Christmas Walks - alternative office parties

Dare I say it but it is that time of year that people are starting to think about what to do for their work Christmas party.

How about a Christmas Lights themed walk through the West End?

The walk starts in a cosy Sam Smiths pub in Marylebone (with a fire) then meanders through the back streets of the West End (where the best lights can be found), through Mayfair and into Soho. The walk includes hidden passages, posh shops (usually with the best decorations) and lots of historical snippets along the way. As with most of my walks there is a food/drink theme plus Christmas traditions and decorations throughout. The walk finishes in Soho close to Piccadilly Circus tube in a freehouse that serves hot toddies and also does very good food.  

This walk lasts 1 hour 45 minutes and unusually can be done in reverse. There are plenty of eating establishments in both Soho and Marylebone if you would like to finish with a meal.

Email westminsterwalks [at] yahoo.co.uk for more details.

Photo courtesy of  https://www.flickr.com/photos/denis57/sets/72157628338866113/

Or maybe my Culinary Gaslit Tour of St James's would fit the bill:

St James’s is one of London’s most exclusive areas and is particularly pretty at Christmas with decorations along Jermyn Street and in the various arcades. It is also gaslit which makes for a very atmospheric walk. Famous for its gentlemen’s clubs which were originally coffee and chocolate houses St James’s also houses one of the oldest and most expensive restaurants in town and Britain’s oldest wine and spirit merchant not to mention the Queen’s grocery store and a 200 year old cheese shop. We will hear about the Jamie Oliver of the 19th Century, the cook that inspired the TV series the Duchess of Duke Street and the man who invented the sandwich. 

There are two really good pubs in St James's so we could have a halfway stop in one if desired and finish in another or maybe finish at The King's Head just into Mayfair on the other side of Piccadilly which has a really good menu plus is currently offering a free glass of prosecco for each person in the party if you book  a Christmas meal by 1st November!

This walk is 1 hour 45 minutes without a pub stop.

I can take up to 20 people on either of these walks although the ideal size is around 15. For a group bigger than 20 I would need to bring in another guide. 

Email westminsterwalks [at] yahoo.co.uk for more details.