10 Things To Do in London On Boxing Day 2024
Date post added: 10th September 2024
The day after Christmas Day doesn’t have to be spent feeling over-stuffed and slightly disgruntled after a run-in with an irritating family member. For us in the United Kingdom, Boxing Day (also known as Saint Stephen’s Day) is an official public holiday. Boxing Day’s been celebrated in England, Wales and Northern Ireland since the 19th century, but it only became a bank holiday in Scotland in 1974.
What happens on Boxing Day in London? There’s plenty on offer other than boxsets and Quality Street. So, peel yourself off the sofa, and get out on 26th December. Here are 10 of our festive suggestions for spending time in London on Boxing Day.
1. Volunteer your time
Saint Stephen was the first Christian martyr, known for serving the poor. Many believe the term Boxing Day derives from the boxes used to collect money for the poor in church, which were distributed the day after Christmas Day. Others believe that the ‘boxes’ were monetary tips given by the wealthy to their staff after Christmas, as mentioned by diarist Samuel Pepys in his 17th century diary. To stay true to the intent of the day, you could spend your Boxing Day ‘giving back’ by volunteering for a London charity, like Whitechapel Mission, Crisis or food bank network Trussel Trust.
2. See a show
On Boxing Day, you may feel like the best of Christmas is “behind you.” But it’s a great day to get to the theatre and enjoy a feel good Christmas show. But what popular theatre shows can you watch on Boxing Day?
You can’t beat a traditional English Christmas pantomime. The one at London Palladium is always the most risqué and guarantees belly laughs. As ever, the very naughty Julian Clary tops the bill and this festive season it’s Robin Hood. If last year’s Peter Pan is anything to go by, it’ll be ridiculously funny.
Other festive shows in the West End include Aladdin at the Lyric Hammersmith, The Snowman at the Peacock Theatre, Frozen The Musical at Theatre Royal in Drury Lane, A Christmas Carol at The Old Vic or The Nutcracker by the English National Ballet. And don’t forget the family favourites, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child at the Palace Theatre and Matilda at the Cambridge.
3. Watch some sport
In the 18th century, Boxing Day was a time when the aristocracy would take part in sports such as hunting, shooting and horse racing. Fox hunting was banned in the UK in 2004, of course, but the tradition of sport on Boxing Day endures. Horse racing remains a firm fixture with the headline being the Kempton Park Winter Festival. Premier League football is always a big sporting event on Boxing Day. This year’s matches include clashes between local London rivals, Chelsea and Fulham.
If you’re travelling into (or out of) the city, just bear in mind that even though public transport will be running on Boxing Day, there may be a reduced service, so check with TFL before you travel.
4. Go to the Boxing Day sales
Boxing Day has been synonymous with discounted shopping for some years. Recently, pre-Christmas discounts online on Black Friday have superseded this somewhat, but Boxing Day sales remain a big deal. Many stores make a seamless switch from Christmas shopping to sales the day after Christmas.
Where better to get the best of the Boxing Day sales than London? If you prefer to do your shopping indoors, the likes of Westfield London and Westfield Stratford City have department stores and big name retailers. For more bargains, head to London’s popular shopping districts like Regent Street and Oxford Street. If you like to do your shopping in style, it has to be the luxurious boutiques and labels on offer in Bond Street and Covent Garden.
5. Visit a winter wonderland
Are there any must-have winter wonderland destinations in London you should consider visiting on Boxing Day? Well, there’s the actual Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park which celebrates (or capitalises on, depending on your take) all things snow and ice. Immerse yourself in a mythical frozen world carved out of 500 tonnes of ice, take the ice slide, skate at the ice rink or drink slushies for grown ups at the ice bar.
Elsewhere, you’ll find ice skating rinks at Battersea Power Station, Queen’s House Greenwich, Hampton Court , Canary Wharf and Alexandra Palace. But it’s the ice rink in the forecourt of Somerset House that has the most stunning setting imaginable for ice skating in London. It’s been likened to ice skating in St Petersburg. It’s a wonderfully wintry way to spend Boxing Day.
