I love spending Christmas in London. Few cities can compete with the UK capital when it comes to the festive season when the city transforms into a winter wonderland filled with Christmas lights, Christmas trees and all-round festive fun.
But what about if you are in central London on December 25th? While much of the city closes down, there are still some things to do in London Christmas Day.
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. I have been or could be if you click on a link in this post compensated via a cash payment, gift or something else of value for writing this post. See our full disclosure policy for more details.
Things to do in London on Christmas Day
I actually really love central London on December 25th.
I spend much of late November and December trying to enjoy London’s Christmas spirit while simultaneously trying to avoid the Christmas crowds doing their Christmas shopping on Oxford Street – no easy feat!
On Christmas Day however, the city falls largely silent and you have much of it to yourself. There are a few places open however, so if you are visiting London and wondering how to keep the kids busy once they’ve opened their presents, then here are my top recommendations for things to do in London on Christmas Day.
Go for a walk
Cross your fingers for a crisp wintery day with sunshine, blue skies and a touch of frost on the ground and head out to explore. One option is to see London’s Christmas lights without thousands of other people. You can see the best of the best by following this self-guided walking route that includes Carnaby Street, Bond Street and Regent Street.
London’s parks are also wonderfully crowd-free on Christmas Day.
Head to St James’s Park to spot the pelicans; take a stroll in Hyde Park and watch the annual Peter Pan Cup, a swim race that has taken place in the Serpentine since 1864; head north to Hampstead Heath and catch views of London or head to Richmond Park and watch the deer roam around.
Or you could simply head to a playground and give the kids a chance to run off some of their Christmas chocolate energy.
Go for a dip
Admittedly going for an icy dip on Christmas Day is not everyone’s idea of fun but swimming in cold water at Christmas time is a wonderfully bonkers British tradition that takes place in a handful of lidos, pools and ponds across London.
Hampstead Heath’s open-air Parliament Hill Lido opens early on the morning of 25 December at 7am for Christmas Day dippers. The last entry is at 11.30am. The good news is that Parliament Hill also has a sauna and that will be on as well with last entry at 10am.
Not far away are the Hampstead Heath Ponds and dippers will be braving the icy waters of the Ladies’ Pond from 7.30am – 11.30am. Over at the Men’s Pond, it’s men only from 7.30am and then from 8.30am to 10.30am it’s open for a joint men and women’s Christmas Day dip.
The Lifebuoys Race takes place at 11am, which you can watch from outside the Ponds.
Go Ice Skating
Almost all of London’s Christmas ice rinks, including Somerset House and Hampton Court Palace, will be closed on December 25th apart from one. If you fancy a spin around the ice on Christmas Day then the JW3 Ice Rink in North London is open. Sessions are 45 minutes long.
Take a hop-on hop-off Christmas Day tour
Golden Tours run a Christmas Day hop-on hop-off open-top sightseeing bus tour so you can enjoy London’s landmarks including the Tower of London, Tower Bridge, Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament and more. The tour also includes the option of a three-course Christmas Day lunch.
If you’re in the mood for something a little more festive then book a seat on the singalong Christmas lights tour.
Also run by Golden Tours, this 90 minute tour takes in the best of London’s Christmas lights and includes two festive drinks of your choice (mulled wine, hot chocolate or orange juice), a mince pie and some shortbread biscuits. Oh, and lots of songs to singalong to of course!
Catch a Christmas movie
Most of London’s cinemas are closed on Christmas Day but fortunately the W London in Leicester Square has its very own cinema!
The cosy cinema hosts film screenings year-round and has a very festive line-up for the holidays, including two on December 25th. Everyone’s favourite Home Alone is showing at 3.30pm and ELF follows at 5.30pm.
All tickets include popcorn and you can book them here.
Enjoy a Christmas service
Many of London’s churches are open for Christmas Day services including St Paul’s Cathedral that is hosting a Christmas Day Choral Eucharist at 11am and a Festal Evensong at 3pm. Both of these are free and unticketed but I would recommend arriving well in advance of the start time.
