Hello-
I am thinking of spending a week in London from the 26th of December to the 2nd of January. I am concerned that everything will closed on New Year's Day. I don't expect tourist attractions will be open but how about grocery stores or food places? Are they open on the first? Is the Tube running too? I am afraid everything is dead on 01/01/2015. Thanks.
I don't know if this helps at all for London, but last year we spent almost those exact dates in Paris. New Years Eve was great we had a wonderful dinner at a great restaurant we had made reservations for. On New Years day the four of us just toured the city by foot. Mostly the Brassiere's were open for lunch and dinner, and that would be like pubs in London. We just did a lot of window shopping and enjoyed the parks. It was nice to have a slow day after being out late on New Years eve.
I was in London for the Millennium and the next day Jan 1st nothing much was open at all.
The churches were open for services, but I wandered the streets for hours and
my experience was that is was rather "dead".
Thanks for your response. I also found out there is a Chinatown in London. Chinese businesses are usually open during that time. Well I hope it would be the same as in Los Angeles.
While New Years Day will be an adventure - and don't count on Chinatown - I am much more worried about your arrival on Boxing Day. If you want a day when almost everything is completely shut down nearly as much as Christmas itself you will have it on Boxing Day.
If you are flying in you may find difficulty with transportation....
It looks like your question has been answered very well by those above, we don't have anything to add other than to say that London is lovely over the holidays, very festive. Definitely pop into Fortnum & Mason and Harrod's. Have a great time!
I'm so glad Kathy asked. I came on here specifically to ask about London over the holidays but didn't have to! We're considering London from Dec 20-Jan 1 and I definitely wanted to take into account businesses and public transport being closed. I guess my only dilemma will be what to DO on Christmas! I figured we'd be able to get a nice Indian meal. And we'd just have to stay central so we can walk around the city and enjoy the sights, maybe walk through the parks. I'm excited at the possibility. And to see New Year's fireworks in London would be a dream come true. :D
