• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • About
    • First Time Here?
    • Archive
    • London Blogs
  • Blog
  • Travel
    • London Theater Tickets
    • Shopping
    • Tips
    • Tours
    • Transport
    • Maps
    • Parks
    • Resources
    • Restaurants
    • Top 10 London
  • Culture
    • Art
    • Buildings
    • Food
    • London Books
    • Movies
    • Museums
    • Music
    • Pubs
  • Londonism
    • Reviews
    • Fun London
    • Iconic London
    • Life in London
    • London Realities
    • Moving to London
    • Politics
  • The Tube
  • London History
    • Great London Buildings
    • Great Londoners
  • Contact
  • Guidebooks
    • 101 London Travel Tips – Guidebook
    • 101 Free Things to do in London

Londontopia

The Website for People Who Love London

You are here: Home / Christmas / The London Fiver – Five Things You Can Do in London on Christmas Day

The London Fiver – Five Things You Can Do in London on Christmas Day

Dec 15, 2016 By John Rabon

London is a city blanketed in lights and good cheer at Christmastime.  There’s always something to do throughout the season (something touched upon in the previous article about winter activities), but what is there to do on Christmas Day itself?  You might think that the city shuts down for the holiday, and nothing is open (especially seeing that Christmas falls on Sunday this year), but nothing could be further from the truth.  In fact, there are several fun things to do on Christmas day, so you don’t have to sit at home with a family you can’t stand or stuck in your hotel for the day, so have a look at them below and let us know what some of your favourite things to do on Christmas.

Peter Pan Cup – Hyde Park

Jumping into Hyde Park’s Serpentine lake in winter may seem like an incredibly daft thing to do, but that’s exactly what the Serpentine Swimming Club signs up for on 25 December each year.  The Peter Pan Cup began when author J.M. Barrie donated it to the club in 1904.  The members must complete a 100-yard race in the lake in order to win the cup, which is certainly a challenge considering the waters on that day average forty degrees Fahrenheit (4C).  The race is open only to club members, but spectators are certainly welcome, so feel free to go down to Hyde Park before the 9 AM start time and get a good spot from which to see the frozen fun.

Thames Christmas Lunch/Dinner Cruise

There are plenty of river tours down the Thames throughout the year that will show you everything from Parliament to the HMS Belfast, but on Christmas Day, the offer something a little different.  There are several river tour companies that offer a traditional Christmas meal as a part of the cruise, making your tour an even more festive experience as you sip on holiday drinks and dine on a Christmas meal before, during, or after you see the sights.  Depending on the tour, passengers can enjoy mulled wine and minced pies during the tour and then such dishes as roast turkey and roast potatoes for the meal.  Tour firms that offer this as an option include City Cruises, Gray Line, and Golden Tours, amongst others.

Ripley’s Believe It or Not

You’d better believe that Ripley’s is open on Christmas Day.  Ripley’s being open 365 days a year means that it is one of the only major attractions in the city that is open on the holiday.  In addition to all the strange and magnificent items Ripley’s holds from all over the world, they also offer special Christmas exhibits during the holiday season.  This year, Ripley’s has a “Christmas Trail” which begins with a map given to visitors that they can fill out as they go through the museum with the promise of a festive treat for completing it.  There’s no extra cost for the trail, so feel free to go down to Ripley’s and make your Christmas a little weird.

Services at St. Paul’s Cathedral

Even though it’s one of the city’s largest landmarks, St. Paul’s Cathedral is still a working church that offers services throughout the year and especially on Christmas.  Falling on a Sunday this year, St. Paul’s naturally offers its Sunday morning Holy Communion, Morning Prayer, and Sung Eucharist services.  Additionally, there is a 3:15 Festal Evensong that features a number of classic Christian carols sung by the cathedral’s choir.  More than just normal services, fully expect sermons and hymns to reflect the theme of Christ’s birth and resurrection while immersed in beautiful Advent decorations.  Tickets aren’t required for the services, but keep in mind that they are not a time for sightseeing or taking photographs.

