[BLOG POST IN BIO] London’s sweetest exhibition, Gingerbread City is back for the festive season of 2024 🏠🍪 The exhibition does not just offer ginger smells and incr-edible displays but shares the story of how architects and designers can help solving problems, such as climate change or sustainable living 📍The Gaumont | 196-222 King’s Rd, London SW3 5XP (2nd floor with lift access) 📆 Until 29th December 2024 25th Dec: CLOSED 🕰️ Mon – Sun: 10am – 6pm #gingerbread#gingerbreadhouse#gingerbreadcity#christmas2024
Gingerbread City is a popular annual attraction in London, organised by the Museum of Architecture.It’s the sweetest exhibition during the festive season.
Photo: Urban Adventurer
Discover a whole city made entirely from gingerbread, decorated with colourful candy, frosting, gummies and biscuits. There are over 50 mouth-watering buildings on display (please, don’t eat them) that took months for artists to bake, assemble and decorate.
Photo: Urban Adventurer
Every year, Gingerbread City has a new theme. This year, the exhibition is revolving around recycling.
‘Recycled City’ is exploring how buildings and places could be repurposed into biscuity landscapes while preserving their heritage and addressing social challenges, including housing and transport.
You will recognise famous London railway stations, the Battersea Power Station, the Big Ben and many other famous buildings.
Photo: Urban Adventurer
To make the experience more fun, kids (and adults) can embark on a treasure hunt. Can you find all the hidden characters and little details?
The exhibition does not just offer ginger smells and incr-edible displays but shares the story of how architects and designers can help solving problems, such as climate change or sustainable living.
Photo: Urban Adventurer
The exhibition finishes at the shop, where you can buy gingerbread decorating kits, gingerbread men and assorted candy.
Gingerbread Making Workshop
Photo: Urban Adventurer
If you’re craving more gingerbread fun, why not visit one of the family-friendly workshops where you can decorate your own gingerbread and take it home with you.
1970s-inspired quirky décor, themed tipples, and more festive cheer than ever. American Christmas pop-up bar, Miracle at Henrietta has returned for its sixth year with cheeky drinks and magical Christmas festivity.
Located within Henrietta Hotel in Covent Garden, Miracle at Henrietta is the perfect spot for festive cocktails and a chance to escape the hustle and bustle of the busy streets of London.
Kitsch Décor and Wacky Christmas Concoctions
Photo: Urban Adventurer
Hidden away on the mezzanine of the hotel’s bar, Miracle instantly teleports you back in time to the 1970s with its retro décor and nostalgic Christmas songs.
Extravagant Christmas ornaments, tinsels, Christmas trees, nutcrackers, disco balls and an oversized fireplace provide the perfect backdrop for your Christmassy Insta photos.
Sit at a table or at the bar, watch the bartenders jiggling with bottles and glasses and mugs and sing along your favourite classic Christmas songs.
Photo: Urban Adventurer
Just like the décor, the drinks are extravagant too. The whimsical concoctions are served in gloriously tacky Christmas vessels, such as Christmas carol barrel, Santa’s pants mug, unicorn mug or SantaRex mug. If you fall in love with one of the mugs, you have a chance to purchase them on the spot.
At the end of the season, Miracle will donate 10% from the sales of the mugs to SEVA Foundation. SEVA is an eye care charity delivering vital eye care services to the world’s most vulnerable including women, children, and indigenous people.
Photo: Urban Adventurer
Festive season or not, drinking on an empty stomach is never a good idea. That’s why at Miracle food and snacks are available to accompany your tipple. Think of spicy nuts, Fried Mozzarella and Anchovies, Italian Sausage Hotdog, Bruschetta with Beetroot Hummus and more.
Ready for your next adventure? Embark on an arctic journey at FUJIFILM House of Photography in Covent Garden. Visit with friends or family and take fun photos in front of Winter-themed backdrops, wander beneath the Northern Lights, and meet the Yeti!
