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December is a great time to be in and around London and gives visitors a fantastic opportunity to enjoy the festivities and traditions of the Christmas season.
From ice skating in Hyde Park to carol singing in St Paul's, there are a diverse range of activities to indulge in.
However, as a word of warning London transport services are limited towards the end of the month around Christmas, so plan any journeys you need to make carefully.
Make the most of London events in December and stay overnight at a hotel from £10.00
Get active and go ice skating
Every winter like clockwork a number of ice rinks will appear all over London. The majority stay open late into the evening and some run a number of special events.
For a real treat, you should head to Somerset House (10pm-11.30pm, £10.50-£15; Temple). Set in the 18th century courtyard, the venue is a spectacular location for open air skating in London this winter.
And when the sun goes down, the music gets turned up, with some of London's finest DJs providing the entertainment into the evening.
Alternatively, the Natural History Museum (10am-10pm, £11.50-£13; South Kensington) provides an imposing backdrop for another of London's ice rinks.
Located on the east lawn of the London Museum, there is a new 1,050-square-metre rink, plus a cafe bar and fairground carousel.
Other ice rinks are located at Canary Wharf (Canary Wharf), Hampton Court Palace (Hampton Court), Alexandra Palace (Wood Green), Westfield (White City), the Tower of London (Tower Hill) and the London Eye (Waterloo).
Enjoy an evening of ice skating on the South Bank and then stay at a cheap hotel from only £10.00 per person
Get in the festive spirit
No trip to London in December would be complete without soaking up the festive atmosphere on offer.
Visitors can head to Trafalgar Square (Charing Cross) on December 2nd to see the annual switching on of the Christmas tree lights, while carol singing will also be taking place at the historic landmark in the build up to Christmas.
However, a must-see this year is the Winter Wonderland which is located in part of Hyde Park (10am-10pm; Hyde Park Corner).
As well as boasting London's largest open-air ice rink, there will be the opportunity for younger visitors to see Santa and the chance to ride on a giant observation wheel which provides spectacular views across the Christmas market and over Hyde Park.
The long-established German Christmas Market can also be found in this London park, with German beers, mulled wine and food helping to keep visitors warm.
For those staying in London over Christmas, Midnight Mass at St Paul's Cathedral (Evening; St Paul's) is a magical event.
Taking place on Christmas Eve under candlelight, visitors can listen to the angelic choir and marvel at the buildings 17th century architecture.
Indulge in some Christmas shopping
London shopping is fantastic at any time of the year, but in December the added bonus of Christmas lights make it even more special.
A trip down Oxford Street or Regent Street is a spectacle in itself at this time of year to see the Christmas lights in all their glory.
A number of popular shops usually pull out the stops for the festive season, with attractions, stylish decorations, special events and more.
Highlights include Selfridges, Hamleys and Harrods, where visitors store can expect plenty of Christmas fun, while many shops will have special late night opening hours right up until Christmas Eve.
Planning a Christmas shopping trip to London? Book a cheap hotel close to Oxford Street from just £10.00 per person
Big London concerts
Throughout December there are plenty of things to do in London including going to see some top quality music acts.
Over 8th, 18th and 19th of the month, there is the chance to see Simply Red at the London O2 Arena (6.30pm, £50; North Greenwich).
How about a night with X-Factor runners up JLS, who are performing for one night only at the O2 Arena? (7pm, £TBA; North Greenwich).
After a great evening out at a concert, stay overnight in a Greenwich hotel from £10.00 per person
Enjoy some ballet
The English National Ballet's Christmas season is a fabulous tradition which has included The Nutcracker (Selected dates, £10-£65; Leicester Square) for over 50 years.
This December, the company returns to the London Coliseum with Wayne Eagling's new production of The Nutcracker.
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