The Olympics and the Lights

As a first look or for groups who've already been to come back and catch up with progress on the cusp of London 2012 this is a great little trip for Christmas. Come for time to buy lunch and take a trip down memory lane at the Museum of Childhood in Bethnal Green, see the Olympic venues during daylight and, as the sun sets by 4-00pm, enjoy a tour of the London Christmas Lights & Sights ending with a visit to the Somerset House or Natural History Museum Ice Rink or the Cologne Christmas Market along the Thames on the South Bank.

The V&A Museum of Childhood at Bethnal Green is a small museum centred around a large and lovely cafe. We suggest you arrive for a cafe lunch at midday or 12-30pm which will give you enough time to enjoy a trip down memory lane rediscovering the toys of your own childhood as well as those you put in your kids stockings before our top notch Blue Badge Guide comes to meet you and the coach tour starts at 2-00pm. 

It's just a short hop to Stratford; the epicentre of London 2012. There are fabulous views of the Olympic Park now from the raised viewpoint of your coach so you don't even have to leave the warmth of your coach if you don't want to, though you can opt for a 400 yard walk to the Olympic Park Viewing Point. Returning visitors will see how a field of mud has started to resemble an ordered Olympic Park with a collection of completed white structures and a horizon of skyscrapers that more and more resembles the 1951 Festival of Britain although instead of the Skylon we've got the Orbit - Anish Kapoor's extraordinary helter skelter of twisted red steel which we show here as a work in progress but which will be the finished object when you come at Christmas.  

As dusk falls we turn towards the West End to show you the best of the London Christmas Lights & Sights. London is quite beautiful after dark, a real dandy. The river and the bridges sparkle with light and colour and our iconic buildings are all lit up too. See a mix of old and new, the floodlit St Paul's is always a beautiful sight and in contrast to the modern glass and steel monoliths from the Gherkin to the remarkable Shard. 

At the end of the tour we can stop at the Somerset House Ice Rink, the Cologne Christmas Market by the river on the South Bank or Covent Garden - all of which offer opportunities for hot drinks before you head home at 6-00pm. 

Dates for this tour are yet to be confirmed. 

Adults & Seniors: £8.45 

Coach Mileage: 20

Please note that this tour is not officially endorsed by, or in any way associated with, the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games, the Olympic Development Authority or the Olympic and/or Paralympic Movement more generally. Please do not use official Olympic logos or trademarks in publicising this trip.

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