A Traditional Royal Christmas

LMT Blog
royal chritmas card

A Very Merry Christmas Card from the Royal Family

All families have their own Christmas traditions. Whether it’s baking gingerbread cookies, taking part in carol singing or simply getting together to watch your favourite holiday movies.

But have you ever wondered how the Royal family celebrate the lead up to Christmas?

Read on to hear some of the better known Royal family Christmas traditions. You can learn more about the secretive ones on London Magical Tours’ award winning London Christmas Lights Tours.

 

Present exchange

When do the Royal Family exchange gifts? Clue: It’s not Christmas Day!

One of the most famous Royal family traditions was introduced by Prince Albert, the husband of Queen Victoria. In line with German tradition, the Royal family actually exchange their gifts on the 24th of December, Christmas Eve. The gifts are then laid out on tables for each family member to open after tea time (that’s after dinner for our non-UK cousins).

 

church

Christmas Day service – At Sandringham

The monarch traditionally spends Christmas at the residence known as Sandringham, a countryside estate in Norfolk. The invited Royal family members visiting that year are then given an allocated time to arrive at Sandringham: the youngest member arrives first and the eldest member last. Once everyone has arrived, the final touches are put on the Christmas tree, a tradition also made popular by Prince Albert.

 

king charles christmas speech

The Kings Christmas Speech. Credit BBC

Christmas Day begins with the Sandringham Christmas Day service, where the Royal family attend mass and step out of the St Mary Magdalene Church to greet the public.

To conclude Christmas Day, King Charles will continue the tradition of broadcasting a speech to the country and across the Commonwealth. As the speech is pre-recorded, the royal family will watch it together after their Christmas lunch. In previous years this has include prawns or lobster for starters, a turkey with all the trimmings as the main course – and Christmas pudding with brandy for dessert.

 

For more information on London Magical Tours’ luxury London tours,  as well as this year’s Christmas tours, visit the London Magical Tours website: https://www.londonmagicaltours.com

 

Have Your Elf A Merry Little Christmas In London

LMT Blog
Christmas in London – It’s Magical!

Christmas in London – It’s Magical!

Winter is coming to London and why not celebrate the magic of Christmas with a London Christmas tour for the whole family!

There is no pine-ing over the holiday without one of London Magical Tours’ award winning London holiday lights tours, it will leave a twinkle in your eye.

So why not grace us with your presents and enjoy the season with one of our London Christmas lights Tours.

Enough of the elfish jokes – here are some magical activities in London this Christmas:

 

Trafalgar Square London Christmas

Trafalgar Square London Christmas

  • Why not branch out this Christmas period and visit one of the most iconic ice rinks in London to skate around the Christmas tree at Somerset house, with late night skating, festive music and a cheese bar at the Skate Lounge on one of our London VIP Tours.
  • There’s no place at Christmas like Hyde Park’s Winter Wonderland, the biggest Christmas market in London. Hyde Park is full of the Christmas spirit with many wooden cabins filled with handmade crafts, jewellery and much more to get you into the festive spirit this winter.
  • Kew Gardens light’s will be beautifully displayed this festive season along a trail of lights, hung up high from the tree canopies, as well as  offering music, hot chocolate or mulled wine and a water display in front of the Palm house.

For further activities and tree-mendous ideas this Christmas, visit the London Magical Tours website: https://www.londonmagicaltours.com

Spooky Halloween in London!

London Magical Tours
Guests on London Magical Tours' Halloween Visits

Guests on London Magical Tours’ Halloween Visits

The scariest time of the year is fast approaching!

Looking for ideas of things to do this Halloween in London? Venture into haunted locations, brave London’s bone-chilling attractions or even dare to go on one of London Magical Tour’s special Halloween private London tours to discover tricks and treats for all the family.

Here are our tips for the best things to do in London this Halloween:

The Tower of London - Behind the Scenes Night Tous

The Tower of London – Behind the Scenes Night Tours

1) Bring all the family for London Magical Tours’ range of Harry Potter related tours, including the Harry Potter Royal London highlights with a visit to Platform 9 3/4 and the inspiration for the real Diagon Alley.

2) Enjoy a private Pick and Mix Tour to discover the bloodiest setting in English history: the Tower of London. Join your London Magical Tours guide for a special visit through this royal fortress to hear stories of torture and imprisonment – you may enjoy come face to face with the infamous Tower ghosts on the out of hours behind the scenes London VIP Tours

3) Wishing to visit the best of the English countryside this Halloween? Hampton Court Palace is the perfect place to enjoy an afternoon of ghoul stories. Tiptoe your way through the ancient courtyards and dark corriders of the most famous palace of King Henry VIII and discover who it is that can be heard scratching the doors outside the King’s bedroom chamber on the Private Magical Hampton Court Tours.

