Hotel for Family of Four at Christmas

Are you aware of the challenges of visiting the UK over Christmas? On Christmas Day virtually the whole country shuts down. There is no public transport, most shops apart from small corner shops are closed, most restaurants are either closed or offering special Christmas meals are considerable cost and all attractions are closed. Hotels may well impose minimum stays at this time of year. If you are planning to arrive on 25th you will need to arrange a car to take you to your hotel again at more cost than usual. The 26th will have some transport in London but very ,little outside the city.
This is not to say that you can't visit and have a good time but you need to be aware of the limitations you might have. There will be some restaurants open and it's a splendid time to walk or cycle around London.

You would have the option of staying in a hotel which isn’t doing anything much for Christmas, like a Premier Inn, or in a hotel which very much IS doing Christmas. Some people choose to go away for the festive period and hotels offer 2-3 night packages with food etc. Obviously, it’s very expensive. I don’t know which London hotels offer this type of thing.

If your hotel doesn’t offer it, and you want to really celebrate Christmas in London then you’ll have to book well in advance for Christmas dinner in a restaurant. Otherwise there will be some Asian restaurants open but the U.K. pretty much completely closes down on Christmas Day, including public transport.

Not a great deal of help on the hotel front, but I did want to mention Christmas at Kew Gardens. This is a wonderful light, music presentation that makes for a terrific holiday season treat. You will want to act now and reserve your tickets.
https://www.kew.org/kew-gardens/whats-on/christmas

If you are meaning on Christmas Day do note that prices can be ridiculous. You will also find no public transport on the 25th and restricted later on the 24th and all of the 26th. And if you need to find food on the 25th it's often a limited range of higher end places doing expensive set meals. And you probably need to be walkable. You will find other food, but it can be hard to find out about for sure (e.g. from places that don't especially recognise or celebrate Christmas).

Due to the restrictions and extra costs Christmas brings in, it can be very hard to make recommendations.

Take a look at Aparthotels, which are serviced apartments in a hotel-like setting, with reception desk, etc. you will have a full kitchen to make meals if you do not want to dine out.

Marlin Apartments is a “chain” with seven different locations around London.

https://www.marlin.com/

I checked for availability and prices for a 4-night stay over Christmas, from 22 to 26 December. All locations had availability for a family of four, mostly in one-bedroom apartments with sofa bed in the living room.

I like the Queen Street location, very close to St. Paul’s, the Millennium Bridge, and other attractions. Walkable to the Tower of London.

https://be.synxis.com/?adult=4&arrive=2023-12-22&chain=8548&child=0&currency=GBP&depart=2023-12-26&hotel=21433&level=chain&locale=en-US&rooms=1

Price is £186 a night if you join their “club” for free; otherwise £196 a night.

Another Aparthotel company is Native, with 4 locations in London. Their Kings Wardrobe location (near St. Paul’s) has a two-bedroom apartment available for the same dates for £1100 for the 4 nights. It is new. We have only stayed at their (Hyde Park location, north of the park and walkable from Paddington. They have a 2-bdr available but it is over £500 a night. I like their Bankside location but the one 2-bdr is booked for those dates. You might try your actual dates and get lucky.

https://nativeplaces.com/book/

Citadines near Trafalgar Square offers a one-bedroom apartment (with sofa bed in the living room) for those dates for £1200. This location is a little more “central” for visiting Covent Garden, Buckingham Palace, etc.

https://www.discoverasr.com/en/booking/property-listing/booking-journey?hotel=50892&dateType=1&arrive=22-12-2023&depart=26-12-2023&rooms=1&adult=2&child=2&childages=0|0&ageOfChildLimit=2&promo=&coupon=&searchdest=Citadines%20Trafalgar%20Square%20London&searchSrc=&type=property&roomTypeCode=0BRM,1BRM,2BRM,&lang=en&minlengthofstay=1&checkinperiod=1&checkoutperiod=2&ssid=79f2eb37-e142-eae1-05ba-899aca82ddd3&searchsrc=&showAsrParticipatingOnly=false&currencyCode=&flexible=&currency=&actionFrom=/en/citadines/united-kingdom/citadines-trafalgar-square-london&voucherCode=&discountCodeType=&initialized=true

I'd start with booking.com and set filters for things I considered important--including location. Specify 2 adults and 2 children (if that's what you have). Provide ages of the children as of the time of the trip. You'll probably get a mixture of apartments, hotels with family rooms, hotels with connecting rooms and hotels with separate rooms. Check the location and amenities listed and come up with a list of your best-looking options. Ask here for advice about the final selection. In the meantime, check the official websites for your most promising options; rates might be lower there, or there might be additional categories of rooms on offer.

