18 of the best Christmas dinners in London 2024

Loosen your belts, it’s that time of year again. If you don’t feel uncomfortably full at least once a day in December you’re doing something wrong. Sure, Christmas is a time for giving, but it's also a time for feasting. It’s about warming comfort food that makes you feel fuzzy inside, decadent desserts you would ordinarily decline and sparkly cocktails with the richest liquors the bar staff can lay their hands on. Yes, we're talking about the very best Christmas dinners in London. 

Whether it’s for a festive feast with friends, an annual ritual with flatmates, a seasonal celebration with colleagues or even a wintery date with a loved one – December is the month we’ll find any excuse to go for an indulgent dinner or leisurely lunch. It’s also a time for family – catching up with long-lost relatives, treating the kids, or getting better acquainted with the in-laws – a good meal out can really tick all the boxes. Cut out the stress of catering for the thousands by heading to a restaurant instead – nobody needs the extra at this time of year and we reckon we know a professional chef or two that can do a better job anyway. 

Here are some of the best Christmas menus London has to offer, which are sure to get you in the festive spirit. Whether your wallet's feeling the squeeze from all that Christmas shopping or you’re looking to splash out on an all-singing, all-dancing luxe experience, we've got a Christmas meal in London to suit you. We've also included a few venues that are great for hosting larger family gatherings, particularly with kids in tow.

If you’re tired of the same old roast turkey every year, fear not! Hop across the globe with our list of the best alternative Christmas dinners, which includes Indian, Spanish, Sri Lankan and barbecue festive feasts. We know you’re spoilt for choice, but be sure to book soon to avoid disappointment. Click on the links below to be taken straight to the section you're most interested in.

Cheap Christmas dinners in London

There’s no denying that it’s an expensive time of year – what with all the Christmas drinks and presents you’ve still got to buy. If you don’t want to break the bank but still want to feel like you’re treating yourself then here are some great value choices.

The Broadcaster, White City

What: This multi-storey pub and restaurant caters for all sorts, from west Londoners to Westfield Shepherd's Bush visitors to Queen's Park Rangers football fans drowning their sorrows post-match. It has all sorts of great events going on throughout the year, so Christmas is typically excellent here too with a range of very affordable menus offering lots of comforting Christmas cooking. The two course menu is especially good, offering dishes like cured salmon with crushed avocado, potted Cornish crab and blackberry parfait with vanilla creme patissiere alongside a proper turkey roast. 
Where: 89 Wood Lane, W12 7FX
How much: £39 for two courses
Book now: The Broadcaster

Mildreds, Various locations

What: Mildreds has always been top of our list for reliable, delicious vegan food, and this Christmas is no different. The Mildreds festive menu includes ras el hanout cauliflower with saffron tahini yoghurt, toasted pine nut and cannellini loaf with all your favourite festive sides, and a cracking black forest yule log. All yours for a very reasonable £44, or just £35 for two courses (note that the two course option is only available at the Victoria, Camden, Dalston and King’s Cross locations).
Where: Various locations
How much: £44 for three courses, £35 for two courses
Book now: Mildreds Victoria; Mildreds Soho; Mildreds Camden and more

The Garrison, Bermondsey

What: Beloved Bermondsey gastropub The Garrison is serving up a cracking Christmas dinner once again. This is no ordinary turkey and soggy sprouts situation though - feast on a three course menu that includes foie gras and chicken liver parfait, turkey with parsnip puree, sprout tops and chestnuts, and sticky toffee pudding with drunken dates and clotted cream. All for a very reasonable £45 for three courses, or £40 for two courses
Where: 99-101 Bermondsey Street, SE1 3XB
How much: £45 for three courses, or £40 for two courses
Book now: The Garrison

Hoppers, Various locations

What: This Sri Lankan sensation has three restaurants across London now, so there’s really no reason not to be tucking into Karan Gokani’s fantastic food. Hoppers does a festive menu every year, which is great value at £49 a head (or £45 for the veggie option). Last year's menu included dishes like venison rolls with cranberry hot sauce, hoppers, dosas, rice, curry and a festive pudding to finish.
Where: Various locations
How much: £49 per person
Book now: Hoppers Soho, Hoppers Marylebone, Hoppers King's Cross

Luxury Christmas dinner in London

If you’ve been virtuous all year and have confidence in that Christmas bonus then why not indulge in a luxury feast that will make a mark on your memory as much as it does on your tastebuds.

