They say Christmas comes earlier every year.  But in August this year Harrods outdid everybody with the announcement of their new Christmas Shop. As temperatures soared in London to 47 degrees on the Underground and the UK had one of the hottest summers on record, the Kensington department store was selling tinsel, trees and trinklets. Their Christmas Shop recorded a busy day for sales as shoppers sought out gifts and decorations including £329 Sarabella blown glass baubles, Elvis figurines and a range of giant Mother Christmases costing up to £1,699. With an astounding 138 days to go before the 25 December, Harrods move left religious leaders lost for words.

Hamley’s

Many lament the commercialisation of Christmas.  Although in Britain Christmas’ religious significance is clearly waning, one of the delights of the festive period is to venture into Central London. I suggest you head to Oxford Circus and from there wander down Regent Street admiring the incredible window displays.  The toy store Hamley’s is the one place children of all ages wish to peer into and dream the magic of Christmas.  Every year they seem to outdo themselves with more and more elaborate displays of Santa Claus, the Reindeer, the Christmas Carol and the Nativity Scene.  This serves as a magnet to draw you in and buy little Johnny that toy car he always wanted.

Christmas Lights

Along Oxford and Regent Street you will discover fantastic light displays.  Every year a famous celebrity, musician or sportsman is invited to ‘turn on the lights’.  This is normally a great fanfare with many spectators.  One year the organisers chose massive light beams that could be seen from Outer Space and another Harry Potter characters brightened up Britain’s busiest shopping street.  On this occasion actress Emma Watson, who plays Hermoine, turned on the Oxford Street lights.  This year boy band G4 flicked the switch on 9 November. According to tradition the lights are turned off and taken down on the 5 January at Epiphany.

Carols

Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without a good singsong. One of the best places to do this is at Trafalgar Square. Every day between 5:00 in the afternoon till 9:00 at night red-cheeked choirs entertain crowds with their renditions of ‘Silent Night’ and ‘O Little Town in Bethlehem’. Groups come from all over Britain to sing and often to raise money for good causes. You can join in the fun between 11 December and 23 December and sing your heart out.

Norwegian Tree

In Trafalgar Square you will find an extraordinarily large Norwegian Christmas Tree.  This year is extremely special as it marks the 60th year that Norway has donated a tree.  In celebration Her Royal Highness Crown Princess Mette-Marit is coming to turn on the lights.  The first was brought over in 1947 as a token of appreciation for the role Britain played in the liberation of Norway in World War II.  The tree itself is a Norwegian spruce and is plucked from the forests surrounding Oslo.  Great care is taken and the foresters have a great pride in selecting what they call the ‘Queen of the Forest’ for the Trafalgar Square display.

Christmas with Answer English

To get truly into the Christmas Spirit, Answer English will be having a get-together at the Marylebone Bar & Kitchen on 12 December.  You can find the Pub at 74-76, York St, London, W1H 1QN.  The nearest tubes are Baker Street, Edgware Road and Marble Arch.  If you would like to come along, we will be there from 19:00 onwards.  It is about 100 metres from our office, if you want to meet us first come to our offices just before 7.  For more information visit our Social Events