8 Things to do in North London on Christmas Day

There are loads of places looking for volunteers on Christmas Day. Here's what I found:

There are community meals across North London where you'll be welcomed, Including these below:

Taking a walk is one of my favourite things to do, and on Christmas day theres barely any people or cars. Some say the streets of London feel eerie but I say it's peaceful. Best of all, it's free.

Just wander, cycle along the river and stop wherever looks good. Hire a bike and explore the quiet streets. The city's yours on Christmas Day, no crowds, no rush, just you and the concrete jungle we call London.

Or go on a Parkrun

Most parkruns happen in the morning. Here are some I found so far in North London:

You need to register (free) at parkrun.org.uk before you can join any parkrun. Check out this site to see if any other locations have been added and for more information on the ones listed above.

Or go on a Christmas walking tour

I found this one done by Ed Glinert:

Power, Corruption & Lies Christmas Day Tour | Nelson's Column, WC2N | 10:30am-2:30pm | £66.66
Four-hour walking tour through Westminster and Whitehall on Christmas morning. Political scandals, secret tunnels, ridiculous stories about where the monarch's nuclear bunker is and the tube station Nazis used to spy on MI6. Starts and finishes at Nelson's Column, cafe stop halfway. Ed's done over a thousand tours. Book on Eventbrite.

Don't fancy taking a dip yourself? Hampstead Heath's open-air Parliament Hill Lido is the only place I found that will be open. It usually opens on the morning of December 25th, though you'll have to be up early for a dip, it's open 7am-11am on Christmas Day 2025.

Dusty Knuckle: last year their Dalston location opened on Christmas Day giving away free pastries and filter coffee. Others showed up in the same boat, people chatted. Some say it might happen at their Haringey location too. Keep an eye on their Instagram - they might do it again this year.


Gail's: eight branches are open 8am-3pm on Christmas Day, giving away free mince pies. Gail's Highgate is one of them.

Pret A Manger: some branches have opened on Christmas Day in the past, but they don't say which ones ahead of time. Worth checking your local one closer to the day.

Worth asking around at your local cafes too, some might open for a few hours even.

To be fair, there are loads of pubs open for a few hours on Christmas Day, mainly offering drinks. Some do food but you'll need to book in advance. Here’s what I found so far:

Chain pubs: Young's, Greene King and Wetherspoons usually open on Christmas Day. Check their websites for which branches and times.

Check before you go,  times can change.

Cineworld Wembley The only Cineworld in North London open on Christmas Day. Check their website for what's showing and times.

JW3 (Jewish Community Centre) Open on Christmas Day with films and a winter fair in their piazza.