Laura Reynolds

Christmas Dinner In London: Where To Eat In The Capital On Christmas Day

Below are the details for 2019. We'll update this page with information for Christmas 2020 when it's announced, so keep checking back.

Christmas at The Savoy

Which restaurants are open in London on Christmas Day 2019? Whether you're visiting London over the festive period, or are a Londoner wanting to dodge the cooking (or washing up), we've put together a guide to eating out in the capital on 25 December.

Most restaurants won't be open, and it tends to be the high-end (read: pricey) ones which do, with set menus to choose from. So if you want to treat yourself to Christmas lunch at a fancy restaurant or hotel in the capital this Christmas, these are some of your options. You'll need to book in advance for 25 December, as many of these places get filled up months in advance.

Christmas Day at One Aldwych, Strand

Christmas 2018 at One Aldwych

After an extensive revamp earlier this year, One Aldwych hotel is back with a bang for Christmas.

Christmas dinner is served in swish mezzanine restaurant Indigo, and takes the form of canapés followed by a three-course feast of traditional festive dishes. The centrepiece is chef Dominic Teague’s Holly Farm turkey breast and leg stuffed with chestnut and sage with chipolatas wrapped in bacon and all the trimmings.

Christmas dinner at One Aldwych. From £130 per person, served 12.30pm-7.30pm.

Christmas Day at Loyal Tavern, Bermondsey

Tuck in at Loyal Tavern

Previously known as Village East, Loyal Tavern maintains its predecessor's tradition of opening on Christmas Day. The extensive menu begins with a welcome cocktail, followed by a grilled flatbread and parsnip hummus entrée, and a selection of starters including pork belly meatballs or smoked salmon. Traditional turkey is one of the main options, along with buttermilk-poached cod, slow-cooked beef cheeks, or braised celeriac. That's followed by a cheese course, a selection of seasonal desserts, and a coffee and mince pie. Veggie, vegan and gluten-free diners are well catered for here.

Christmas Day at Loyal Tavern, 171-173 Bermondsey Street. £75 per person.

Christmas Day at Skylon, South Bank

Christmas dinner in a sleek, modern restaurant overlooking the Thames? Don't mind if we do. The Christmas Day menu at Skylon comprises four courses plus canapés, and although there's not as much choice as other venues on this list (it's either turkey, or venison wellington for mains), we'd put money on the food being both classy and delicious.

Christmas Day at Skylon, Royal Festival Hall. £165 per person.

Christmas Day at Holborn Dining Room

Santa pops into Holborn Dining Room

You'd think that by lunchtime on Christmas Day, Father Christmas would be ready for a long lie-down. Instead, he pops into Holborn Dining Room to visit the diners. The menu sounds very luxurious, and has plenty of options — anyone for baked lobster thermidor tart or foie gras, followed by traditional roast turkey or wild sea bass? For dessert, we're eyeing up the chocolate brûlée, but other options include mandarin cheesecake, raspberry and almond trifle, and lemon curd slice. Save some for Santa.

Christmas Day at Holborn Dining Room. £170 per person.

Christmas Day at Ham Yard Hotel, Piccadilly Circus

Start your meal at Ham Yard Hotel with a selection of canapés and a glass of champagne, followed by seasonal specials — heritage carrot terrine, peppered fillet of beef carpaccio, and roast duck. Or, opt for the traditional turkey followed by Christmas pud. Alas, that gingerbread cheesecake isn't making a return this year, but console yourself with an eggnog creme brûlée instead. Good, wholesome, festive nosh, very close to Piccadilly Circus

Christmas Day at Ham Yard Hotel. £130 per person.

Christmas Day at Sea Containers Restaurant

Sea Containers, by the Thames, serves a rather fancy menu on 25 December. Begin with a glass of champagne and butternut squash amuse bouche, followed by a starter (handpicked crab is one of the options), a main (traditional turkey, sirloin, halibut or gnocchi) and dessert. Tea, coffee and mince pies will follow, if you've still got room. Walk it all off on a stroll along the river.

Christmas Day at Sea Containers London. £115 per person.

Christmas Day at The Savoy

The Savoy goes all out for Christmas, and we'd expect nothing less. Trees, wreaths and fireplace garlands can be added to the rooms and suites of those staying there, but if you're not lucky enough to be a guest, you're still welcome for Christmas lunch with several luxurious options available.

Festive afternoon tea is served in the luxurious Thames Foyer, with classic and seasonal sandwiches, freshly baked scones and a festive twist on the usual sweet treats, including festive fruit cake and a peppermint chocolate Christmas tree (from £78 per person).

The Christmas Day menu at Kaspar's (£235 per person) ranges from traditional turkey — served with cornbread, cranberries, and all the trimmings — to portobello mushroom ravioli and poached turbot.

Simpson's in the Strand serves roast dinners from its famous carving trolleys — turkey or beef are the Christmas day options, or opt for the seabass or truffle and wild mushroom pithivier (£205 per person).

Finally, the Savoy Grill offers a lunch menu (six course, £250 per person) and a dinner menu (five courses, £180 per person), both of which make us exhausted just looking at them, never mind trying to eat them.

Christmas Day at Kerridge's, Charing Cross

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Kerridge’s Bar & Grill (@kerridgesbandg) on Nov 20, 2018 at 1:17pm PST

Michelin-starred chef Tom Kerridge opened Kerridge's Bar and Grill at The Corinthia in August 2018. The Christmas Day menu is pretty standard fare, done to a high standard. Turkey or fillet of beef are your main options, preceded by dishes such as cream of chestnut soup and crab vol-au-vents. Finish up with Christmas pudding or chocolate pudding.

Christmas Day at Kerridge's Bar & Grill, 10 Northumberland Avenue. £250 per person, available 12pm-4pm.

Christmas dinner at Nicholson's pubs

Most Nicholson's pubs open on Christmas Day, and many of them serve a 5-course Christmas dinner — though it's available for a minimum of 10 people, so you'll need to get a crowd together to make it worthwhile.

Nicholson's pubs, various locations. From £49.95 per person.

Looking for more festive things to do? Take a look at our guide to spending Christmas in London.