London Travel Forum

Hi
Does anyone know what Pubs/Clubs/Restaurants are open on xmas day/evening. We are hoping for a very British traditional Xmas dinner.

I am having problems getting anything through websites. Great sites but not much about xmas day dining. Lots of group booking etc.

We are staying near Kensington Palace so anywhere around that area would be great. Also - is public transport running xmas/boxing day. (our hotel said all Transport is closed ???)

We are there – 25/12/2008 – 29/12/2008

Thanks

Hi,

this question comes up fairly frequently here - here's a link with lots of helpful answers! :)

http://members.virtualtourist.com/vt/s/?m=4&c=0&s=Christmas+London+public+transport&l=&a.m=0&a.d=0&a.y=&b.m=0&b.d=0&b.y=

There is no public transport at all on Christmas Day, I'm afraid (generally, not just in London) and only limited services on Boxing Day. You will need to check the London transport website on:

http://www.tfl.gov.uk/

nearer the time to find out what will be available on 26th.

Many restaurants will be closed altogether, and many/most pubs have very limited opening hours on Christmas Day. Many places serve 'traditional' Christmas dinner for several weeks prior to the day itself, so you won't have to deny yourself one if you really want to try it.

However, eating on the day itself will definitely need booking, and preferably well in advance: start looking September/October. It's a bit early for restaurants/pubs to have their Christmas booking details up yet (apart from groups, which are rarely on the day itself anyway).

I suggest you find somewhere which looks appealing, either within walking distance (London will be fascinating when almost empty of traffic) or a short taxi ride (not cheap). Try googling 'london christmas dinner' in September/October (it might also be worth emailing the place where you are staying for their ideas nearer the time).

This site might help for now (it suggests some potential places for Christmas dinner):

http://www.londoneats.com/news/christmasdinner.asp

Totally agree with the other posters. If you are staying in a large hotel, then I should imagine that their restaurant will be serving Christmas dinner. Btw, do you mean lunch - i.e. around 1pm or dinner as in the evening meal? All Christmas meals will be expensive, very expensive. If you use the link provided by the first poster, then you will come across others who asked the same question. Perhaps you could email them to see what they did.

You say you will be in London from the 25th - does this mean you arrive on the 25th? If so, then be prepared for a rather difficult (and expensive) journey to go to your hotel from, I assume, one of the airports. If you are arriving the day before, then you should be aware that everything starts closing down from about mid-day on the 24th, although public transport slightly less so.

Gosh......I've only just noticed that you seem to be arriving on 25th.

In that case you will have a more complex journey than you might otherwise. The Gatwick and Heathrow Express trains will probably be running, but I'm not sure about any other forms of transport from those airports (or the others): best to start checking around October. You'll almost certainly need a taxi from the station to wherever you are staying.

To be honest, this is one day when it might be worth paying extra for a shuttle transfer to your hotel.

You will really struggle to find any English pubs open in the evening. I guess it's the only day some people get to have a complete rest.

fancyapint.com

Hi Hawkhead
Yes - we arrive 25/12/08 @ 11.30am. Thank god we have transfers.

We are looking for something in the evening around 6-7ish pm

Hi Leics
Yes - we arrive 25/12/08 @ 11.30am. Thank god we have transfers.

We are looking for something in the evening around 6-7ish pm

I'm sorry to say this, but I think you'll have problems. Most pubs only open in the evening for a couple of hours (if they open at all). They won't be serving their Christmas dinners then, because the demand is for a meal at lunchtime ('dinnertime').

It may well be the same for restaurants: I suspect many will close in the evening. People generally don't want their Christmas dinner (or any meal) at the end of Christmas Day.

I suggest you start exploring potentials in the autumn, and contact your hotel for local ideas. They may even be able to make a reservation for you. Even if you end up going to one of the superb London ethnic restaurants (as you may well have to do) chances are you'll need a reservation on that evening: all the other London Christmas visitors have to eat as well! :-)

If you go to the following website you will see that there are three links -

http://www.londoneats.com/news/christmasdinner.asp

You might be able to find something here.

Had another thought, I know you want a traditional English Christmas dinner, but one of your only choices might be dinner in China town or, as Leics says, one of the other ehtnic places. Spot on about "Christmas dinner" being in the middle of the day. Thinking about the cost and availability of taxis on Christmas Day, if at all possible, you should try and find somewhere within walking distance of your hotel. It may be that your hotel will have a restaurant? If you tell us the name of your hotel, it may be that we'll be able to zoom in on somewhree within walking distance, or at least point you towards the areas upon which you should ocncentrate your effort.

whats the hotel please

Kensington Gardens Hotel
Kensington Garden Square
London

Just had a quick look at your lcoation and before I do any deep research, the Hilton at Paddington is within walking distance. I would have thought they would have had some sort of Christmas dinner on offer. There are dozens of restaurants all around your area but which ones will be open on Christmas Day, or even Christmas Eve, well that's going to take further investigation!

think theres a good christmas at your hotel,just ask them what they have on ?also enter into google christmas in london [or kensington]

Doesn't look as if your hotel does any evening meals at all, but it will be worth ringing them (say, in Sepetember) for their advice about what's nearby/worth booking.

i thought hotel had a buffet christmas but95 pounds

That's the one which appears at the top when you google but it's actually the Millennium Gloucester Hotel & Conference Centre. Bit misleading.

The Kensington Gardens hotel is on this link:

http://www.kensingtongardenshotel.co.uk/