What to do at Christmas in London

Watch the chilly swimming race in the Serpentine in Hyde Park. (The Peter Pan Cup.) Worth seeing once just to be grateful you're not in the cold water.

We walked around the city on Christmas. It was interesting to see a place that is bustling like crazy all the rest of the year with just a moderate amount of activity.

We took a London Walk on the following day, Boxing Day, but they might have them on the 25th, too.

On Christmas Day nothing is open with the exception of a variety of ethnic restaurants and a few pubs. Personally I’ve spent more than one Christmas in London and have throughly enjoyed how a major city virtually shuts down. It’s time to be with family.

On the 25th:

Watch the Queens speech on the Telly.

Get up very early and make your way by foot or by bike to the Serpentine in Hyde Park and watch the short Peter Pan Cup Race.

Do a London Walk www.walks.com

Night before (Christmas Eve) attend midnight mass at St Paul’s.

Enjoy seeing the Oxford and Regents Street Xmas Lights.

The free Hyde Park Winter Wonderland.

See a traditional panto.

Loads of pre Christmas shopping and after sales.

Choral performances, the Christmas tree in Trafalgar Square, ice skating rinks, etc.

All the markets Portobello, Borough, Camden Lock, etc will have Christmas items for sale.

Just be advised very few cabs but imagine Uber drivers will be out making a killing, no tube, busses or trains on Christmas Day. Enjoy the quiet.

Here’s TimeOut London’s link https://www.timeout.com/london/christmas

Here's Visit London's link: Christmas Day - Things to Do.

Also, if you're in a place with a television, the U.K. goes all out with Christmas television specials actually on Christmas, not the day after Thanksgiving, as in the U.S.

The tour company Evan Evans has Christmas Day tours, take a look at their website evanevanstours.com.