Before travelers go away on a winter vacation to London, here are a few things they should consider doing when they are there.
Book the Flight in January
According to a report released in December by Skyscanner, travelers looking for good flight deals should book in January, before travel demand and prices are expected to spike.
More specifically, airlines are expected to offer deals on domestic and international flights on the first two weeks of January, with potentially up to 36 percent savings on international trips. For comparison, tickets sold in March risk an increase of up to 56 percent more expensive than the yearly average.
Catch the Winter-Only Events
To make the London winter experience unique, take advantage of events that might not be available any other time of the year. For example, the Lumiere London light festival is coming back in 2018 from January 18-21. The festival will have more than 40 installations to light up London’s streets, buildings, and architecture, turning public places into art exhibitions. This year, travelers can find installations from local and international artists in King’s Cross, Fitzrovia, London's West End, Mayfair, Westminster, Victoria, and South Bank & Waterloo. The free event will take place each night from 5:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.
Travelers can also attend a Chinese New Year celebration in February, complete with a parade that goes through Chinatown and the West End and finishes in Trafalgar Square. The festivities will include lion and dragon dances, traditional Chinese performances on the main stage, and a Chinese New Year fireworks show to end the night. This year, the celebrations will take place on February 18, the Sunday following the Chinese New Year on February 16.
For a more laid-back event, visitors can go ice skating at Ice Rink Canary Wharf in Canada Square Park. Open until February 24, the ice skating rink includes both indoor and outdoor rinks, a children’s skating area, skating lessons, and showcases more than 1,000 Edison lights to create a festive atmosphere. Guests can also enjoy drinks at the rink-side bar or the restaurants and shops that surround the ice rink.
Fashion-focused travelers can check out the London Fashion Week Festival from February 22-25. The festival is a showcase of catwalk shows featuring collections from top designers, talks from industry experts about making it in the world of fashion, and pop-up shops that include over 150 British and international designer brands. The festival will be held in the Store Studios, 180 The Strand.
Stay in a Brand-New Suite
Travelers searching for a newly renovated suite with a good view of the city can look to the Rubens at the Palace. With views of Buckingham Palace, this hotel places guests at the heart of London’s Victoria district, considered an up-and-coming neighborhood.
The Rubens at the Palace, a member of Red Carnation Hotels, completed a multi-million dollar on its rooms, two new restaurants, and its newly designed Master Suite. The 600-square-foot Master Suite has views of the Royal Mews and gardens at the rear of Buckingham Palace. The suite’s bedroom includes a four-poster bed, an in-suite bathroom, and a living room with a Murphy bed, ideal for children.
Vacationers looking for more space can find the 1,820 square-foot Roosevelt Suite at The Beaumont in the West End near Hyde Park and Grosvenor Square. The suite showcases interiors reminiscent of the 1920s and includes modern amenities, a grand living room, a separate dining room with a terrace overlooking the Brown Hart Gardens, and views all the way to the city.
Other facilities in the Beaumont include a fitness center, spa and hamam, salon, and a bar and lounge exclusive to hotel residents and their visitors. The building itself, which has stood since 1926, was converted to an Art Deco Hotel in 2014.
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