The best things to do on Christmas Day in London

You won’t find many people out and about on December 25 but the capital’s stunning Christmas lights will still be sparkling. Empty pavements and bus-free views will only make a tour of the capital’s best crimbo decorations all the more magical. If you live local to central London, it’s the perfect way to add some sparkle to your Christmas Day walk. 

Yes, it’s cold out. Yes, the trees are bare. But we’re lucky to have some truly amazing parks in the capital, and walking around them (as long as you live close by) is one of the nicest things to do in London on Christmas Day. So get out there and get braced by green space. 

It’s not just its fabulous organic bread, artful pastries and immaculate focaccia sandwiches that make The Dusty Knuckle one of our absolute favourite bakeries in the city. Its also the Dalston hotspot’s socially conscious mission. Since the bakery was founded in 2013, it has employed and trained up dozens of young people who have struggled to find work or been in trouble with the law. And in recent years the bakery has begun a big-hearted new tradition of extending its generosity and hospitality to anyone who might need it on Christmas Day. Spending December 25 on your own or just feeling a bit sad and in need of support on the big day? Pop down to the bakery for free hot drinks and pastries, some friendly chat, Christmas tunes and maybe even a cameo from Mr Claus between 10am and 1pm. More details on the bakery’s Instagram here. 

London’s Chinatown is a great place to make tracks for on December 25 if you fancy a non-festive bite to eat. A few of the restaurants stay open as usual. Nothing like a Christmas bowl of dan dan noodles, is there?

There are heaps of charities supporting the homeless, elderly and those with disabilities, and although they need extra hands all year round in order to support the brilliant work they do, they’re always looking for more volunteers over Christmas. 

Housing the private collection of Kim and Lionel Logchies Prins, Moco is a new three-story gallery in Marble Arch that opened its doors earlier this year. Assembled within the building’s freshly painted walls is a collection of some of the most commercial artists of modern times, from Warhol and Basquiat to YBAs Tracey Emin and Damien Hirst, to Banksy, Jeff Koons, Yayoi Kusama and Takashi Murakami. There’s also an entire room in the basement displaying NFTs (including an endless scroll of images by the genre’s biggest star, Beeple), plus an infinity mirror room and a zen garden. It might not be to everyone’s taste, but if you’d rather spend December 25 with a bunch of Chris Levine’s portraits of the Queen than your own relatives, then you’ll be pleased to know that Moco is open on Christmas Day, with tickets starting at £20.

You can forget about getting the tube on Christmas Day, but there are other ways to get around the city. Whizz along London’s deserted cycle lanes, parks and paths on a bike while the rest of the city lounges around on the sofa. 

There’s no better way to settle a gigantic dinner (or work up an appetite for one) than by taking a brisk stroll. Step outside this Christmas Day and soak up London’s most scenic walks, all perfect for a festive stretch of the legs.

Shake off that Christmas Eve hangover and work up an appetite worthy of Christmas lunch with a morning swim in (the mercifully heated) Hampton Pool, which is open on Christmas Day (you need to book a place in advance). Waterproof Santa hat optional.