Things to do
It's worth checking opening hours for whatever you get up to today, as many places will close earlier than usual.
ICE SKATING: What better way to start your Christmas than at one of London's seasonal ice skating rinks? Take to the ice in festive surroundings from Somerset House to Hyde Park to the Natural History Museum and more. Don't fancy skating? Most rinks have a café or bar nearby, where less adventurous family members can tuck into a hot chocolate or mulled wine and watch the action. Various prices, advance booking recommended.
CHRISTMAS MARKETS: Finish up your Christmas shopping at one of London's many Christmas markets and fairs. Several are open right up until Christmas Eve (and even beyond) including Southbank Centre's Winter Market, and Christmas in Leicester Square.
WINTER WONDERLAND: Hyde Park's Winter Wonderland is business as usual today. The free festival has a Christmas market where you can do your last bits of shopping, food and drink stalls, funfair rides, an ice skating rink and more. Free entry (charge for some events), 10am-10pm (liable to close early though)
DICKENSIAN CHRISTMAS: The Charles Dickens Museum is only open to those with special event tickets today. Book ahead to see the author's former family home brought to life with scenes from A Christmas Carol, set in the year 2019. Find out how London has changed since Dickens' time, but also, how relevant its themes still are today. After the performance, stay behind to see the rest of the house in its festive finery, along with the current exhibition. £25/£14, book ahead, 10am-6pm
MEAT AUCTION: Smithfield Market's meat auction is something of a Christmas Eve tradition. It dates from when refrigeration wasn't an option, so all meat was sold off before the Christmas holiday to avoid it going to waste. These days, it's a chance to pick up a piece of meat at a bargain price. Read more or see photos on IanVisits. Smithfield Market, free entry, just turn up, 10.30am.
ROYAL ALBERT HALL CAROLS: The Royal Albert Hall has two carol concerts today. Sing along with the Royal Choral Society and National Youth Choir of Great Britain to a mix of traditional carols and modern favourites. From £20, book ahead, 11am/4pm
FIVE GO JIVING: Dance your way into Christmas at Five Go Jiving, a free, family-friendly dance session. Turn up at 12pm to take a free swing dancing class covering the basic steps, before the band arrives to play a mixture of jive, jazz and dance music. 12pm
DICKENS OF A CITY: Join Footprints of London guide David Charnick for a wander through Charles Dickens' London, interspersed with readings from the author's work. Old inns, counting houses and debtors' prisons feature both in his writing and on this walk. 2.30pm-4.30pm
CHRISTMAS IN LONDON: For more festive things to do in the capital, take a look at our guide to Christmas in London. It's packed full of festive events and things to do to see you right through until New Year.
Tube ponderings with Barry Heck
Our resident tube fancier dishes out daily thoughts on the London Underground.
I received this well-aimed card the other day. It's by homeless charity Centrepoint, and will bring a smile to tube fanciers everywhere. Merry festiveness, everyone!
Have a read
Catch up with some of our favourite articles from the year:
- Is it just us... or is something not right with these advertising screens on the tube?
- This botanical garden is home to the bits of London that no-one else wanted.
- London's best themed afternoon teas.
- Watched Killing Eve? These are the London locations where series 2 was filmed.
- How not to use an Oyster card in 12 bizarre stock images.
