Kew Gardens: Royal Botanic Gardens
Take a breath of fresh air in the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew Gardens!
From
6 €
ChristmasWhat to do in London on 25 December 2026?
Discover our guide Christmas in London
25 December in London is unlike any other day of the year. The city centre is unusually quiet, most major attractions close and the usual public transport services stop running. Even so, spending Christmas Day in the British capital can be a great experience. You simply need to plan the day differently.
You can watch the traditional Peter Pan Cup in Hyde Park, walk through an almost deserted central London, enjoy the Christmas lights, take a special cruise on the Thames or attend a service in one of London's major churches.
Important: 25 December is not a day to leave everything to chance. Book your lunch and any activities that require reservations before Christmas, and think carefully about transport: without the usual Tube and bus services, two places that look close on a map can quickly make your day more complicated.
What to do in London on 25 December 2026?
Forget the usual museums, monuments and shopping itinerary for a day. Christmas Day is better suited to walks, London traditions and the few experiences organised especially for Christmas.
| Activity | On 25 December | Booking |
|---|---|---|
| Peter Pan Cup in Hyde Park | ✅ Traditional morning race | No for spectators |
| Walk through the Royal Parks | ✅ Possible | No |
| Christmas lights | ✅ Visible in central London | No |
| Special Thames cruises | ✅ Some operate | Yes |
| Christmas church services | ✅ Several take place | Depends on the venue |
| London Eye | ❌ Closed | - |
| Madame Tussauds | ❌ Closed | - |
| British Museum | ❌ Closed | - |
advertisement
Watch the Peter Pan Cup in Hyde Park
At 9am on Christmas morning, while much of London is still asleep, swimmers plunge into the icy waters of the Serpentine. The Peter Pan Cup is one of London's most unusual Christmas Day traditions.
The race, held in Hyde Park, dates back to 1864. The trophy is named after J. M. Barrie, the author of Peter Pan, who presented it to the club in the early 20th century.
The race traditionally starts at 9am sharp. Swimming is restricted to qualifying members of the Serpentine Swimming Club, but anyone can watch from the banks. It is worth arriving at around 8:30am to find a good viewing spot.
No need to pack your swimming costume: even if the icy water looks tempting, the Peter Pan Cup is not open to the public. Only Serpentine Swimming Club members who meet the qualifying requirements can take part.
Another useful detail at that early hour: the opening times currently published by the Royal Parks show that the Serpentine Lido Café is open from 8am to 4pm on 25 December.
Take a Thames cruise on Christmas Day
Boats are one of the few ways to continue sightseeing in London on 25 December without spending the whole day on foot. These are not regular river services: a small number of cruises are scheduled specifically for Christmas.
For 2026, City Cruises is advertising a Christmas Day lunch cruise with a festive meal and a one-hour sightseeing cruise, both departing from Westminster Pier.
The lunch cruise lasts around 3 hours 15 minutes. The sightseeing option has several departures during the day. In both cases, it is best to have your tickets booked before 25 December.
From the Thames, the route offers views of several major London landmarks, including Westminster, the London Eye, St Paul's Cathedral, the City and Tower Bridge.
Our guide to Thames cruises covers the different types of cruises available in London.
Important: do not rely on regular river boats as an alternative to the Tube. On 25 December, choose a cruise that is explicitly advertised as operating on Christmas Day.
See the Christmas lights in an almost deserted London
This is one of the unusual pleasures of 25 December: Oxford Street, Regent Street, Bond Street and Covent Garden keep their Christmas decorations, but without the crowds of the previous weeks.
A walk around the Christmas lights in London is free and works particularly well in the late afternoon, when darkness falls.
From Westminster, you can walk towards Trafalgar Square, pass through Covent Garden, continue to Piccadilly Circus and then head along Regent Street towards Oxford Street. It is a fairly long walk, so comfortable shoes are essential.
For photos: seeing some of London's busiest streets with so few people is quite rare. The contrast is particularly noticeable around Regent Street and Piccadilly Circus.
Walk through the Royal Parks
You do not need a ticket to enjoy the Royal Parks. Hyde Park, Kensington Gardens, Green Park and St James's Park are particularly convenient when planning a day largely on foot.
After the Peter Pan Cup, a simple route is to cross Hyde Park and then Green Park, walk past Buckingham Palace and continue towards St James's Park and Westminster.
Facilities inside the parks follow their own opening times. Cafés, kiosks, playgrounds and other facilities may therefore be closed even when the park itself remains accessible.