For further details and full list of ideas this Halloween, visit the London Magical Tours website: https://www.londonmagicaltours.com

 

Charles I. Charles II. And now King Charles III

London Magical Tours
Children enjoying their visit to Windsor Castle - with King Charles III!

Children enjoying their visit to Windsor Castle – with King Charles III!

On Saturday the 6th of May 2023, the nation will be partying to congratulate our new King Charles, Philip, Arthur, George – also known as King Charles III for short.

As the third King to hold the name Charles, we thought it would be a good time to step back in time to remind us of those previous royals to have shared the same name.

Back in the 16th century, King Charles I was the only monarch to have been decapitated for his ideas of absolutism, following in the ancient belief that kings were chosen by God to reign over their people – the Divine Right.

King Charles II, son of Charles I, was invited to take the throne on the condition that he would rule alongside Parliament, following the end of Oliver Cromwell’s Commonwealth. He came back from France, where he had been in hiding and became known as the “Merry Monarch”.

After over three and half centuries, things are somewhat different today. Although he shares the same family line of those previous Kings, Charles III is the eldest son of our dear late Queen Elizabeth II, a much admired world leader, who was known for her intelligence and benevolent nature.

King Charles III has come a long way from his days as Prince of Wales. He is greatly admired for his environmental work, as well as his charitable endeavours, including the great success of the Prince’s Trust.

Here at London Magical Tours, we invite you to come visit the UK this summer to continue celebrating  – and to share with you the changes that continue to make England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland such special nations to visit.

Please click on the links below for more details on our private london tours and private Windsor tours to discover more about King Charles III and his family.

God save the King!

 

 

 

Looking forward to Easter 2023 in London!

London Magical Tours
Traditional Afternoon Tea with plenty of Easter treats for our London Magical Tours Visitors

Traditional Afternoon Tea with plenty of Easter treats for our London Magical Tours Visitors

If you were to ask a Londoner what is the capital like during Easter, they will undoubtedly inform you “it’s bloody brilliant mate!” And rightly so! From picnics in the dazzling sunshine to Easter eggs hunts, there is truly something for everyone during the Easter break in London.

Easter weekend this year starts on Good Friday on the 7th of April 2023 and runs through to Easter Monday on the 10th of April 2023. Here are some of our favourite activities to make sure this Easter is the best one yet:

Hyde Park:

Our top pick is to make the most of the sunshine and enjoy a day out in London’s premiere park. In a previous life, Hyde Park was the private hunting grounds of King Henry VIII – today the park is open up to all the general public.  To get in the spirit of Easter, why not enjoy a picnic or even venture out on your own boat and explore the glorious Serpentine lake.

The Passion of the Christ Ceremony:

With a cast of over 100 actors (including horses, donkeys and doves), this open-air re-enactment of the story of Jesus is a must on Good Friday. Featuring volunteers who have come to London from all over the globe, it is truly a spectacular way of celebrating the story of Easter in London’s Trafalgar Square (large screens are also put on display to ensure nobody misses the story!)

London’s Best Chocolate Shops:

Whether you are on an Easter egg hunt with the family or simply looking to indulge your sweet-tooth, you are sure to find the perfect chocolate treats in London. Our top pick would be a visit to Charbonnel et Walker in Bond’s street ‘Royal Arcade’. Here you will be transported back to 19th century Victorian England, with the shops of the arcade filled with Easter goodies. With so many chocolate flavours (ranging from salted caramel to vodka or even afternoon tea favoured chocs) it will certainly be difficult to find your personal favourite.

Daffodils and Easter Egg Hunts:

Whether exploring London’s very own Green Park, St. James’s Park or even the garden’s at Hampton Court, you are sure to find a sea of yellow in during the spring, with over 1 million daffodils in bloom. Unusually, the park has no “formal” flower beds; rumour has it that King Charles’ II wife had them all removed after he was caught picking flowers there for another lover – ouch!

Easter Egg Hunts:

London Magical Tours are offering Easter Egg Hunts as part of their tours (take a look at some of our guests enjoying their Easter holidays in London in the video below!).

Combine your Private London Tour, Private Windsor Tour or even your Private Hampton Court Tour with an Easter Egg hunt! Our favourite is exploring Hampton Court Palace with its acres of palace gardens and its fantastic maze – it’s a sure way to make this Easter 2023 an unforgettable experience! (*non- chocolate rewards are also available on request).

 

 

We hope you gathered  a few ideas of how to make the most of your Easter 2023 visit to London. 

What are some of your favourite Easter activities?

Share your Easter 2023 by tagging us in your next social media post @londonmagicaltours using the hashtag #londonmagicaltours