Festive cyclists dressed as Father Christmas take to streets of London
- Cyclists and skaters organised occasions in central London on Saturday, touring by the town in festive costume
Hundreds of skaters and cyclists took to the streets of London immediately, donning Santa outfits to supply some Christmas cheer whereas elevating cash for good causes.
London Santa Skate returned on Saturday afternoon, and noticed avid skaters tackle a two-hour festive skate from Wellington Arch, at Hyde Park Corner, to the Star Of Kings, York Way, touring across the metropolis from 2pm till 4pm.
Participants shared their pleasure concerning the occasion, commenting that it helps to supply a way of ‘neighborhood’ and makes it really feel as if Christmas has properly and actually begun.
Isaac Harvey, the president of Wheels and Wheelchairs – a gaggle of wheelchair customers and skaters who skate collectively, instructed PA: ‘This is among the largest skates in London and I actually do stay up for it yearly as a result of it actually brings the neighborhood collectively and it is nice that I’m in a position to be part of that, although I’m a wheelchair person.’
The 28-year-old, who travelled to the occasion from east London, added: ‘It’s nice enjoyable and it is also wonderful attending to see individuals of London attending to see us skate round the most well-liked components of London.
BMX Life in the meantime organised a concurrent occasion, Santa Cruise 9, to lift cash for the Evelina Children’s Heart Organisation (ECHO), setting off from Leake Street, Lambeth at 11am and driving across the capital till 4pm.
It is described on the web site as ‘an epic day biking round London metropolis, with a whole bunch of riders in festive fancy costume’.
Meanwhile, last-minute Christmas buyers introduced Oxford Circus to a standstill this night, with enormous crowds pictured within the coronary heart of London on one of many busiest weekends of the yr.
![A man dressed as Father Christmas holding a bugle cycling through Oxford Circus in London](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/16/22/79038867-12871871-A_man_dressed_as_Father_Christmas_holding_a_bugle_cycling_throug-a-18_1702767334427.jpg)
A person dressed as Father Christmas holding a bugle biking by Oxford Circus in London
![A man dressed as a Grinch cycling through Oxford Circus](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/16/22/79038877-12871871-A_man_dressed_as_a_Grinch_cycling_through_Oxford_Circus-a-19_1702767334428.jpg)
A person dressed as a Grinch biking by Oxford Circus
![A bearded man collecting for charity donations as he takes part in the BMX Life's Santa Cruise 9 for ECHO event](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/16/22/79038863-12871871-A_bearded_man_collecting_for_charity_donations_as_he_takes_part_-a-20_1702767334428.jpg)
A bearded man accumulating for charity donations as he takes half within the BMX Life’s Santa Cruise 9 for ECHO occasion
![A man pulling a wheelie during the BMX Life's Santa Cruise 9 for ECHO event](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/16/22/79038883-12871871-A_man_pulling_a_wheelie_during_the_BMX_Life_s_Santa_Cruise_9_for-a-21_1702767334429.jpg)
A person pulling a wheelie throughout the BMX Life’s Santa Cruise 9 for ECHO occasion
![A man wearing a Santa Claus outfit looks at a mobile phone before the Santa Skate in London, Saturday, December 16, 2023](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/16/23/79045467-12871871-image-a-31_1702767849506.jpg)
A person sporting a Santa Claus outfit seems at a cell phone earlier than the Santa Skate in London, Saturday, December 16, 2023
![More than one hundred skaters wearing Santa Claus outfits took to the streets of central London, in the 18th edition of the annual event](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/16/23/79045465-12871871-image-a-32_1702767854312.jpg)
More than 100 skaters sporting Santa Claus outfits took to the streets of central London, within the 18th version of the annual occasion
![A man wearing a Santa Claus outfit hugs his inflatable dinosaur costume before the Santa Skate in London, Saturday, Dec. 16](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/16/23/79045471-12871871-image-a-33_1702767877451.jpg)
A person sporting a Santa Claus outfit hugs his inflatable dinosaur costume earlier than the Santa Skate in London, Saturday, Dec. 16
![Huge crowds gather around Oxford Circus, Oxford Street and Regent Street on one of the busiest weekends of the year, with shoppers and tourists hunting for bargains and Christmas presents](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/16/23/79045611-12871871-image-a-40_1702768495248.jpg)
Huge crowds collect round Oxford Circus, Oxford Street and Regent Street on one of many busiest weekends of the yr, with buyers and vacationers attempting to find bargains and Christmas presents
Somewhat of a veteran with regards to the Santa skates, Mr Harvey mentioned this will likely be his fourth one, however his first sporting a Christmas jumper – which featured a reindeer and vibrant lights.