Attend a Christmas Day service in London
On 25 December, St Paul's Cathedral and Westminster Abbey do not operate as ordinary tourist attractions. Their main purpose is to welcome worshippers celebrating Christmas. For visitors who wish to attend in that spirit, the services can be among the most memorable experiences of the day.
St Paul's Cathedral
On Friday 25 December 2026, St Paul's Cathedral is due to hold several free services: Eucharist at 8am, the main Christmas Day Choral Eucharist from 11am to 12:30pm and Christmas Day Festal Evensong from 3pm to 4pm.
The two main services of the day are advertised as free and unticketed. On Christmas Day, it is still sensible to arrive early.
Westminster Abbey
Westminster Abbey also celebrates Christmas on 25 December. Its 2026 calendar confirms the Sung Eucharist of Christmas Day, followed by the Abbey bells ringing at around 11:45am.
While you are there: remember that this is a religious service rather than a tourist visit. Follow any instructions regarding photography, movement inside the building and mobile phones.
Where to eat in London on 25 December
This is probably the meal of your trip that you should least leave to chance. Many restaurants close for Christmas, while those that remain open often serve a special Christmas Day menu available by reservation only.
Book a Christmas lunch
Hotel restaurants and some pubs are among the most common options. Menus are often fixed and more expensive than an ordinary lunch.
If you want to try a traditional British Christmas lunch with turkey and festive side dishes, book as soon as reservations open. Some popular restaurants are fully booked well before December.
Do not leave finding a restaurant until the last minute
25 December is definitely not the day to wander around London hoping to find somewhere open. Even in areas where several restaurants usually open for Christmas, opening hours can change from one year to the next.
Buy these on 24 December: water, snacks, breakfast and a few essentials for your accommodation. The following day, your options will be much more limited.
Which London attractions are closed on 25 December?
Save your major sightseeing for another day. Christmas Day is one of the rare dates when a large number of London attractions close at the same time.
The London Eye closes on 25 December, as does Madame Tussauds. The British Museum is closed for three days, from 24 to 26 December.
The Tower of London is also closed on Christmas Day. If there is an attraction you really want to visit, do not save it for 25 December without checking its official calendar first.
What about the following day? Boxing Day, on 26 December, sees activities gradually return and marks the beginning of another very distinctive day in the UK.
Is Winter Wonderland open on 25 December?
No. Winter Wonderland takes over part of Hyde Park during the festive season, but the event closes on Christmas Day.
If you watch the Peter Pan Cup in the morning, you can still walk through Hyde Park afterwards, but you will not be able to continue with the rides and attractions at Winter Wonderland.
Can you go ice skating in London on 25 December?
The choice is very limited. Several of the main Christmas ice rinks in London close specifically on 25 December.
The ice rink at JW3, in north London, has been one of the few exceptions in recent years. For 2026, check the official calendar and available sessions before planning the journey.
Keep in mind: JW3 is some distance from the usual tourist routes in central London. Without normal public transport on 25 December, getting there requires more planning than at other times of the year.
Does public transport run in London on 25 December?
This is the most important thing to know before planning your day. London's usual public transport network does not operate normally on Christmas Day.
Traditionally, there are no services on 25 December on the London Underground, TfL buses, DLR, London Overground, Elizabeth line and trams. National rail services are also largely suspended.
For Christmas 2026, check the special festive travel information published by Transport for London and your train operator, particularly if your journey involves an airport or a destination outside central London.
How can you get around on 25 December?
In central London, walking is by far the simplest option. Choosing a restaurant and activities in the same area will save a lot of complications.
Black cabs and some private-hire services also operate, but availability is more limited and fares may differ from a normal day. If you need an airport transfer or have booked an activity outside central London, arranging transport in advance is sensible.
A common mistake: booking lunch, a cruise and another activity in three different parts of London and expecting to travel between them by Tube. On 25 December, plan your day around walking and transport booked in advance instead.
A walking itinerary for 25 December in London
If your hotel is in central London and you do not mind walking, you can easily fill the day without visiting a traditional attraction.
Around 8:30am: head to Hyde Park to find a viewing spot near the Serpentine before the Peter Pan Cup.
At 9am: watch the start of the race, then take a walk through Hyde Park.
Late morning: cross Green Park, walk past Buckingham Palace and continue towards St James's Park and Westminster.
At lunchtime: head to the restaurant you have booked for your Christmas lunch. A Christmas Day lunch cruise on the Thames can replace this part of the itinerary.