At historic St Martin-in-the-Fields in Trafalgar Square, a free service takes place on Christmas Day at 10.30am. Westminster Abbey also holds their Christmas Day service at 10.30am. It’s free but you do need to book in advance.
See a hotel Christmas tree or two
London’s hotels tend to go all out during the Christmas period so it’s worth popping into some of the best hotel lobbies for a peek at their decorations. Try one of the following:
- The beautiful boutique hotel The Goring hired British accessories designer Lulu Guinness to create its ‘London Calling’ theme – their tree is surrounded by miniature red telephone boxes.
- Claridges always has elegant decorations and this year it worked with the chief creative officer of Burberry who ensured that the 16ft tree is suitable decorated with hand-blown glass baubles and Burberry-check bows.
- Taking pride of place in the grand baking hall of The Ned is an enormous 22ft tree covered in red velvet bows and copper baubles.
- The Savoy has turned its forecourt into a Frosted Fair, inspired by days gone by when the Thames River would freeze enough to host a fair on. Come for the decorations, the mulled wine and the hot chocolate.
- Winning top place for the most Christmas trees is The Dorchester, one of my favourite hotels in London. Located very close to Hyde Park, the hotel’s exterior features a dozen fir trees covered in fairy lights and the Christmas decorations continue inside with a the London skyline (including a rotating London Eye) made entirely from gingerbread.
Enjoy Afternoon Tea
Scones might not be the most traditional Christmas sweet but personally I much prefer them to Christmas cake or Christmas pudding. The following hotels and venues are open for a festive afternoon tea on December 25th.
- The Library at County Hall has a Festive Afternoon Tea on offer, which you can enjoy overlooking the River Thames.
- It’s not cheap but tea the Christmas Afternoon tea at The Ritz really is an only-in-London experience.
- The Shard is hosting a Season of Wonders Afternoon Tea with views.
- Rails at Kings Cross are hosting a Festive Afternoon tea with turkey and cranberry sandwiches and monte blanc reindeer.
Enjoy Christmas Dinner
Most London restaurants are closed on Christmas Day but many big hotels across the city serve Christmas Day lunch and many still have availability. If you want to enjoy a traditional roast turkey with all the trimmings but don’t want to worry about the washing up, then try one of the following.
- The Landmark: Possibly the most expensive Christmas Day lunch in London includes unlimited Taittinger Rose Champagne. Be prepared for a big bill, however, the price per person is a whopping £425.
- Dovetale: Enjoy a specially curated Christmas Day menu priced at £225 per adult, £175 per veggie and £55 per child.
- Rails: In Kings Cross, Rails has a delicious-looking Christmas Day menu for £115 per person. I’m eyeing up the dark chocolate and coffee opera cake.
- The Wolseley: One of my favourite restaurants in London is open on Christmas Day for a traditional dinner in a beautiful setting.
- Langan’s Brasserie: Starting from 1pm, Langan’s are serving their Christmas Day dinner with canapés, pigs in blankets, Christmas pudding and more. From £185 per person.
- Bob Bob Ricard: Located just off Regent Street, Bob Bob Ricard will be open from 12pm. There is a minimum spend of £135 per person.
- Charlie’s at Browns: One of London’s most elegant restaurants is open on Christmas Day with an all day set menu (last sitting at 7pm).
- The Founder’s Arms: On the banks of the River Thames, this convivial pub is one of the best places to eat on Christmas Day if you don’t want a set menu.
- The Flask: In Hampstead, North London, The Flask is offering a three course Christmas lunch menu for £100 per person.
- The Churchill Arms: London’s most Christmasy pub is open on Christmas Day although there’s not roast turkey here, the Churchill Arms serves traditional – and delicious – Thai food.
Getting around London on Christmas Day
There is no public transport in London on Christmas Day. Some Ubers and black cabs will be working and the Forest and Lime bike-sharing service will be operational. Alternatively, plan your day so that you can walk everywhere. If you do have a car, the good news is that there’s no congestion charge on Christmas Day.
