This is actually a post from Christmas 2013, but so far this year my search for Christmas things in the UK has been hampered by a pre-Thanksgiving trip to the USA! As a result having toured much of the US, I saw just one Christmas tree – so my Christmas count is currently a little low! I couldn’t not be part of this months travel link up with Kelly, Emma, Rebecca and Sammy so apologies for a small sense of dejavous!
A rare sighting before Thanksgiving in the US – spotted at Charlotte Douglas airport
Looking down the pictures and thoughts below – I am still looking forward to the same things this year, but with some minor updates – I have a new Christmas jumper (that Mr P says I can’t wear this early in December); the Fortnum’s tree I have spotted at Skate this year (moved from St Pancras); this years T5 Christmas tree is even brighter than last year; John Lewis have done it again and wooed us with the cutest penguin advert; and happily this year we are really going to Mousehole to see the Christmas lights (I had flu last year). Oh – and we have 6 new tree decorations – 3 from Vienna and 3 from the art museum in Washington!
Gorgeous Christkindlmarkt’s
So please enjoy last years Christmas musings, and I’ll update on this years once I’ve seen more of it! Everywhere looks pretty at Christmas – ok, so I don’t much like lights on the outside of houses and santa stop here signs, but I love the glamour of Christmas that you see all around London etc etc. My husband and I just can’t seem to help ourselves and keep taking photos!! Here’s a selection!!
Mousehole – pre Christmas
Mousehole in Cornwall is very famous for its Christmas lights – we were there in October and they were already putting them up! We’re headed back there after Christmas for some RnR, to see family and to see the lights! The picture below isn’t mine, but is a great taste of what we’re going to be treated to:
Mousehole, Cornwall
London – seems to up its game every year Christmas wise….
Fortnums does St Pancras
This was the first tree I found this year, in St Pancras International Station – it’s a corker! Just imagine a tree full of hampers, imagine all the goodies that could be in there! Still not sure how this tree managed to stand up, even an empty hamper isn’t that light… Still, it looked fab!!
Skate, at Somerset House
When I’m at my London office, my walk to work is past Somerset House. Normally I get the bus, but if it is dark and its the right time of year I always work back from the city to the station just to stick my head in and take in the atmosphere! I’m a bit like bambi when it comes to snow/ice so I haven’t bothered actually doing the skating bit!!
Decorations
I love it when it is finally deemed an acceptable date in December to find the decorations box! And I’m slowly building up a little collection of individual little decorations! We’re definitely building a nautical theme for our tree this year: 
A yellow boxed surprise
A nice surprise when the postman brings a Selfridges box… this doesn’t happen all year round – so definitely a Christmas treat!!! My favourite drink is probably fizz – not that I drink it as often as I might like, but I do enjoy it to toast an occasion or to mark the start of a holiday! We have our parents with us for Christmas day and have decided to do a bit of a fizz-off, UK only! A bottle of Camel Valley, one of Nyetimber and also one of Chapel Valley that I haven’t tried before.
Decisions!
Very difficult to know which to try first, rest assured 6 people don’t need all of those in one day, but I think we’ll have an enjoyable 3 days tasting and deciding on a favourite!! The country seems to have gone banana’s for Christmas jumpers this year! My offering is below: 
I’m hoping next year to get in early and find one that is acceptable for wearing to work!! We’ve started a bit of a tradition in the Parker house – we are 2 years in… Last year we had a half day just before Christmas and had lunch at Terravina in Ashurst New Forest. This year we went and enjoyed lunch at Limewood in Lyndhurst – £20 for 2 courses. I eat here a lot with work, but haven’t been with my husband before. We’re very fond of the Chewton Glen and know it well – but Limewood have got a great product. The dining room is less formal and seating is on comfy chairs and sofas! 
Lovely Limewood!
Very enjoyable – we’re going to have to go back in the summer and enjoy the grounds though – as horizontal rain wouldn’t have made for a good walk at all! Feeling very Christmassy after lunch out, very decadent! Particular favourite in London is this reindeer in Covent Garden, complete with flashing nose!!