In the afternoon: walk along the Thames or head towards St Paul's Cathedral if you want to attend one of the services.
After dark: Covent Garden, Piccadilly Circus and Regent Street provide a festive end to the day under the Christmas lights.
Adapt the route to your hotel: there is no need to follow this itinerary exactly. The best route is one that limits long journeys and makes it easy to return to your accommodation.
What to do in London on 25 December with children
With children, it is better to enjoy the slower pace than try to recreate a normal sightseeing day. Hyde Park, the decorations in central London, a pre-booked cruise or a walk around Buckingham Palace can already fill a good part of the day.
The Peter Pan Cup can also be fun to watch as a family: seeing swimmers jump into the Serpentine in the middle of December is certainly unusual. You will simply need to be prepared for an early start and dress warmly.
For the other days of your trip, our guide to Christmas in London with children covers the main family experiences of the season. Our complete Christmas in London guide covers the major events taking place before and after 25 December.
Can you see a show in London on Christmas Day?
25 December is not the night to choose for a major West End musical. Most productions do not perform on Christmas Day.
If seeing a show is one of the priorities of your trip, look instead at performances scheduled around 25 December. Our selection of Christmas shows in London covers productions to see during the festive season.
A few things to remember before 25 December
- Book your restaurant: there is far less choice than during the rest of the year.
- Plan your transport: do not rely on the usual Tube or bus services.
- Do some shopping on 24 December: buy water, snacks, breakfast and any essential items.
- Stay within a reasonable area: a day that can largely be completed on foot will be much easier.
- Bring warm, waterproof clothing: much of your day is likely to be spent outdoors.
- Check your bookings and opening times again: Christmas often brings special opening hours.
- Leave some free time: part of the appeal of 25 December is seeing London operating at a much slower pace.
advertisement
FAQ: London on 25 December
Does the London Underground run on 25 December?
No. The London Underground traditionally does not operate on Christmas Day. Much of London's public transport network is closed. Check the arrangements announced by Transport for London for Christmas 2026 before your trip.
Do buses run in London on Christmas Day?
Regular TfL buses do not run on 25 December. Some private services may operate, but they do not replace London's normal bus network.
Are London tourist attractions open on 25 December?
Most major attractions are closed. The London Eye, Madame Tussauds and the British Museum are among them. A few experiences, including selected Thames cruises, are organised specifically for Christmas Day.
Is the London Eye open on Christmas Day?
No. The London Eye is closed on 25 December. If you want to visit during your Christmas trip, choose another day and check seasonal opening hours before booking.
Can you visit London on 25 December?
Yes, but not in the same way as on a normal day. Christmas Day is better suited to walks, festive traditions, church services and the small number of activities organised specifically for the date.
Are restaurants open in London on Christmas Day?
Some restaurants, hotels and pubs open and serve a special Christmas menu. Many others remain closed. Booking in advance is strongly recommended.
Are shops open in London on 25 December?
The vast majority of shops are closed on Christmas Day. Do not plan a shopping trip on Oxford Street and buy any essentials before 25 December.
What can you do for free in London on 25 December?
You can watch the Peter Pan Cup, walk through the Royal Parks, visit the areas around Buckingham Palace and Westminster on foot or see the Christmas lights in central London. Some church services are also free.
Can you see the Christmas lights on 25 December?
Yes. The main seasonal decorations are still in place. Covent Garden, Piccadilly Circus, Regent Street and Oxford Street make a particularly attractive route after dark.
Is Winter Wonderland open on Christmas Day?
No. Winter Wonderland closes on 25 December before reopening for the remainder of its season.
What can you do in London on 26 December?
Boxing Day sees many activities return, although public transport may still operate to a special timetable. It is also traditionally associated with sales and sport in the UK.
Summary
On 25 December in London, forget the usual sightseeing itinerary: most attractions, shops and regular public transport services are closed. Instead, watch the Peter Pan Cup in Hyde Park, explore the parks, see the Christmas lights, attend a Christmas service or take a specially scheduled Thames cruise.
The main thing is to plan your transport and meals in advance. With a restaurant booked, a few supplies and an itinerary that can largely be completed on foot, Christmas Day can become one of the most unusual days of a trip to London.
To plan the rest of the festive season, read our complete Christmas in London guide and compare activities available on AllTrippers for the dates of your trip.
Sources and useful links
Official sources
Planning your trip? These are the tours and tickets travellers book most.