‘Usually I’m dressed as an elf, however this yr I wished to go for a Christmas jumper which lights up – and so does my hat,’ he added.
Jonathan Chen, who can also be a part of Wheels and Wheelchairs, added he has participated in ‘many’ Santa skates and has been ‘wanting ahead’ to taking part in the newest one.
‘The spotlight of the skate is simply the inclusivity and the happiness – everyone seems to be simply so excited to be there,’ the 39-year-old, who lives in north-east London and wore a Santa hat whereas chatting with PA, mentioned.
‘To me, Christmas does not actually kick off till the Santa skate, so it is undoubtedly actually vital for me.’
Songs together with Jingle Bell Rock and Wonderful Christmastime have been performed because the skaters conglomerated and made strikes down the streets of London, as onlookers cheered, filmed and smiled on the group.
Some of the standout non-Santa outfits included one worn by a lady who appeared to rework herself right into a lit-up Christmas tree.
The skate was organised by LondonSkate and London Friday Night Skate, with cash raised from ticket gross sales going in direction of ‘holding London’s free road skates on the street’.
![A man dressed as an elf for the festive cycle through London](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/16/22/79038865-12871871-A_man_dressed_as_an_elf_for_the_festive_cycle_through_London-a-22_1702767334429.jpg)
A person dressed as an elf for the festive cycle by London
![A man on a small bike cycles through Oxford Circus for the BMX Life's Santa Cruise 9 for ECHO event](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/16/22/79038871-12871871-A_man_on_a_small_bike_cycles_through_Oxford_Circus_for_the_BMX_L-a-23_1702767334430.jpg)
A person on a small bike cycles by Oxford Circus for the BMX Life’s Santa Cruise 9 for ECHO occasion
![A boy dressed as Father Christmas rides with the crowd for the BMX Life's Santa Cruise 9 for ECHO event](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/16/22/79038869-12871871-A_boy_dressed_as_Father_Christmas_rides_with_the_crowd_for_the_B-a-24_1702767334430.jpg)
A boy dressed as Father Christmas rides with the gang for the BMX Life’s Santa Cruise 9 for ECHO occasion
![Participants in the Santa Skate greet each other in London, Saturday, December 16, 2023](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/16/23/79045499-12871871-image-a-34_1702768087851.jpg)
Participants within the Santa Skate greet one another in London, Saturday, December 16, 2023
![Participants in the Santa Skate start skating in London, Saturday, December 16, 2023](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/16/23/79045503-12871871-image-a-35_1702768089702.jpg)
Participants within the Santa Skate begin skating in London, Saturday, December 16, 2023
BMX Life’s occasion ran from 11am till 2pm, touring by London in a sponsored cycle in help of charity.
Attendees have been pictured with musical horns and in an array of festive outfits.
One was pictured in a full Grinch costume driving by the capital.
BMX Life have organised their occasion for the final eight years to assist ECHO and have thus far raised £6,282 on their Just Giving web page.
According to the organisers, the numbers for the occasion have elevated every year from 200 riders of their first yr to 300 in yr 2, rising to 800 final yr.
‘Santa Cruise is a Charity Event with the primary goal of accumulating as a lot for ECHO as attainable. So far BMX Life have raised over £135,000 for Evelina Children’s Heart Organisation by its members generosity,’ they shared on Facebook.
