We are spending 9 days in London, 2 of which are Christmas and Boxing Day. We are planning a one day trip to Paris. Is Boxing Day a holiday in France too? Will there be anything open on either of these days in either country? I assume Christmas is like Christmas in the US where only the movies and ethnic restaurants are open. How about Boxing Day?

Christmas is on a Sunday this year, the 26th will be a Monday. I would expect a number of small businesses to be closed in Paris on that Monday, but as for major attractions, you'll have to look at individual websites to see what will be closed and open. That's not the day I would take to go to Paris when you have other days to choose from.

Last year this webpage had info as to what was open and closed on Xmas Day and New Year's Day in Paris. The info isn't posted there for this year, but it may be too early.
www.conciergerie.com/main.htm?O=CC

Here is a recent thread on things open and closed on Xmas and Boxing Day in London
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34676965

I just realized that the original thread from last month was probably yours

I know nothing of Paris, but travel is next to impossible on Christmas Day in London and eating is very expensive. Ethnicity doesn't play a huge factor in whether the restaurants are closed from my one time observation. There is virtually nothing open on Christmas Day. It was actually a nice time to walk around the city.

Travel is marginally easier on boxing day but many of the trains don't run. We had to take a bus to Gatwick (trains weren't running) when we left and the bus driver got lost and started heading north. He was eventually corrected by a passenger who was able to get him on the correct roads.

Christmas Eve was quite beautiful in London. I really enjoyed it. My wife and I played a charity concert at a Children's hospice that day (or was it the day before) and then played at the Millenium Dome the next day which was set up as a huge homeless shelter. It was nice. Lots of goodwill and all.

Bill

Elaine, thanks, I lost my original thread.