My family is planning for Thanksgiving and asked me “when do you leave and/or when does your flight land?” as I have spent many years away for Thanksgiving (great award flight availability) as an add on to my birthday trips.  I’ve landed in Perth (Australia) on Thanksgiving, celebrated with friends for a Thanksgiving in Paris and have spent more than one Thanksgiving in London. This year, however, I’m in a job search so there is no birthday trip, no flights landing or taking off on Thanksgiving and I’m pretty sad about it.  But my sadness begets this Thanksgiving in London post so there’s something positive right?

My First Thanksgiving in London

My first trip to London in 1988 (eons ago) was over the Thanksgiving college break. I sat in the airport eating leftover birthday cake waiting for my first TWA flight to London from JFK.  It would ignite my travel bug and introduce me to a city that would become like a second home given the number of visits since that first one.  My friend Christine and I spent Thanksgiving in a popular (at the time) Soho restaurant called The Long Island Ice Tea Bar.  Yes, we definitely had a few of those signature drinks with our dinner (not turkey).  The restaurant is long gone and replaced by a few others over the years, I often walk by to revisit those first Thanksgiving in London memories as well as memories of Christine who passed too young.

First of all, Thanksgiving is not a holiday in the UK for obvious reasons so everything is open as normal on Thursday. The bonus is that the normal American business crowds are gone as are most of the American tourists, except folks like me keen to take advantage of the day off and award flights. You can however enjoy a proper Turkey dinner in London at a few restaurants (reservations are required) and if flying home on Thanksgiving (which I have done a few times) enjoy a turkey dinner on the British Airways flight.  I’ve flown the early flight from London and have been home in time for Thanksgiving dinner – a win/win in my book – turkey in two of my favorite places – up in the air at 30,000 feet and on the ground with my family.

Hotels in London for Thanksgiving

While hotels in London are expensive normally, you can find deals during the week of Thanksgiving as business folks are not traveling to the city and many meetings are canceled as US staff are not available so that’s good for you.  I would suggest booking direct with the hotel (they may have specials like upgrades or breakfast included) or use Hotel Tonight  to see what is available. Also, if you have miles and points to use, now is the time to find open award space.

This might be a great time to upgrade neighborhood, hotel type or splurge out on a flat rental and cook your own version of Thanksgiving in London.

Thanksgiving Dinner in London Restaurants

When I was last in London for Thanksgiving, staying at the Park Lane Hotel, I had a few options for a traditional Thanksgiving dinner in London – some had a British spin to the traditional turkey dinner and trimmings.  I ended up canceling my reservation to Blue’s Kitchen when my friend wasn’t quite into my US tradition of Thanksgiving and preferred his local pub.

Here are a few restaurants in London for thanksgiving dinner (everything is open unlike at home) that I considered – note that most are set menus, require tickets/reservations in advance (far in advance), are subject to change and aren’t quite cheap (think 30 GBP+). There’s always a Subway or other takeaway sandwich shop to do the more affordable “I had my turkey today”.

1. Blue’s Kitchen in Camden Town was my first choice as they have live Blues music –sadly I canceled my reservation on Open Table.  You can take the tube or an Uber from central London.
2. Boondocks London on Old Street has a set menu
3. Bodean’s BBQ Smokehouse (Soho) and Big Easy (Covent Garden) – it’s already an American BBQ place so adding turkey dinner is what they both do. You might be able to catch an American football game too!
4. The Breakfast Club – this American breakfast staple also has American styled lunch and dinner and for Thanksgiving requires tickets for diners (their restaurants are small so limited seating).  With a few locations, you can indulge in Thanksgiving Turkey dinner.  The Mondrian Hotel London is in walking distance of the Borough Market location and Z Hotel Soho is near the Soho location.
5. Bumpkin in South Kensington – not far from The Ampersand Hotel. OneFineStay South Kensington or my luxury Airbnb in South Kensington
6. Riding House Café in Fitzrovia near my one of my favorite hotels – The Charlotte Street Hotel

Luxury Thanksgiving Dinner in London

For those wanting to spend A LOT of money for luxury American options consider these three chef driven restaurants in London for Thanksgiving dinner.

1. Balthazar in London is a famous NYC restaurant located in Covent Garden (walking from The Rosewood Hotel is quick and easy).
2. Bread Street Kitchen in Mansion House where UK chef Gordon Ramsey puts a bit of a British twist on the American Turkey dinner (think bacon popcorn and a few other “I’ve never had that on my Thanksgiving table” additions)
3. Cut at 45 Park Lane is by Wolfgang Puck is uber expensive (think over 100 GBP) in Mayfair as is JW Steakhouse.  But frankly, if you are staying at a 5* luxury hotel in Mayfair you can easily afford this meal and probably wouldn’t venture too far to the other options above.

