London in the festive season

By Erin Deborah Waks

As the temperature drops and I have to haul my trench coats and various scarves out of hiding, I’ve been reflecting on why the colder seasons are, in fact, my favourite. It’s because of all the cute, wholesome, wintery activities they bring with them. And because everyone loves a good autumnal, Christmassy, festive, Halloween-appropriate to-do list from yours truly…

• Pumpkin carving

• Do a puzzle

• Read by an open fire

• Make smores

• Drink a Pumpkin Spice Latte (even though they are an abomination, in my humble opinion)

• Go on an autumn walk followed by a pub lunch

• Build a fort

• Host or attend a dinner party

• Rewatch Gilmore Girls, Harry Potter or both

• Make an apple pie

• Farmer’s market

• Visit a National Trust property (I recommend Fenton House in Hampstead - see picture above to understand why!)

• Sink pints at Oktoberfest…

• Visit a haunted house

• Watch a horror movie

• Have a spooky Ouijja board night

• Dress up for Halloween

• Watch Bonfire Night fireworks display

• Explore the Christmas shop windows and lights on Oxford St, Carnaby St and Regent’s St

• Visit a Christmas market (Leicester Square, Southbank, Covent Garden, Borough Market, Portobello Road)

• Have a big roast dinner

• Hyde Park’s Winter Wonderland

• Watch a Panto, theatre show or ballet

• Ice Skating at Somerset House or Natural History Museum

• Christmas at Kew Gardens

• Drive-in cinema

• Attend concerts and Christmas Carol renditions at St Martin-in-the-Fields-Church or the Royal Albert Hall

• Eat donuts for Chanukah (you don’t have to be Jewish, I promise)