‘Most of this has been raised by holding raffles with prizes which were donated by BMX Life members and corporations that they work for.’
BMX Life mentioned this yr’s costume code was: ‘Santa Outfit-Elf-Snowman-Christmas Tree-Reindeer.’
![A group dressed as Santa during a pause at the BMX Life's Santa Cruise 9 for ECHO event](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/16/22/79038873-12871871-A_group_dressed_as_Santa_during_a_pause_at_the_BMX_Life_s_Santa_-a-25_1702767334431.jpg)
A bunch dressed as Santa throughout a pause on the BMX Life’s Santa Cruise 9 for ECHO occasion
![A man wearing a festive blue suit appears to be enjoying himself at the event in London on Saturday](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/16/22/79038875-12871871-A_man_wearing_a_festive_blue_suit_appears_to_be_enjoying_himself-a-26_1702767334432.jpg)
A person sporting a festive blue go well with seems to be having fun with himself on the occasion in London on Saturday
![A man dressed in the famous red outfit makes the peace sign for the BMX Life's Santa Cruise 9 for ECHO event in London](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/16/22/79038879-12871871-A_man_dressed_in_the_famous_red_outfit_makes_the_peace_sign_for_-a-27_1702767334432.jpg)
A person dressed within the well-known purple outfit makes the peace signal for the BMX Life’s Santa Cruise 9 for ECHO occasion in London
![A man dressed as an alternative Santa makes the peace sign for the event in London](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/16/22/79038881-12871871-A_man_dressed_as_an_alternative_Santa_makes_the_peace_sign_for_t-a-28_1702767334433.jpg)
A person dressed in its place Santa makes the peace signal for the occasion in London
![Participants in the Santa Skate wait for the start of the event in London, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/16/23/79045619-12871871-image-a-38_1702768465436.jpg)
Participants within the Santa Skate anticipate the beginning of the occasion in London, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023
![A participant in the Santa Skate, backdropped by the Royal Artillery Memorial looks at a mobile device before the start of the event in London, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/16/23/79045617-12871871-image-a-39_1702768466948.jpg)
A participant within the Santa Skate, backdropped by the Royal Artillery Memorial seems at a cellular gadget earlier than the beginning of the occasion in London, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023
![A participants in the Santa Skate waits for the start of the event in London, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/16/23/79045497-12871871-image-a-36_1702768411819.jpg)
A members within the Santa Skate waits for the beginning of the occasion in London, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023
![Several nearby Underground stations were temporarily available for exit only to control the growing crowds (December 16)](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/16/23/79045613-12871871-image-a-41_1702768519621.jpg)
Several close by Underground stations have been quickly accessible for exit solely to manage the rising crowds (December 16)
Oxford Circus in London was packed this night as crowds descended on the town centre for some last-minute Christmas buying.
Major shops are understood to be mounting half-price gross sales in a determined bid to shift their unsold inventory earlier than Christmas.
With the price of residing disaster nonetheless placing strain on households, Britons are anticipated to spend £3bn much less this yr than they did in 2022.
And an Office for National Statistics research discovered that just about half of households try to make ends meet by forking out much less money on presents and meals.
In response, main retailers together with House of Fraser and Sports Direct are providing reductions of no less than 50 per cent.
John Lewis – additionally on Oxford Street – can also be selling half-price items and style.
![A group were seen riding through Oxford Circus for the Santa Ride London event](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/16/22/79038887-12871871-A_group_were_seen_riding_through_Oxford_Circus_for_the_Santa_Rid-a-29_1702767334434.jpg)
A bunch have been seen driving by Oxford Circus for the Santa Ride London occasion
![A group of people dressed as Father Christmas for the event in London on Saturday](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/16/22/79038885-12871871-A_group_of_people_dressed_as_Father_Christmas_for_the_event_in_L-a-30_1702767334434.jpg)
A bunch of individuals dressed as Father Christmas for the occasion in London on Saturday