Hitting the light fantastic
MARION MCMULLEN discovers how London is putting the sparkle back into the festive season
IT felt like everyone around the world was on Santa’s naughty list last year.
Grottos had the ‘closed’ signs up, elves were on furlough and around 200 pantos around the country were cancelled. Oh, yes, they were.
Many families had to spend the big day apart and yours truly even ended up attempting to cook a turkey for the first time in years. Luckily, no-one got food poisoning for Christmas although I did have nightmares of spending Boxing Day in A&E.
Now London’s West End is serving up Christmas with all the trimmings and putting some sparkle back into the festive season.
More than a million LED bulbs are lighting up the area – making history as the world’s largest Christmas light switch-on. From the shopping mecca of Oxford Street, Regent Street and South Molton Street, the luxury boutiques of Bond Street and Mayfair to the bright lights of Piccadilly Circus, culture of St James’s and theatreland of Leicester Square, the area is filled with dazzling light displays.
Following what has undoubtedly been a challenging 18 months, West End businesses are kick-starting a campaign to shine a light on the exciting and thrilling experiences that can only be discovered in the West End.
The John Lewis store on Oxford Street is among those leading the way with an entire Christmas floor packed with gifts, decorations, ornaments and every bauble you can think of.
If you want a pink whale as the centrepiece of your Christmas decorations this year then this is the place to head to.
Work by local craftspeople is also on offer at the store’s Curated Makers Market, with new workshops offering everything from gin tasting to tips on how to make the perfect Christmas wreath.
There is so much to do during a London visit – from snapping a selfie at Bond Street’s iconic Christmas Tree to experiencing the world’s first Bollinger 007 Champagne Bar in Burlington Arcade.
I stayed at the beautiful Beaumont Hotel in Mayfair, which offers a great location for making the most of a Christmas break.
The David Bowie experiential pop up on Heddon Street in honour of the musician’s 75th birthday is among the new popular attractions.
I chose an afternoon tea at Fenwick of Bond Street to help recharge the batteries before catching the new comedy sensation Pride And Prejudice (sort of) at the Criterion Theatre. It was the first time I had stepped into a theatre in 18 months and made me aware of just how much I had missed the joy of a live performance. It’s a gloriously original new take on the Jane Austen story that is earning them well-deserved standing ovations.
Lunch at Whitcomb’s at the Londoner in Leicester Square is also another treat worth making time for. The whole modern menu is packed with tempting dishes.
Celebrities love Dr Barbara Sturm’s skin care range and treatments and a new centre has now opened in Mount Street offering everything you need to look good for the festive season.
It is a little oasis of calm amid all the Christmas activities and, let’s face it, after lockdowns, furloughs and restrictions, we all deserve a bit of pampering and one unforgettable Yuletide party. And there’s no better way to start than to enjoy the bright lights of London.