My g/f and I are taking her daughter to London and Paris for a week at Christmas. Can any skullbrainers recommend especially pretty Christmas displays or other seasonal sights in either city? My g/f's daughter is a new college grad (this is her graduation present) so we're not looking for kiddie type stuff. But we are very interested in seeing the seasonal sights because we imagine that both cities are going to be very special that time of year. Any particular streets, neighborhoods, window displays, seasonal markets, outdoor skating, that kind of thing.

I know it's an esoteric request but any tips or advice from residents or experienced travelers is greatly welcomed.

p.s. I also hope to get in a little vinyl record shopping in both cities so if anyone has any recommendations for good shops that carry garage, punk, instrumentals. exotica, soundtracks and other weird and strange music, that would be greatly appreciated too.

Also looking for pub recommendations in London - see below

Galeries Lafayette puts some amazing Christmas windows for many many years now. Some of they are very elaborate with moving marionettes and dolls.

Don't know how much time will you spend in France, but Alsace is the place to be for Christmas. It's a 5 hour drive from Paris but totally worth it.

Thanks so much! We only have 2 days in Paris so probably won't make it to Alsace. Is it correct to assume that the Galeries Lafayette is in Paris?

Again, thanks and happy holidays!

Yes! Sorry for not clarifying. Champs Elysees should be a 'must' too.

Thank you! I think we're staying close to Champs Elysees.

Spend at lease a half day in St Germain (6e arrondissement) near Notre Dame. Champs Elysees is not what it was - not much to see / do there.

Thank you!

Re: Christmas tips for London and Paris

Stay home!

In Paris you have a bunch of things to do and see during Christmas !

Must see are the Christmas windows displays at the Galerie Lafayette, on "Boulevard Haussmann" (Metro line are 8 & 9, stop is "Richelieu - Drouot" ). This year theme is Beauty and the Beast.

You have an ice rink close to the Eiffel tower at "Le Trocadéro". Pretty scenic view and should be fun with your gf and daughter !

Champs-Elysées are a must too, there should be plenty of Christmas decorations and animations.

You also have a Ferris wheel at "Place de la Concorde" (Metro lines 1, 8 or 12, stop is "Concorde"). From here you can either walk up the Champs-Elyséés or walk up the "Tuileries Garden". I advise you choose the garden, you'll end up in front of The Louvre Museum.

If you have time, The Louvre is a fabulous place.

I know nothing about record stores, but I know a place where you could find something. It's a cool concept store opened by a French toy collector from another message board. Name of the store is "Démocratie".
They sell books, goodies, toys but also clothes/sneakers on the 1st floor and vinyl in the basement.

http://i23.servimg.com/u/f23/15/53/80/12/24680310.jpg
http://i23.servimg.com/u/f23/15/53/80/12/22732410.jpg

Address is 14 Boulevard St Michel, 75006 Paris (Metro line 4, stop is "Saint Michel").

Plus it's quite close to the Cathedral of Notre Dame de Paris, and I think you might want to see this ^^

Check this out too : http://www.timeout.com/paris/en/shopping/music-shops
and if you are looking for more than records : http://www.timeout.com/paris/en/shopping/the-100-best-shops-in-Paris

Hope this helps, feel free to send me a PM if you need anything

-Arnaud

Whoa, Arnaud! Thanks so much - those are fantastic tips! I greatly appreciate it.

Let me add another request for those familiar with London. We'll be staying in the East End, on Liverpool street. My g/f and I would love to find an interesting, unique and/or authentic pub in the area. Does anyone have favorites they'd like to recommend? Or if there's a place outside that area that's worth the visit.

Also, we'd like to be able to steer my g/f's daughter and her g/f to some good/unique/fun pubs and coffee shops where people their age congregate (early 20's). This is their first time in Europe so I think they're hoping to find a cool place free of tourists to get the authentic London experience but perhaps a little upscale and definitely wanker-free.

I know these are pretty specialized requests but if people want to name their favorite pubs/hangouts in London, that would be most appreciated.

All within walking distance of Liverpool Street:

Outdoor Ice skating
http://www.broadgate.co.uk/ice

Brick Lane Market Sundays

http://www.trumanbrewery.com/
Rough Trade records

Spitalfields Market
http://www.spitalfields.co.uk/

Pow
http://www.picturesonwalls.com/

Thank you very much, OA. Much appreciated!

You've got those nice record stores, I can personally recommend :

- Music Fear Satan ( 4 BIS RUE RICHARD LENOIR, 75011 PARIS (METRO CHARONNE, LIGNE 9)
- Souffle Continu (22 Rue Gerbier, 75011 Paris)

and the strangest of all (which was very difficult to locate, but apprently moved recently), mixing independant publishing & nowhere else to find music with a lot of Japan obscure stuff :
- Bimbo Tower (135 rue de la Roquette 75011 Paris - M° Voltaire)
But it looks like it will be open on a few days at the end of the year. Check : http://bimbo.tower.free.fr/

They are other record stores in the 11e arrondissement, I'll try to find them again.

Merci pour les infos - je serais à Paris fin janvier

Thank so much, PlasticXO! Those are exactly the kind of recommendations I'm looking for.

Much appreciated.