For all the history of a Victorian Dickens Christmas, try a London Walking Tour.

All the delights and delicacies of a London Victorian Christmas with Charles Dickens's famous story The Christmas Carol as your route map and inspiration. 

If you want to treat yourself at Christmas to the finest chocolates, there is only one place.

Actually, it all starts in November which nowadays heralds the beginning of the festive season for the retail world with London's most iconic departments pulling out all the stops for the Christmas window displays. However December is when we all start feeling really festive.

Now you've got the tree, it's time to decorate. The Christmas shop at Hays Galleria is the Aladdin's cave of christmas decs, it's bursting at the seams with enough twinkling bits 'n' bobs and Christmas sparkle.

We can't ignore it any more, its now time to embrace Christmas and buy the tree and there's no better place in London than Clifton Nurseries.

For all the history of a Victorian Dickens Christmas, try a London Walking Tour.

All the delights and delicacies of a London Victorian Christmas with Charles Dickens's famous story The Christmas Carol as your route map and inspiration. Deck the streets of London with balls of jolly. Scrooge and Marley and the Cratchits. This was where Dickens's imagination took wing and where the characters did their thing. And as you make their acquaintance they'll spice things with warming seasonal stories of turkeys and boars" heads, Christmas puds, mince pies and pantomimes; cards, crackers, Christmas trees and mistletoe. Let alone the bells that rang out on Christmas morning to wake Scrooge up – a much changed character. 

If you want to treat yourself at Christmas to the finest chocolates, they is only one place.

Founded in 1875, Charbonnel et Walker is one of Britain’s first and finest chocolatiers.

Encouraged by Edward VII, (then the Prince of Wales), Charbonnel et Walker formed as a partnership between Mrs Walker and Mme Charbonnel, the latter from the esteemed Maison Boissier chocolate house in Paris.

The original shop opened at 173 New Bond Street in Mayfair and has remained in Bond Street ever since. It is housed in one of London’s most elegant arcades, the Royal Arcade on Old Bond Street. They are endorsed by the Royal Warrant as one of the few chocolatiers to Her Majesty The Queen.

Actually, it all starts in November which nowadays heralds the beginning of the festive season for the retail world with London's most iconic departments pulling out all the stops for the Christmas window displays. However December is when we all start feeling really festive.

Start in Knightsbridge at Harrods, who are offering a more traditional vision with Once Upon a Christmas recreating a series of fairy tales, then move on to Harvey Nichols, Fortum and Mason, Libertys and finally Selfridges who have created an alternative theme inspired by the Christmas Star. Don't forget to explore the Christmas shops in each of the stores to pick up decorations and last minute cards. 

Now you've got the tree, it's time to decorate. The Christmas shop at Hays Galleria is the Aladdin's cave of christmas decs, it's bursting at the seams with enough twinkling bits 'n' bobs and Christmas sparkle. It's home to some truly spectacular pieces so if you're having a Christmas party and want to deck the halls with boughs of holly and jingle bells, Buckingham Palace baubles and silver or gold glitter reindeers, then this is the ultimate place to splurge. 

There are also nativity scenes, illuminated houses, stockings and sacks, treetop angels and Christmas crackers among the crowded displays. It's the only official Christmas shop in London and, like stepping through the wardrobe into Narnia, a winter wonderland awaits 12 months a year. Whether the thought of Christmas fills you with bah humbugs or a tinkling of jingle bells, the glitz and sparkle are worth the trip over to Tower Bridge.

We can't ignore it any more, its now time to embrace Christmas and buy the tree and there's no better place in London than Clifton Nurseries

Select from their Christmas trees, hand made edible wreaths, unique present ideas and a host of irresistible treats. You don’t need to go anywhere else for your Christmas tree and foliage décor. 

You can also enjoy delicious lunches and afternoon tea at the Quince Tree Cafe located in the palm  house.