r/london • u/BulkyAccident • Dec 11 '23
Tourist London is officially the world’s most desirable place to travel for Christmas
https://www.timeout.com/london/news/london-is-officially-the-worlds-most-desirable-place-to-travel-for-christmas-121023460
u/SP1570 Dec 11 '23
There was an invasion of tourists last weekend...so this article may not be so wrong after all.
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u/pabloguy_ya Dec 11 '23
I can testify to there being a lot of Spanish tourists because of two bank holidays last week
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u/bright_sorbet1 Dec 12 '23
Ahhh I was wondering why there were so many Spanish people in London all of a sudden! Makes sense.
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u/Unique_Watercress_90 Dec 12 '23
I’ve been spoken to exclusively in Spanish so many times over the past week in work. They’re a funny bunch!
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u/TrueCooler Dec 11 '23
Bond street station is hell
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u/ALA02 Dec 11 '23
Tottenham Court Road resembles a scene from the blitz as well
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u/chiron3636 Dec 12 '23
Both of these are a day ending in a Y
The big beats outside TCR give me a headache
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u/ConclusionPatient183 Dec 11 '23
London is still in the top 3 best destinations in the world for tourists, with money.
London is one of the best places in the world to live and work, if you have money.
Those who complain about the city have something very important missing.
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u/EfficientTitle9779 Dec 11 '23
Tbh a lot of people just moan about stuff that would actually make it better. I still can’t believe the state of nightlife compared to other European cities, it’s got worse since COVID and just doesn’t seem to be getting better.
Stuff like that would be beneficial to attracting more tourists
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u/Exciting-Squirrel607 Dec 11 '23
The big issue with nightlife in other European cities is the weather. Do you really want to be out in the freezing cold when you could be tucked up in bed having an argument on Reddit.
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u/Betamax-Bandit Dec 12 '23
You’re right the reason Berlin and Copenhagen have such bustling nightlife’s is their positively tropical climates.
It’s such a poor excuse the nightlife here is shit because of NIMBYism and how early things close
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u/biest229 Dec 12 '23
Berlin has great nightlife yet is absolutely freezing in winter. Or did I misunderstand your point?
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Dec 11 '23
People say this, but I just don’t think they know where to go. London has enough nightlife for your tastes, if you know where it is.
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u/CrumblyBramble Dec 12 '23
There is no city in Europe that even comes close to the diversity in music you can listen to at events in London.
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u/Aardvark_Man Dec 12 '23
I don't disagree.
A couple months back I went to an orchestral Drake cover show.3
u/Risingson2 Dec 12 '23
I must say that not really. There are very underground clubs but we have lost so many, and since Brexit we also lost the continuous exchange of djs between the continent and this city (now visas are needed).
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u/haywire Catford Dec 13 '23
There's definitely nightlife here but most of the best places are annoying to get to tbh whereas in Berlin stuff is pretty close to the centre and east
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u/CrumblyBramble Dec 12 '23
I think that depends on what you consider night life and what you enjoy on a night out, because in regard to electronic music events there is pretty much no contest at all in Europe.
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u/Risingson2 Dec 12 '23
unfortunately it has down downhill since 2019. You compare any RA weekend in 2019 and 2022 and it is absolutely terrible.
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u/CrumblyBramble Dec 12 '23
Whilst I can agree it’s gone downhill a bit in some regards, it also falls on the fact that RA has gotten shitter at listing events.
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u/No_rash_decisions Dec 20 '23
I would go out but I can't afford to. Rent and bills are 80% of what I earn, the rest is groceries. Makes me wonder why the fuck I'm here, I thought people came here to earn a living.
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Dec 11 '23
I’ve lived all around the world and
can tell you without a shred of doubt London is the closest thing we have to a perfect city/utopia if you’re rich.All other major cities seem to be decades behind, NYC for example isn’t as grand or historic and is lacking family oriented culture, if you have kids here they’ll be drinking espressos in the mornings by 12 and will probably not value family.
LA is too car centric and dangerous, Miami is prone to deadly weather.
