London's Biggest Advent Calendar at Tower
Bridge!
Published: 28 November 2011
London’s iconic Tower Bridge plays host to families this
Christmastime with the largest interactive Victorian wooden advent
calendar in the country. Children can open an advent door a day and
enjoy a truly adventurous time this December. Each will go home
with a candy cane and an adventurer’s certificate.
The way in which we celebrate Christmas today actually has its
origins back in Victorian Britain. Families up and down the country
began decorating Christmas trees with sweets, fruit, decorations
and gifts in the mid-1800s after Queen Victoria saw how her
husband, German-born Prince Albert celebrated Christmas with his
family. Sumptuous feasts were enjoyed, parlour games were played, a
national holiday was declared and a tradition was born.
Over 150 years later, it seems fitting that London’s most
impressive Victorian structure hosts a magical Victorian-themed
Christmas event throughout December. This year, Tower Bridge will
unveil a giant advent calendar crafted entirely from wood. It will
replicate a Victorian toy and stand an impressive two metres high
and seven metres wide. The impressive structure will be located in
the South Tower under the animation screen. The entire area will be
decorated in a Victorian Christmas theme, and six huge Christmas
trees will be decorated and placed in and around the area.
On arrival, children will be invited to pick a candy cane from a
Christmas tree. One lucky child will pull out a candy cane with a
magic mark on it. They will be asked to open the day’s
corresponding door on the giant wooden calendar, which will unveil
a traditional Christmas image. In addition to a candy cane, each
child will receive an adventurer’s certificate to remind them of
their festive magical moment. The calendar door will be closed
again once each group has left, offering enchanting opportunities
to as many other children as possible throughout the day. The
advent calendar will be launched on 1st December and will remain
open to visitors until 23rd December.
Along with the advent calendar, Christmas trees and plenty of
traditional decorations there will also be a ‘Letter Writing
Station’ where children can write to Father Christmas, then ‘post’
their letter to him in a Victorian-style post box on their way
out.
The advent calendar is at no additional cost for visitors
to Tower Bridge Exhibition.