A Family Christmas in London and Amsterdam
There's something special about spending the holidays somewhere festive, especially when the whole family comes along for the ride. This six day trip took us back to London, a city we've visited many times before, and onward to Amsterdam, which was brand new for all of us. Between the two, it was the perfect mix of familiar favorites and fresh discoveries.
London is nothing short of magical during the holiday season, with lights strung across every street and a festive energy that never gets old, no matter how many times we've been. Since we've explored the city before, it was important to us to find new things to do this time around, from a Premier League match to a Christmas lights walking tour. We kept the pace family-friendly without sacrificing any of the charm, mixing in kid-approved stops like ice skating and a windmill bike ride alongside history, food, and a proper football match.
Day 1: Settling into London
We started with lunch at The Cross Keys in Chelsea, then headed to a Chelsea vs. Fulham match for a proper taste of English football. The day wrapped up with dinner at the Hereford Arms, a cozy way to end our first day in the city.
Day 2: History and Ice Skating
Lunch at Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese kicked off a day full of London classics: a visit to the Tower of London, a Christmas lights walking tour through the city's most festive streets, and an evening of ice skating at Somerset House. It's hard to beat the rink lit up under the courtyard's holiday glow.
Day 3: WWII History and a London Institution
We spent the day tracing London's WWII history, including a walking tour, lunch at Old Bank of England, and a stop at the Churchill War Rooms. We also swung by Big Ben before ending the night with dinner at Cakes and Bubbles, a fun and slightly whimsical way to close out our time in London.
Did You Know?
A vast amount of Roman ruins were uncovered beneath London's financial district, including a fort wall and a temple. Among them, hidden directly beneath the Guildhall Art Gallery, lies London's Roman Amphitheatre, uncovered during archaeological work after WWII bombing damage gave historians a rare look at what was buried below the city. It once seated thousands of Londoners nearly 2,000 years ago and remained hidden until modern excavation finally brought it back to light.
Day 4: Arriving in Amsterdam
A morning flight brought us into Amsterdam, and we spent the afternoon getting our bearings with a walk past the Royal Palace and a visit to the Van Gogh Museum. Dinner at Long Pura was an absolute feast, with a table so full of food we barely knew where to start.
Day 5: History and Ten Tastings
We visited the Anne Frank House in the morning, a moving and important stop for the whole family. In the afternoon, we joined a 10 Tastings of Amsterdam tour, including a stop at a local food market that gave us a real feel for the city's flavors. Dinner at The Duchess capped off the day, and it has quickly become one of our all-time favorite restaurants anywhere.
Day 6: Windmills and a New Year's Eve to Remember
We spent the morning on a bike tour into the Dutch countryside, riding past windmills and stopping at a cheesemonger who, delightfully, also makes clogs. Amsterdam is famously one of the best places in Europe to watch the New Year arrive, when the whole city spills outside at midnight and fireworks light up the canals and skyline from every direction. We celebrated in style with a private boat tour and dinner on board, watching the display reflect off the water as the year came to a close.
Whether it's a Premier League match, a canal-side dinner, or ringing in the New Year on the water, Jet Lagged loves designing holiday trips the whole family will remember. Ready to plan yours?
