Hey Neighbour,
Whether you're spending Christmas alone this year, dodging family, or just want something different, here's what's actually open and happening in some areas of North London on December 25th. Well, at least what I found so far.
Big thank you to everyone who sent me information and places that would be open. There's no way I could've found all of these on my own. I hope this list of events and ideas only gets bigger.
— Maryam
VOLUNTEER
There are loads of places looking for volunteers on Christmas Day. Here's what I found:
Single Homeless Project | 📍 N1, WC1, NW1, NW3, WC2
The Single Homeless Project are looking for volunteers in their hostels cooking Christmas dinner, playing games, bringing festive cheer to Londoners experiencing homelessness. Email [email protected] for location details.
Under One Sky are on the streets bringing Christmas lunches to about 500 homeless friends. They've got around 15 volunteer spaces left. Sign up here then register for Christmas Day. You'll get more info once you're signed up.
GRAB A CHRISTMAS DINNER
There are community meals across North London where you'll be welcomed, Including these below:
Our Forgotten Neighbours | Westbourne Community Centre, N7 | 2-10pm | Free
Eight hours of Christmas Day sorted. Free dinner, entertainment, raffles, gifts - the whole works. Started for people who are homeless or elderly, but if you just don't want to be alone, you're welcome too. Contact Victoria on WhatsApp: 07496 530878.
New River Baptist Church | 80 Arran Walk, N1 | Doors 11:30am, service at noon, then lunch | Free
The easiest one to join. Main meal's provided, just bring a drink or dessert if you can manage it. Everyone's welcome. Contact: [email protected]
St Luke's Community Centre | 90 Central Street, EC1V | 12-4pm | £10 donation suggested Three-course sit-down lunch. Santa turns up with gifts. Book ahead on 020 7549 8181 because they fill up. If you're local and housebound, they'll deliver to you instead. Contact: [email protected]
Christmas Day Hotel Bar Social | Standard Hotel, King's Cross, WC1H | 11:30am | £3 cash
It’s not a charity thing, just a meetup for people who want company on Christmas. All ages, all nationalities. Meet at King's Cross station at 11:30am, head to the Standard Hotel bar together. Hot food, drinks, optional Secret Santa if you fancy it. Check the Meetup page before you go for exact meeting spot. Contact: 07512766577.
Christmas Dinner @ Kervan Sofrasi | Church Street, N9 | 2-5pm | From £15
Christmas dinner at a Turkish restaurant. You're paying for your meal (from £15) but you're joining a table of people in the same boat. RSVP on meetup.com, spaces limited to 24.
GO FOR A WALK, A RUN OR A BIKE RIDE
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:
Sunny Hill parkrun (Hendon)
Oak Hill parkrun (East Barnet)
Grovelands parkrun (Enfield)
Highbury Fields parkrun
Finsbury parkrun
Lordship Recreation Ground parkrun
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.
TAKE A DIP
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.
POP TO A CAFE
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.
HIT THE PUB
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:
The Famous Royal Oak, N10 - 12-3pm
Windsor Castle, East Finchley, N2 - 12-3pm, drinks only
The Flask, Hampstead, N6 - 12-6pm
The Narrowboat, Angel, N1 - 12-6pm
The Spread Eagle, Camden, NW1 - 12-6pm
The Preston, Wembley, HA9 - 11-5pm (they've done Christmas dinner for one in the past too)
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.
GO TO A CINEMA
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.
Sunset Boulevard - 12:30pm
Wicked for Good - 3:20pm
Eleanor the Great - 6:30pm
Pantomime: Cinderella and the Matzah Ball - 2pm (17 tickets left as of writing this)
Before you go…
And if you're not already part of the My North London community, you're missing out on what 2,400+ of your neighbours are getting every week: what's happening across Haringey, Islington, Camden, Brent, Enfield and Barnet. Local events, neighbourhood news, basically giving you reasons to leave your house. You can sign up here.
See you out there!