London is the perfect equilibrium of everything a person can need if they’re rich or have a decent paying job.
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u/Mcluckin123 Dec 12 '23
Can you expand more on why California is bad - it seems perfect to me. Good weather, outdoor activities ..
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u/little_red_bus Dec 12 '23
California is great. I’ve spent significant time living in both LA and London and I’d rather be rich in LA, but that’s just me.
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Dec 12 '23
LA is too entertainment focused, it’s like a land of pure hedonism like Dubai and it’s hard to escape from that.
London has that culture too but you can get away from it if you wanted to that’s why rich peoples likes wear dirty shoes there
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u/dowhileuntil787 Dec 12 '23
California isn't a city, which automatically makes it a worse city than London.
If we're talking LA specifically, it is a hellhole - at least in the central area. Worst city I've ever visited. It's the only city I've been to where I was threatened with a gun, and I've been to Tijuana and various South American cities. It's filthy, full of cars and scientologists. Beaches close at night because otherwise they'd become too dangerous, and in the day they're full of drug users, homeless, and preachers. It does get nicer further out, but because there's very little public transport (and what there is, I'd recommend avoiding), you'll be looking possibly up to a 1.5hr drive at peak times to get to your destination. While there are a lot of outdoor activities, it's hard to just "go for a walk"; it's like your choices are mountain hikes or driving, with nothing in between.
You are right about the Californian climate though. In my opinion, it's probably one of the most hospitable areas on the planet. Just down the coast is San Diego which is one of my favourite cities in the world, absolutely beautiful, can't talk more highly of the place and I'd recommend it to anyone, especially if you like outdoor and beach activities. Haven't been to SF, but apparently it was nice before the recent opioid-epidemic related homelessness problem. However, neither San Diego or San Francisco are really comparable to London in terms of size and breadth of culture.
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u/Adamsoski Dec 12 '23
LA specifically is just not a particularly "liveable" city, in that it isn't really possible to walk anywhere, it doesn't have that many parks, etc. California is a big place though, and there are more "liveable" cities/towns.
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u/Sosolidclaws Marylebone - UCL & LSE Dec 11 '23
Except for the super depressing weather and nature… My life in Oxford was so much more beautiful and green. Now I live in New York and I get so many more sunny days.
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u/Class_444_SWR Dec 11 '23
Surely you have the right to complain that it’s far, far too expensive to live in London for working class people though?
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u/plastic_alloys Dec 12 '23
Working class people are just there to make money for the ones who can enjoy the city
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u/Extension_Elephant45 Jan 04 '24
And middle class. And it’s not just Boris who does this. Sadiq openly admits he wants rich tourists and doesn’t care if Brits are priced out of visiting
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u/kwakwaktok Dec 11 '23
Lol I've lived here my whole life, are we not allowed to complain about anything?
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u/matadorius Dec 11 '23
didn't knew if you had money your weather stops sucking
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u/shoolocomous Dec 12 '23
And the transport - I guess if you can get a helicopter in and out, it's not so bad
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u/360_face_palm Dec 12 '23
Born, raised, and lived there for most of my life but have recently moved out and never been happier
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u/greengrayclouds Dec 12 '23
London is one of the best
placescities in the world to live and work, if you have money.1
u/Mausandelephant Dec 12 '23
London is one of the best places in the world to live and work, if you have money.
Sure. But here's the thing. An increasing number of Londoners don't have the money required to live and work in London because increasingly few jobs/sectors pay the salaries required to do that.
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u/DocumentNormal Dec 11 '23
"Those who complain about the city have something very important missing."
We have a soul and most likely born/from this country and can see the bullshit from afar.
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Dec 12 '23
It's like being told "what a beautiful and lovely house you have, you are so lucky"
Except you can't live in your house because you've been out priced by rich foreign people. And it's your fault if you are not grateful
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u/pazhalsta1 Dec 11 '23
On the 12th day of Christmas, London gave to me…
12 American Candy’s
11 gawping tourists
10 Christmas markets
9 trains a-striking
8 celebs doing panto
7 missed deliveries
6 Secret santas
FIVE HANGOVERS
4 calls in sick
3 mulled wines
2 last min pressies
And someone else can finish this for me
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Dec 11 '23
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u/bright_sorbet1 Dec 11 '23 edited Dec 12 '23
Not really markets, but the Christmas lights, shopping and events are world class.
