Restaurants that are open on Christmas Day in London

Dinner by Heston Blumenthal is a venture by the creative chef, inspired by historical recipes dating back to the 13th century. The restaurant's decor gives a similar nod to the past through details like wall sconces shaped like antique jelly moulds. On 25th December you can indulge in a curated tasting menu of British dishes, with dietary needs accommodated.

Enjoy your Christmas meal with gorgeous views of Tower Bridge and the Thames at Le Pont de la Tour. This venue serves elegant French cuisine in a converted tea warehouse with a terrace. A five-course feast is being served on Christmas Day, including a traditional roast turkey crown with all the trimmings.

If you don't want a big fancy meal on Christmas Day, heading to Poppies in Soho is a great solution. This classic fish and chip shop has a bright and cosy interior and serves classic fish and chips, including kids' meals. You can still make it festive though - until 25th December you can have a deep-fried mince pie to finish off your meal.

Eat in opulent surroundings at Bob Bob Ricard – don't worry, the “Press for Champagne” buttons will be working. The restaurant opens 365 days a year and you get the usual menu of French, British, and Russian classics. There's a minimum spend of £125 per head on Christmas Day so feel free to press the button one more time.

Visit Claridge's for luxurious British cooking in opulent Art Deco surroundings. It's an ideal venue for an indulgent Christmas meal. Lunch and dinner will be served on Christmas Day. Diners can relax and enjoy multiple courses of upscale food. Menu options include a traditional roast turkey breast with stuffing, bread sauce, and all the usual extras.

Rails takes inspiration from its location close to St Pancras station, serving British cuisine with a clear French influence. The restaurant environment is intimate and the attentive service makes diners feel at home. Celebrate Christmas in style here with a sumptuous selection of dishes including game terrine, roast turkey, and roast beef.

Give your Christmas dinner a twist by eating at Indian fine dining restaurant Yaatra. Decorated with rich colours, the dining room has a classic feel. Special menus are available throughout the festive season and on 25th December there's a traditional menu with Indian touches like masala gravy, plus a Christmas Bellini to kick things off.

The Colony Grill Room brings an upmarket New York grill restaurant to Londoners. It's based at high-end hotel The Beaumont and offers classic surroundings that evoke a feel of old-school glamour. There are a variety of festive menus on offer but on Christmas Day there's an indulgent six-course feast of traditional dishes. Children are catered for too.

Cosy Highgate gastropub The Flask is an ideal choice for your Christmas meal. This traditional venue serves refined and seasonal pub food and it's staying open for Christmas Day. Guests can sample a three-course menu plus canapés and chocolate truffles. The menu includes a selection of roasts including turbot, and gluten-free and plant-based options.

Celebrate with stunning views of the Thames at Skylon. This modern British restaurant is serving a four-course tasting menu on 25th December, with a menu for the kids too. Accompanied by gorgeous views and dazzling festive decor in the dining room, you can try dishes like parsnip soup, roast turkey, or a beef or vegan Wellington.

Gastropub The Guinea has been serving fine steaks in London since the 1960s. This Mayfair venue is traditional and refined. An indulgent menu is being served on Christmas Day with champagne and oysters on arrival, followed by choices like smoked salmon, winter vegetable soup, dry-aged rib of beef, or a butter-poached ballotine of Norfolk turkey.

Savour your Christmas meal with attractive riverside views at Sea Containers Restaurant. This relaxed hotel restaurant is open on 25th December, serving a special four-course menu with a glass of champagne on arrival. Diners can opt for the classic roast turkey but other options include Cornish stone bass or forest mushroom and chestnut tart.

What if you don't fancy a roast for your Christmas meal this year? There's nothing wrong with that – head to Straits Kitchen and celebrate with a pan-Asian menu. This bright and modern venue serves sophisticated food. Lunch and dinner are served on Christmas Day, with choices like crab tartare and Japanese Black Wagyu making turkey a distant memory.

Go to The Aubrey for traditional Japanese cooking in a luxury izakaya setting. This exciting and eccentric venue has classic decor. A set menu is on offer for lunch or dinner on 25th December, featuring sushi, seaweed salad, and a Japanese take on the traditional Christmas roast involving robata turkey and shokupan bread sauce.

Bōkan in Canary Wharf offers diners grand city views alongside European recipes prepared with quality British ingredients. The venue itself has a modern and rustic style. There's a roof terrace here too. On Christmas Day guests can indulge in a five-course lunch with the option to add bottomless prosecco to make the meal even more special.

Gaucho brings Londoners the finest Argentine steak available, with locations all over the city. The Tower Bridge and Richmond locations are staying open on the big day, with set menus for adults and children on offer. Dishes include a festive empanada and steak with chorizo, served in classy surroundings with fab river views.

