What to do in London at Christmas

Christmas is probably the most hectic season for most people, and London isn’t exactly calm the rest of the year either. But if you take your time (and a deep breath) Christmas in London can really be the most wonderful time of the year. Here is my ultimate hit list of things to do in London at Christmas.

Food

First rule for a calm Christmas, eat well. Taking on the crowds in London while hungry is setting yourself up for a serious existential crisis as well as a guaranteed massive fall out with whoever is closest to you. To keep the peace try a Sunday roast at one of London’s many pubs. Remember to book in advance to avoid any disappointment. Alternatively go for afternoon tea at one of London’s many hotels and restaurants. If you, like me, don’t have the biggest sweet tooth try the not so traditional YO! Sushi Christmas afternoon tea at Selfridges. Sushi and prosecco, then christmas shopping at Selfridges? Sign me up!

Activities 

With all the good food at Christmas it’s nice to move around a bit and get active. You know, before you eat some more delicious pigs in blankets! Ice skating is fun for all ages and all experience levels. Personally I was Bambi on ice for the first ten minutes, doing my best not to fall, but then I got into it and wish I could go on Dancing On Ice to learn it properly. London has plenty of ice rinks, so these are just some suggestions. Try the ice rinks at Natural History Museum, Somerset House, Hyde Park Winter Wonderland, Tower of London and Queen’s House.





If a ski holiday in the Swiss Alps is both a little too far away and expensive, or you want to gain some new skills before you hit the Swiss Alps, try the indoor slopes at Chel-Ski in London. Here you can book classes with an instructor who will teach you some new tricks before you enjoy some well deserved treats in their Alpine Bar. Aprés ski anyone?





Shopping












Even if all you want for Christmas is your “baby standing right outside my door”, there are some pretty good second best options in one of London’s many Christmas markets, department stores and high streets. Wander around Hyde Park Winter Wonderland or the Winter Market at Southbank Centre for beautifully unique presents. Get lost on the wonderful Christmas floor in Liberty, and while you stare in awe at the Christmas lights in Oxford Street and Carnaby Street you can pop in to your favourite shops.





Museums





For a festive day out, maybe after your Sunday roast or in combination with ice skating, visit some of London’s many museums. My favourite any time of the year is the V&A Museum. Visit their Victorian Christmas party to learn more about Christmas traditions from the Victorian era. A favourite story this time of year is for many A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. Visit his house in London to see the Christmas decorated home of the beloved author. If you like architecture or in general like to be mesmerised by skill and creativity take a look at the gingerbread city at the Museum of Architecture.









What’s on your hit list for Christmas? Let me know in the comments!

The emotional stages of learning French

Learning a new language can be hard. Who am I kidding, it is super hard! Even though I eventually have come to the conclusion that I want to learn French, there has been more than once I’ve wanted to throw the dictionary at the wall and never say a word French again…

I wrote this back in high school while I was taking French. Although I’m now finally fairly fluent in French, it’s fun to look back at this and remember the struggle of learning a new language.

1. L’amour L’amour

The language of love, oh how excited I am! French sounds so lovely, so sensual, so melodiously…

2. Bonjour, je m’appelle Elise

Well, okay that was fun! I feel classy already

3. Être, avoir, aller

Wait what! You have to learn these by heart? Wasn’t it enough that I learned the english irregular verbs…

4. Je ne parle pas français

And I probably never will. This is stupid! I wish I had chosen German, I’am so switching languages next year

5. Guess I am stuck

Turns out my school doesn’t offer German… Okay, then I am going to spend my French lessons reading blogs – english blogs. The minute I am allowed to leave French it is “au revoir” except we won’t be meeting again!

6. Summer holiday in France by Côte d’Azur

You know what would be really fun? If I actually could speak French with the sales woman, the waiter, the random woman with the cute dog… Okay, okay I’ll buy a new dictionary (the old one may have been burned *ahem*) and I’ll be the best French student ever! I’ll buy French magazines and translate one article every day. I’ll download “learning French” podcasts. I’ll be fluent by the end of the year!

7. Two weeks into the autumn semester after my French awakening

Never mind, forget it! I am never speaking French. And I don’t really like Paris either, so whatever…

8. There is this book called “How to be a Parisian where ever you are”

And it is kind of cool, and I kind of want to learn french again, and Paris isn’t that bad… It has a certain charm. Also the D on my last french test is too embarrassing even for me…

9. One word: DUOLINGO

Actually one app. How come nobody ever told me about this before now?! It is absolute genius! This time I am actually going to be fluent by the end of the year! (They offer quite a lot of other languages if you are struggling with for example Spanish or German)

10. I’ll admit I am the queen of exaggerating (that is actually an exaggeration )

Getting fluent in French will take me more than a year, and more than an app, but I am getting there. For the first time I actually feel like this mess of grammar and rules are making some sense! No wait… “Conditionnel -présent and passé”?! What the...!?

Shanghai - photo diary

In the spring of 2019 I visited my friend who was doing a semester abroad in Shanghai. This is a photo diary I created using Unfold. It was a lovely trip and it is the furthest away I've ever been from home. Shanghai is the most westernised of the Chinese cities, which allows for a soft culture shock for those of us who's never been to China before.

Although there are signs in English, and an English voiceover on the tube, I would not recommend going without anyone who has a working understanding of Mandarin. Unless you are allergic to some foods, I would suggest you jump head first and try everything you can of foods we don't see that often or have in Europe! Chicken feet aren't as bad as it sounds. Promise! If you're traveling in a group or love singing I would definitely suggest you try KTV (karaoke), singing from the top of your lungs is the best way to start a night out.