Visiting London at Christmas
London can be magical at Christmas, but if you are planning to visit London at Christmas you might find it difficult to know what to expect, particularly on Christmas Day itself. This guide is designed to answer all your questions and help you plan an unforgettable time in London at Christmas. We’ll explore what the weather is likely to be like (including whether it is likely to snow in London on Christmas), what is going to be open, how to get about London and where to eat.
Visiting London at Christmas
Weather
What is the weather like in London at Christmas?
There’s a reason that Brits are known for talking about the weather a lot, and that’s because it is super variable. The weather can change dramatically from day to day. The best thing about that for tourists, is that bad weather on one day does not mean that you aren’t going to have a nice day the next. The same applies for the weather in London at Christmas – it’s hard to say what the weather will be like. if you are visiting for the holidays.
On average over the past five years, December has seen around 10 days of rain each year. So there’s a good chance that rain might occur during your trip. As with any trip to London (Winter or Summer), it is a good idea to pack an umbrella and/or waterproof coat with hood.
How cold does London get at Christmas?
The temperature in London can vary a lot from year to year. In 2023, the Christmas Day in London hit a high of 12 degrees Celsius and a low of 10 degrees Celsius. A few weeks out and the predictions for 2024 are that it will be colder in 2024.
The average temperature in London at Christmas is a high of 7 degrees Celsius and a low of 3 degrees Celsius.
In general though, it is rare for temperatures in London to drop into minus figures during the day, even in the coldest months of winter.
To deal with London in the winter, it’s best to pack layers, so that you can play it by ear and dress according to the weather on any given day.
Is it likely to snow at Christmas in London?
The Met Office defines a ‘White Christmas’ as a single snowflake falling on Christmas Day and whilst this has happened several times recently, it’s not really most people’s idea of a white Christmas. The last truly white Christmas (ie. a proper covering of snow) that London experienced was in 1999.
Even though London can and does experience snow, it very rarely lasts for long or gets particularly deep, so your chances of needing snow shoes is low.
Christmas Eve in London
What is there to do in London on Christmas Eve?
On Christmas Eve a lot of London’s major tourist attractions will be closed (see our post for more information on when attractions are closed over the Christmas period), although many will still be open.
Although Christmas Eve falls on a weekday in 2024, note that shops are likely to close earlier than usual (do check times if there is somewhere specific you want to visit) and they are likely to be busy as people grab some last minute gifts.
If you are religious, then many churches will offer special Christmas Eve services, although do take into account transport schedules (see below) when deciding to travel for evening services.
How to get around London on Christmas Eve
Unlike Christmas Day (see below), public transport does run on Christmas Eve. However, from early evening this does start to wind down and services become less frequent.
On the Tube network, tubes will run a Saturday service (so will be less frequent than on a week day but still frequent). There will be a reduced service from 20.00 and Sunday finish times will apply. The Elizabeth Line will run a Saturday service from 12.00.
On the Overground lines there will be a reduced service after 19.30 and trains will finish at 21.30.
The DLR will run a special service and will finish running at 22.30.
Buses do not run a night service on Christmas Eve and 24-hour services will finish around midnight.
From 20:00 on Christmas Eve until 06:00 on Thursday 27 December black cabs will charge an extra £4 per journey. Other private services such as Uber may charge an uplift in prices.
Where to eat in London on Christmas Eve?
Most restaurants will be open, although do note that most will shut earlier than usual and many will be busy with pre-bookings. If you are hoping to eat out on Christmas Eve, it would be better to do so early and having made a reservation.
Christmas Day in London
What is there to do in London on Christmas Day?
The most important thing to know about London on Christmas Day is that most attractions and businesses (including grocery shops and restaurants) will be closed.
But this doesn’t mean that there is nothing to do in London on Christmas Day. If you are staying in London you have various options. On Christmas Day you could:
- Attend a Church service – if your family is religious then churches in London offer Christmas Day services that you could attend, including St Paul’s Cathedral and Westminster Abbey.