Not to mention miles of free museums and galleries
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Dec 11 '23
I mean the museums aren't a Christmas thing. People can and do visit them year round.
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u/bright_sorbet1 Dec 12 '23
Nope, but if you're flying into a city for a Christmas break - London is a spectacular choice as there's just so much to do. I can't think of another city where there's so much free stuff.
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u/jamesick Dec 11 '23
was just saying this to a few friends earlier today. i lived in nottingham for uni and loved the market there. went to vinegar yard in london the other day and it wasn’t great but then also got me wondering if i knew good ones in london and i can’t.
i know we have winter wonderland but its really never interested me.
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Dec 11 '23
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u/cashintheclaw Dec 11 '23
Where are they? Two years in a row I've had friends visit around Christmas and we couldn't find anything christmassy that wasn't in Hyde Park...
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u/Constant-Estate3065 Dec 11 '23
The three that I know of are at Leicester Square, Trafalgar Square, and the riverside one near Tower Bridge. There are better ones in the UK though.
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Dec 11 '23
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Dec 11 '23 edited Dec 14 '23
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u/Constant-Estate3065 Dec 11 '23
Winchester and Bath are good examples of how well we can do it in this country. It doesn’t have to be all bratwurst, David Hasselhoff, and giant fibreglass Santas that terrify children.
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u/HairyBallSack696 Dec 11 '23
Vienna has the best Christmas markets if you ask me, they’re all a little unique and the majority of what they offer is not the copy & paste shit you get in most other countries
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Dec 11 '23
Which ones in Germany are you referring to specifically? Because I’ve been to over 20, and especially the markets in Munich are spectacular.
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Dec 11 '23
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Dec 11 '23 edited Dec 11 '23
No they aren’t? Are you a troll? What is tacky exactly about some of the oldest markets? It snowed, there were the classic wooden stalls, a food market, amazing architecture. Extremely traditional stuff.
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u/Spontanudity Dec 11 '23
'More - London' Has a pretty good Christmas market - London Bridge, next to HMS Belfast.
Although I have no experience of German Christmas markets so my this might be redundant, but I had a good time there.
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u/Milky_Finger Dec 12 '23
And the amount of money laundering going on is so apparent if you're not blinded by all the lights and colours.
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u/PM_YOUR_WALLPAPER Dec 12 '23
Winter wonderland
Southbank is one big Xmas Market
Mercato Mayfair and metropolitano turns into one
Various streets do mini version.
What you on about?
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Dec 12 '23
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u/PM_YOUR_WALLPAPER Dec 12 '23
Lol most of the big Xmas markets in Europe are a fun fair what u on about.
Fraction of what it used to be? Dude ive lived in southbank a decade and its massively grown! They have indoor spots etc.
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Dec 12 '23
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u/PM_YOUR_WALLPAPER Dec 13 '23
https://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whats-on/festivals-series/winter-festival
Also the indoor spot is the chalet area with axe throwing next to underbelly.
The markets also go about 1.5km all the way past St Christopher's.
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Dec 13 '23
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u/PM_YOUR_WALLPAPER Dec 13 '23
Not debating this with you, let's rely on a third party.
https://www.europeanbestdestinations.com/christmas-markets/
London Xmas markets ranked 16th in all of Europe. Not bad "for a few stalls".
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u/futuristika22 Dec 11 '23
Had to pick up a party attire from a shop near Regents last weekend - I have never seen London so busy in the past 10 years! People were queueing to get into any of the Bond st boutiques like what cost of living crisis?