La Terrazza Kensington

What: La Terrazza offers Italian fine dining in the heart of glamorous Kensington, so if you fancy Christmas dinner in London with a hint of Mediterranean class, this is the spot for you. £49 gets you three delicious courses - pretty great value to our mind - from marinated wild salmon with pomegranate and crunchy fennel, to roast turkey with chestnut pudding, brussels sprouts, roasted potatoes and cranberry sauce. For dessert, we suggest you opt for the panettone with chantilly cream. 
Where: 160 Cromwell Road, SW5 0TL
How much: £49 per person
Book now: La Terrazza Kensington

Ganymede, Belgravia

What: Ganymede is right up there with the capital’s best gastropubs, for our money - it sits nicely between cosy, comforting and sophisticated, with elevated pub grub that really shows up some other well known gastropubs in the city. This is the place to go if you want really solid traditional cooking, including Scottish salmon with horseradish cream, butter roast turkey with traditional trimmings and truffle jus, hand-rolled mushroom tagliatelle, and Christmas pudding ice cream with warm madeleines.
Where: 139 Ebury Street, SW1W 9QU
How much: £60 for three courses, or £50 for two courses
Book now: Ganymede

The English Grill, Victoria

What: Plump yourself in one of the studded teal armchairs at the boldly British English Grill to experience its multi-course feast. There's a choice of festive menus available, with dishes including smoked chicken and ham hock terrine with apple chutney, turkey roast with all the trimmings, and a homemade Christmas pudding with brandy sauce. If you want something a bit different, you have plenty of options there too - the English Grill even offers a festive curry menu throughout the season. 
Where: 39 Buckingham Palace Road, SW1W 0PS
How much: From £139 per person
Book now: The English Grill

The Cadogan Arms, Chelsea

What: Luxe British pub The Cadogan Arms really gets into the Christmas spirit each year with festive a la carte and feasting menus on offer. Last year the former included a wealth of seasonal specials, from Christmas stuffing Scotch eggs to a turkey and cheese toastie, whilst the festive feasting menu was bursting with traditional treats - think crispy lamb ribs with anchovy and sorrel yoghurt, Cumbrian beef Wellington, and a winter fruit crumble. Everything about this Chelsea boozer screams sumptuousness, from the gutsy food to the ornate, expertly-restored interiors. 
Where: 298 King’s Road, SW3 5UG
How much: From £90 per person
Book now: The Cadogan Arms

The Princess of Shoreditch, Shoreditch

What: If you’re after a quality festive dinner in cosy surroundings, where better than one of the capital’s very best gastropubs? The Princess of Shoreditch has a fine reputation for brilliant British cooking, and the festive menu is just £65 a head - a very reasonable price to us for the likes of chicken liver parfait with sherry vinegar gel, a magnificent Christmas dinner, and a punchy Valrhona chocolate torte with Christmas pudding ice cream.
Where: 76-78 Paul Street, EC2A 4NE
How much: £65 per person
Book now: The Princess of Shoreditch

Arthur Hooper’s, London Bridge

What: An iconic, old-school restaurant just off Borough Market, Arthur Hooper’s keeps Christmas classic with dishes like mackerel, beetroot and horseradish, lemon and thyme roast chicken and a hefty cheese selection. Bring a bit of extra cash to dive into some celebratory magnums whilst you’re here.
Where: 8 Stoney Street, SE1 9AA
How much: £55 per person
Book now: Arthur Hooper’s

Alternative Christmas dinners in London

While we will always feel an enduring love for a classic Christmas roast dinner, sometimes, change is a good thing. Take a break from turkey and roasties this year with one of these Christmas dinners in London that offer an alternative to turkey, from tapas feasts to an Indian-inspired spread.