Reindeer
The area around Westminster is also beautiful at this time of year:
Downing Street’s tree!
I passed through T5 8 times in Nov/Dec and you have to hand it to BA for the amount of lights:
BA bling
And finally, you can count on John Lewis to think of everything…. The bear and the hare (almost) trumps the snowman advert from last year, but rolling out seating areas for husbands (maybe it should have been for children) to watch the full length story while we shop – just an inspired bit of thinking! Thank you JL!!
Entertainment for kids of all ages…
So Christmas is almost here, very exciting! Time to spend with friends and family, and most importantly with the blackberry firmly switched off!! Happy Christmas everyone!! #SundayTraveler
So, I’m pretty jealous. London is one of my dream Christmas destinations. It’s already my favorite city, but I’d definitely love to come one year for Christmas. It looks wonderful 🙂
Author
It is definitely at its best at Christmas – especially in a year without snow as we grind to a halt with just the smallest dusting!!
The F&M tree is outstanding! I LOVE IT!!!!! Looking forward to seeing what fun things you find this year too!
Author
Me too!! I need to get on with london meeting plans for the month 😉
The F&M tree is outstanding! I LOVE IT!!!!! Looking forward to seeing what fun things you find this year too!
Author
Me too!! I need to get on with london meeting plans for the month 😉
I’ll let you off as you have spent most of the last few weeks inside a plane 😉 hehe!
Fingers crossed you get to see the christmas lights at Mousehole this year, would love to see your photos if you do and tell your hubby it’s definitely christmas jumper season now.
JL ads make me cry – have to say the snowman advert just makes me well up thinking about it – my other half had to remind me that it wasn’t real while I sobbed (I’m crying now just thinking about the snowman crossing the road)
Merry Christmas to you and your family Anna
xx
I’ll let you off as you have spent most of the last few weeks inside a plane 😉 hehe!
Fingers crossed you get to see the christmas lights at Mousehole this year, would love to see your photos if you do and tell your hubby it’s definitely christmas jumper season now.
JL ads make me cry – have to say the snowman advert just makes me well up thinking about it – my other half had to remind me that it wasn’t real while I sobbed (I’m crying now just thinking about the snowman crossing the road)
Merry Christmas to you and your family Anna
xx
Wow! Christmas in London looks amazing. Your photos are brilliant – I especially love the one of the Christmas tree next to Big Ben. I’ll have to come back and see what London delights you find this year.
Author
I will do my best… Southampton isnt quite doing it as well so far!!
Wow! Christmas in London looks amazing. Your photos are brilliant – I especially love the one of the Christmas tree next to Big Ben. I’ll have to come back and see what London delights you find this year.
Author
I will do my best… Southampton isnt quite doing it as well so far!!
There is just such a warm, cozy feeling when you’re celebrating with your loved ones – though perhaps a little hard to muster if you’re having to transit T5 8 times in two months…
Cheers to a very merry Chistmas!
Author
The best bit is being at home with family and bracing walks in the sunshine!! The less of T5 the better… In fact none this year!! My flying is done!!
There is just such a warm, cozy feeling when you’re celebrating with your loved ones – though perhaps a little hard to muster if you’re having to transit T5 8 times in two months…
Cheers to a very merry Chistmas!
Would love to see those Christmas lights in Mousehole! Yet another reason to venture back to Cornwall. (And I’m a big fan of the BA bling)
Author
I’ll share my photos when we are there – cannot wait it has been years since i saw them and now they are world famous!!
Would love to see those Christmas lights in Mousehole! Yet another reason to venture back to Cornwall. (And I’m a big fan of the BA bling)
Author
I’ll share my photos when we are there – cannot wait it has been years since i saw them and now they are world famous!!
Haha, I think Bambi would be a good way to describe me on the ice as well!
Haha, I think Bambi would be a good way to describe me on the ice as well!