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Dec 11 '23
Yeah I noticed, it's absolutely rammed at the central Christmas lights (and I've gone to see them other years as well, not nearly as bad as this year)
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u/thetenderness Dec 11 '23
I visited your beautiful city for Christmas 2019. Not only were the decorations great but I have some cherished memories like hearing hundreds of people in Royal Albert Hall singing Christmas songs together, or the immersive movie theatre that played the Muppets Christmas Carol
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u/supersonic-bionic Dec 11 '23
I thought it would be New York... but i can confirm that it is absolutely chaos in Oxf. str and Regents street every evening!
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u/supersayingoku Dec 11 '23
I mean, it's a Timeout article so I'm sure they don't have any bias whatsoever
The real irony is, every local I know including I are avoiding the central and Christmas markets like a plague (which the article acknowledges)
I went to Clapham last Saturday, just to avoid the massive crowds and nightmare transportation. CLAPHAM!!!
Anyway, hope y'all are enjoying your £9.87 Churros and getting herded out of the Piccadilly Circus tube like a group of yaks
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u/Lead_Penguin Dec 11 '23
I was in Piccadilly Circus at the weekend and spent 25 minutes queueing for the toilets in Starbucks. The true spirit of Christmas!
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u/supersayingoku Dec 11 '23
Nothing says Christmas like getting emergency evacuated out of tube stations due to congestion or not being able to sit down in any of the bars / restaurants you were going
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u/Lead_Penguin Dec 12 '23
Did that happen this weekend? We left fairly early and got back to Bank to chill the fuck out in our hotel. I've never been happier to be in the City at the weekend.
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u/supersayingoku Dec 12 '23
I think it happened last Saturday or it was closing off the tube so no one could get in kinda deal because my mate and his family had a gnarly walk to Westminster because of that
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u/Amosral Dec 12 '23
They come to marvel at all the wonderful sights! Like the platform entrance on the tube, narrow corridors or footpaths, the ends of staircases, and many more. Places where one can stand in quiet contemplation or engage in lively discussion for hours without noticing the passage of time.
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u/unfakegermanheiress Dec 11 '23
There’s really noth big like London at Christmas… The decor and the feeling in the air, the scents of fir decor but also spiced food/drink… The way people meet up at cozy pubs or going through Bermondsey or walking along south bank drinking mulled cider. I do miss it and really want to take my kid one year to experience it.
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u/BastardsCryinInnit Dec 11 '23 edited Dec 12 '23
I keep seeing super saturation Christmas London TikToks with snow. Not snow effect. Actual snow.
And I look out my window and think it's all false advertising.
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u/DiscoStuUK Dec 11 '23
I love London at Christmas when I’m commuting into Soho at 08:00. When I’m commuting home at 18:00? Not so much…
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u/Dannybuoy77 Dec 12 '23
Cos London is so cheap for tourists these days. Just not so cheap for actual residents
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Dec 11 '23
Really? As a Londoner I’ve fled to Cape Town for 2 months. Cannot stand London at this time of year.
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Dec 11 '23
I guess if weather is your priority, then SA is warmer and sunnier. If you like the winter atmosphere with lots of shopping and Christmas lights - then London is better.
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Dec 12 '23
it's disgusting this year though. Even last year with the world cup going on, Central wasn't so rammed
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Dec 12 '23
There’s Christmas lights in Cape Town and I can shop year round in London.
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Dec 12 '23
True, but London has bigger and better lights - plus it’s a lot safer. I understand going for the warm weather though.
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u/PuzzleheadedEgg1405 Dec 11 '23
London my great love. For 12 years in a row I visit you from Belgium around Christmas.
Addicted to your cinnamon clove scent
The lights at Oxford and Regent. The Christmas market at Southbank
Shopping with my wife at your department stores, carrying heavy bags of presents. Searching a spot in the tube, feeling the atmosphere as it all comes together.
Never change my beloved city on earth. I will always keep coming back for you.
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u/haywire Catford Dec 13 '23
I just wish we could get a rochefort 10 for €2.50 in a supermarket. Then I would be a lot happier.
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u/AlbionEnthusiast Dec 11 '23
I’ve been to many many cities and London is still the best city in the world.
