Christmas season in London

Public transport ( overground, underground and buses, black cabs ) do not operate on Christmas Day.

A variety of restaurants, cafes and pubs might be open but with hours cut back.

Over the 30 years I’ve been privileged to spend Christmases in London I’ve watched what was once a complete shut down evolve.

London is a multi ethnic city. Christmas, a Christian holiday, is celebrated by many but not by all of the populous.

Nowadays there will Uber, Bolt, Gett and Free Now cabs for transport. . Most offices, stores, grocers will be closed. Churches will be open but hours limited.

I’ve learned to stay with friends, in an apartment with oven/hob or in a hotel with a small fridge, microwave and coffee pot.

I’ll hit a Sainsburys or Tesco on Chrsitmas Eve and buy food; bread, crackers, cheese, cereal, fruit, pasta dishes, etc. I also make certain to a have a large bottle of still water, tea bags, my own coffee grounds, a Melitta 1 cup brewing cone and fliters.

I’ll also be certain to get outside to stroll in one of the city’s welcoming parks.

Definitely keep aware that most public transport in the entire country will be shut down on Christmas Day.

I have spent 4 of the last 6 Christmases in London.

While most things will be closed, over the last few years, more and more places, especially those serving food have opened. Even some of the big chains.

London Walks usually has a few tours running on Xmas. The big issue is how to get to them with no public transport.

The rest of the week the city will be hopping.

Thank you for the replies. To clarify, on Christmas Day I will be in King's Lynn. Why? To stand outdoors at Sandringham and hope to catch a glimpse of royals walking to/from church. I know that's not everyone's chosen Christmas activity, but it will be mine.

So it's Boxing Day until approx. January 2 that I'm looking to plan.

The only thing I will let you know is that on New Year's Eve there is a major firework show on the Thames near Parliament. The area will be packed with people. If this is something you like, you can plan to be there. If this is not something you'd like, then you can plan not to be there.

Winter Wonderland is a huge carnival type attraction in Hyde Park that is very popular and runs during the holiday season.

Are you using public transport. I'm not quite sure of your actual travel plans, but be aware that much public trnasport finishes early 0n 24th, is largely non existent on 25th, and restricted on 26th.

I would keep your plans for Boxing Day flexible. It is very likely a lot of transport will be limited especially between towns. Also be aware because Boxing Day falls on a Saturday, the following Monday 28th will be a bank(public) holiday.

As has been said above, London has a massive firework display on New Year’s Eve by the river at Westminster. This is (free) ticket only, you can’t just turn up. It is packed from early in the day as people find the best viewing spots. A lot of the surrounding roads will be closed and nearby tube stations will be exit or entrance only to manage crowds. This is a long winded way of saying avoid the area unless you have a desperate wish to watch the show close up.

How are you thinking of getting from Kings Lynn to Sandringham on Xmas day? I don’t think there’ll be any public transport and only a few (costly) taxis. I doubt Uber operates in N Norfolk but maybe worth checking.

Also, I am not sure that anyone can turn up at the church. I thought, but could be wrong, that only residents of the Sandringhan estate were allowed close to the royal family. Perhaps worth checking as well.

OP wants to see the royal family as they walk from Sandringham House to the church. Any member of the public can do that, as long as they dont mind queuing, not just Sandringham estate residents.

Christmas at Kew is my absolutely favorite London Christmas activity. There are Christmas lights/shows and then there is Christmas at Kew which is entirely in a league of its own. Buy your tickets now, they sell quickly.

https://www.kew.org/kew-gardens/whats-on/christmas

transport plans would be good to know.

Major engineering works on both roads (Norwich is infamous) and rail are often scheduled over the long week including Christmas and New Year.

It is well worth checking.

I'd be interested in how you expect to get around? Train? Rental Car? Taxis?

I thought I'd seen this question before as soon as I posted the above. I was right https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/england/cambridge-king-s-lynn-leicester-during-christmas-new-year-weeks

I hope you get more answers here than there.

Have you given up on Leicester?

We visited London last Summer and saw way more people that were obviously not Christians.