Christmas Eve London: 21 things to eat, drink and do

Let’s face it, Christmas Eve can sometimes be a bit of a strange sort of day. Everyone has mentally clocked off for Christmas, but in reality there’s still a day to go before you can start ripping into presents and getting tipsy on Bucks Fizz. Trust us - it’ll fly by a lot quicker if you keep yourself good and busy.

Christmas Eve in London can be pretty quiet, because most of us have disappeared to parents/in-laws/family/cats, and decided to stay at home to wait for the big day to arrive. You’ve been to countless Christmas parties, worn all your festive knits, eaten your bodyweight in mince pies, finished your advent calendar, but now what?  If you don’t have a turkey to stuff, a stocking to fill or any last minute Christmas shopping to do (no judgement), then Christmas Eve can actually be – dare we say it – a bit of an anti-climax.

This doesn’t have to be the case. It’s a bit of a myth that everything has already started to close up for Christmas by the 24th, when, in fact, there are still plenty of things to do in London on Xmas Eve. So, if you search around a little bit for things to keep you entertained and don’t resign yourself to the day disappearing in anticipation of what’s to come, Christmas Eve can be a day to look forward to in itself.

With so much going on in London on Christmas Eve why not decide that this is going to be the year you’re going to change things up a bit – save the Christmas films for another day, get out of the house and continue festive frolicking across the capital. Below we’ve put together a guide to all of the great things you can do to keep yourself busy this year including where to eat, where to drink and most importantly where to be merry on 24 December.

Where to eat on Christmas Eve

Ok so a big meal the day before Christmas might not seem like an obvious plan, but we like to think of it as good practice. Enjoy your last moment of pre-Christmas freedom before the big day arrives at one of these delightful spots.

Sette, Knightsbridge

What: Glamorous Italian restaurant Sette has something special lined up for Christmas Eve, with live music from 7pm and an a la carte packed with sophisticated cooking from all over Italy. Come here with plenty of room to feast on crudo plates, grilled Aberdeen and Black Angus steaks, generous pasta dishes and an indulgent peanut chocolate brownie.
Where: 4 Knightsbridge Green, SW1X 7QA
Book now: Sette

L'oscar, Holborn

What: L’oscar is ideal if you’re looking for something a bit glamorous to celebrate another Christmas Eve - gilded wall panels, mirrors, and a gleaming backlit onyx bar are just the start of the glitz in this imperious dining room. There’s also a classic set menu on offer all through the Christmas period that includes smoked salmon roulade with chive cream cheese, turkey ballotine with goose fat roast potatoes, and a Christmas pud with vanilla and brandy sauce.
Where: 2-6 Southampton Row, WC1B 4AA
Book now: L'oscar

Alex Dilling at Hotel Cafe Royal, Piccadilly Circus

What: What more can we say about Alex Dilling at Hotel Cafe Royal? Already heralded as one of the finest restaurants in the city, this two Michelin-starred temple of modern Gallic gastronomy is, perhaps, the ultimate place to spend your Christmas Eve. A special menu for 24 December includes foie gras torchon with winter black truffle, dover sole ‘bonne femme’ with aged Kaluga caviar, and Arnaud Tauzin guinea fowl with Ratte potato pie and morteau sausage.
Where: Hotel Café Royal, 68 Regent Street, W1B 4DY
Book now: Alex Dilling at Hotel Cafe Royal

1 Lombard Street, City of London

What: This City of London veteran has been hosting business lunches, celebratory dinners and drinks parties for a quarter of a century now, and the Christmas menu at 1 Lombard Street is always worth checking out. Grab a table in the restaurant for some classic British cooking - dishes include an excellent Dublin Bay prawn cocktail, and haunch of wild fallow deer with celeriac mash - or head up to the beautiful Dome Bar for one of 1 Lombard Street’s signature sips.
Where: 1 Lombard Street, EC3V 9AA
Book now: 1 Lombard Street

Theo Randall at the InterContinental, Mayfair

What: Still one of London’s great ambassadors for Italian food, Theo Randall’s festive menus at the InterContinental take you on a tour of the whole country. A special Christmas Eve dinner includes prosciutto di Parma with marinated artichokes and radicchio, as well as duck cappelletti, lamb rump with caponata, and Randall’s famous Amalfi lemon tart with creme fraiche. Plus, you get a glass of Champagne or Negroni into the bargain, all for £99 per person.
Where: 1 Hamilton Place, W1J 7QY
Book now: Theo Randall at the InterContinental

