What runs on Christmas Day
Christmas Day 2026 is a Friday, and GOV.UK's bank holiday list adds Monday 28 December as the substitute Boxing Day holiday in England and Wales, since 26 December falls on a Saturday. New Year's Day is Friday 1 January 2027.
TfL usually publishes its Christmas plan in early December; on 23 October 2026 the newest one was for 2025. Its press release of 2 December 2025 said most public transport would not run on Christmas Day and the IFS Cloud Cable Car would be closed, while Santander Cycles stayed available throughout the festive period. TfL's 2024–25 travel page is more explicit: taxis and private hire, Santander Cycles, e-scooter rental trials in some boroughs, coaches and Dial-a-Ride for registered members were "the only transport running on Christmas Day".
That leaves four realistic ways to move around on 25 December:
- Walk. Choose a hotel within walking distance of where you want to eat or attend a service.
- Santander Cycles. TfL said the hire bikes would be available on Christmas Day 2025; remember that the light goes early.
- Black cab. Tariff 3, the highest, applies on public holidays, and TfL's taxi fares page adds a £4 extra charge to every trip between 20:00 on 24 December and 06:00 on 27 December.
- Pre-booked private hire. Book the day before if you have a fixed time, such as a lunch reservation or a flight.
Christmas Eve and Boxing Day
Christmas Eve is a working day with early finishes. TfL's Christmas Eve page has no date stamp and was last written for a Tuesday 24 December. It listed a reduced Tube service from 20:00 with Sunday finish times, no night buses, London Overground finishing at about 21:30 and the DLR ending at 22:30. Plan to be back at your hotel by mid-evening unless you are happy to take a cab.
On Boxing Day 2025, TfL said there would be no service on some parts of the network, including the entire Elizabeth line, and only a reduced DLR service. Check the line you need once TfL publishes the 2026 plan, especially if your hotel depends on the Elizabeth line.
Which London sights close over Christmas
Each venue sets its own dates. This table uses the venue's own page, read on 23 October 2026.
| Sight | 24 Dec | 25 Dec | 26 Dec | 1 Jan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| British Museum | Closed | Closed | Closed | Not stated |
| National Gallery | Closed | Closed | Closed | Closed |
| Natural History Museum | Closed | Closed | Closed | Not stated |
| Tower Bridge | Closed | Closed | Closed | Opens 10:00 |
| St Paul's Cathedral | Last entry 13:15 | Worship only | Opens 09:00 | Opens 09:00 |
| Westminster Abbey | Check entry times | Worship only | Check entry times | Check entry times |
| London Eye | Not stated | Closed | Not stated | Closed all January |
The sources: the British Museum, National Gallery and Natural History Museum visit pages; Tower Bridge visitor information, which says those closures apply every year; St Paul's planned closures list for August 2026 to February 2027; the Westminster Abbey FAQ; and the London Eye hours page, which says it closes on Christmas Day and for maintenance throughout January.
St Paul's is also closed for sightseeing on Sundays, which includes 27 December, and its list shows a last entry of 13:15 on 23 December as well. Our St Paul's tickets guide covers normal prices and the dome.
The Tower of London's visit page lists Christmas at the Tower from 27 November 2026 to 3 January 2027, included in admission, but did not show its Christmas closing days when we checked. Pick your date in its calendar before you plan around it.
How to plan 24 to 28 December
Do the museums on 23 or 27 December. The British Museum, National Gallery and Natural History Museum all reopen after Boxing Day, and the South Kensington museums share the same 24–26 December closure (see our South Kensington free museums guide).
Keep 25 December local. Book Christmas lunch within walking distance, or budget for two cab rides at the holiday tariff plus £4 each.
Expect Monday 28 December to behave like a bank holiday. Transport and opening hours on substitute days are set by each operator; check the specific venue for that date.
Staying until 31 December? Our guide to London's New Year's Eve fireworks tickets explains the ticketed viewing areas and getting home after midnight.