Acclaimed chef Vivek Singh is bringing Indian flavours to Christmas Day – all of his Cinnamon Collection restaurants are staying open and serving indulgent menus of Indian recipes that are a far cry from your usual Christmas meal. Each restaurant is doing a slightly different menu but they're all packed with punchy flavours.

Dining at The Ritz is the peak of opulence and glamour, with meals served in a grand and timeless space. Celebrate with a Michelin-starred Christmas lunch or dinner, accompanied by fab entertainment. You'll get a multi-course feast, with a caricaturist, entertainers, and the big man in red at lunchtime, or a live band and singer in the evening. 

Located in Soho, Ham Yard Restaurant & Bar has stunning eclectic interiors by renowned designer Kit Kemp. There's an outdoor courtyard too. An indulgent special menu is served on Christmas Day, kicking off with appetisers and champagne and including choices like dressed crab, roast turkey, venison Wellington, Christmas pudding, cheeses, and mince pies.

Riding House and Rail House are stylish all-day dining spots, ideal for relaxed and casual meals at any time. They're still great places when it's time to celebrate though – these venues are open on 25th December, serving a special menu that includes roast turkey and a plant-based Wellington. Various festive menus are available throughout the Christmas period.

Located in Marylebone, Orrery is an elegant French restaurant with a rooftop terrace. Sophisticated food is on the menu, including an indulgent set menu packed with seasonal flavours – expect dishes like beef Wellington and mulled wine sorbet. Optional wine pairings are available to complete the experience. Festive party menus are also served throughout the season.

Well-established Punjabi restaurant Tayyabs is a favourite in Whitechapel for any occasion. It's vast and bustling with a blue neon sign above the door. This East London icon remains open on Christmas Day and might even be a little quieter than usual. Choose from a range of flavourful traditional dishes and feel free to BYOB.

The Cadogan Arms in Chelsea has the feel of a country house, decked out with polished wood and a traditional look. Local and seasonal ingredients are used to produce British comfort food. Christmas Day is no exception – this place is serving a set menu with champagne on arrival, a selection of roasts, and mince pies to take home.

Located in Chiswick, Le Vacherin is a sophisticated bistro with a classic look. Private dining is also available. Refined and well-presented French dishes are served here. Christmas lunch includes three courses of festive options, including roast Norfolk turkey breast with all the traditional trimmings and Christmas pudding with brandy butter.

Italian cuisine gets a fine dining touch at Theo Randall at the InterContinental. Inspired by the chef's travels in Italy, dishes are upmarket and rustic whilst the setting is spacious and contemporary. Visit for a five-course Christmas lunch made with seasonal ingredients and including a Negroni or glass of champagne.

Holborn Dining Room is a restaurant with firm roots in British food culture. With striking modern interiors, it's a stylish setting for a meal. A menu inspired by British food traditions is served on 25th December. There's a photogenic venison and duck pâté en croute, potato and winter truffle terrine, and a roast bronze turkey with all the trimmings.

Mayfair restaurant Benares specialises in Michelin-starred Indian cooking. Food is served in an opulent dining space with impressive water features. Festive party menus are being served throughout December but on Christmas Day guests can join for lunch. An exclusive tasting menu is being served with wine pairings available. There are a number of private dining rooms on-site.

Luxury restaurant The Game Bird is a high-end destination for British dining. The interiors are contemporary but have a timeless appeal, whilst the food champions artisan producers and quality ingredients. A decadent feast is being served on Christmas Day with canapés, roast turkey, and Christmas pudding. Vegetarian and vegan menus are also available.

Spend Christmas Day at Joia, a sophisticated Portuguese restaurant with great views and a coral pink colour scheme. A set menu celebrating Portuguese Christmas traditions is served on 25th December, with a vegan version available too. Plus, every Christmas Day booking gets entered into a draw to win a private dinner cooked by owner Henrique Sa Pessoa.

The German Gymnasium in King's Cross occupies a stunning Grade II-listed building and encompasses different beautiful spaces, including a ground-floor Grand Café and an elegant first-floor restaurant. Seated under a gorgeous 20ft Christmas tree, you can indulge in a Christmas Day set menu featuring traditional German festive foods such as roast duck with brezel dumpling and braised cabbage.

Based at upscale hotel One Aldwych, Indigo is a buzzy contemporary restaurant that serves exclusively gluten-free food. Dishes are also free from dairy. This place is open on Christmas Day, serving an indulgent five course menu that includes the traditional turkey roast as well as alternatives like Cornish turbot and a vegetarian option.

Exported to the UK from LA, Lavo is a sophisticated Italian dining concept at the BoTree hotel in Marylebone. On Christmas Day, they'll be serving an Italian-style festive feast featuring classic dishes such as Tortellini in Brodo and Vitello Tonnato, accompanied by traditional favourites like Tacchino Ripieno stuffed turkey, Brussel sprouts, and crispy pancetta. A selection of festive Italian sweets served tableside rounds things off.