My Top Romantic Festive Strolls: NY and London

What can be more romantic and special than a festive season stroll with the person you love to see the sparkle of New York and London in December. Being outside is all the rage at the moment, so put on your sweater, grab your cosy hat and gloves and check out these festive outdoor activities! Oh, and get hold of a little bunch of mistletoe so you can stop somewhere special and seal your holiday wishes with a kiss.

Pick a bottle of mulled wine from Waitrose in the UK and put it into a thermos flask, both of which you can buy online. In New York, you can pick up spiced wine or spiced apple cider mix to do the same and buy a thermos if you don’t have one already so you can find some places open here and there on your festive walks, having this stashed away in a small backpack along with your mistletoe, the object of your affection will be thrilled with your ingenuity. Even better, a little speaker to plug into your Smart phone and to play your favourite festive tune!

New York

Midtown on Fifth Avenue is the heart of the big store window displays and glamour. Start south at Saks Fifth Avenue and head north to Radio City Music Hall and the Rockefeller Center to take in the Christmas Tree and the rink. Back onto Fifth Avenue for Tiffany’s and Bergdorf’s who always have sensational window displays. Cut across to St Patrick’s Cathedral and then head north on Madison to Barneys. Stroll back along the park on Fifth to the Plaza and FAO Schwartz. Pre-book a carriage ride in Central Park to avoid disappointment.

Dyker Heights in Brooklyn is renowned for the incredible Christmas Lights and decorations but can be crowded with families early on in the late afternoon/early evening. We recommend you book a car service to take you there directly to avoid public transport and have them wait to bring you back into the city. Go for an 8pm arrival and take in the last hour when families have begun to head home.

London

Start at The Seven Dials in Covent Garden outside the Cambridge Theatre. The cobbled streets around this location spread out in every direction and all are festooned with Christmas lights. You can walk down Monmouth Street and take the alley just near Mon Plaisir restaurant and cut in Neil’s Yard. Come out onto Neal Street and stroll right through the heart of Covent Garden itself, walking the big square, which is a glittering seasonal sensation! Henrietta Street will take you to Bedford, all of which are full of beautiful little shops. From there, you will end up on The Strand where you can walk down to St John Adam Street which takes you to Embankment Gardens and the Thames. Here you can make a stop to kiss under the mistletoe.

Alternatively, if you are energetic, start at South Kensington Tube Station and walk up through to the Natural History Museum and the Victoria and Albert Museum. From there a walk along Brompton Road will bring you to Harrods. Staying on the Harrods side of the street, walk up past The Berkeley Hotel and cut over to Wellington Arch at Hyde Park corner. You can then walk Piccadilly, which will take you past Fortnum and Mason, which is currently decorated as an advent calendar – you must check this out! A little further on and you will arrive at Piccadilly Circus and Regent Street for the biggest and best Christmas lights. A tip is to cut into Jermyn Street for some of the walks, and go back out onto Piccadilly when you reach Fortnum’s.

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