| ’s nothing quite like a visit to London to get into | | | | than £50 a night by booking well in advance. |
| the spirit of Christmas shopping and find some unique | | | | If it’s impossible to book ahead, remember to |
| and special gifts for loved ones. | | | | check out sites that offer last minute deals on hotels |
| However, it can be an expensive time of year | | | | – you probably won’t make savings as |
| anyway, so to make sure costs don’t spiral out | | | | good as booking early, but there are sometimes great |
| of control on your city break, plan ahead and keep | | | | bargains to be had for very late bookings. |
| control of the Christmas shopping budget. | | | | Plan meals and restaurant bookings |
| Write a list | | | | Eating out in London can bring a tear to the eye of |
| Make sure you don’t spend two days | | | | those on a budget if they don’t plan ahead. The |
| wandering around the capital on an aimless search by | | | | problem is, there are so many restaurants to chose |
| sitting down with a coffee well before your trip and | | | | from and knowing where the best deals are takes a |
| making a list of the people you need to buy gifts for. | | | | little bit of detective work. |
| Allocate an approximate spend per person – | | | | Restaurants that are members of an online booking |
| there’s no shame in sticking to what you can | | | | network often promote special offers and fixed price |
| afford – and then try to come up with a few | | | | deals, so you can save a few pounds, not to mention |
| specific gift ideas for each one. | | | | lots of shoe leather and time, by checking these out |
| Work out a shopping route | | | | ahead of your trip and making bookings for lunch and |
| Armed with your shopping list, browse online to find | | | | dinner to take advantage of special offers and |
| shops that might sell the gifts you are looking for and | | | | discounts. |
| then plan a shopping route that leads you from one | | | | You might even find a deal at one of London’s |
| shop or area of shops to the next in a sensible | | | | top restaurants, complete with the opportunity to |
| rotation, so you are not criss-crossing the capital at | | | | indulge in a little celebrity spotting! |
| random. | | | | Christmas lights |
| Remember to include time for specialty markets such | | | | London is home to some spectacular Christmas lights, |
| as Camden Lock and Portobello Road – some | | | | with glitzy displays on the busy streets of Regent |
| markets only operate on certain days of the week. | | | | Street, Bond Street, Oxford Street and Covent |
| Book hotels ahead | | | | Garden. |
| Take full advantage of early booking offers at the | | | | The best time to see them is naturally towards the |
| major budget hotels and lodges by booking a room | | | | end of the day, when it starts to get dark and the |
| early. Advance booking can save pounds on London | | | | lights are twinkling like jewels in the night – the |
| accommodation and it is often possible to snap up a | | | | sure way to add some sparkle and pizzazz to your |
| double room for two people in central London for less | | | | London Christmas trip. |