London is among the world's most celebrated cities, offering up activity and intrigue in its grand palaces and studied charm, and come Christmas time there's a rare magic that mingles with its tireless romance. Lights adorn Regent Street and Trafalgar Square as the city's signature double-decker buses pass underneath, and Christmas markets suggest gingerbread treats plucked from the wooden huts that line the River Thames. These holiday specialties matched with London's usual catalogue of world class shopping and sightseeing make for the perfect winter escape. Find the perfect gifts for your loved ones, or extend your trip for no additional charge and get lost in holiday magic while staying at the President Hotel down the street from Regent's Park.

The Hop-on Hop-off bus tour exposes the breadth of London experiences, from the bustle of Piccadilly Circus to the symbolic changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace and the signature silhouette of Big Ben and British Parliament. Envision performances of Romeo and Juliet at Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, catch the perfect cityscape from the top of the London Eye, or seek riverside refuge in the Tower of London and the impressive Crown Jewels that rest there. Christmas time offers up additional treats where you can take a chilled lap around the ice rink in Hyde Park, or make Christmas cards at the Southbank Christmas Market while sipping a warm drink.

No trip to London is complete without a visit to Harrods, whether the intention is to peruse Ralph Lauren's black label winter wardrobe, or simply grab a cupcake from one of the many mini-shops. Harrods' Christmas pantry is full of luxury biscuits and musical tins, and their signature holiday bear makes a great gift for little ones. For unique London venues that are fun to shop and suggest great gifts, pay a visit to the Edwardian bookshop Daunt Books, or one of the many toymakers like Benjamin Pollock's Toyshop and its paper toy theatres.

TORONTO DEPARTURES