Starting this year, the Bankside Winter Festival will sweep into London’s South Bank with the spirit of the holidays—stretching along the Thames in front of the Tate Modern and the Globe Theatre, which are themselves amazing backdrops in any season. To really get into the festive swing, stay in a nearby vacation rental in London and be a part of all the spectacle and celebration!
Included as an integral part of the ten-day entertainment festival is the four-hundred-year-old Frost Fair, which used to be held on the actual Thames itself when the river would freeze over in midwinter. This more updated version is a modern take on those classic winter markets, with about forty stalls selling the perfect presents, from handcrafted goods and jewelry to one-of-a-kind crystals and fossils.
Although the river no longer freezes over, that’s not to say there isn’t a nip in the air. To keep it at bay, a main bar serving mulled wine, ale, hot chocolate and seasonal foods is set up among the stalls for intrepid shoppers.
The Frost Fair opens in dramatic style with a stunning “parade of lanterns” that features schoolchildren carrying such illuminated seasonal images as ice skaters, roasted chestnut vendors and dancing bears past Southwark Cathedral and St. Paul’s (where you can listen to carolling performances in the grandest of settings). The parade ends in front of the Tate Modern, where a huge and ornate Frost Fair scene will be assembled.
You should also see the traditional “procession of boats”—stately cutters flying the Frost Fair flag as they float down the river between Southwark and Blackfriars Bridges, where the sailors, decked out in full livery uniform, disembark and join the festivities.
For even more family fun, there are special seasonal workshops at the Bankside Winter Festival that let the kids get interactive, Husky dog sledding displays and street theatre performances to keep everyone enthralled.
• A bright and airy 2-bedroom vacation rental in Lambeth (LN-525) near Waterloo station. This ground- and first-floor accommodation is in a period, terraced house with a dual living room, hardwood floors, high ceilings and a sunny breakfast room with exposed brick walls.
• A charming and spacious 2-bedroom accommodation in Southwark (LN-528) near Blackfriars station, next to Blackfriars Bridge. This rental is on the third floor of a modern apartment building and comes with its own balcony overlooking the Thames. The view alone should be enough to keep you warm in winter!
• A 1-bedroom vacation rental in Southwark (LN-467) near Southwark station. This cheery and comfortable accommodation, on the first floor of a modern apartment block, has laundry and a balcony that looks out onto communal gardens.
There’s nothing quite like a traditional holiday festival in London—and to start your own tradition, stay in a New York Habitat vacation rental!
Let us know your favorite spot on the South Bank by leaving a comment below.
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