FUJIFILM House of Photography Arctic Adventure photo experience has returned this year. The interactive experience opened on the 4 November 2023 and free to visit until it melts away on the 25 February 2024.
FUJIFILM Covent Garden flagship store’s entire first floor has been transformed into an icy heaven to help you bring the Winter magic to your social media.
Expect a mesmerising mix of visuals and soundscapes throughout your journey.
The Arctic Adventure brings you for a journey to climb magical icy mountain peaks, wander beneath the Northern Lights and even meet a friendly Yeti.
Photo: Urban Adventurer
You will start your expedition with a reflective mirror cavern before visiting Polar Express’s snow wall. Next, you will have a chance to take selfies at the rainbow light wall. Your next stop will be translucent illuminating mountains, perfect for group or family photos.
Walk beneath the Aurora Borealis and capture stunning photos while following the glittery footprints of the Yeti straight into his den.
Photo: Urban Adventurer
Fear not, this furry giant is gentle and friendly. He will let you sit on his feet and take as many selfies as you like.
Treasure Your Expedition
Photo: Urban Adventurer
Visitors have the opportunity to print out their photos instantly on the spot at one the handy print kiosks.
You can turn your photos into gifts by sending them as Christmas cards or print a photo book to freeze your Arctic Adventure memories forever.
And it doesn’t stop there! You can put your photos on homeware and gifts, such as photo cushion, towels, mugs, water bottles and much more! (Prices are vary)
Ever After Garden is one of the most touching and heart-warming places to visit during the festive period in London.
The idea came from well-known designer Anya Hindmarch and fashion writer, Camilla Morton after the loss of their close friend, Michael Howells who was a famous production designer. Anya and Camilla wanted to find an inspiring way to remember the loved ones we have lost.
The garden first launched in 2019 to help raise fund for The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity. The charity supports the work of The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, a world-leading cancer centre. Since 2019, Ever After Garden raised over £450,000.
Dedicate a Rose in Memory of a Loved One
Photo: Urban Adventurer
Ever After Garden opened on 16th November this year and is free to visit until 19th December from 3pm-9pm daily.
This year, Grosvenor Square is illuminated by over 25,000 white silk roses and visitors are invited to dedicate a rose in honour of a loved one they have lost in cancer.
The suggested donation is £10, and visitors can write a short heart-warming message to a friend or family member. The message then will be placed next to one of the roses in the garden.
The dedication will support life-saving researches, state-of-the art equipment to help achieving major breakthroughs in cancer research and training the future cancer specialists.
Photo: Urban Adventurer
This year, the garden was opened by famous British actor Bill Nighy.
Bill said after cutting the ribbon at the opening ceremony: “The Ever After Garden is a wonderful way of combining an opportunity for people to express their loss while at the same time funding the research and treatment required to help families affected by cancer.”
PLEASE NOTE: Each rose is an important part of the installation and re-used every year to make sure the garden is as sustainable as possible. Therefore, visitors cannot take them home and the roses cannot be distributed individually at the end of the event.
Visitors can hand-write their dedication by visiting the chalet in the garden. Alternatively, you can place an online order and show the email receipt to a member of staff who will provide you with your dedication marker.
If you are unable to visit the garden in person, one of the garden stewards will write your dedication and place it in the garden on your behalf.
Ready for your next adventure? Christmas Shop is now open at Selfridges and this year they have lots of recycled, pre-loved and planet-friendly options to choose from. From pick ‘n mix baubles, to wreaths to Christmas cards, you’ll definitely find everything you need to dress up your dream Christmas tree.
Selfridges’ Christmas Shop opened as early as September this year and has taken over the lower ground floor where later in the festive season, visitors will have the chance to meet Santa and his elves.
The shop is not just an Insta heaven, but offers over 1,300 pick ‘n mix baubles, half of which cannot be found anywhere else in the UK.
