Valnoveglia

By: Adam Singleton
Getting everyone together at Thanksgiving presents quite a challenge when you have an international branch or two of the family, but if you find yourselves in that situation why not consider travelling abroad to celebrate the holiday, rather than try to get everyone together in the States? Alternatively, you might just want to escape the holiday altogether and where better to do that than in the UK, where they don’t have Thanksgiving.

London offers all the benefits of Thanksgiving without any of the disadvantages. No crowded, over-priced travel or over-booked flights and hotels at that time of year. Instead you’ll find plentiful cheap flights from most US destinations, and many available hotel rooms in London, plus you can take advantage of the thriving West End entertainment scene and, of course, you’ll be able to visit many historic and contemporary sights in the lively capital.

But, even though most Londoners are totally oblivious to Thanksgiving and its implications, there are enclaves of American ex-pats that heartily celebrate the holiday should you want to join in the fun. In 2007 the London American Ex-Pat Meet Up Group, an informal internet community, are celebrating their fourth annual Thanksgiving Dinner at the Green Man Pub opposite Portland Street Tube station and the omens look good that they will be celebrating their fifth, sixth and so on in future years.

Despite being firmly based in England, this annual experience offers all the trimmings; Turkey with North American stuffing, Pumpkin Pie, as well as broadcasts of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and live Football broadcasts! Granted, it is taking place on the Sunday prior to the holiday, so it won’t be the Thanksgiving football games that are broadcast, but everything will still have an authentic North American feel!

Or, if you are in town to get away from the whole idea of Thanksgiving and not to celebrate it, then why not try out a traditional Sunday Roast instead; Roast Beef, Yorkshire Pudding and all the trimmings. Thanksgiving falls at a relatively quiet time for England’s capital with the only visitors being out-of-town Christmas shoppers, and those taking advantage of out-of-season theatre deals in London - which is great for anyone visiting at that time, as the city is full of sightseeing options including the London Eye, from which you get a fantastic vista of England’s historic capital.

Flights to London are incredibly good value in November, and best of all, because Thanksgiving is a uniquely American holiday it goes un-noticed in the UK meaning that hotels in London don’t get fully booked like they would in the States, plus getting around the country is easy, unlike the nightmare of travelling through mainland USA at Thanksgiving.

Adam Singleton is an online, freelance journalist and keen gardener. He lives in Scotland with his two dogs.