4 Reasons to Visit London Southbank Christmas Market

Good evening to you all and welcome to another cold and wintery winter, London style.

I’d give up one of my original Pokemon cards to send our smartest tech-heads to Russia with the purpose of learning how to handle adverse weather. Last week, 15 seconds of sleet caused utter chaos on the transport links, creating scenes which should be reserved for the end of the world, made famous by the Mayan folk.

There’s less than two weeks until Xmas and I’m sure I’m not the only one who’s left shopping until the last minute. Here are my 4 reasons why you should visit the London Southbank Xmas Market.

“It’s not Rein-deer!” I exclaimed, looking to the sky!

One of the reasons why I love Christmas (other than the free presents) is that most towns and cities across the UK undergo a beautiful transformation from crumby concrete suburbia to the bright lights of Winter Wonderland.

As you walk towards the market, take a moment to appreciate the spectacular London Eye as well as the riverside views of Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament.

Eye spot festivities!

Need an Elf-ing hand with your shopping?

If you’re anything like me, then chances are that you’re playing a risky game of chicken with a Time Lord. Leave it too late and you’ll end up in ‘sorry I forgot’ territory, which is a dark and dangerous place.

Luckily, there is a wide variety of gifts at various wooden sheds along the River Thames. There is a strong focus on hand made goods including scented Christmas decorations, knitted clothing and more sweets than in Willy Wonkers Factory! You’ll also find quirky items such as wooden ties and SpongeBob Square Pants finger puppets  so you’ll have no problem finishing off your shopping as there’s something for everyone!

Wooden-t you like this tie?

Food, Glorious Food: 

One of my New Year resolutions (which I’ve actually managed to stick to) was to curb my consumption of junk food. After all, there is only so many calories that you can burn from furiously typing away like a coke addict on a caffeine overdose. If you’re heading into the Big Smoke then I’d highly advise you to visit your nearest chav superstore and pick up a new pair of elasticised trousers.

London is often celebrated (for better or for worse) as a diverse and multicultural city and the London Southbank Christmas Market ties all of these aspects neatly together like a festive bow. Taking a brisk walk along the Thames splashing your hard earned pennies is probably going to build your appetite somewhat so why not sample the mouth watering treats on offer for fantastic prices? Such foods on offer for the more adventurous folk are German Bockwurst Sausages, Kinder Bueno Crepes and even a scrumptious Kangaroo Burger which brought back memories of my recent visit to Australia!

I took this yeast-erday!

This one will sleigh you – Wine and Dine (without the 69):

Christmas is as much about spending quality time with the family as it is getting drunk to the point where you’re as stable as a newborn Bambi. One of the most popular traditional drinks found in and around many Xmas markets is a warm brew called Gluhwein, also known as Mulled Wine. It’s a wonderfully fruity drink which goes together nicely with the dropping temperatures so be sure to sip it slowly and your insides will feel like a hot Australian summer. There’s also the option to go exotic by mixing in Jagermeister!

Gluh you CAN sniff…

The Southbank Christmas Market is open from the 16^th November until the 24^th December 2012.

Take Exit 6 from Waterloo Station and turn right at the London Eye. For more information on getting to the market, check out my blog post aptly titled 7 ways to travel London.

Until next time, that’s a wrap!

7 Ways to Travel London

Ahh London, home to the Queen and very soon… a rather big sporting event! Walk down famous roads such as Oxford Street and Piccadilly Circus and you’ll smell the faint aroma of hushed excitement as we edge ever so slowly towards a hugely important time for the country. It’s somewhat juxtaposed with the images of violent and chaotic riots distributed around the globe last summer but there’s hope that the Olympic Games will revive the appeal of the Big Smoke. The opening ceremony kicks things off on the 27th July 2012 and thousands of sporting enthusiasts from all over the world are set to flock to the city. For that reason, I’ve decided to give you all a run down on the various modes of transport available making your life just that little bit more easy.

