We know it’s only November but here at the Hub we are already getting excited about all the fabulous festive things that London has to offer. Something magical happens to London at Christmas, the nights are dark, the lights are bright and there’s a real festive feeling on the streets.
If this is your first Christmas in London, be it as an international student or not, there are a few things that you simply have to experience. Firstly, it wouldn’t be Christmas without a trip to see the lights in Oxford Street, Regents Street and Knightsbridge. Also, if you find yourself on Regents Street on Sunday the 28th November don’t miss Hamley’s Christmas toy parade. Then, and this is a real London institution, you really must check out the windows of Fortnum and Masons, Harrods, Liberty’s… you won’t believe your eyes.
For a full on, in your face Christmas fix right in the heart of London town head over to Hyde Park’s Winter Wonderland. Think Christmas on steroids… you have everything from festive markets, the ice kingdom (seeing is believing apparently), the ubiquitous Ice Rink – there are so many in London during the festive season you could probably skate from one side of the city to the other – there’s even a circus, fun fair and plenty of German sausage! Open daily (except Christmas day!) 20th November to 3rd January from 10am-10pm entrance is free but you’ll need to purchase tickets through the website if you want to do more than experience the ambience! Right in the middle of Winter Wonderland is the famous Bavarian Village, line up the steins and sing along to the oompah bands… one of the best Christmas nights out you’ll have!
Winter Wonderland gets incredibly busy but… good news, the Hub is perfectly placed to take in a few of the Capital’s more hidden Christmas gems. Right on your doorstep in Vauxhall’s Pleasure Gardens you’ll find Ice Skate Vauxhall London’s first FULL SIZE urban ice rink. That’s right full size, how cool is that (pun intended!). If Ice Skating wasn’t exciting enough, Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens also plays host to London’s largest (and probably ONLY) Christmas Tree Maze. With over 500 Nordmann fir Christmas trees, resplendent with twinkly lights, cover almost 500 square metres of the Pleasure gardens. Work your way through this magical maze and when you reach the middle take your picture on the photo wall.. and a couple of selfies, maybe.
Then finish your day off with a visit to the pop up Cabin Bar and street food stations. Keep your eye on the website as there will be some special event nights announced soon… Ice Skate Vauxhall is open from Friday, 21st November 2014 through until Sunday, January 4th 2015 ice opens at 11am last public skate 8pm, 9pm on Fridays, book your Ice Skating and Urban Mazing tickets here.
Looking for something festive that’s not so, well… festive why not get your Breaking Bad on at a Breaking Mad party (see what they did there). As you’re a person living on the planet chances are you watched Breaking Bad and actually even if you didn’t (seriously what happened?) you’ll still enjoy this pop up party based on the series. Hosted at the Truman Brewery this immersive experience surrounds you with drama, strange goings on, theatrical wrongdoings and plenty of booze. By the end of the night you definitely will be THE ONE WHO KNOCKS… Parties take place at 5:30 and 9pm daily between 1st-10th December, find out more and book your tickets via the Time Out website here.
With so much going on the Capital over the festive period students living at The Hub are in the enviable position of being able to enjoy everything on offer on both sides of the river. Find out how you can join them, or to arrange a visit please call us on +44 (0) 3770 9120 or book your viewing here.
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