Christmas/New Year in London or Paris

Hi,

Looking for some advise. We are an Aussie couple living in London and we have family friends wishing to visit us in London over the Christmas period.

Our friends have 2 children 13 and 11.

What would be better.... Christmas in London and New Year in Paris OR Christmas in Paris and New Year in London??

We have expereinced New Year in London and are aware how good the fireworks are off the London Eye. What Fireworks happen in Paris?? And what do you think a family would enjoy more London or Paris??

thanks so much

Lisa

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Christmas in London is a lot more Christmassy than in Paris. We used to travel to Paris to escape the Christmas cr@p.

New years even i cant comment on because it isnt something I do -dcertainly not in public. (having said that, I did one do new years even in london and it was rubbish)

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Generally, you%26#39;ll find more of the Anglo-saxon idea of %26quot;Christmas and New Year%26quot; in London than in Paris, where you may be disappointed.

Christmas in France is primarily a family affair, with no tradition of outdoor events like caroll singing, bell ringing, etc lots. Lots of people move in and out.

New Years is generally spent indoors with friends. Outside the ambience is so-so - unruly crowds on the Champs Elysees, some bottle-throwing, NO FIREWORKS...

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We%26#39;ve been to Trafalger Square and Big Ben for New Year%26#39;s Eve, and we%26#39;ve been to the Arc De Truimphe for the holiday as well. Both were crazy fun. Paris was a little %26#39;safer%26#39; though. While at Big Ben the crowds were HUGE and pushing back and forth, and if you got knocked to the ground, there was a good chance you%26#39;de be trampled. When we were in Paris, we had a late dinner then went to the Arc around 11:00 or 11:30 with a small bottle of champagne to toast the new year. And it was a ton of fun. There wasn%26#39;t as much pushing and everyone was gathered to welcome in the new year together. There was traffic around the arc, and it was fun to see the car loads of people yelling and screaming and waiving flags and stopping to kiss girls in the crowd as they circled the arc. We stood at a point in front of the arc where we could see the Eiffel Tower in the background. What%26#39;s better than that? And from where we were, we did see some fireworks. Nothing great but... welcomging the new year while looking at the Arc and the Tower was just perfect. IMHO.

If I had to chose one to do again, I would chose Paris. And I think my wife would agree with me.

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