I couldn’t say for sure, but it may be possible to find some decent prices on hotels. Typically, people leave London at Christmas. Or, the type of people with money to stay in nice hotels do.

We've spent two Christmases in Paris, so I can't attend to London. However, if you rent a flat, then you can solve the Christmas meal issue with cooking it on your own, or availing yourselves of all the takeout options the day before and simply reheating on the stove. The landlord should be able to help with suggestions or just Google Map for what's around you.

We have been in Granada and Seville for NYE, NYD and Epiphany when everything was closed.
It is very special, indeed, to be in Europe on Christmas and other holidays. We found that it gave us the opportunity to simply walk and see the sights that we might have missed because we were inside museums on other days. If you plan ahead, you can definitely enjoy yourselves.

I found this link (not sure how current or accurate) that could be a springboard. https://www.visitlondon.com/things-to-do/whats-on/christmas/things-to-do-in-london-on-christmas-day.

Rather than London, why not Edinburgh?

It's one of only 4 places in the UK which has comprehensive public transport (buses, not trains) on Christmas Day as well as the other days of Christmas.

Attractions may not be open, but you will find surprising numbers of people out and about in the city. With tourist attractions closed it's a good chance to visit the parts of Edinburgh you wouldn't normally.

(the other places with Christmas Day public transport are Blackpool, the Isle of Man and, surprisingly, Shetland). Blackpool may be out of date as I don't think it happened in 2022, but always had previously.
I've done both Blackpool and Edinburgh for Christmas.

I’ve spent a number of Christmases in London. I love it.

Great day to stroll about while enjoying an abated cacophony of sounds.

Check out the Premier Inn chain. The Popular 1st time London visitor PI is County Hall. Its adjacent to the Thames and Westminster Bridge. Walk out the front door and you see the Parliament with Elizabeth’s Tower with Big Ben bell inside it across the river. Definitely means your in London.
With 4 of you you’d have to rent adjoining rooms.

Will be interesting to see what the King says in his first televised Christmas address.

Over the decades the stringent ( as in absolute No Transport options ) has evolved.

Their will be taxis ( maybe even a few traditional black cabs ) with rates will be higher than normal.

No Underground and no busses.

Then again far less traffic to negotiate.

Most ethnic restaurants and cafes will be open. Some pubs will advertise and serve a Christmas day meal. Reservations an absolute. Some small markets will be open. I always grab bottles of water, crisps and Oreo cookie packets on Christmas Eve.

I’ve stayed in Premier Inns that serve breakfast and dinner on Christmas. Been certain to research.

Christmas at Kew Gardens is lovely, so is walking along the Thames path or through Hyde Park. If you stay within walking distance of Hyde Park and are early risers you can watch the frivolity of the Peter Pan Cup in the Serpentine https://londoncheapo.com/events/peter-pan-cup/

You should also start now looking at Theatre options.
Same with choral recitals and religious gatherings like midnight masses. See a Panto if any are scheduled. Check for Santa Runs. Amusing and enjoyable to watch.

Winter Wonderland will be in full swing in Hyde Park. Their will igloos to dine in and various Christmas booths along the Thames River path.

Christmas lights be up on Oxford and Regent Streets. Store windows at Harrods, Marks and Spencers and Spitalfields will be decked out. So will Covent Garden and Trafalgar Square.

If into ice skating check the Somerset House and Alexandria Palace Ice rinks.

Good intel regarding Christmas festivities on the TimeOut London, Lady in London and LondonxLondon websites.

Great city at Christmas. Enjoy.

Thanks to everyone who replied! We are a pretty low-key bunch. I loved the tips on getting groceries or making a reservation in advance. Thank you! I will look into the places suggested. I really appreciate these recommendations!