Today I want to share my guide to spending Christmas day in London with you. While the Christmas season is a busy time in the UK capital, December 25th is a completely different story. If you’re planning to be in London on Christmas day, you’ll need to know a few important things. Read on for my guide. I’ve included a map, too.
Christmas Day in London
From blog readers to social media followers and travel planning clients, a lot of people ask me what it’s like to spend Christmas day in London. It’s part of many Christmas itineraries, and it can be a popular time to visit.
Today I want to answer that question and give you some tips and advice from my personal experience of spending many December 25ths in the city.
Whether you’re a visitor, an expat, or someone who’s new to London this year, spending Christmas day in the UK capital is unique and unforgettable.
It’s the only time of year you’ll experience certain phenomena, and it’s something you’ll always remember.
Whether you’re planning to spend Christmas day in London this year or in the future, my guide will help you prepare for the one-of-a-kind aspects of the day so you can make the most of your time here.
Is Anything Open on Christmas Day?
The first question people ask me is whether anything in London is open on Christmas day. The general answer is no. While the run-up to December 25th sees the city buzz with festive excitement, the day itself is the opposite.
The same can be true of Christmas Eve on December 24th and Boxing Day on December 26th. And don’t forget New Year’s Day on January 1st, when a lot of things are closed again.
But back to December 25th. Shops are closed on Christmas day in London. Christmas markets are closed. Restaurants, bars, and pubs are closed. Museums and attractions shut their doors, tours cease to run, and the city is often referred to as a ghost town.
There are notable exceptions, particularly among churches (obviously), hotels, and a select number of restaurants and pubs (more on that below).
If you’re planning to be in London on Christmas day, make sure to do some research well ahead of time to see what’s open when you’re here.
Does Public Transport Run on Christmas Day?
Another question I often get asked is whether public transport runs on Christmas day in London. Again, the answer is no. If you’ve ever wanted to have a genuinely quiet day in London, this is the time.
There are no trains. No tube. No Overground. No DLR. No trams. No buses. Nothing. There are hardly any cars driving around, as most locals have left the city (or driven somewhere else in the city the night before) to spend Christmas with family or friends.
If you don’t have a car, you’ll need to plan carefully. I recommend staying in a hotel in central London so you can walk to any places you want to spend time in. You can see options and book one here. I’ve written more about this below, too.
Do Taxis Operate on Christmas Day?
You can book a taxi, black cab, car service, or Uber, but be aware that prices are very high on Christmas day. If you can avoid it, I recommend doing so. If you can’t, I recommend booking well in advance and getting a price quote up front.
How Else Can I Get Around?
If you don’t want to take a taxi or walk, you can rent one of the many bicycles or scooters docked around the city. With so few cars on the road, it can be an enjoyable time to ride around.
Where Should I Stay?
As I mentioned previously, I recommend staying in a hotel in central London so you can walk to any places you want to spend time in. You can see options and book one here.
You can also take a look at my blog posts about the best area to stay in London, the best hotels for your style, and quirky hotels for more ideas.
I’ve even published a blog post about the best pubs with rooms in London. It’s a good one to look at if you want something unique and different for the festive season.
If you’re after something particularly Christmassy, there are plenty of hotels that get all dressed up for the season. Each year The Dorchester decks its halls with beautiful decorations and offers Christmas meals and afternoon tea.
There’s always a designer Christmas tree at Claridge’s, and the lobby of The Langham is decked with decorations. In the City of London, The Ned has stunning trees and festive adornments throughout its restaurants (which are open on Christmas day).
Over by Liverpool Street station, The Andaz always has great decorations. The Andaz is one of the top London hotels at Christmas on a number of levels, including its festive food offerings.
If you don’t want to break the bank, The Rubens at the Palace in Victoria has great decorations. It’s right by Buckingham Palace and it’s less expensive than some of the other festive London hotels at Christmas. If that appeals, you can book a room here.
Is it Cold on Christmas Day?
It can be very cold outside in London in late December. The weather is unpredictable, and temperatures can plummet around this time. It can even snow. It can definitely rain.
