15 days to Christmas! The countdown is running fast, so let’s see today where you can go to feel the real Christmas atmosphere in London:

1. The Bankside Winter Festival (www.visitsouthwark.com) – outside Tate Modern – will open with an atmospheric lantern parade on Friday and it will host a rich calendar of events. Perfect position to take a walk and get into the goodwill atmosphere of the season.

2. The Hyde Park Winter Wonderland (www.hydeparkwinterwonderland.com) – in Hyde Park – is the biggest fair in town and offers free-to-enter events. Last year this winter park was a great success with more than 500,000 visitors. This time it has stalls, cafes, rides, a skating rink, a big wheel, helter-skelter and a 200ft toboggan snowslide.

3. The Tower of London Ice Rink (www.toweroflondonicerink.co.uk) is the perfect spot for people who work in the City and for the tourists who want to combine a skate with a visit to the Tower, Tower Bridge or the London Dungeons (just across the river). The ice rink will be open until Sunday 11th January (10am-10pm) – Prices: Adults £10 (£12 peak); Children £7.50 (£8 peak)

4. Trafalgar Square (www.london.gov.uk/trafalgarsquare/events/xmas_carols.jsp) from Monday 8th December to Friday 19th December (from 5pm until 9pm) plays host to groups performing Christmas carols in the square, next to the traditional Norwegian Christmas Tree.

5. Carnaby Street (www.carnaby.co.uk) can be better for shopping than Oxford Street at this time of year: less people and more decorations. The street is perfect to start your Christmas shopping!