jasmo

Okay, y'all talked me right out of arriving on 12/25, Christmas Day. Can I assume that regular train/bus service will be running on Boxing Day? Since it is a big shopping day, I am also guessing that restaurants and the like will be open. Anything of tourist interest closed on that day?
Thanks

bilboburgler

Depends, more likley a sunday service. Restaurants may be open but may require booking

GeoffHamer

In London, tubes and buses run on Boxing Day but not many other public transport services run in England.

flanneruk

Most main not-for-profit attractions that can close are closed. Boxing Day's not a big shopping (or any other kind of) day in central London, so restaurant opening is a bit unpredictable. Some Sales start, but most, in the centre, wait till Dec 27.

There isn't the complete closure of Christmas Day, but many central restaurants decide it's just not worth it.

laurie_ann

I got this from mick67 on tripadvisor forum.

Right, it's that time of year again to detail when london's major attractions will be closed over the Christmas period. Fell free to add any that I have missed.
Westminster Abbey
Monday 24th December - Worship only – no tourist visiting
Tuesday 25th December - Worship only – no tourist visiting
http://www.westminster-abbey.org/
St Paul’s
Monday 24th December - Worship only – no tourist visiting
Tuesday 25th December - Worship only – no tourist visiting
http://www.stpauls.co.uk/
Tower of London
Closed 24th, 25th, 26th December and 1st January.
http://www.hrp.org.uk/TowerOfLondon/...ningtimes.aspx
Hampton Court Palace
Closed 24th, 25th and 26th December
http://www.hrp.org.uk/HamptonCourtPa...ningtimes.aspx
Kensington Palace
Closed 24th, 25th and 26th December
http://www.hrp.org.uk/KensingtonPala...ningtimes.aspx
Windsor Castle
Closed 25th and 26th December
The castle is open on Christmas Eve but St George’s Chapel is only open for worshippers attending services.
http://www.royalcollection.org.uk/de...=34#-Openhours
Natural History Museum
Closed 24th, 25th and 26th December
http://www.nhm.ac.uk/visit-us/index.html
Science Museum
Closed 24th, 25th and 26th December
http://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/visitmuseum.aspx
V & A Museum.
Closed 24th, 25th and 26th December
http://www.vam.ac.uk/your_visit/opening/index.html
Kew Gardens
Closed 24th and 25th December
http://www.rbgkew.org.uk/visitor/timeskew.html
Imperial War Museum, Churchill museum and Cabinet War Rooms, HMS Belfast
Closed 24th, 25th and 26th December
http://london.iwm.org.uk/server/show/nav.00b002
http://cwr.iwm.org.uk/server/show/nav.00f002
http://hmsbelfast.iwm.org.uk/server/show/nav.00e002
National Maritime Museum, Queen's house and Royal Observatory (all in
Greenwich)
Closed 24th, 25th and 26th December
http://www.nmm.ac.uk/server/show/conWebDoc.373
Cutty Sark
The Cutty Sark is closed for conservation work to be undertaken.
Somerset House and associated galleries.
Closed 25th and 26th December
http://www.somerset-house.org.uk/planning/index.html
British Museum
Closed 24th, 25th and 26th December and 1st January
http://www.thebritishmuseum.ac.uk/visit/opening.html
Museum of London
Closed 24th, 25th, 26th December and 1st January
http://www.museumoflondon.org.uk/English/YourVisit/
Museum in Docklands
Closed 24th, 25th, 26th December and 1st January
http://www.museumindocklands.org.uk/English/YourVisit/
National Gallery
Closed 24th, 25th, 26th December and 1st January
http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/plan/default.htm
National Portrait Gallery
Closed 24th, 25th and 26th December.
http://www.npg.org.uk/live/opening.asp
Tate Modern
Closed 24th, 25th and 26th December.
http://www.tate.org.uk/modern/information/hours.htm
Tate Britain
Closed 24th, 25th and 26th December
http://www.tate.org.uk/britain/information/hours.htm
Shakespeare’s Globe Exhibition
Closed 24th and 25th December
http://www.shakespeares-globe.org/to.../openingtimes/
London eye
Closed 25th December.
http://www.londoneye.com/VisitorInfo...;productid=401
London Dungeons
Closed 25th December
http://www.thedungeons.com/en/london...s.html#content
Charles Dickens Museum
Closed 25th December and 1st January
http://www.dickensmuseum.com/opening.htm
Britain at War Experience
Closed 24th, 25th and 26th December
http://www.britainatwar.co.uk/information.html
and finally….
London Walks operate 365 daya a year and will have 2 walks on Christmas Day (although they may yet add another walk in the evening).
At 11 am - Christmas Morning 1660 - Samuel Pepys's London
At 2 pm - The Charles Dickens Christmas Day London Walk
Both start from the Trafalgar Square Christmas Tree.
http://www.walks.com/Homepage/Dont_F...fault.aspx#589

W9London

Transportation--tubes and buses should be running, similar to (reduced) Sunday services. Not sure about the mainline services (incl Heathrow/Gatwick Express) as they seem to have extended maintenance works done around Christmas in recent years. At least, if you land LHR you can take tube.

There will be people in central London, though many restaurant/shop owners decide to keep their premises closed. As long as tube is running, there are many places you can walk around to view from outside (like House of Parliament, Tower Bridge, parks) etc.

P_M

The walking tours operate 365 days/year.

http://www.walks.com/

mingtsainy

Thanks for the awesome list, laurie_ann.

bvlenci

Many trains are not running on Boxing Day. For example, this past Christmas, there were no trains at all to or from Kings Cross station, which was completely closed. I had taken my granddaughter there to see Harry Potter's track 9 3/4, but no joy.

bvlenci

The walking tours are running on Boxing Day, but many of the streets in central London are in a deplorable condition, with every type of human effluent, solid and liquid, mixed in with the trash and broken bottles.

janisj

mingtsainy: >>Thanks for the awesome list, laurie_ann.<<

A little late w/ your thanks I'd say . . . Like <B><red>7 years</B></red> late.

Since things change I wouldn't rely entirely on this old thread . . .