Duck & Waffle, City of London

What: The view from the Heron Tower is always a big part of the attraction of Duck & Waffle, but the festive menus are delicious too, boasting a spread of cheesy polenta croquetas, duck barbacoa tacos, spicy ox cheek doughnuts and lobster rolls. Grab a late dinner reservation and you can stay here all through the night, welcoming in Christmas Day from 40 storeys up.
Where: 110 Bishopsgate, EC2N 4AY
Book now: Duck & Waffle

Wild Honey St James, St. James's

What: Anthony Demetre’s superb St. James’s restaurant exudes class at every turn - the smart dining room is the perfect place for an elevated Christmas Eve lunch or dinner, and Demetre remains one of the best classic-minded chefs in London. Christmas Eve sees Wild Honey serving the excellent value set lunch, and a celebratory dinner that includes terrine of duck, pork and guinea fowl en croute, scallops with black winter truffle, and truffled Brie de Meaux with quince.
Where: 8 Pall Mall, SW1Y 5NG
Book now: Wild Honey St James

What to do on Christmas Eve

Be the proactive friend for once and make a plan that will make this less a day of limbo and more a day of revelry. These activities are sure to turn even the most cynical of scrooges into celebratory Santas with mulled wine and mince pies aplenty.

Ice Skating at Somerset House

What: Undoubtedly the prettiest and most iconic of London’s ice skating venues, the rink at Somerset House is large enough to spread your bambi limbs without knocking down a neighbour. Situated in the stunning 18th century courtyard the venue also hosts live DJs, a pop-up alpine restaurant - The Chalet by Jimmy Garcia - and a Whispering Angel Skate Lounge where you can grab drink.
Where: Somerset House, Strand, WC2R 1LA

Visit Hogwarts in the Snow

What: It’s no secret now that Potter-heads can grab a train from Euston to Watford Junction to visit Warner Bros. Studio Tour London, where all the sets from the film have been preserved for you to explore. Over Christmas, Hogwarts gets a festive makeover, with the Great Hall bedecked in holly, tinsel and Christmas trees, Diagon Alley covered in a blanket of snow, and all the other sets dressed up to resemble Christmas scenes from the films.
Where: Studio Tour Drive, WD25 7LR
Book now: Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter

Christmas at Kew Gardens

What: Kew Gardens gets lit up for Christmas, as this huge botanical garden turns into a winter wonderland with neon-lit tunnels and trees, dancing reflections, flickering flames and light shows. Kew has brought in a host of street food vendors too so you’ll never be short of a bite to eat, a hot chocolate or a mulled wine.
Where: Kew Gardens, Kew, Richmond, TW9 3AE

Visit a Christmas market

What: If you didn’t visit a couple of Christmas markets and drink your weight in mulled cider, did Christmas even happen? We’re not sure, but we’ll certainly never find out, thanks to the abundance of cheery festive markets that pop up all over the capital in the winter. Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park is by far the biggest and busiest, but there are lots of markets worth a visit - take a look at our round-up for more.
Where: Various locations
Read more: The best Christmas markets in London

Visit a cosy pub with an open fire

What: Nothing blasts away the wintery chill and makes us feel festive like the crackle of an open fire, and if you’re not fortunate to have one at home, don’t fret - there are lots of pubs in London that get their fires going for Christmas. We’ve rounded up our favourites, so pick your favourite, go early and grab yourself an armchair by the fire.
Where: Various locations
Read more: The cosiest pubs with real fires in London

Fire & Fromage on the South Bank

What: For three months a year, Jimmy Garcia opens his South Bank raclette bar and douses us in an abundance of melted cheese and toasted marshmallows. It’s right up there with our favourite winter dining experiences, and every year we scoop melted cheese, new potatoes and mini chocolate doughnuts into our mouths, it makes us feel very Christmassy indeed.
Where: The Queen's Walk, SE1 8XX
Book now: Fire & Fromage

