Ho, ho, home-time – yes, it’s “that time of year again”!
The Christmas holidays are coming and we university students, the seasoned travellers, will pack off for a series of festival-fuelled weeks. For many, this will involve returning back home again, plonking oneself in one’s room, and making minimal effort to leave the house. After a whirlwind term and the prospect of January exams, this seasonal confinement is completely understandable.
However, are we missing an opportunity? Amongst family feasts and New Year’s resolutions, the upcoming holidays are a prime opportunity for a spot of travelling. With this month away, the time is precious, we are young, and there is just so much to see – particularly in London!
Here are 4 different attractions for university students looking to tear themselves away from the sofa or/and the library books for a day or two…
1. Alexander Palace, accompanied by a hot drink and beautiful view
Alexander Palace is my favourite place in the capital, regardless of the season. Its mesmerizing views of the London landscape never fail to disappoint, offering a green, (relatively) quiet spot in the city’s northern hills. The beautiful palace itself contains an ice-shaking rink, stage and various bars/food stalls, providing plentiful activities to fill an afternoon.
Yet, its best feature lies with the benches just outside the main building. They are arguably once of the nicest places to sit, snuggle, and slob in the city. Grabbing a tea, coffee or hot chocolate from the various cafes in Muswell Hill (the area just nearby) and heading up to Alexander Palace seems a prefect way to waste the day away.
2. Harry Potter at the British Library
Again, the British Library is a particular favourite of mine all year round. However, this season there is urgent reason for a visit: a new exhibition, Harry Potter: A History of Magic, is in town. This celebration of J.K. Rowling’s books is guaranteed to tickle anyone’s interests, whether you’re a Potterhead or regular member of muggle society.
It will feature ‘rare books, manuscripts, and magical objects…capturing the traditions of folklore and magic which are at the heart of the Harry Potter stories’, and as children of the Hogwarts revolution, these are tales of our childhood, revealed and shown in connection to the evolution and eccentricities of past wizarding traditions. It offers a pinch of extra magic at this wonderful time of year.
3. Pop-up Igloos at The Skipping Room
When it’s cold outside, London’s new Pop-up Igloos are the prefect alternative to crowded barrooms and shivering outdoor terraces. Like little snow globes, equipped with ‘electric heaters, sheepskin throws, hot water bottles and jumpers,’ they provide shelters of warmth with an outside atmosphere.
Placed on rooftop terraces, each pod is surrounded by views of London’s skyline and its twinkling Christmas lights. If you are planning to have a cheeky drink over the holidays, head to The Slipping Room in Canary Wharf and try out this “igloo” experience.
4. Theatre at the Southbank Centre
Of course, there are multiple theatres in London with a range of different and exciting shows. Throughout the year, there is always something to watch, sing along to, laugh and/or cry over. This season, one particular show is standing out as a must see performance; ‘Apocalypse Meow: Crisis Is Born.’
With content as quirky as its name, it offers a very different theatre experience, mixing comedy, satire and tragedy. It follows the story of one women, Meow Meow, as her ‘Christmas baubles come tarnished with disappointment,’ all in cabaret style. Any day out to the theatre is always a treat, but experiencing something utterly unique is particularly important, making this show sound like a merry evening out.
Ultimately, these are only four of the inexhaustible things to do in London this Christmas. Try them for yourself or come up with your own ideas; the most important thing is to never stop exploring!
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