What’s on in London on Christmas Day

A guide on everything that you can do in London on Christmas Day, from carol singing to swimming and helping those in need.

Transcript

00:00For those looking to do something special on Christmas Day itself, London offers a range

00:05of unique and festive activities to help make the day memorable. Whether you're seeking

00:11tradition, a bit of adventure or a way to give back, here are some of the great things

00:15to do in the capital on December 25th.

00:20One of London's oldest and quirkiest Christmas traditions is the Peter Pan Cup that has been

00:24a staple since 1864. Held at High Park's Serpentine Lido, this 100-yard swimming race

00:33begins at 9am on Christmas morning. The race's name comes from the 1904 edition when author

00:40Sir James Barry presented the trophy to the winner. While it's primarily a spectator

00:45event, if you're feeling brave, you can always join the Serpentine Swimming Club for

00:50a future dip. It's a perfect way to start the day before opening presents.

00:55If you're looking to fit in some ice skating on Christmas Day itself, you can head to West

01:00Hampstead's Jewish Arts, Culture and Community Centre. It's the only ice rink in London

01:06that's open on Christmas Day itself, and though it's not the largest ice rink in

01:11town, it's charming 70-capacity, 200-square-metre space under a canopy, offering a fun skate

01:19no matter the weather. There are also skate aids for little ones, so you don't have

01:23to worry about any tumbles on Christmas Day. Few activities in London are as festive as

01:30carol singing inside Sir Christopher Wren's architectural masterpiece at St Paul's Cathedral.

01:37The iconic landmark hosts a series of Christmas services, with three held on Christmas Day

01:42itself. Night hours can attend the Midnight Mass starting at 11.30pm on Christmas Eve

01:49and finishing at 1am. If you're not quite an early riser, you can join the Christmas

01:54Day Choral at 11am, or the Festal Evansong at 3pm. All Christmas Day services are free

02:02and unticketed, but they're very popular, so be sure to arrive early and expect a queue.

02:09Christmas is also a time to give back, and there are numerous charities across London

02:14that need volunteers on Christmas Day. From supporting the homeless to helping the elderly

02:19and those with disabilities, many organisations rely on extra hands to make the holiday season

02:25special for those in need. If you're looking to make a difference, you can consider volunteering

02:31your time to help others enjoy a brighter Christmas. Here are some of the food banks

02:36that are open during the festive period.

02:39The Trussell Trust's Tower Hamlets Food Bank provides essential supplies to vulnerable

02:44families. The Brixton Food Bank also continues to provide support to families in South London

02:50during the festive period. For more on this, head to LondonWorld.com.