Christmas Dinner

If you don’t feel like taking your Christmas Dinner on the River Thames, plenty of restaurants and pubs serve a special Christmas menu on the 25th.  Of course, your hotel’s restaurant may be serving a wonderful Christmas dinner of its own, but if you feel like venturing out, it’s easy to find lists of restaurants that will be serving holiday meals all day long.  Whether you’re looking for something more traditional via Dean Street Townhouse or buffet style such as Market Brasserie, there are plenty of excellent options.  If you need a break from your family and a pint to get through the day, The Artesian and The Only Running Footman count themselves amongst the city’s numerous drinking establishments that will make themselves available to you.

John Rabon
Author: John Rabon

John is a regular writer for Anglotopia and its sister websites. He is currently engaged in finding a way to move books slightly to the left without the embarrassment of being walked in on by Eddie Izzard. For any comments, questions, or complaints, please contact the Lord Mayor of London, Boris Johnson's haircut.

close

Free London News

Get the latest news on London history, culture, travel, exhibitions, and more right in your inbox!

Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription.

Share this:

  • Print
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Reddit
  • Pocket

Filed Under: Christmas, Featured, Guides, London Events News

Subscribe to Our Free London Updates

Free London News

Get the latest news on London history, culture, travel, exhibitions, and more right in your inbox!

Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription.

About John Rabon

John is a regular writer for Anglotopia and its sister websites. He is currently engaged in finding a way to move books slightly to the left without the embarrassment of being walked in on by Eddie Izzard. For any comments, questions, or complaints, please contact the Lord Mayor of London, Boris Johnson's haircut.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Marvin Gray says

    Dec 15, 2016 at 12:43 pm

    On Christmas day 2004, we heard a reading of the Christmas Carol at the Dickens Museum. If the museum still offers it I would highly recommend it.

  2. Andrew says

    Nov 2, 2017 at 12:50 pm

    Ripley’s in London is now closed I believe. Nearest Ripley is in Blackpool

  3. Bonnie J. Beres says

    Nov 6, 2017 at 3:57 pm

    Christmas is on Monday this year, not Sunday.

    • jonathan says

      Nov 6, 2017 at 8:21 pm

      Well, this article was published last year.

Primary Sidebar

Subscribe to Our Free London Updates

Free London News

Get the latest news on London history, culture, travel, exhibitions, and more right in your inbox!

Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription.

Get the Anglotopia/Londontopia App

Our Advertisers

If you are a mobile gamer, you may want to take a look at UK’s new mobile casinos and slots reviewed by NewCasinoUK.

Join the London Forum

  • Mudlarking
  • MY FAVOURITE PLACE IN LONDON
  • What's Your Favorite Place in London?
  • Paddington Station

London Guide

  • Ten Cheap Things You Can Do in London on a Budget
  • Ten London Exhibitions to Look Forward to in 2023
  • London’s Non-Free Museums: Your Guide to London’s Museums That Charge Admission
  • Trip Planning: Top 10 Exhibitions To Plan Your 2018 Trips to London Around
  • London Guide: Our Favorite Restaurants in London – London Restaurant Recommendations for Americans – What’s Your Favorite?

Connect With Us

  • Facebook
  • RSS Feed
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Support Londontopia

Search our Extensive Archive

Top 10 London

  • Ten Unusual Exhibits to See in London
  • London Pubs: Ten Thameside Pubs for a Pint and a View
  • Top 10 London: Ten More Things to Do Along the River Thames
  • Top 10 London: Top Ten Shopping Centers in London
  • Museums of London: Ten Overlooked London Museums
  • Top 10 London: Top Ten Things to See and Do in Haggerston
  • Top 10 London: Top Ten Things to See and Do in Haringey
  • Top 10 London: Top Ten Things to See and Do in Redbridge
  • Top 10 London: Top Ten Things to See and Do in Hillingdon
  • Top 10 London: Top Ten Things to Do in Canonbury

