There's something truly magical about showing your little ones the festive decorations that adorn our streets and shops during the Christmas season, and London certainly knows how to put on a show.
As a Portsmouth resident, it's a relatively short journey for my family and me to make a day trip to the capital, taking just around ninety minutes by train. So, with a free day in the middle of the week, I decided to take my toddler up to London last week to soak up some of the festive atmosphere. The plan was to visit Covent Garden to see the Christmas decorations and pop into the temporary Lego Chalet that's currently there. Unfortunately, it wasn't open on the day we visited.
Instead, we made a detour to the nearby London Transport Museum, followed by a stroll down Oxford Street to marvel at the twinkling lights.
I had hoped to squeeze in a visit to the iconic Selfridges department store before heading home, having heard rave reviews about their enchanting Disney-themed Christmas window displays this year. But I wanted to wait until darkness fell to fully appreciate the spectacle.
Fortunately, we managed to get there just as night was falling, and I can honestly say it was worth the wait.
The store windows were adorned with various Disney scenes, from Lady and the Tramp sharing their infamous spaghetti dinner, to an Alice in Wonderland display featuring the Cheshire Cat perched atop a sparkling purple tree. It was truly a sight to behold.
Mickey Mouse and the 101 Dalmatians have their own window displays, with the latter seen enjoying a film on TV.
The Beauty and the Beast window features stunning, twinkling chandeliers, with Lumière welcoming guests, while a radiant, purple pumpkin carriage represents Cinderella.
However, the display that truly ignited magic for my little boy and me was the Peter Pan one.
In this scene, Tinkerbell flies across the display before entering a small house and waving to visitors.
As my toddler pressed his fingers against the glass and peered in, I couldn't resist capturing a video of the enchanting moment as he waved back at Tinkerbell, convinced he'd met her.
I felt compelled to share this magical moment on TikTok, where the post has already garnered over 100 likes.
In addition to the displays, the Disney Castle is projected onto the building every quarter of an hour between 5-9pm currently.
There's even a Disney-themed café you can visit at present, situated in Dolly's Café, where you can indulge in some Disney-inspired treats until 2 January.
Many might suggest that central London is too crowded to navigate with your toddler, particularly during the festive season. However, I beg to differ.
Of course, it would be wise to steer clear of peak times like weekends, but if you have a mid-week day off with them, it's delightful for them to explore all the displays, especially when they're so magical.
It's safe to say my toddler won't be forgetting his encounter with Tinkerbell in a hurry.