events are open house, so admission is free.

For events that need pre-booking, you can check out the event’s official website at https://www.londoncraftweek.com/.

You can also read: EXPLORING THE CITY OF LONDON

Free events near you

If you’re planning to pay London Craft Week a visit, here are some of the free events that are happening near your resident. Visit their website for London Craft Week’s full list of programs.

• Indigo Hands. Discover the art of Jigoku date (making hell), one of the world’s most complex dye production process. Enjoy an exhibit of handmade and hand dyed flags, and learn to dye from a series of workshops in KIOSK N1C hosted by BUAISOU.
• JIZAI by Haruo Mitsuta. Learn about Jizai Okimono, the art of creating flexible animal figures from metal pieces from contemporary artist Haruo Mitsuta at the Daiwa Foundation Japan House.
• Scented Candle-Making Masterclass w/ Earl of East London. Find out how candles and bath salt are made from Earl of East, a multisensory home fragrance brand inspired by travel.

The events above are only a part of the great things to happen at the London Craft Week. There are a lot more crafting disciplines to explore and fellow craftsmen to meet.

Now, take your craftsmanship to a whole new level and hone your skills through workshops from master craftsmen when you visit and stay at any of the hotels in North West London.

 

All about the London Book Fair 2019

All about the London Book Fair 2019

Are you an up-and-coming writer, a seasoned publisher, or an avid bookworm? If you happen to be in London this March 2019, then you’re in luck – you can get the chance to visit one of the biggest literary trade fairs in the world, the London Book Fair while staying at any of the hotels in North West London.

What Is the London Book Fair?

A book-publishing trade exposition, the London Book Fair is held annually in London, England. The event is held over a span of 3 days. It is attended by over 25,000 exhibitors and visitors from all over the world. In essence, the London Book Fair is an international marketplace where publishers, rights agents, librarians, and booksellers can negotiate among one another for the rights and sales of literary content.

Not a publishing professional? No worries! The London Book Fair is not all business – it is also open to readers. The fair has a lot of activities in store, which book fanatics will surely enjoy.

Opening Times and Dates

The event will be held on March 12-14 this year. The fair will last from 9:00 to 18:30 on March 12 and 13, and from 9:00 to 17:00 on March 14. If you’re coming from outside London and planning to drop by, make sure to plan ahead and book accommodations in Cricklewood London in advance and be available on these dates.

How to Go There

The venue for the 2019 London Book Fair is Olympia London at Hammersmith Rd, Kensington, London, W14 8UX.

#1 – Train and Tube

Olympia London is easily accessible by train and tube. The London Overground Network contains the Kensington (Olympia) station, which is just a step away from West Brompton (District Line) or Shepherd’s Bush (Central Line). The venue is also within walking distance from Baron’s Court (Piccadilly Line) and Hammersmith Station (Hammersmith & City Line).

#2 – Bus

Prefer riding a bus? Buses 9, 23, 27, 28, 49 and 391 all have stops near the venue. There is also night service run by buses N9, N23, N27, and N28.

#3 – Coach

From the airport, the easyBus can drop you off at West Brompton. You can then hop on the District Line and alight at Kensington (Olympia), which is just one stop away on London Overground.

National Express, on the other hand, can get you to the London Victoria Coach station. From there, you can again ride on the District Line going towards West Brompton.

#4 – Taxi

Finding it hard to follow the directions? You can simply flag down a London taxi and tell the driver you’re going to Olympia London. Just note that in London, passengers are expected to tip 10-15% of the fare!

What to Do in the Fair

Whether you’re a publishing professional or an enthusiastic bibliophile, you will surely find a lot of activities and opportunities in the London Book Fair. The London Book Fair hosts a lot of activities in its 3-day run, including meetings for publishers, introducing new titles to visitors, awarding of prizes, and several talks, workshops, and conferences. This year, the fair will be focusing on the Indonesian market, as well as on the emerging genre of audio publishing.

You can also read: Fashionista Galore: Best Designer Shops in London

Getting Tickets to the London Book Fair

Tickets can be purchased online via the London Book Fair website. A visitor ticket costs £45+VAT, while a priority access ticket costs £100+VAT.

Don’t miss your chance to attend this enormous event! Plan ahead and book your tickets now while it’s early.

 

IN NIGHT’S DARKLING GLORY

In Night’s Darkling Glory is the latest live music immersive experience, arriving in London and telling the story of Tristan and Isolde this October from 19^th -22^nd.

Here you will get the chance to explore an interactive three-storey world of food, music and fantasy.

For more details, visit the site: http://enter.nightsdarklingglory.com/

Book in early to a place in north London like any of the hotels near Wembley Stadium and get ready to enjoy the castle banquet, themed sets and immersive music.