Christmas Day in London

I've been sent an email asking what there is to do in London on 25 December, Christmas Day itself. Well, let me tell you 25 December is the only day of the whole year when nearly everything is closed. No visitor attractions are open, most restaurants are closed, and even most pubs! Also, there is no public transport and only a limited number of taxis are available so you may well be staying close to your hotel. I've checked with the Britain & London Visitor Centre) and they have a list of few things to do on Christmas Day in London.

Christmas Day Church Services
Most churches will hold at least one Christmas Day service. These are the most famous places of worship.

• Westminster Abbey, Parliament Square, London SW1P 3PA
  08:00 Holy Communion, 10:30 Sung Eucharist, 15:00 Festal Evensong
• Southwark Cathedral, Montague Close, London SE1 9DA
  08:45 Morning Prayer, 09:00 Eucharist with Carols, 11:00 Choral Eucharist
• St Paul's Cathedral, St Paul's Churchyard, London EC4M 8AD
  08:00 Holy Communion, 08:45 Matins, 11:00 Sung Eucharist, 15:15 Evensong
• St Martin-in-the-Fields Church, Trafalgar Square, London WC2N 4JJ
  10:30 Eucharist, 14:15 Communion Service in Mandarin & Cantonese
• Westminster Cathedral (Roman Catholic)
  08:00 Mass, 10:30 Solemn Mass with Choir, 12 Sung Mass with Carols, 15:30 Solemn Vespers and Benediction with Choir

Organized Coach Tours on Christmas Day

• Evan Evans Tours
  Throughout December (including 24th, 25th, and 26th December) this coach tour company will be operating Christmas tours in and outside London. Christmas Day tours include, amongst others a Cotswolds tour (£95), Royal London & Windsor tour (£95) as well as Christmas Day Lunch Cruises (£89.50) and Morning Half Day London Panoramic tours (£30).
  Tel: 020 7233 7030
  www.evanevanstours.co.uk
• Golden Tours
  As above. Christmas Day tours include, amongst others, a Bath and Stonehenge and Salisbury Tour with Christmas lunch (£95) and a Christmas Day Lunch Cruise (£130.00).
  Tel: 020 8811 2858
  www.goldentours.com
• Premium Tours
  As above. Christmas Day tours include a Windsor, Stonehenge and Bath tour (£95) and a London, Oxford, Stratford and Christmas Lunch in the Cotswolds tour (£95).
  Tel: 020 7404 5100
  www.premiumtours.co.uk

Christmas Day Walks
The Original London Walks, Tel: 020 7624 3978, www.walks.com
Walkers should come prepared to be on the move in a large group for approximately two hours. Walks cost £6.00 and meet next to the big Christmas tree on Trafalgar Square.
11am: Christmas Morning, 1660 – Samuel Pepys’ London
2pm: The Christmas Day Charles Dickens London walk

You could download a walking tour or two and check out a few areas of London while it’s quiet. See Visit London for more ideas, including places to eat on Christmas Day.

• Christmas in London
• South Bank at Christmas
• December in London
• New Year's Eve in London
• _{Image: St. Christopher's Place, © Laura Porter (2007) licensed to About.com, Inc.}