Recent Posts

  • Only Fools And Horses musical to close in West End after four years
  • Artist Ai Weiwei to launch first design-focused exhibition at London’s Design Museum
  • London Travel Alert: Staff at British Museum to walk out during half-term break
  • Poet Lemn Sissay ‘over the moon’ to receive Freedom of the City of London
  • English Heritage has unveiled six new blue plaques for London
  • National Portrait Gallery to reopen in June with two special exhibitions
  • Exploring The Cosmic House in London
  • Ten Social Media Accounts to Follow for Londonphiles
  • New Royal Academy Exhibition: Treasures from Spain and the Hispanic World
  • Pollock’s Toy Museum in London Has Closed Unexpectedly

Best Posts on Londontopia

  • 101 London Travel Tips
  • Top 100 London Attractions
  • How to Find the Cheapest Airfares to London
  • 10 Things NOT to do in London
  • Best London Guidebooks
  • 101 Free Things to do in London
  • London Lingo – A London Word Dictionary
  • Top 7 Tips for Doing London on the Cheap
  • Top 11 Myths American Believe about London
  • Guide to Eating in London
  • Best Times of Year to Travel to London
  • London Packing Tips
  • Top 11 Movies Set in London
  • Top Attractions off the Tourist Track
  • Top 5 Most Amazing London Hotels
  • Top 10 Hostels in London
  • Best Views in London Restuarants
  • London Taxi Ettiquette
  • Top 12 London Views
  • Great Fire of London
  • A Guide to Five of London’s Bridges
  • 10 Random Facts and Figures about Trafalgar Square
  • Top 100 British Slang Words

London Places to Explore

Bloomsbury Buckingham Palace Canary Wharf City of London Covent Garden Cutty Sark Greenwich Hampstead Hampton Court Palace Heathrow Houses of Parliament Hyde Park Imperial War Museum Islington Kensington Kensington Palace Leicester Square London London Eye London Transport Museum Museum of London National Gallery Notting Hill Piccadilly Circus Putney Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park Regent's Street Royal Academy Selfridges Somerset House Southbank Southwark St Pancras St Paul's Cathedral Tate Britain Tate Modern The City Tower Bridge Tower of London Trafalgar Square V&A Wandsworth West End Westminster Westminster Abbey

SIGN-UP FOR FREE LONDON WEEKLY UPDATES!

Please enter a valid email address
That address is already in use
The security code entered was incorrect
Thanks for signing up

Recent Videos

Walk Around London Virtually Right Now – Watched Walker is the YouTube Channel We All Need Right Now

Jason Hawkes Shares a Beautiful Video of London From Above That We All Need Right now

London Tube: You’ve Got to Watch This Amazing Mesmerizing Animation That Shows the Real Geography of the London Underground

Video: The Basics of Crossrail – London’s New Underground Line

London History: The Place Where Old London Double Decker Buses Went to Die

London Video: A Look at the Great Smog of London

Tube and London bus fares to rise by nearly 6% from March

What is Crossrail 2 and What is Its Current Status?

London Alert: Strike by London Underground workers to go ahead after last-minute talks fail

London Mayor hails Elizabeth line as direct routes and Sunday services begin

Elizabeth line fully opens and offers more direct journeys

Tube poet encourages writers to ‘bring who they are to the field’

Footer

About Londontopia

Londontopia is simply the website for people who love London. It was founded by Jonathan & Jackie Thomas from Anglotopia.net as a place to post articles solely focused on London and its environs. Keep up with all the latest London news at Londontopia! This site is geared towards people who love to visit London and our primary audience is North American but everyone is welcome!

When We’re in London Next

We don’t currently have any travel plans to London but hope to visit at some point in 2021.

  • SEO Backlinks
  • Travel Blog

SIGN-UP FOR FREE LONDON WEEKLY UPDATES!

Please enter a valid email address
That address is already in use
The security code entered was incorrect
Thanks for signing up

Copyright © 2023 Anglotopia, LLC · Website Developed by Anglotopia, LLC · Log in