What to Pack for ## 🎡 **London Itinerary: Dec 24 (Arrive 6 PM) – Jan 4 (Depart 4 PM)** ### **🗓 Day 1 – Dec 24 (Evening Arrival)** * **Evening:** Arrive, drop bags, grab something easy like **Pizza Pilgrims** or **Dishoom** if open. * Take a short **evening stroll** through **Oxford Street lights** or **Carnaby Street** — festive but chill. --- ### **🎅 Day 2 – Dec 25 (Christmas Day)** * **Morning:** Sleep in, Christmas breakfast with friends. * **Afternoon:** Walk through **Hyde Park** or along **South Bank** — totally quiet and beautiful. * **Evening:** Stay in — games, movies, Christmas dinner. --- ### **💸 Day 3 – Dec 26 (Boxing Day)** * **Morning:** Shopping! **Westfield London** or **Oxford Street** for huge sales. * **Afternoon:** **Hyde Park Winter Wonderland** — thrill rides, ice skating, food stalls. * **Evening:** Chill at home or catch a holiday movie at a local cinema. --- ### **🏰 Day 4 – Dec 27** * **Morning:** **Tower of London** — history, armor, and Crown Jewels still wow a 13-year-old. * **Afternoon:** **Borough Market** for lunch → walk across **Millennium Bridge** to **St Paul’s Cathedral**. * **Evening:** **Thames River Cruise** or **Sky Garden** (book free tickets for skyline views). --- ### **🦖 Day 5 – Dec 28** * **Morning:** **Natural History Museum** (quick visit) → **Science Museum** interactive galleries. * **Afternoon:** **Harrods** + **Knightsbridge** window shopping. * **Evening:** Dinner in **South Kensington** or **Soho**. --- ### **🏞️ Day 6 – Dec 29** * **Morning:** **Buckingham Palace** + **Changing of the Guard** (classic). * **Afternoon:** **Big Ben**, **Westminster Abbey**, **London Eye** ride. * **Evening:** Walk along **South Bank** (buskers, street food, views). --- ### **🛍️ Day 7 – Dec 30** * **Morning:** **Camden Market** — edgy clothes, vintage shops, food stalls. * **Afternoon:** **King’s Cross Platform 9¾**, then **Granary Square** area (cool cafés, shopping). * **Evening:** **West End show** — *Hamilton*, *Six*, or *Back to the Future* (teen-approved). --- ### **🎆 Day 8 – Dec 31 (New Year’s Eve)** * **Morning:** Brunch in **Notting Hill** or **Soho**. * **Afternoon:** Free time — maybe **Kew Gardens Light Trail** or **Leicester Square** carnival rides. * **Evening:** * **Fireworks by the Thames** (book in advance) or * **View from Primrose Hill** — no ticket needed, less crowded. --- ### **🎉 Day 9 – Jan 1 (New Year’s Day)** * **Morning:** Lazy start, brunch at **Dishoom Shoreditch**. * **Afternoon:** **New Year’s Day Parade** in central London (fun vibe, marching bands). * **Evening:** **Regent’s Park** walk or light dinner out. --- ### **🎨 Day 10 – Jan 2** * **Morning:** **British Museum** — quick highlights like mummies, Rosetta Stone. * **Afternoon:** **Carnaby Street** and **Liberty London** for fashion finds. * **Evening:** Chinatown dinner + dessert at **Bubblewrap Waffle** or **Taiyaki Ice Cream**. --- ### **🚂 Day 11 – Jan 3 (Day Trip)** * **Option 1:** **Windsor Castle** (train from Paddington). * **Option 2:** **Warner Bros. Harry Potter Studios** — an absolute win for a 13-year-old. * **Evening:** Return, pack, relaxed final dinner. --- ### **✈️ Day 12 – Jan 4 (Departure Day)** * **Morning:** Chill breakfast, short walk or last-minute shopping. * **Early Afternoon:** Head to airport by 1 PM for your 4 PM flight. --- - Packing Checklist