Sagardi, Old Street

What: Sagardi’s staunch dedication to simple, faithful Basque cooking with magnificent ingredients makes it a favourite of ours for all sorts of occasions. A visit at Christmas is highly recommended too - don’t come here expecting roast turkey and Christmas pudding, but if your idea of a good time is sharing a load of excellent Spanish sharing dishes, beautiful Galician dairy cow steaks from the grill and burnt cheesecake, you’ll love Sagardi.
Where: Cordy House, 95 Curtain Road, EC2A 3BS
How much: From £46 per person
Book now: Sagardi

Smokestak, Shoreditch

What: Gorge yourself on smoked meats this Christmas courtesy of Smokestak. The smokehouse offers a wealth of sharing menus starting from just £55 per person, with highlights including beef and pork fat sausage with chilli sauce, aged beef rib with pickled chilli, and beef brisket with mustard barbecue. There's also a good festive vegetarian menu on offer for £50, which features lots of clever, slow-smoked vegetable dishes. Warning: you may need a lie down after this one. 
Where: 35 Sclater Street, E1 6LB
How much: From £50 per person
Book now: Smokestak

St John, Farringdon

What: For a family feast like no other St John usually offers up a choice of menu options that are sure to keep every friend and relative happy. Last year guests had to make a simple choice between game, pie or goose for a special three course spread in celebration of that ingredient. For something extra special, you could order a suckling pig for 15 or 22 people to start, and apple and calvados trifle to finish. There's always the promise of St. John's famous baked-to-order madeleines as well. 
Where: 26 St. John Street, EC1M 4AY
How much: From £63 per person. Suckling pig from £500
Book now: St John

Christmas dinner in London with kids

Worried about lack of space or child-friendly menus? Eating out with the kids can sometimes seem like more hassle than it’s worth but we’re confident that these spots will set you up for a stress-free festive meal that will have you wishing you ate out with the family more often.

Riding House, Various London locations

What: If you’re after a restaurant with a more relaxed atmosphere, you’ll be pleased to know that all three of Riding House’s restaurants are serving up plenty of festive cheer (Fitzrovia, Bloomsbury and Victoria). Menus start at £50 per person for its three-course group menu, with smart riffs on classic dishes like smaked barbary duck with pickled dates, bone-in chicken schnitzel with mushrooms, and sticky toffee brioche doughnuts for pudding. There's a dedicated vegan offering too! 
Where: Various London locations
How much: From £50 per person
Book now: Riding House Fitzrovia, Riding House Bloomsbury, Rail House Victoria

Restaurants open on Christmas Day in London

Hang up your oven gloves and forget all that endless washing up. Stats show that an increasing number of Londoners now choose to eat out on Christmas Day and when the options are this tempting we can understand why. Here are some of our favourite restaurants open on Christmas day.

JOIA, Battersea

What: JOIA is always a good choice, thanks to its charming art deco flair, stunning highrise views and a menu packed with modern Portuguese comfort food. The restaurant stays open for Christmas Day too, offering Iberian classics like pan con tomate, grilled leeks with romesco, a rack of lamb with patatas bravas, and a rich Portuguese creme caramel to finish things off. 
Where: 1 Electric Boulevard, SW11 8BJ
How much: £150 per person
Book now: JOIA

Booking Office 1869, King's Cross

What: An easy nomination for one of London’s most spellbinding dining rooms, you’ll find the cavernous Booking Office 1869 inside the St Pancras Renaissance Hotel. There’s festive private dining on offer for groups of nine plus, but this also makes a stunning spot for Christmas lunch, with Devonshire crab with saffron and citrus fennel, roast turbot with celeriac puree, and Christmas pudding all on the cards.
Where: Euston Road, NW1 2AR
How much: £145 per person
Book now: Booking Office 1869

Sycamore Vino Cucina, Covent Garden

What: Found at the plush and welcoming Middle Eight hotel in Covent Garden, Sycamore Vino Cucina leans into accessible Mediterranean flavours. The beautiful, beachy yellow and blue dining room makes a lovely place to hang out on Christmas day, and you can tuck into the likes of sweetcorn chowder with spiced crab rarebit, roast turkey with Tropea onion and fig stuffing, and a Kahlua tiramisu.
Where: 66 Great Queen Street, WC2B 5BX
How much: £125 per person
Book now: Sycamore Vino Cucina

Wild Honey St James, Mayfair

What: Looking to go all out on the big day? Michelin-starred Wild Honey is just the place for extravagance and excellent cooking courtesy of esteemed chef Anthony Demetre. Its Christmas Day menu kicks off with a glass of Champagne and a selection of snacks, before launching into six courses of indulgent French fare. Think halibut with Champagne and caviar veloute, terrine of duck, chicken and pork with hazelnuts and winter fruit, and Christmas pudding with brandy butter. 
Where: 8 Pall Mall, SW1Y 5NG
How Much: £230 per person
Book now: Wild Honey St James

Looking for a place to ring in 2024 at? Our guide to the best restaurants to celebrate the New Year might help.