There are plenty of other decorations to choose from. From Christmas cards, to wreaths, to lights, crackers, and nutcracker soldiers in all colours and sizes.
Photo: Urban Adventurer
The six themes the shop presents:
Gen Z Favourites
These are quirky decorations and baubles, such as matcha latte, celebrities, macarons and more.
Made in the UK
These are mainly ceramic decorations crafted by Minnie-Mae Stott Studio.
Foodie Favourites
From hamburger to oat milk to candy and bubble gum tree decorations, you’ll find everything to make your Christmas tree mouth-watering.
Diversity
This includes figurines from black owned businesses, such as March Muses.
Personalisation
You can customise your baubles, crackers, stockings and more!
Conscious Christmas
You’ll find lots of recycled candles and wreaths, and the pick ‘n mix offer allows customers to choose from recycled, pre-loved and socially conscious products.
This year, over 60% of the products are ‘Project Earth’ labelled which means, there are plenty of planet-friendly options, including products from B Corp certified producers.
Photo: Urban Adventurer
In addition to all of these, you’ll – of course – find Selfridges’ own luxury decorations, such as Selfridges yellow bag Christmas decoration, classic baubles, fashion bag decoration and much more.
Ready for your next adventure? Miracle at Henrietta has returned this year. London’s one of most Christmassy pop-up is located within Henrietta Hotel and offers Christmas-themed cocktails and super-Instagrammable Christmas vibes. (blog post coming soon)
‘Tis the season for wearing Christmas jumpers and Natural History Museum’s resident T-rex thinks he can never be too extinct to get into the holiday spirit and has cosied up in his very own knitted jumper.
It’s now a yearly tradition at Natural History Museum to dress up the life-size animatronic T-rex in knitted Christmas jumper for the festive season.
It wasn’t an easy task to dress up the prehistoric giant, though. The Christmas woolly measures nearly 4ft (1.2m) around the neck, 9ft 6in (2.9m) around the shoulders and over 10ft (3m) around the body and weights about 2 kilograms. The museum shared a behind-the-scenes video on their Instagram.
The jumper is 100% eco-friendly and made by a small business owner, Jack Master in Leicester, UK making sure that the pullover perfectly fits to the T-rex’s giant body and tiny arms.
The festive garment is made of 60% recycled cotton and 40% recycled polyester. The latter is sourced from recycled plastic bottles.
The T-rex is also wearing an oversized Santa hat to complete his festive outfit.
The jumper features some the museum’s most beloved dinosaur skeletons, namely Tyrannosaurus Rex, Stegosaurus, and Titanosaur.
Visiting the T-rex is completely free, and no booking required.
Ready for your next adventure? If you’re still on the hunt for the prefect Christmas venue, look no further! One of London’s most magical restaurants, The Last Talisman, is ready for the festive period. Providing your very own personal events manager, they help you design and execute your perfect Christmas party from start to finish.
December is for tingling our taste buds with festive special seasonal menus and cocktails. Well, there are plenty of places to drink festive cocktails all around in London, but we’re pretty confident, we have found the cutest Christmas cocktail in town.
Chocolate lovers! This one is for you.
The Chocolate Cocktail Club
Photo: Urban Adventurer
The Chocolate Cocktail Club is the only bar in London (and the whole UK), specialised in chocolate cocktails. A must-go destination for chocoholics.
From creamy to nutty to spicy, there are over 20 different chocolate cocktails are on the menu, and most of them comes with a little treat to get your taste buds indulged even more.
And we haven’t even mentioned their Christmas specials!
Drink It from a Chocolate Reindeer
Photo: Urban Adventurer
They introduced their special Christmas cocktail menu on the 1st December that includes ‘Giggling Gingerbread Man’ containing vanilla ice cream, gingerbread syrup and of course a giggling gingerbread man on the side. ‘Merry Mint To Be’ is another creamy one, containing Baileys and white room. This cocktail has a lovely light green colour and comes with a sweet candy cane.
