Christmas Bus Tours
You may think that Christmas Day is a day where the city of London grinds to a halt, but there's actually still quite a lot you can do, including a bus tour! Experience the magic of Christmas in London with an open top bus tour where you will be able to spot iconic landmarks like Buckingham Palace, Big Ben as well as see all the beautiful Christmas lights the city has to offer.
Christmas River Cruises
If you'd prefer to see the city by boat, then you can climb aboard this Christmas river cruise! This will be a Christmas Day experience unlike any you've had before. You'll start the day with a guided tour around London, where you'll visit Westminster Abbey, St Paul's Cathedral and Buckingham Palace, plus you'll get to see all the festive lights and excitement building up in the capital. Then, you'll board the boat! As you float down the River Thames, you'll tuck into a delicious Christmas lunch, and you won't have to wash up after, you can just relax! In addition to this, you'll be welcomed with a glass of sparkling wine, complete bliss.
JW3 Ice Rink
It's December 25th and you've been so busy in the run up to Christmas that you haven't had the chance to go ice skating, well all is not lost, as JW3 ice rink is open! The rink is kitted out with glimmering bright lights, vibrant music and of course a festive atmosphere. Watch out for the penguins and bananas helping those who are a little unsteady on their feet!
London's Royal Parks
If you fancy a stroll after devouring your Christmas dinner, then head to one of London's Royal Parks, they're all open on Christmas Day! Whether you fancy a post dinner stroll or a pre dinner run, this is the best time to go as the parks tend to be much quieter. London's Royal Parks include Hyde Park, Kensington Gardens, Richmond Park, Bushy Park, St James' Park, The Green Park, Regent's Park, Primrose Hill and Greenwich Park. You'll also get some stunning views of the capital city, but remember to take your scarf and gloves, as it will probably be quite chilly!
Christmas Day Church Services
Christmas Day Church services are a beautiful experience to share with family and friends. There are many different services in Cathedrals and Churches across the capital for you to get involved with, but one of the most famous is St Paul's Cathedral. Plus, St Paul's is a lovely area to walk around after with various gardens you can sit in. Spaces at these services do tend to fill up very quickly, so it's worth double checking timings, getting there early and checking if you need to book! If you don't feel like heading out on Christmas Day, then you can kick start the celebrations on Christmas Eve with Midnight Mass!
Take A Quieter Day In London
Christmas Day is the perfect opportunity to see London by foot or by hiring a bike! Grab yourself a Santa-nder Cycle and have a ride under some of London's top Christmas decorations. Streets are mostly deserted on Christmas Day, which you may find spooky or you might enjoy it, either way, it's a great experience! You can also get all your typical tourist selfies in now without anyone photobombing you, so make the most of it! If we're really lucky, you might even get to see a snowy London!
Transport On Christmas Day
It can be a little tricky travelling into and around London on Christmas Day. There are no overground, underground or DLR trains, plus there are no buses running (except the Christmas bus tours!) You can choose to walk or cycle to your destination and work off some of that Christmas dinner, or you can get a black cab or mini cab as these still run on Christmas Day! Beware that the fares for the cabs will be considerably higher than usual. You've also got the option of the river cruise for a different way of getting around London!
Chinatown
You might not have thought to stop by Chinatown on your Christmas Day explore of London, but they have lots of restaurants open on December 25th so it's worth a look! If you fancy an alternative to your traditional Christmas dinner, then why not change things up a bit this December?