I suggest wearing layers of warm clothing and carrying a good umbrella with you when you go. You can get the umbrella I recommend on Amazon here.
My winter packing list for London can help you decide what to wear, too. It has lots of ideas for how to dress in London in December.
What Can I Actually Do on Christmas Day?
In light of everything I mentioned above, the next question people ask is what there is to do on Christmas day in London. While there’s plenty to entertain you during the Christmas season, there’s not much happening on December 25th.
Apart from walking through empty streets and seeing the city at its quietest, is there anything going on? The answer is yes. Thankfully.
You can still find tours and other things to do in London on Christmas day. Select tours and river cruises run on December 25th, including guided sightseeing walks and boat rides with lunch. You can see options and book one here.
You can even take a day tour from London on December 25th. Whether you want to see Windsor or Oxford (or both!), there’s one you’ll love. You can see options and book your favorite here.
You can also take advantage of all the things London has to offer that don’t involve going indoors. Strolling through the Royal Parks is one of them.
If you go to Hyde Park, you can watch members of the Serpentine Swimming Club take part in the annual Peter Pan Cup race on the morning of December 25th.
You can also discover a new-to-you neighborhood on one of my free self-guided walking tours. A popular choice is my Covent Garden walk, where you can see some of London’s most famous Christmas trees and decorations without all the crowds. My other Christmas walks are fun, too.
There are plenty more to choose from, and there are additional routes in the book London’s Hidden Walks as well. You can get it on Amazon here. It has lots of fun ideas for places to explore on foot.
If you’re into ice skating, the JW3 Ice Rink on Finchley Road in North London is open on Christmas day (and Christmas Eve, Boxing Day, and New Year’s Day). It’s a fun place to get outdoors and have some winter fun on December 25th.
If you’re interested in a religious service, places like Westminster Abbey and St Paul’s Cathedral offer Christmas day church services.
You can check out their websites for information about the timing. It’s a good idea to arrive early, as Christmas church services can be very crowded. Some require you to reserve a place in advance, too.
Where Can I Eat?
Another question people ask me is whether any restaurants are open in London on Christmas day. While most are closed, a few keep their doors open and their kitchens warm.
This is most common with hotel restaurants that offer traditional Christmas lunch and dinner for guests and outside patrons. Many of the city’s famous luxury hotels offer a big feast on December 25th, as do some of the others in the city center.
A few examples of hotel restaurants that are open on Christmas day are several restaurants at Claridge’s in Mayfair, The Aubrey and Dinner by Heston Blumenthal at the Mandarin Oriental in Knightsbridge, Canton Blue at The Peninsula London on Hyde Park Corner, The Dining Room at The Goring in Belgravia, The Ritz Restaurant at The Ritz on Piccadilly, several restaurants at The Dorchester on Park Lane, and The Game Bird at The Stafford in St James’s.
A few examples of non-hotel restaurants that are open on Christmas day in London are Duck & Waffle on Bishopsgate, Kahani near Sloane Square (it’s great if you like upscale Indian food), Orrery in Marylebone, Bluebird in Chelsea, and Tayyabs in Whitechapel (it’s one of my favorite restaurants in London for no-frills Indian food).
Aside from those, a number of select places to eat stay open on Christmas day. Some restaurants in Chinatown are open on December 25th, and a few hotel bars also stay open. They’re great places for Christmas drinks and festive cocktails.
A handful of pubs keep their doors open, too. They’re usually chain pubs, and they’re usually open for lunch only. One is The Founder’s Arms, a riverside pub on the South Bank. A non-chain option is The Guinea, an upscale pub in Mayfair.
If you’re interested in any of these (or others), you’ll want to book well in advance. Some places book up months before December 25th.
London Christmas Map
As promised, I created an interactive Google map of all the places I mentioned in this blog post. You can see it here. I hope it helps you plan a fun and festive day!
Christmas Day in London
I hope you’ve found my guide helpful and that you’re feeling more prepared to spend Christmas Day in London. Whether you do it this year or in the future, it’s bound to be a memorable experience.
Above all, plan ahead. Be flexible. Have fun. It’s Christmas, after all!
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