By
Halls
Posted 3 weeks ago
Mon 09 Dec, 2024 12:12 AM
Planning the big day or have zero idea what's available to do? We are here to help with some essential information on Monday 25 December, from transport to pubs to supermarkets. But before we get on to Christmas Day, let's take a quick look at Christmas Eve.
'Twas the night before Christmas...
Expect to see reduced times for lots of places on Christmas Eve, supermarkets will generally be open from 10am - 4pm so make sure to do all your food shopping sooner rather than later. In terms of entertainment though, it will be a popular time for food and drink! We'd recommend booking in advance or at least checking ahead of time to avoid disappointment. Many pubs will be open reasonably late, as they will be hosting Christmas Eve events which are usually free but will be packed to the brim with festive drunkards, so keep that in mind.
Transport will also be affected, mainly because everyone will be 'Driving Home for Christmas' which will cause delays on public transport and ridiculously high Uber prices. If you can walk it, then walk it as you will save yourself a headache. That's the basics though for Christmas Eve, as long as you do your homework beforehand, you should be able to easily navigate the chaos. Now let's get on to the big day.
Transport in London
The running theme for transport in London on Christmas Day is...well, not much is running. The Tube, buses (including night buses), Overground (including night Overground), Elizabeth line, DLR, trams, national rail - the list goes on. Basically, the only public transport running will be private or personal - meaning taxis/Ubers and Santander Cycles are your only real choices. Make sure to book in advance and expect higher prices in general over the Christmas period.
Pubs in London
Fancy a Christmas Day bev? Then here are our top three picks that are open on Christmas Day and don't require you to book in advance (as long as you're not having food):
- The Horniman at Hays - Located close to London Bridge, this pub has great views of the river and is the perfect spot for a festive pint.
- The Founder's Arms - Close to LSE campus, this pub is also situated right on the River Thames and is your classic British pub with a nice Christmasy feel.
- The Narrowboat - A little bit further away but worth the journey, this pub is a cute little hidden gem located on the Regent's Canal.
Supermarkets in London
Most big supermarkets will be closed on the day and have reduced opening times on the days surrounding it. The smaller convenience versions of your favourite grocery stores (such as Tesco Express or Sainsbury's Local) may be open on say Boxing Day but there will only be small windows of opportunity for you to shop at them. Here are times you need to know about the biggest supermarkets:
- Tesco has not disclosed its supermarket operating hours during the Christmas and New Year period.
- Nevertheless, you can refer to their store finder if you need specific times!
- On Christmas Eve, the majority of supermarkets will be open from 10 am to 4 pm.
- On Christmas Day, all stores will be closed.
- For Boxing Day, supermarkets are scheduled to open from 9 am to 6 pm, and convenience stores will operate from 9 am to 9 pm.
- On New Year’s Eve, most supermarkets will open from 10 am to 4 pm, while convenience stores will close at 9 pm.
- New Year’s Day will see the majority of stores operating between 8 am and 8 pm, with convenience stores open from 8 am to 9 pm.
- On January 2nd, Scottish stores will be open from 8 am to 8 pm, and convenience stores will follow their regular hours.
- Store finder
- On Christmas Eve, the operating hours will be from 9:30 am to 4 pm.
- All stores will be closed on Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
- For New Year's Eve, the stores will be open from 9:30 am to 4 pm.
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On New Year's Day, all stores will be closed.
- On Christmas Day, all stores will be closed, with the exception of those located in Welcome Break service stations and Shell forecourts.
- On Boxing Day, the majority of shops will be closed, but a few will remain open. Additionally, some establishments will be available for Deliveroo or Uber Eats orders.
- Similarly, on New Year's Day, most shops will be closed, though a select few will stay open. Certain places will also be accessible for Deliveroo or Uber Eats orders.
- Store finder
- On Christmas Eve, the majority of stores will be open from 10 am to 4 pm.
- All stores will be closed on Christmas Day.
- For Boxing Day, most stores will be open from 9 am to 6 pm.
- On New Year's Eve, most stores will operate from 10 am to 4 pm.
- New Year's Day will see the majority of stores open from 9 am to 6 pm.
- Store finder
Christmas Day activities
There are actually plenty of activities you can do to fill your Christmas Day. Yes, most are of course themed around Christmas but if you're going to embrace the festivity then there's no better day to do it. Activities include:
- JW3 Ice Rink - Located in North London, it's the only major rink open on Christmas Day, so if you're interested, make sure to book your tickets in advance.
- Wintery Walk - Treat yourself to a winter stroll through the beautifully adorned streets, or try a walk through London's Royal Parks as they will remain open on the day.
- A Cold Christmas Dip - If you're feeling adventurous, why not start a new tradition by joining in an early Christmas Day swim? It may seem strange but it will definitely invigorate you for the rest of the day!
- Chinatown Restaurant - There won't be many restaurants open on Christmas Day and the ones which are, usually are pubs which have already been booked out months in advance. That's why you could flip the script and go for an Asian restaurant found in London's Chinatown.
- Christmas Night Time Tour - Try an open-top bus tour and get the full feel of London at Christmas. Tickets are limited so make sure to book as soon as you can.
Hopefully this information will help you plan your very own perfect Christmas Day. Avoid the stress and maximise the fun!