6. Find a cosy pub
If you ended up cooking for the masses on Christmas Day, then let somebody else do it on Boxing Day. Book a table at a cracking London pub with some seasonal British grub, then just relax and enjoy. Festooned with Christmas lights and with a roaring fire going, London pubs are pretty magical at that time of year. Some of our favourites are London’s oldest pubs. They include The Mayflower in Rotherhithe, The Spaniards Inn in Hampstead and The George in Southwark. We explore historic Central London pubs in our Secret Soho and Belgravia walking tours, come and join us.
7. Stroll around a London park
Wrap up warm and take a winter walk around one of our wonderful parks. The trees may be rather bare and it’ll be dark by 3pm, but London parks do retain their impressive beauty all year round. And after the likely (over)indulgence of Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, a dash of fresh air and exercise is a great idea come Boxing Day.
Greenwich Park is not only a gorgeous green space but it’s steeped in history. From Roman remains, to Henry VIII’s birthplace and Queen Caroline’s bath, there’s plenty to discover. Head to St James’s Park or Green Park for prime views of Buckingham Palace. On the outskirts of London, Kew Gardens is always spectacular but its larger than life festive illuminations rival Central London Christmas lights.
Regents Park has much to offer, and London Zoo is a big attraction. Christmas Day is the only day of the year that London Zoo stays closed, so it’s back open again on Boxing Day. It can be a bit quieter that day and it still has its special festive charm and magic.
8. Explore a London museum or gallery
Many London museums, galleries and big attractions remain closed on Christmas Day and Boxing Day. Over the festive period, it’s wise to check opening times as they do vary. The streets are often quieter on Boxing Day, so it’s a good time to walk around and do some sightseeing.
The doors of St Paul’s Cathedral open for sightseeing at 9am until 4pm. The festive season is an especially beautiful time to visit the cathedral. Climb to the dome for panoramic views of the City.
Trafalgar Square is a focal point of the festive period with its 25 metre high Christmas tree that’s gifted from Norway. It’s certainly worth a visit. The twinkling Christmas lights look gorgeous as darkness falls. Oxford Street, Carnaby Street, Regent Street and Piccadilly are all highlights when they’re adorned with festive illuminations.
9. Take a river boat cruise
Why not take a cruise along the River Thames on Boxing Day? It’ll blow away any Christmas Day cobwebs and you get to view London from a different perspective. Don’t forget your woolly hat and scarf though – that breeze along the River Thames can be icy! A superb way to explore London by river is with our guided tour – Thames Sightseeing, Brunel’s River Cruise – which goes at 10am. You’ll pass Big Ben and Westminster Abbey, Tower Bridge and the Tower of London, ending at the Mayflower pub in Rotherhithe.
10. Take a guided London Walk
Treat yourself to a walk, and not just any walk but a London Walk! We have a full programme of events running on Boxing Day. Covent Garden looks particularly magical during the festive season. Get the Inside Story to Covent Garden on Boxing Day morning or discover Old Mayfair or the Square Mile. In the afternoon, we’ll be exploring Westminster (and its stories galore) and Royal Kensington. Then build up your appetite for an evening walk, courtesy of the Jack the Ripper Walking Tour. The full London Walks programme will be finalised in the weeks before Christmas. Be sure to check back for any updates.
Looking ahead to New Year’s Eve or even New Year’s Day? Find our suggestions for the best places to be in London for the new year celebrations.
David Tucker
David – the Seigneur of this favoured realm – broods over words, breeds enthusiasms and is “unmanageable.”* He’s a balterer, literary historian, university lecturer, journalist, logophile and lifelong thanatophobe. For good measure, he’s the doyen of London guides.
Pippa Jackson
Pippa is a word nerd and content aficionado with a background of working in TV on both sides of the globe. She loves to discover and share the diverse and wonderful stories of her much-loved London. When she’s not writing blogs and articles, you’ll find her walking beside the Thames or even paddleboarding on it (in the finest of conditions only!) or enjoying a coffee in the sunshine with a good book.