Method 1: Black Cab
The iconic black cab is as synonymous with London as the Queen, fish & chips & Beefeaters. The men (and sometimes women) behind the wheel are former Scouts who’ve passed their navigational badges. (OK, that bits a lie!). They do however, know London like the back of their hand and the friendly and talkative souls offer you a reliable & safe (if expensive) way to navigate London. For those of you ready to take on the best of the best night clubs, ensure you save a telephone number of a reliable service to your mobile device to avoid the unlicensed vehicles which ‘could’ ruin your night.

Black Cab (By Carey Evans via Flickr)

Method 2: The Tube

For the London virgins out there, take note! Before you leave your accommodation, ensure that you’ve taken the time to plan your journey. I really cannot stress this enough to you. Despite reliable and regular trains running daily, you’ll also encounter frequent delays, line closures, and the smelly arm pits of another traveller, especially during rush hour. Unless you love the smell of BO, this can make your journey rather uncomfortable. The official website for planning travel in London is TFL (Transport For London). Here, you’ll find up to date news as well as a journey planner to help assist reaching your desired destination. If possible, invest in an Oyster Card which offers discounted rates on public transport and includes both trains and buses. Vital!

Got your Oyster card? (Photo by London Chow via Flickr)

Method 3: London Duck Tours

London Duck Tours offers a scenic route in and around (quite literally) the Big Smoke. Starting off on the road, you’ll be driven past various landmarks with a tour guide to spew hardcore facts in your direction. Then, take to the murky waters of the Thames and start snapping photos as you see London in a very different light. For the best experience, take an evening boat trip when structures like the Houses of Parliment and the London Eye radiate the sky with their illuminated lights. Beautiful.

Duck Tours (By Martin Pettitt via Flickr)

Method 4: Walk

Of course, why not stay green and keep fit when you Walk London. Speaking from experience, walking allows you to find those little gems which you’d miss when taking the other modes of transport listed. From side shows to quirky cafes (Ed’s Easy Diner a particular highlight), there is so much going on that you’ll not want to miss any of them!

Walking around (By Bryan Gosline via Flickr)

Method 5: Bus

Another way to take on London is via the popular Bus Tour , a modified open topped bus with a hop on, hop off function. Much like the Duck Tours, the Sightseeing Tours whisk you around the busy streets passing by famous (and infamous) landmarks. Just check the weather forecast before boarding!

Open top London Bus (By ell brown via Flickr)

Method 6: Borris Bike

Affectionatly coined Borris Bikes by residents of the city, you’ll find a number of Barclays Cycle Hire stations at various points around the city. If you have a prepaid account, simply pop on and off you go! The best part is that you don’t need to return the bikes to their original stands. Find another station (use TFL to locate them) and you’ll be able to attach it there for others to use. Handy!

Barclays Bike Hire (By Charlotte Gilhooly via Flickr)

Method 7: Boat

Avast ye shipmates, it’s time for a brief history lesson! A long time ago, the English realised that the River Thames provided direct trade routes saving time. For this very reason, the river became the heart of a blossoming city and has remained the most significant part of commercial life. For those of you with sea legs, why not try boarding one of the many ferry services stationed along the Thames. The ‘hop on, hop off’ service gives you the perfect chance to pass iconic landmarks such as St Paul’s Cathedral & Tower Bridge before taking off in a new part of the city for your exploration to continue!

London Ferry (By uzink via flickr)

Method 8: Cycle Rickshaw (Bonus)

A special feature to the list, the Cycle Rickshaw is a  human powered tricycle where a solo driver pulls two passengers in a cart attached behind. The rather cute looking carts originated from Asia before popping up in Europe many years later.  The reason the Rickshaw sits as an addition to the list is because there is some debate about the legality of these vehicles on the roads! If you do decide to take a short trip on one, then there is no denying this somewhat madcap, fun way of exploring gets you from A – B much quicker than walking, and more importantly, a damn sight cheaper than public transport.  You’ll also have fulfilled your public duty for the day by ensuring the driver stays fit!

Cycle Rickshaw (By talk2santosh via Flickr)

Have you visited London? Send in your comments with your suggestions on getting around London and share your stories!

Until next time…