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Covent Garden Christmas lights

Spending Christmas in London: Festive things to do in London

London, Travel Gratsiela

Wondering where to spend Christmas in the UK? Well, Christmas in London is like no other place. There’s always something to do in London of course, whatever the season (check out my London bucket list to find some cool ideas!). But in winter, and especially at Christmas time, the British capital gets filled with lights, chestnut stands, Christmas decorations and a jolly atmosphere all over.

If you’re looking for a unique way to celebrate the festive season, there’re a few Christmas events in London you don’t want to miss. Here’s our magical guide with the best things to do in London at Christmas!

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London bike tour by Buckingham Palace

London Highlights bike tour with Baja Bikes

Life, London, Travel Gratsiela

Post sponsored by Baja Bikes. Post contains affiliate links.

If there’s a way of really experiencing the authentic flavour of a place, it’s indeed through the eyes of a local. Walking tours, bike tours, hop-on hop-off buses and boat tours offer a fantastic way to see the best of an unfamiliar city. But what about experiencing your own town?

Having lived in London for the last 3 years, I’d never actually got around to grabbing a bike for the pure joy of exploring the capital. We often get stuck into the routine wandering and commuting, and although there’s always something to do in London (and I’ve got a long London bucket list to prove this), playing proper tourist is somehow left to the times where we get out of town.

So when Baja Bikes got in touch and proposed exploring London from a completely different perspective, I said yes without thinking it twice! To say I was pretty excited to somewhat rediscover London (and ticking the bike ride box too) is an understatement. Even Sam, who commutes to work by bicycle, was eager to explore more of the city on two wheels. So, come on and grab your bike (and helmet) – we’ve got some sightseeing to do…

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Canal boats on Regent's Canal, London

Regent’s Canal Walk, a different way to explore London

London, Travel Gratsiela

The Regent’s Canal walk is one of the most beautiful ways to explore London. Hidden within the bustling streets just north of central London, there’s a blissful heaven of calm waters, rows of trees and colourful boats. Surprisingly the Regent’s Canal walk remains one of London’s best kept secrets, unknown to many tourists.

Let’s explore it, shall we?

Jump to the bottom to see the Regent’s Canal restaurants and pubs or the Regent’s Canal walk map.

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Conservatory Archives, Hackney inside

Conservatory Archives, Hackney – A trendy plant shop with a hidden treat

London, Travel Gratsiela

If you know me well, you know I’m someone that’s pretty keen on the idea of shopping for plants, especially when this means adding personal touches to your home and making it feel more…homely. Adding a little somethin’ somethin’ to different spots of the house is always exciting and has an incredible effect on not only the decoration and feel of our little London flat, but on our everyday mood.

Our house is slowly starting to look like a jungle and most of our plants are now having little plant babies! I get a little extra excited when I notice them growing a little leaf, so imagine how happy and proud I feel when they’re creating babies of their own! Funnily enough, I feel like I’m now at a point in my life where I’m legitimately playing grown ups. Being the plant lady that I am and needing some extra pots, it was only a matter of time before Sam and I headed up to Lower Clapton, where a new Conservatory Archives plant shop had recently opened.

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Toucan at the Orchid Festival, Kew Gardens

Orchid Festival at Kew Gardens: Celebrate the colour of Colombia

London, Travel Gratsiela

The unexpected (but very much welcome) sunny weather in London last weekend had me truly wanting to soak up every beam of sunshine. I couldn’t have been happier to have clear blue skies. Plus, the regrettable coat choice weather was well above the usual crisp degrees this time of the year. So obviously, we did what every Londoner does when the sun emerges from behind the clouds. We packed up a picnic and invaded the nearest park. Or in our case, Kew Gardens (aka Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew).

Coincidentally, the annual Kew orchid festival was on. This time it was showcasing the world’s most biodiverse country and bursting with surprises in every corner. From February 9th to March 10th, wonderful colours fill the Princess of Wales Conservatory in celebration of Colombia’s remarkable biodiversity and vibrant culture, where orchids represent a key part of its ecosystems. Naturally, walking into the conservatory was arguably the easiest decision I had to make (especially when the entry is included in your pass!).

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Bridge in Barbican Conservatory, London

Barbican Conservatory, a tropical jungle in Central London

London, Travel Gratsiela

Did you know the Barbican Centre is home to the second biggest conservatory in London? Unbelievable, right? Concealed among the brutalist complex lies a dreamlike urban jungle with more than 2000 species of tropical flora. Often overshadowed by the impressive botanical collections at Kew Gardens, many tourists and Londoners are oblivious to the hidden oasis that grows within the heart of the city.

As a true London lover and someone who enjoys exploring the secret corners of my home, it wasn’t long until I added Barbican Conservatory to my Ultimate London Bucket List. I was somehow attracted to the flawless balance between the unnoticeable botanical scenery and its metropolitan surroundings.

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Penguin up close at Meet the Penguins experience

Meet the penguins at London Zoo

London, Travel Gratsiela

Getting to meet the penguins was by far one of the most entertaining encounters I’ve ever had the pleasure to experience. Have you seen how insanely charming they all are? What about those fluffy lil’ baby ones? Cute, right? And please let’s not forget the fact that penguins mate for life! I am sorry but that is just too adorable.

There is something special about these stunning animals that I’ve always found incredibly captivating. In fact, the Meet the Penguins experience at the London Zoo was part of my Ultimate London Bucket List for a really long time. So naturally, Sam and I couldn’t believe our luck when the amazing ZSL London Zoo team retweeted our Friday night escape to Zoo Nights and crowned us as the (ehem, ultimate) winners of that week’s Meet the Animals competition!

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