A Traditional Royal Christmas

December 5, 2023 LMT Blog

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.

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).

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.

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

November 14, 2023 LMT Blog

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

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!

August 29, 2023August 29, 2023 London Magical Tours

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

May 3, 2023May 3, 2023 London Magical Tours

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!

London Christmas Tours 2022

September 6, 2022September 17, 2022 London Magical Tours

No sooner is Summer drawing to a close when we start being inundated with requests for this year’s Christmas tour dates!

One of the highlights of the holiday season in London, our Christmas special tours are the ultimate night out to discover the best of the capital during what is truly the most wonderful time of the year.

Still haven’t booked yours? Here’s a sneak peak at what you’re missing out on!

You never know who you might run into during a Magical Christmas Tour …

London’s Christmas markets

Our London Christmas Lights Tours are the original holiday themed tours, visiting the best of the festive lights in central London, alongside many off the beaten path locations.

Remember that unlike other tour offerings, this is not just the usual London landmarks. Our professional tour guides will take you out of the chauffeur driven sightseeing vehicles to hear the stories and learn about the traditions behind what it means to spend Christmas in London – the perfect holiday treat.

Christmas fairies – much loved by children on our Christmas tours!

Tower Bridge at Christmas: Magical …

The London Christmas Tours are running from 14th of November 2022 to 5th of January 2023.

Still need convincing? Take a look at some of the videos below for a little taste of what visitors have been saying about previous year’s Magical Christmas London Tours: