{"id":53820,"title":"TWINKLING WONDER AND SUGARY JOY","description":"Take a joyful walk around London\u2019s best Christmas lights \u2013 and treat yourself to a donut along the way","content":"

Take a walk around London\u2019s best Christmas lights<\/span><\/strong>
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This is a FREE activity (unless, like me, you can\u2019t resist a donut \ud83c\udf69)<\/span><\/strong>
\"oeywq21ly9adbelngzc4kdsajegkrmwmzs0wyb9yenc826nm.jpg.jpg?w=1140&project=the-appreciation-society-388278&v=2\"<\/p>

The walk<\/span><\/strong>: a slow, glowing wander along some of London\u2019s most famous streets and shop windows \u2013 and just so happens to pass by donut shop \ud83d\ude0b

<\/span>Time: 1hr(ish)<\/span><\/strong> depends on when you go and how many other light-lookers\/Christmas shoppers are about, but give yourself an hour.
<\/span>
When to go: <\/span><\/strong>The busiest and most crowded times are weekend afternoons and evenings. Outside of those, you should be able to take your time and stand for pics without having to wait your turn. <\/span>

What to wear:<\/span><\/strong> Wrap up warm in your favourite Christmas jumper, or Christmas t-shirt if it\u2019s unseasonably warm. If you like the look of our <\/span>JOYful robin organic sweatshirts<\/u><\/span><\/a> and <\/span>Friendly Robin t-shirts <\/u><\/span><\/a>you can find them and the full sustainably made Christmas collection <\/span>here<\/u><\/span><\/a>

<\/span>Start at: Bond St station
Ends at: The Shaftesbury Theatre (or the pub)<\/span><\/strong>

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<\/span><\/strong>If your shopping list is longer than Santa\u2019s and December is already starting to feel like A LOT, give yourself a break from the buying and Mandatory Work Fun and head out for a joyful walk.

The streets of London are full of twinkling joy and you can wander at your own pace, take in all the decorations and everything that glistens (including the sugar atop a donut)

I walked this route with fElena from Seaththrit Jewellery Studios.
She knows a thing or two about pretty shiny things (see the beautiful necklace I\u2019m wearing)
Her wonderful sea glass jewellery workshops (in Devon) can be booked <\/span>here.<\/span><\/a>

\"muzkmckqfeiqby2hxg51rm2agzdaxnf08x2bsb8pmr7rwfab.jpg.jpg?w=1140&v=2\"So where to start?<\/span><\/strong>

Bond St tube.
Head west on Oxford st (no lights this end) and walk a block and a half to your first moment of Joy: Selfridges\u2019 magical windows \u2013 this one\u2019s a must for Disney fans.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

<\/p>

BEST PHOTO SPOT \u2013 It\u2019s nearly always busy outside Selfridges, hop over to the corner of Duke Street (by the Belgian chocolate stall), look diagonally across and you\u2019ll see all the joy of a Disney castle wrapping itself around the store front.<\/span>

\"lvd4zis21ojyvx558fwao4bwo0hksaeso9cy1stg3lioue22.jpg.jpg?w=1140&v=2\"Next stop, New Bond Street via South Molton St<\/span><\/strong>

Head back towards Bond St tube and turn down South Molton St. Walk through the twinkling arches all the way to Brook St. Keep going east and you\u2019ll hit New Bond Street and the sparkly peacockesque arches flying over you.
<\/span>
BEST PHOTO SPOT: Sotherby\u2019s & Crown<\/span><\/strong>
Sotherby\u2019s is blanketed with Christmas trees and the suspended Crown is at the crossroads of New Bond St and Conduit St (be careful of traffic!)<\/span>

\"ufpcfpsi42qhbyurpz097a7jycamtkvfps1npl2pulhbcyy8.jpg.jpg?w=1140&project=the-appreciation-society-388278&v=2\"\"23w6peb6npnxirg59qqh9k2k4bs5rgpvsw8m4ab1rrkdlfyy.jpg.jpg?w=1140&v=2\"Next stop: Regent\u2019s Street<\/span><\/strong>

Head down Conduit St (the lights aren\u2019t as spectacular as their neighbouring streets, but the little twinkles will take you to the shimmering angels of Regent Street).

Another busy one, but cross to a middle island to look up and down the street while standing right in the centre of it.

<\/span>BEST PHOTO SPOT: Crossing island opposite Hamleys<\/span><\/strong>

\"hbisarbfs7va7hqtcmi6uzxveehut3j9t9xmy0ebfudpcxra.jpg.jpg?w=1140&v=2\"Next stop Carnaby St via Liberty\u2019s windows<\/span><\/strong>

Head up Regent St and east down Great Marlborough St to see the enchanting windows at Liberty\u2019s.

Then turn the corner and follow the giant crackers onto Carnaby Street
AND the most ridiculous donut of your life.

The glowing blue, purple and pink crackers criss-cross over your head as you walk down the street to<\/span> <\/span><\/strong>Donutelier.<\/u><\/span><\/strong><\/a>

There are a few tables inside and out, but they also come in a box if you want a treat at the end of your walk.

This is the face of someone who\u2019s just been told there\u2019s a donut shop right behind them<\/span>
\"esqfc0oe4lgqpihbtwce7e8ftdhqvfmtfmal6dx5cgbieunr.jpg.jpg?w=1140&v=2\"We tried: Pistachio, Vanilla Pecan and Chocolate Swirl (ve)

They were all ridiculous and delicious and a challenge to cut and share (get plenty of napkins for your sticky fingers). Our top rated was the pistachio, partly for the flavour and style, but mostly because IT HAD A BISCUIT ON TOP.<\/span>

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Next stop, Seven Dials<\/span><\/strong>

Fully sugared up and ready to carry on,\u00a0head down Broadwick St past the beautifully lit Moulin Rouge, then cut down Berwick St market to Peter St, cross Wardour St and along Old Compton Street.<\/span>

\"clqmweggjs2z4df4mnfnysebu3q9leccebuyk7tourxtadws.jpg.jpg?w=1140&v=2\"There are no lights above you, but Old Compton Brasserie has a display worth slowing your pace for.

Cut down Moor St and cross over Charing Cross Rd to Earlham St.

Enjoy the lights above you all the way down traffic-free Earlham St to where they meet at Seven Dials. Here there are twinkles above you in every direction*. (Watch out for taxis as you cross over.)

<\/span>BEST PHOTO SPOT: The Sundial Monument<\/span><\/strong>
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LAST STOP: The Shaftesbury Theatre<\/span><\/strong>

Turn down Monmouth St and cross Shaftesbury Ave to the giant tunnel of sparkling stars for your final spot to strike a pose.

It also happens to be near a pub away from the tourist crowds, The Crown.
With two floors, you should be able to find somewhere to sit and look back at your joyful pics while you sip your favourite festive tipple.<\/span>

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Need a tube home from here?
Holborn is a 7min stroll, east down New Oxford Street.
<\/span>Have a joyful Christmas x<\/span><\/strong>
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