The absolute showstopper on the menu is the ‘Chocolate Reindeer’. The nice and smooth blend of Mozart Dark Chocolate Liqueur, Dark Crème de Cacao, Absolute Vanilla Vodka and Soya Chocolate Milk is literally served in a cute edible chocolate reindeer to crunch after finishing your cocktail.
Practical Info
The Chocolate Cocktail Club’s Christmas menu is available until 29th December.
If you have ever wished you could step into the gingerbread house from Hansel and Gretel, this festive period is the perfect time to make your childhood dream come true.
The Gingerbread City® by The Museum of Architecture returns from 3rd December 2022 – 2nd January 2023 featuring five different (yummy) miniature cities.
This year over 100 leading architects, engineers, designers, and bakers have created not one, but 5 mini cities across different climate zones: Polar, Continental, Temperate, Dry and Tropical.
Photo: Urban Adventurer
The aim is to suggest a new normal in our post-Covid world where life is more sustainable, more convenient, more affordable, and less stressful.
Photo: Urban Adventurer
The different climate zones require designers and architects to take local resources and special building methods into account, as well as bring new creative ideas to the table in order to respond to climate crisis.
Gingerbread City Workshops
Photo: Urban Adventurer
The Gingerbread City is not just for the eye. The exhibition is running workshops– including family workshops – that you can book separately.
The workshops are running every day and invite participants to design their own gingerbread house for different climates in order to resonate the exhibition theme.
Adult workshops are available in the evening from 6pm-7:30pm.
Christmas lights in London are magical every year. Normally crowds travel to see the most beautiful and most popular streets and spots, such as Covent Garden, Oxford Street, Regents Street and Hamleys Toy Store to participate in the switch-on events.
Photo: Urban Adventurer
This year, however, many have been forced to change their traditions. Well, let’s see the bright side of this: the streets are far not that crowdy as usual this time of the year allowing you taking beautiful photos without being forced to elbowing your way to the best spots.
Luckily, pandemic or not pandemic, Christmas lights are just as exuberant and beautiful as usual.
Let’s see some of the most popular spots.
Leadenhall Market
Leadenhall Market’s history dates back to the 14th century. Originally it was a meat, poultry and game market and was situated in the centre of Roman London. Today it gives home to elegant retailers, restaurants, cafes and wine bars.
Leadenhall Market is famous for being used as Diagon Alley in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. What is more, the entrance to the famous fictional pub, the Leaky Cauldron is located there. In real life, it’s an optician on Bull’s Head Passage in Leadenhall Market.
St Katharine Docks
St Katharine Docks welcomes vessels from all over the world since the 10th century. Today it’s a lovely hidden gem that gives home to cozy restaurants and the famous Dickens Inn.
During the festive period St Katharine Docks looks like a scene from a Dickens novel from the Victorian era. Perfect place to get the festive feeling.
More London
The buzzing More London is famous for its lovely outdoor Christmas market. During December the air is always filled with the sweet smell of freshly roasted nuts. Unfortunately, this year’s Christmas market has been cancelled due to pandemic.
The Tower of London
Sadly, the ice rink, which is a tradition, is not operating this year due to pandemic.
However, The Tower of London still gives us tons of opportunities for Christmas shopping and a lovely view to the Tower Bridge, River Thames and The Shard light show.
You can admire the view from one of the cozy igloos of Coppa Club. Perfect for an intimate socially distanced family dinner.
The Shard Lights
This year The Shard lights are specially designed to show gratitude to NSH staff, and all keyworkers and volunteers who have worked tirelessly to keep us safe from Coronavirus pandemic.
From 11th December The Shard light will feature the traditional colours of Christmas until the early hours of New Year’s Day.
Covent Garden
Covent Garden’s centrepiece is its hand-picked Christmas tree every year. This year the Christmas tree is 60 feet tall and it’s illuminated by 115,000 lights.
The tree needed 60 workers and 300 working hours to be festively decorated.
