Keep up to date with all things festive on our Christmas 2026 in London page.
Are any restaurants open in London on Christmas Day 2026? Though most are closed, a handful dish out festive feasts to those seeking a special Christmas meal. Whether you're visiting London over Christmas, or are a Londoner looking to dodge the cooking (or washing up), we've put together a guide to eating out in the capital on 25 December.
It tends to be the high-end (read: pricey) restaurants which do open for Christmas dinner, usually with set menus. You'll need to book in advance for 25 December, as lots of people will be looking to do the same thing.
And remember: there's no public transport in London on Christmas Day (other than cycle hire). Find other things to do in London on Christmas Day 2026, and find out what else is likely to be open, if you're not after a full meal.
RAILS, KING'S CROSS: Begin Christmas Day at RAILS with a glass of Nyetimber sparkling wine, before moving on to a three-course feast. Starters include truffled wild mushroom soup or crab ravioli, followed by turkey with sage & apricot stuffing, roast sirloin of beef, black cod with tapioca, or red onion, pumpkin, rosemary & chestnut galette. Finish with festive treats such as Christmas pudding, or panna cotta, followed by mince pies and tea/coffee. See full menu. £115 per person.
JOIA, BATTERSEA POWER STATION: Tuck into a festive repast with a view, on the 15th floor of art'otel Battersea, where tradition meets Iberian. The menu begins with sharing plates of petiscos (Portuguese small plates) and tapas including iberico ham and cured wild salmon, followed by fillet of venison, or turkey with cabbage and madeira sauce. Dessert takes the form of Christmas pudding with a brandy flambé, warm chocolate mousse with an intriguing olive oil caviar and orange ice cream, or an Iberian cheese selection with red-pepper jam. View full menu. £145 per person.
THE WINTER GARDEN, MARYLEBONE: Do Christmas lunch buffet-style at The Winter Garden, within the Landmark London hotel. This is no run-of-the-mill buffet though: think selection of sushi, platinum caviar, plus lobsters and langoustines to start. Continue with roasted bronze turkey, beef fillet, grilled lobster, and wild mushroom and truffle en croûte, served alongside seasonal salads and sides. To finish, the dessert station includes chocolate yule logs and chestnut Mont Blanc, champagne trifle and gingerbread brûlée. Your meal includes unlimited rosé champagne too, for £450 per person. The restaurant also offers a more traditional Christmas Day dinner later in the evening (£275 per person). More information and booking. Elsewhere in the Landmark London, the Great Central pub serves a Christmas Day pub lunch (£165 per person).
THE PRINCE ALBERT, NOTTING HILL: For the first time, Notting Hill pub the Prince Albert opens its doors on Christmas Day, welcoming festive feasters with a five-course meal. Expect traditional favourites including chicken liver and brandy parfait; and prawn cocktail, whilst the main event includes a choice of hand-carved turkey breast; blade of beef; or root vegetable Wellington, along with pan-roasted duck breast and Scottish sea trout. Dessert choices include a decadent dessert trio, with mini mince pies to end. More information and booking. £90 per person.
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 coffee and mince pies (mains choices are turkey, lobster thermidor, roast rib of angus, or a veggie roast), and we'd put money on the food being both classy and delicious. More information and booking. £125 per person, or £150 per person for a table with a window view (children £65).
THE GUINEA GRILL, MAYFAIR: Apparently London’s oldest steakhouse and pub, The Guinea Grill serves three courses plus amuses bouches on Christmas Day. It begins with warming starters such as roasted pumpkin, sweet potato & carrot soup, while mains include turkey with maple and chestnut stuffing; dry-aged rib of beef with lamb cutlets; and wild mushroom Wellington. Finish with a tempting Guinness Christmas pudding or sticky toffee pudding, followed by mince pies. More information and booking. £175 per person (including a glass of champagne).
THE WINDMILL, MAYFAIR: Expect traditional favourites with an elevated twist at Mayfair pub The Windmill, from starters of caramelised onion and ale soup with rarebit sourdough toast, to mains of rump beef, or turbot with salmon caviar. End with a sticky fig pudding or British cheese plate. More information and booking. £110 per person.
KAHANI, CHELSEA: Fine-dining Indian restaurant Kahani opens on Christmas Day, offering a six-course festive menu. Turkey is still the centrepiece, in the form of a turkey tikka anardana with nilgiri green curry, roasted corn kosambari and pickled green apple. Other courses include roasted pumpkin, fennel and cinnamon soup, and a seafood platter. Dessert is a Kesar kulfi Yule log, followed by tea, coffee and petit fours. More information and booking. £120 per person (optional wine pairing £80 extra).
CINNAMON CLUB: Spice up Christmas Day at Vivek Singh's The Cinnamon Club, situated within the Old Westminster Library. It's another fine-dining Indian restaurant offering its own take on Christmas Day dinner, via a four-course menu packed with bold flavours and aromatic spices, finished off with Singh's famous garam masala spiced Christmas pudding. More information and booking. £150 per person.
NICHOLSON'S PUBS: Most Nicholson's pubs open on Christmas Day, and many serve a three- or four-course traditional Christmas dinner, with a separate kids' menu available. Prices vary between locations, starting at £80 per adult/£50 per child.
BOKAN, CANARY WHARF: Celebrate Christmas with a panoramic view, 37 floors up at Bōkan. The main restaurant area opens for a buffet lunch on Christmas Day, while the bar area (one floor up) opens later in the evening. Starters include British charcuterie and local cheeses, or smoked salmon with crème fraîche. For mains, there’s traditional sage and cranberry-stuffed roast turkey; roasted beef sirloin or Josper-grilled salmon, all served alongside marinated tofu, crispy roast potatoes, Yorkshire puddings and red wine gravy. Don’t skip dessert - opt for sticky toffee pudding, apple crumble with vanilla custard, or a fruit salad. More information and booking. Lunch £59 for adults/£35 for under-12s. Dinner £35 per person.
DUCK &WAFFLE: We're reliably informed that Duck & Waffle, located 40 floors above Bishopsgate, will be serving a traditional festive feast on Christmas Day 2026. Keep an eye on the website for further details.
CITY CRUISES: For something completely different, book a City Cruises Christmas Day lunch sailing, and enjoy turkey with all the trimmings a you voyage up and down the Thames ogling London's landmarks from the water. Board at Westminster Pier and enjoy a welcome drink and a three-course festive meal with all the trimmings, before returning to the same pier three hours later. From £175 per person.
