While London has been known to disappoint during the summer months due to the lack of, well, summer, one thing this capital really knows how to do is winter. As autumn fades away and the temperature drops, London comes alive with sparkling lights, bustling shopping streets, cozy cafes and pubs that beckon you in out of the cold.

To make things even better, there are plenty of festive activities to suit even the most meager of budgets. So what are you waiting for? Pull on that hat and scarf and follow these simple tips to make the most of Christmas in London!

Regent Street Christmas lights

Most of London’s Christmas lights get turned on in the first and second weeks of November, a lot earlier than much of Europe. While all of the main shopping centers will be festooned with twinkling lights, most visitors head to the Regent Street lights which, in recent years, have been sponsored by the latest animated film release (this year it is “Arthur Christmas”).

Die hard festive fans may complain about them being sponsored at all, but I can tell you that it is a lot better than the year they were sponsored by Tango… that was, without a doubt, the least Christmas-y thing I have ever seen.

Lights in Oxford Street, Covent Garden and Central London

Oxford Street and Covent Garden are the other main places to wander around and admire the lights, as well as stopping by at Trafalgar Square’s Norwegian Christmas Tree, where carol services are held daily between December 5-22.

However, it is central London’s smaller streets that always outshine the rest. Pretty St Christopher’s Place, trendy Carnaby Street and well-heeled South Molton Street, all of which are tucked away behind Oxford Street, appear to partake in an annual battle to see who can come up with the most creative, atmospheric and visually stunning Christmas lights – undoubtedly the best in London, these streets should not be missed.

Christmas markets

If you’ve had enough of London’s high streets, why not look for inspiration at a Christmas market? Depending on where you go, this can make bagging a bargain just a bit easier and is also a far more festive way to shop.

German Christmas Market at Southbank Centre
Through December 24, 2011

The German Christmas market at the Southbank Centre should be your first port of call, where traditional wooden market stalls light up the banks of the River Thames between November 18 – December 24, selling everything from glühwein and bratwurst to trinkets and gifts.

From December 16-23 the German market will be joined by the Real Food Market – the perfect place to find a present for the Foodie in your life, or stock up on some tasty surprises for Christmas lunch.

The Water Poet Christmas fair
December 10, 2011

Saturday December 10, 2011 is the day to head to east London as The Water Poet in Spitalfields holds its fun-filled Christmas fair between 12-7 p.m. There will be scrumptious food from around the world (including a hog roast), plenty of spiced mulled wine, quirky vintage gifts and even a brass band. Not to be missed.

Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park
Through January 3, 2012

By far and away London’s biggest nod to the festive season is Hyde Park’s Winter Wonderland (November 18, 2011- January 3, 2012). When this opened five years ago it did leave rather a lot to be desired, but every year it has got bigger and better and now really does make for a fun day out for all ages.

An ice rink, Ferris wheel, circus and “Santa Land” are among the attractions, as well as handicrafts, Christmas decorations and gift ideas at the Angels Christmas Market. There is also a huge choice of bars and restaurants so you can eat and drink to your heart’s content – the Bavarian Village and the Carousel Bar are highly recommended.

Also in our guide: Heading to London this holiday season and overwhelmed by the hotel prices? We’ve been there! Stop by EuroCheapo’s Guide to Affordable London. Our editors visit, inspect and photograph budget hotels in central London and pick the best.

The post London Christmas Guide: Christmas markets and lights appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

In the spring of 2006, I was able to score some super-cheap tickets on Ryanair for a last-minute getaway to Barcelona from London, where I was living. It had been a great weekend, made possible I only had to pay the airport tax. The catch? I had to fly into and out of two less-than-central airports, London’s Stansted and Barcelona’s Girona airport. It was worth it, right?

What follows is a diary of my flight experience en route from Barcelona to London.

4:30 PM: I arrive early at the airport for a 6 PM flight. We all know you have to get to the gate before the other passengers in order to snag the best seat.

5:00 PM: Shortly after check-in, an announcement is made. The flight has been delayed an hour.

Ok, some extra time to score a panini at Girona’s atmospheric café. (In the above photo, do I look like I’m ready for take-off?)

Tip: Stock up on food, just in case. Girona’s airport café closed at 9 p.m. I’m glad I grabbed a sandwich when I did. Others would not be so lucky.

7 PM: A second announcement. The flight has been delayed for another hour. All assembled groan and pull out iPods, books and approved electronic devices. One nearby traveler starts clipping his nails over a waste basket, violating all manner of social codes (are clippers even allowed on airplanes?).

8:15 PM: A third announcement. Drum roll, please: The flight has been delayed for another two hours. The announcer says, with a tinge of exhaustion in her voice, “We hope to leave by 11. Thank you for your patience.” The thought of work the next morning was beginning to make me vaguely nauseous.

Around 10 PM: Boredom sets in. All other flights have taken off. The airport feels empty, save the other poor souls flying to Stansted. With hardly anyone around, I attempt to fit myself, horizontally, into a row of seats in any way that could lead to sleep. I am not successful.

Above: Nothing happening under flourescent lights.

Tip: Bring back-up diversions. That could mean catching up on your trip journal, watching all the TV shows you earlier loaded up on your iPod, making progress on that novel, or even flipping through some celeb mags. In short, have something to do. I had packed “Madame Bovary,” which only helped put me to sleep.

11:30 PM: All other flights have left the Girona airport, and there’s still no sign of our airplane. The 20 Stansted-bound passengers are told we will not take off until after midnight. No excuse is given.

Tip: Make friends…if there are any out there. At some point after midnight, I found myself chatting with a couple from Los Angeles. A bottle of vodka became open. (Glad they took advantage of Duty Free when it was open…hours ago.) I pass up a shot (work seems ludicrously close), but others around happily partake. The mood lifts… and distorts.

1:30 AM: We take off, nine hours after my arrival at the airport.

Tip: Know when to go! Turns out there’s more than one good reason not to check any luggage on a budget flight. If you’re delayed, you could risk missing the last bus out of the arrival airport.

2:30 AM: We arrive at Stansted and immediately there’s a mad dash for the bus to London. And for good reason: The last one leaves the airport at 3 am (and sometimes earlier, depending on reasons I couldn’t quite understand). If you miss the last bus, you have to get a taxi, which can cost upwards of £60, or wait until 7 am when the buses start up again. I make the bus.

3:30 AM: I’m dropped off at Marble Arch on Oxford Street. What’s my name? Who am I? And how do I get a taxi? Work the next morning was, well, another story…

In the end, this experience didn’t deter me from flying on budget airlines. Over the next year, I’d often take cheap flights, including easyJet and Aer Lingus, for quick getaways. But I learned something about flexibility that long night in Girona.

Read another Cheapo’s tale of a long night in Stansted. Got a good airport story? Leave a comment or send us a note.

The post Ryanair diary: One Night in Barcelona’s Girona Airport appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.