 

 

 

Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park

Winter Wonderland London is a celebration of the Christmas holidays with amusement park rides, games, food stalls and live music.  Let’s not forget the appearance of Father Christmas (Santa Claus to us Americans).  Winter Wonderland is held yearly in Hyde Park and is very popular.  I enjoy walking around to get in the Christmas spirit and also to see the UK versions of amusement park foods and games. There is a small ice skating rink (there are so many throughout London during the holiday season).  Winter Wonderland is free to enter but there of course are fees for food/drink, rides, shopping and ice skating.

Note: The underground lines will be crowded so plan to be sardines for a few stops until Hyde Park Corner when the Piccadilly line spills out people.   If you are keen to walk from Soho along Piccadilly, it’s about ½ hour or longer if you stop to see the Christmas lights at Bond Street and Jermyn Street as well as the many arcades and Ritz Carlton on your walk.

 

Christmas Lights London

If you love Christmas lights like I do then you might catch them (depending on Thanksgiving date) along Oxford Street, Bond Street, Regent Street, Jermyn Street as well as other places around the city.  Christmas Trees are not normally up yet (but that continues to change as we decorate after Halloween now) but stores are decorated as are shopping arcades along Piccadilly Street.

Ice skating rinks are quintessential holiday must dos throughout the city and those open at different times (check Time Out London app).  Along the Thames, Southbank Winter Festival has Christmas Market stalls (at least on weekend at first) and you will see the Instagram famous igloos along the water (reserve the igloos and enjoy drinks with a view). Christmas lights in London are fabulous especially at night when the streets are empty and you feel like you had the city to yourself.

Heathrow Airport on Thanksgiving Day

The Heathrow airport on Thanksgiving tends to be normal crowded for a weekday if not a bit lighter without the American business travelers.  You may be able to buy the Christmas Harrods’s Bear as he arrives in mid-November along with the Christmas tins of biscuits (cookies), candy and teas. Time to stock up for Christmas at home.  Arriving in Philadelphia the airport was quiet for a holiday.

British Airways Thanksgiving Dinner

One surprise I had flying home on Thanksgiving a few years ago in business class (Club World) was a thanksgiving turkey dinner special.  I had flown a few times on Thanksgiving (award flights tend to be plentiful especially to Asia and Australia) but this was the first time that this American dinner was served.  It was honestly a good meal and nice treat.  I know that business class likes to serve fancy steak, fish, etc. but a good turkey dinner with gravy and mashed potatoes was comfort food that made me happy along with dessert on the ground and in the air.

I lucked out on that flight because while they catered my “special meal”, they had enough turkey dinners for me to swap out.  So when I arrived home in time for another Thanksgiving dinner, I was pretty happy.  Where else can you have two Thanksgiving dinners in one day? (yeah time difference)

Christmas Shopping in London at Thanksgiving

So the shops are open, don’t worry so you can begin your Christmas shopping on your vacation if you want to be that person who says “I bought that in London” (c’mon we all know that person or might be that person).  If you are keen to shop here are a few of my favorite Made in the UK gifts  Of course, my favorite London gift is chocolate and biscuits and I bring those home for Thanksgiving dinner dessert table.

Shopping Tip: Bring your own bag to the shops (I like my recyclable Lululemon bags) as some stores will charge you for bags. Have a copy of your passport in your phone photos or email draft in case you buy so much that you need VAT reclaim receipts (no need to bring passport out shopping with you – leave it in the hotel safe or other secure location). At Heathrow, go to the VAT reclaim before you check in for your flight (located behind the check in area desks)

Celebrate Thanksgiving in London

So if you are lucky to find yourself celebrating Thanksgiving in London or planning to visit in the future, know that you can enjoy the best of both worlds and not miss out on your yen for turkey tradition. It does feel a bit weird to be honest to have a day exploring the city (like when I toured the Paris Christmas Markets at Thanksgiving in Paris) and then go have turkey dinner without the cooking time, cleanup and stress of family drama.  So while I’m grounded this year, hopefully next year, I can explore a new destination for my Thanksgiving memories (I wonder if they have turkey in the Maldives? or Antarctica?).

If you don’t celebrate the American holiday, you can still participate by taking a few minutes to be thankful for someone or something in your life. Then you can go about planning your Black Friday shopping, Small Business Saturday shopping, Cyber Monday and Giving Tuesday adventures.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!