Christmas Day Sights and Sounds of London Morning or Afternoon Tour

29th October 2024

Here at Best Value Tours, we are delighted to recommend an outstanding Christmas and New Year Tours and today feature; Christmas Day Sights and Sounds of London Morning or Afternoon Tour | Best Value Tours

Full details below, but first some brief history of Christmas from Victorian Times in London,

Christmas was barely observed during the start of the 19th century, which is difficult to believe today. It wasn’t even seen as a holiday by many businesses. But by the end of the century, it had grown to be the largest yearly event and assumed its current shape.

People from various walks of life contributed to the swift change. Prince Albert and Queen Victoria together with their kids, Victoria and Albert gathered around the Christmas tree.

Queen Victoria is often credited with bringing about the transformation, and some of the most notable elements of Christmas were brought about by her marriage to Prince Albert, who was born in Germany. A drawing of the royal family rejoicing around a decked Christmas tree was published in the Illustrated London News in 1848. This custom was evocative of Prince Albert’s early years in Germany. Before long, every British home had a tree decorated with candles, candies, fruit, handmade ornaments, and small presents.

Henry Cole hired an artist in 1843 to create a Christmas card. A Christmas message and a group of people seated around a dinner table were depicted in the image. These were not readily available because they were too expensive for typical Victorians, costing one shilling each. Nonetheless, the idea gained popularity, and many kids, including those of Queen Victoria, were urged to create their own Christmas cards. In this era of industrialisation, colour printing technology rapidly evolved, leading to a huge decrease in the cost of producing cards. The Christmas card industry flourished when the halfpenny postal rate was implemented. By the 1880s, delivering cards had gained enormous popularity, spawning a profitable sector that generated 11.5

When a British confectioner named Tom Smith created a daring new method of selling candies in 1848, the Victorians gave birth to another commercial Christmas industry. He developed the concept of the Christmas cracker, a straightforward container containing candies that broke when pulled apart, after visiting Paris and seeing bon bons, which are sugared almonds wrapped in paper twists. In the late Victorian era, paper hats and tiny presents took the place of the candies, and they are now a staple of a contemporary Christmas.

Christmastime home décor also become increasingly ornate. Although the use of evergreens persisted from the Middle Ages, the design and positioning of these ornaments gained significance. They sniffed at the traditional tradition of just using twigs and sprigs to deck windows and walls. Elegance, uniformity, and order were promoted. Those who lived in towns were given instructions on how to create intricate synthetic decorations. The lady of the house was given specific instructions by Cassell’s Family Magazine in 1881: “A lot depends on the surroundings to create a general sensation of satisfaction. It is worthwhile to invest a little time and effort into the rooms’ décor.

Traditionally, gifts were given during New Year’s, but as Christmas gained importance among Victorians, the custom was shifted. Fruit, nuts, candies, and small handcrafted items were the initial humble offerings. Typically, these were displayed on the Christmas tree. But as the festival’s emphasis on giving gifts grew, the larger, store-bought presents migrated under the tree million cards just in 1880. Christmas’s commercialisation was already well underway.

See illuminated Christmas London

Our Feature Tour Christmas Day Sights and Sounds of London Morning or Afternoon Tour | Best Value Tours

Description

Take a panoramic guided tour of the capital to enjoy the sights of London on a beautiful Christmas Day morning or afternoon. Enjoy the festive atmosphere and see some of London’s most well-known attractions as your live guide shares amazing information about our favourite city!

Some of London’s most famous sites will be in your sights, such as Westminster Abbey, the magnificent setting for William and Kate’s royal wedding. In all their Christmas splendour, keep an eye out for Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, Trafalgar Square, St. Paul’s Cathedral, Downing Street, and the menacing Tower of London.

The Christmas Day Sung Eucharist at Westminster Abbey will be part of the Morning Tour. The Eucharist will begin at 10:30 a.m. and include Holy Communion, a sermon, music from the Abbey Choir, and Christmas carols. You’ll be free to tour the city as you like after finishing at 11:30 a.m.

The Afternoon Tour will conclude at around 5 p.m. and include a longer panoramic tour of London.

Prices/Book Tour – Christmas Day Sights and Sounds of London Morning or Afternoon Tour | Best Value Tours

Highlights

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