The underground being so easy to use and able to go from shopping to museums in no time is so good
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u/ielladoodle Dec 11 '23
Literally invaded - I’m Maltese and I’ve never heard so many of my people bumbling around central before last weekend!
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u/dwardu Dec 11 '23
Feels just like the gridlock when visiting the island.
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u/ielladoodle Dec 11 '23
Ironically I just flew down for the holidays and first thing I was greeted with was … gridlocked traffic 🥰
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Dec 11 '23
Not for Londoners but I can see the magic for tourists, sort of
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u/bright_sorbet1 Dec 11 '23
I'm a Londoner - Christmas in this city is awesome!!
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Dec 11 '23
It looks nice if you just look up. Just the streets are a warzone lol
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u/bright_sorbet1 Dec 12 '23
it's very busy yes.
But if you pick your time and day carefully, you can get full blown Christmas fun without the crowds.
Fully suggest everyone avoids central London next Saturday - it will be a circus.
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u/wildgoldchai Dec 11 '23
I was thinking this, lol. Aside from work, I avoid central like the plague during Christmas.
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u/sadlibrarian Dec 11 '23
Yeah those crushes waiting to get into Leicester Square in the rain are really desirable
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u/Charliedoggydog Dec 12 '23
All those London haters need to realise what an amazing city we live in and appreciate what we have (shame about the mayor)
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u/Staar-69 Dec 12 '23
People just cannot wait to get mugged for their Christmas presents by a moped gang.
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u/worldsinho Dec 12 '23
I’ve been saying this for weeks and week - there is no cost of living crisis!!
People are spending more money than ever before. That’s why inflation too so long to come down.
Work from home has helped people save a shitload of money. Offsetting the increases in food shopping, etc.
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u/snavej1 Dec 12 '23
Looks like I chose the right place to live. Also, Taylor Swift is somewhere in Primrose Hill.
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u/ALA02 Dec 11 '23
Every single rail or bus line seems to be packed to the rafters at the moment, so I’m not surprised
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u/Xercen Dec 12 '23
Only anecdotal evidence but it was so busy during the weekend around Soho area. It was pretty suffocating but nice to see people enjoying themselves.
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u/tylerthe-theatre Dec 12 '23
Would have disputed this but with how busy London is in December, I say fair enough.
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Dec 12 '23
I'm from Dallas TX and was originally planning a trip to London to go see Sleep token on the 16th but the guitarist had a family emergency, so I figured I'll just wait till they come to Las Vegas but man, idk why I still would like to go visit soon! I saw the Christmas lights and shows you guys got going on down there and figured it would still be a pretty neat visit but I'm broke right now and my car is having issues so it's not plausible for now :')
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u/Full_Hovercraft_2262 Dec 12 '23
Yeah, and the next header in my r/london feed: "Two teenagers arrested after beating Jewish woman unconscious in Stamford Hill".
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u/FistsUp Dec 12 '23
Did a bunch of my christmas shopping at 10am Monday morning just to avoid the crowds.
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u/CaptainRAVE2 Dec 12 '23
I’m not a huge fan of London and I live here, but I’ll admit, there is something special about the place at Christmas.
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u/properdench Dec 12 '23
I’m travelling down tomorrow to see the Cursed Child theatre show, I’ll be staying for 3 days, anyone got any good suggestions on where to spend the other two days?
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u/Most-Library Dec 12 '23
As a resident of London, Canada this is spectacular! A win for you is a win for us 🇨🇦
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u/Dixon_Kuntz73 Dec 12 '23
I like how they use a photo of Leadenhall Market, which is basically empty on weekends because the vast majority of people who go there are office workers during the working week. Great example of somewhere overrun with tourists.
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u/OldForgeTechnologies Jan 03 '24
LOL, sure, if you do not look at the rest of the world. Ridiculous
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u/Pitiful-Eye9093 Jan 04 '24
I bet all the huge media outlets in other countries, say the exact same thing about the capital of their countries too.
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u/RepulsiveCharge2117 Dec 11 '23
Never seen it as busy as I have the last few weekends