Last year we started a new Christmas/birthday tradition. My mam and I decided to take my daughter, Eva, on the train to London. This years trip was much anticipated and Eva was so excited to go on the train and to stay in a hotel!
So, to get a good price and also the most out of our visit, we got the 6am train! Nice and early start for us getting into Kings Cross at 9.10. We were staying at the Thistle Euston, we got an absolutely amazing deal which I still cannot believe! £107 for a triple room! Seems the moral of the story is, check London hotel availability at 3am, you may pick up a bargain! Checked into the hotel and our room was already available which was fantastic. Our room was an executive triple room and was really spacious, it was really clean and had a lovely seating area. Getting Eva out of the room was a feat in itself!
We got to the tube station which was only about 5 minutes walk and got a day tube pass (children up to age 10 are free to travel on tube as long as accompanied by a fare paying adult). We got off at Covent Garden and had a lovely walk around and some breakfast. The whole area was beautifully decorated and there was a gorgeous smell of mulled wine wafting about. Perfect to get you in that festive spirit. We also met one of Eva's idols, Yoda!! An added bonus ! Plus there was a Disney Store, what more could a little girl want? Apart from a chocolate milkshake which the rather wonderful waiter in http://www.maxwells.co.uk/ arranged for her, even though they don't normally serve them at breakfast time! I apologise as his name escapes me, but he did come from Dumfries and Galloway and had visited Newcastle for a stag night! ;0)
We slowly made our way the short distance to Leicester Square and decided on a whim to visit one of the discount ticket booths to see what they had to offer. Eva had seen a poster advertising Wicked and being a massive fan of the Wizard of Oz, the decision was made. We got a good deal on the tickets, nearly half price, for the afternoon matinee.
I won't spoil the plot for you if you haven't seen the show. What I will say is that my four year old daughter sat entranced for nearly 3 hours and didn't moan or complain once! The story is fabulous, not just full of wonderful dancing and songs, the actual story is brilliantly written and keeps you completely enthralled. The costumes and sets are full of colour and sparkle. The cast were amazing and the actress playing Elphaba (the Wicked Witch of the West), Willemijn Verkaik, was absolutely outstanding. We all just loved it, the Wizard of Oz film holds a special place in all of our hearts and the show, albeit a story in it's own right, links in nicely to the film and explains one or two things. If you get the chance, I urge you to see Wicked, I guarantee you will not be disappointed! http://www.wickedthemusical.co.uk
Apologies for the quality of some of the pics, we only had a disposable camera to use!
The London trip is to be continued ............ next stop Harrods!!!