Karaoke at Lucky Voice, Various locations

What: Belt out some Christmas bangers at Lucky Voice, which now has numerous sites spread all over London (so you really have no excuse). Gather your mates for a wholesome Christmas carolling session, or just use it as an excuse to explore Lucky Voice’s 13,000-strong song catalogue. Room service is all included in the price for two hours, with lots of food and drink options to choose from.
Where: Various locations
Book now: Lucky Voice Liverpool Street; Lucky Voice Soho; Lucky Voice Waterloo; Lucky Voice Islington; Lucky Voice Holborn

Bowling at All Star Lanes, Stratford and White City

What: On Christmas Eve, two of All Star Lanes sites will be opening for business on Christmas Eve to welcome in festive revellers for some friendly competition, food and drinks. With a range of feast and bar packages to choose from there’s something to suit all budgets and appetites at All Star Lanes. Look out for some signature Christmas cocktails which have gone down a treat in previous years.
Where: Second Floor, Westfield Stratford City, E20 1ET; Westfield Shopping Centre, Ariel Way, W12 7FU
Book now: All Star Lanes Stratford; All Star Lanes White City

What to drink on Christmas Eve

 For many people the Christmas Day hangover is just part and parcel (excuse the pun) of the big day. But even if you can’t face a sore head in the morning, a tipple at any of these bars could be just the ticket for getting you in the festive spirit before facing the onslaught of relatives.

Gothic Bar, King's Cross

What: One of London’s most beautiful bars, inside one of London’s most majestic and striking buildings - where better to spend Christmas Eve than the Gothic Bar at The Midland Grand Dining Room? Get a merry band of friends together and enjoy the signature House Punches, which serve six at a time. There’s a heated terrace outside too if you want to soak up some Christmas Eve ambiance.
Where: St Pancras Renaissance Hotel, Euston Road, NW1 2AR
Book now: Gothic Bar

The George, Fitzrovia

What: The George is a proper pub in every way, from the gorgeous dark timber panelling and bar to the quality festive menu and drinks selection. On Christmas Eve we suspect it'll be packed with Guinness drinkers - this is one of the best pints of Guinness in the city after all - but bartenders here also know how to mix up a great cocktail, and they make perhaps the best Irish coffee we've had in London. Pair that up with top class bar snacks and festive favourites and The George is the ideal place to settle in for some Christmas Eve drinking. 
Where: 55 Great Portland Street, W1W 7LQ
Book now: The George

Le Magritte at The Beaumont, Mayfair

What: One of our favourite bars in London for any time of year, Le Magritte exudes old-school charm and class, from the cherrywood wall panelling to the alabaster columns and granite-topped-leather-edged ebony bar. The staff here are exceptional, mixing some of the best classic cocktails in London as well as serving rare bourbons and special whisky cocktails - plenty to tempt you into one of the cosy red tub chairs by the open fireplace.
Where: 8 Balderton Street, Brown Hart Gardens, W1K 6TF
Book now: Le Magritte at The Beaumont

Donovan Bar at Browns, Mayfair

What: Always wanted to visit A. Wong but never managed to get a booking? Donovan Bar at Browns is offering the next best thing, as Andrew Wong is serving a selection of snacks at the bar over the Christmas period. The Donovan Bar is also one of London’s most storied hotel bars so a visit on Christmas Eve is a no-brainer, combining exceptional cocktails with a rare chance to eat food from one of London’s most famous chefs.
Where: 33 Albemarle Street, W1S 4BP
Book now: Donovan Bar at Browns

Nessa, Soho

What: We love Nessa’s slick art deco charms, and would feel thoroughly pleased to find ourselves here in the restaurant or in the bar. The restaurant is serving a fantastic Christmas menu this year (including a gorgeous crispy roast chicken with truffle and potatoes) but we love the Nessa bar too, which serves some lovely warming seasonal cocktails over the winter.
Where: 86 Brewer Street, W1F 9UB
Book now: Nessa

St Pancras Brasserie & Champagne Bar by Searcys, King's Cross

What: We never feel more classy than sipping on bubbles at the St Pancras Brasserie & Champagne Bar, where Searcys curates a superb collection of Champagne, as well as some delicious bar snacks. Who knows, you might find yourself caught in the moment and jumping on a last minute Eurostar to Paris.
Where: Grand Terrace, St Pancras International Station, N1C 4QL
Book now: St Pancras Brasserie & Champagne Bar by Searcys

For more festive inspo check out our guide to the best Christmas dinners in London