Photo: Urban Adventurer
This Christmas tree is is not the only one at Covent Garden. There is a mini Christmas tree forest just at the entrance of Covent Garden. Each tree is bedecked uniquely by iconic brands and institutions, such as Royal Opera House.
The Strand
Photo: Urban Adventurer
From Trafalgar Square to King’s College, The Strand is dressed with twinkling snowflakes, icicles and stars all the way long.
Leicester Square
Although, ‘Christmas in Leicester Square 2020’ is cancelled due to pandemic, there are still plenty to see and do there.
Photo: Urban Adventurer
‘Scenes in the Square’ bronze sculptures are still on display under the festive lights, celebrating the home of film, and immortalise classic characters. Wonder Woman, Paddington Bear, Mr Bean, Mary Poppins, Bugs Bunny and more. Plus, a Harry Potter sculpture has been added to the repertoire.
Regent Street
‘The Spirit of Christmas ‘ installation has returned to Regent Street. To support sustainable display, the lights are switched on for evenings only.
Carnaby Street
Photo: Urban Adventurer
This year Carnaby Street Christmas light installation is in partnership with Choose Love charity to pay tribute to the strength and courage of Londoners and the whole UK.
Pink and purple lightboxes display positive words all the length of Carnaby Street hoping to bring smile on peoples’ faces during these hard times filled with uncertainty.
Hamleys
Britain’s most famous and beloved toy store transformed their Christmas windows into a magical world. Harry Potter themed display brings the magic to us this year.
Oxford Street
This year Oxford Street Christmas lights are dedicated to silent heroes. Anyone can nominate their hero by filling in thisform on Oxford Street’s official website for a chance to see their name sparkle in the Christmas lights. Plus, the winner heroes will receive a £500 Oxford Street gift card to treat themselves. Winners announced each week.
Use hashtag #our2020heroes to be featured on Instagram
South Molton Street
Photo: Urban Adventurer
South Molton Street, just like last year, is illuminated with beautiful blue arches and blue Christmas trees on each end of the street. Why not pick up a Winter warmer at one of the lovely cafés while admiring the magical lights?
Annabel’s
Annabel’s is an elegant private club in the heart of Mayfair. They traditionally surprise Londoners with the most magical Christmas installation. This year they transformed the building into a giant nutcracker stage.
Hedonism Wines
Festive feeling guaranteed after visiting Hedonism Wines on St Davies Street, Mayfair.
Fortnum & Mason
Now it’s a tradition that the impressive six-floor building is transformed into an Advent Calendar for the festive period every year.
Burlington Arcade
One of London’s favourite shopping arcade is not just dressed up festive, but it’s as immersive as possible too.
Photo: Urban Adventurer
Make sure to dress up with matching clothes and take some lovely photos while sitting on the festive swing or pose with one of the glamourous Christmas trees.
Piccadilly Arcade
Twinkling lights and crystals. Piccadilly Arcade is just opposite Burlington Arcade.
Piccadilly Arcade is the place where Mayfair meets St James’. The perfect place to start your Christmas shopping.
Bond Street
Their peacock inspired light display is just as unique as Bond Street itself. Tiffani, Cartier and Sella McCartney, just to name a few famous brands inhabited at Bond Street and give us that lavish Christmas feeling.
The Ritz Hotel
Photo: Urban Adventurer
Elegant and classy. That’s how we could summarise The Ritz Hotel Christmas decoration every year. The Ritz London really knows what a stylish Christmas looks like.
Tree of Hope at St Pancras
Tree of Hope has been set by London’s pinkest Insagrammable café, EL&N Café. The pink Christmas tree with the carousel horses around it refers to the difficult period of time we’ve all been experiencing this year, and the hope that gives us strength to get over the difficulties.
Photo: Urban Adventurer
You can buy matching pink chocolate Christmas tree dessert in EL&N Café located right next to the Christmas tree.
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