Page 65 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - London

L ONDON THROUGH THE Y EAR  63

Average Monthly Temperature Temperature Chart
The chart shows the
°C °F average minimum and
25 80
maximum temperatures
20 70 for each month. Top
temperatures averaging
15 60 22° C (75° F) belie
London’s reputation for
10 50 year-round chilliness,
although November
5 40
through to February
0 32 can be extremely cold
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec and icy.
Carol services (leading up to
Winter Christmas), Trafalgar Square
Some of the most striking images (see p106), St Paul’s (see pp152–5),
of London are drawn from winter Westminster Abbey (see
– paintings of frost fairs in the pp80–83), St Martin-in-the-
17th and 18th centuries, when Fields (see p106) and many
the River Thames froze over other churches. Turkey auction
completely, and Claude Monet’s (24 Dec), Smithfield Market (see
views of the river and its bridges. p168). Christmas Day swim
For centuries thick “pea-souper” Serpen tine, Hyde Park (see p213).
fogs were an inevit able part of New Year’s Eve (31 Dec) fireworks
winter, until coal-burning in on the Thames, centred on the
open grates was banned. London Eye (see p193). Tickets
Christmas lights twinkle must be purchased in advance
everywhere – from the West for riverside viewing spots
End shopping streets to the (www.London.gov.uk).
Christmas markets held in royal
parks and along the South Bank. January
Seasonal menus feature roast Sales (see p317). New Year’s
turkey, mince pies and Christmas Day Parade ends at Parliament
pudding. Traditional shows in Square (see p78). International
theatres include boisterous Winter in the picturesque gardens of Mime Festival (late Jan), various
family pantomimes with their Kensington Palace venues. Charles I Commem­
customary cross-dressing oration (last Sun), procession
between the sexes (see p340) rinks Winter Wonderland in Hyde from St James’s Palace (see p95)
and popular ballets such as Park (see p213) is a vast festive to Banqueting House (see p84).
Swan Lake and The Nutcracker. market and fairground, with an Chinese New Year (late Jan–
ice rink, beer hall and German- mid-Feb), Chinatown (see p112).
December style stalls. The South Bank has a
Oxford v Cambridge rugby union Christmas market too, while February
match Twickenham. Spitalfields Somerset House (see p121) has Queen’s Accession gun
Music Winter Festival (mid- a great skating rink. salutes (6 Feb), 41-gun salute,
Dec), Christ Church and other Hyde Park; 62-gun salute,
venues (see p174). London Christmas, New Year Tower of London (see p58).
Interna tional Horse Show (late 25–26 Dec and 1 Jan are public Pancake races (Shrove Tue),
Dec), Olympia. Equestrian compe- holidays. There is no public Brick Lane (see p174), Guildhall
tition. Christmas markets and ice transport on Christmas Day. (see p163) and other locations.

Public Holidays
New Year’s Day (1 Jan);
Good Friday; Easter Monday;
May Day (first Monday in
May); Whit Monday (last
Monday in May); August Bank
Holiday (last Monday in Aug);
Christmas Day and Boxing
Day (25–26 Dec).
Christmas illuminations in Regent Street

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