- Go for a walk – whether you need to stretch your legs after a big Christmas Day lunch or just get some fresh air, going for a walk is a classic Christmas Day activity. Although the idea of going for a walk in Central London on Christmas Day has grown in popularity over the years, you will still find that the city is much quieter than it usually is. Either stroll through London’s parks, through the quiet streets of the City or along the banks of the Thames, enjoying the winter air and London at its most serene. The Christmas lights will all be on, so if you are out and about later in the day after dark then you can look at the lights without as many people about.
- Hire a bike – the busy streets of London can be rather off-putting for casual cyclists, but a lack of traffic on Christmas Day means it can be the ideal day to get out on a bike and explore. If you are nervous on roads or don’t have appropriate protective head gear, the Royal Parks have an extensive cycle path network. Hire a Santander bicycle and get going!
- Watch others take a dip in the Serpentine – the London Peter Pan Cup is a Christmas morning swimming event that takes place on the Serpentine in Hyde Park – swimmers brave freezing temperatures in a long-standing Christmas Day tradition. It can be an amusing and unique spectacle to watch before Christmas lunch.
- Take an organised tour – some companies, such as Golden Tours, run Christmas Day bus tours or river cruises. Bus tours on Christmas Day can be especially good for seeing the sights in London if you have just arrived because the roads will be much quieter than on a normal day.
How to get around London on Christmas Day
Public transport on Christmas Day is practically non-existent – Transport for London services, including Tubes, buses, the DLR, the Overground, trams, etc do not run on Christmas Day. Consider your plans for Christmas Day carefully based on where you are staying, as you will be limited to either places within walking distance, or that can be accessed by private transportation.
Limited coach services run on Christmas Day to London airports and major cities. If you are travelling to or from an airport on Christmas Day, you may find it more convenient to stay near the airport the night before a departure or upon arrival – this avoids travel stress, and airports usually offer more in the way of facilities than Central London on Christmas Day.
Black cabs, taxis and Ubers will be operating on Christmas Day (although not in the same numbers as on a regular day). Until 06.00 on Friday 27 December black cabs will charge an extra £4 per journey in addition to the usual meter charges. Expect Ubers and other taxis to also impose higher rates. Do note that as public transport isn’t running, the demand for private transport will be higher than usual and it may be difficult to secure. If you will need transportation, try and book in advance.
Where to eat in London on Christmas Day?
Food options will be limited on Christmas Day. Hotel restaurants will usually be open and some other restaurants and pubs will also be open and serving food (usually a set Christmas menu). However, pre-booking is very important. It is very unlikely that you will be able to just walk in to a restaurant on Christmas Day without pre-booking.
London is very diverse and so other than restaurants and pubs offering set menus, the other main options that are more likely to be open are restaurants run by those who do not observe Christmas as a religious festival, for example Indian or Chinese restaurants.
If you will be staying in and cooking for yourself on Christmas, make sure that you stock up on everything that you need for the day, including groceries and other essentials. Large shops (over 280 square metres) must close on Christmas Day and although there are no restrictions on small shops, most will be closed on Christmas Day.
Boxing Day in London
What is there to do in London on Boxing Day?
Boxing Day (ie, 26 December) is a Bank Holiday in the UK and as with Christmas Eve, a lot of London’s major tourist attractions will be closed (see our post for more information on when attractions are closed over the Christmas period), although many will still be open.
Traditionally Boxing Day was when the sales opened, although with online shopping there has been a marked decrease in the number of people physically going shopping on Boxing Day, such that many shops do not now open on Boxing Day. If there is somewhere particular you would like to shop, do check opening times before visiting.
In general, expect London to be relatively busy.
How to get around London on Boxing Day
Public transport does run on Boxing Day, but most services will be running a reduced service, with some parts of the Tube network still closed. If you intend to travel on Boxing Day, it is advisable to allow extra time for your journey and to plan your route in advance to allow for closures.
Where to eat in London on Boxing Day?
Significantly more restaurants will be open on Boxing Day than Christmas Day, although so may choose to remain shut. Given that it is still the Christmas season, it is advisable to book if possible to avoid being disappointed.
Have you spent Christmas in London before? What did you do? Share in the comments!