What about starting the New Year with a trip to London? You may already know the major sites, such as Big Ben, Picadilly and Oxford Circus but there is always something new to explore in this great city. For example, the Southwark area, near London Bridge is worth discovering, with the beautiful Southwark cathedral and the trendy Borough market, where you can find any kind of food, from vegetables to Swiss raclette! The restaurant “Fish!” nearby also also makes delicious fish and chips.
This month is the last chance to see the Late Turner exhibition at the Tate Britain (open until 25 January). The movie Mr. Turner (by Mike Leigh) is also currently showing at the cinemas in London so you can really immerse yourself in the artist’s life. With the winter fog over the city and the pink skies in the evening, you can capture Turner’s inspiration from Waterloo Bridge.
What else? Don’t miss the musicals, one of London’s major attractions. The very popular and known musicals such as The Phantom of the Opera, Les Misérables, Cats, Miss Saigon, Mamma Mia or the Lion King are still showing, along with new ones. The new production Memphis about the first white DJ to play black music in the 1950s is a gem!
Fancy ice skating? Try the Somerset House Skate, inside a beautiful courtyard, housing a Fortnum and Mason coffee shop and the Courtauld Gallery, one of the finest small art museums in the world.
Now that the sales have started, London is also a great shopping destination! Along Oxford Street you will find all the major shops, such as M&S, Topshop, Selfridges, Gap, Primark, Zara and Uniqlo. If you prefer a less crowded area, try Kensington High Street which boasts similar shops on a smaller scale.
How to get there?
Easyjet or Swiss fly to the major London airports several times a day.
Where to stay?
Next to Tate Britain, the Hilton Double Tree hotel is very convenient.
Where to eat?
Fish restaurant – Cathedral Street, Borough Market, London, SE1 9AL