London Christmas Day Question
#16
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Cambridge, UK
Programs: TWA Aviators
Posts: 102
If you wrap up warm, there's a number of Cycle Hire docking stations within walking distance...
Give it a go! It's a blast to bike down (nearly) deserted streets.
#17
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: London
Programs: BA bronze card, NHS Blood Donor silver card
Posts: 1,617
the IanVisits blog has some great photos of deserted streets from Christmas Day 2008: http://www.ianvisits.co.uk/blog/2008...serted-london/
I'd second the Cycle Hire idea. Though remember that the cheapest way to do it dock your bike occasionally, making sure no journey is longer than 30 minutes - that way, you'll only pay the 1 daily access fee.
I'd second the Cycle Hire idea. Though remember that the cheapest way to do it dock your bike occasionally, making sure no journey is longer than 30 minutes - that way, you'll only pay the 1 daily access fee.
#18
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Sitting down
Posts: 557
The last year there was any widespread general train service (albeit reduced frequency) on Christmas Day was 1968, and earlier in some regions. Boxing day services lasted until 1975 or thereabouts. They were abandoned on cost grounds. The London Underground ran in a limited on Christmas day until the late 1970s - for a period free of charge as it cost more to employ people to collect fares than taken in.
If anything, the present trend is to cut services earlier on Christmas Eve.
If anything, the present trend is to cut services earlier on Christmas Eve.
#19
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: south of WAS DC
Posts: 10,131
As 99.9% of shops and restaurants are closed anyway, there isn't much point!
What IS shocking is that there are still no National Rail trains on Boxing Day, even though the country is pretty much running as usual, at least as far as shopping and eating goes. Unless you get a year when Christmas Day is a weekend (thus making Dec 27th a holiday), it is therefore very difficult - if visiting family over Christmas - to travel back to your home on Boxing Day in time for work on December 27th. Truly shocking in 2011.
What IS shocking is that there are still no National Rail trains on Boxing Day, even though the country is pretty much running as usual, at least as far as shopping and eating goes. Unless you get a year when Christmas Day is a weekend (thus making Dec 27th a holiday), it is therefore very difficult - if visiting family over Christmas - to travel back to your home on Boxing Day in time for work on December 27th. Truly shocking in 2011.
#20
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 7,605
Certainly around my way none of the "ethnic" restaurants are open on Christmas Day - and only one takeaway is open.
If you are in the UK on Christmas Eve may I recommend one traditional event that no-one ever mentions - the stripping of supermarket shelves of anything remotely edible as the supermarkets will (mostly) be closed for two days.
#21
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: UK
Posts: 7,560
As a Hindu acquaintance once said to me, "You can't NOT celebrate Christmas when you have kids".
#22
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: London
Programs: BA, VS, HH, IHG, MB, MR
Posts: 26,865
I'm not sure what the legal position is. In general, small shops can do what they want, 24 / 7 / 365, subject to licensing if they sell alcohol. Rules on trading hours normally only apply to large stores as they are designed to only hit chains.
#23
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: London, England.
Programs: BA
Posts: 8,476
We have this discussion every year
Yes there are no regular Underground or buses shown. Actually there are a few but they find it difficult to get publicity.
Most notably, the Open Top sightseeing buses do run; it seems bizarre to see them out with nothing about but there you go. At least one of them has day pass tickets, as long as you get a timetable from them and their map ofwhere they run you can use them for longer journeys around the West End and the City.
I believe BAA hire coaches to do a link from Heathrow into Paddington.
The main reason tha restaurants, even those from non-Christian countries, close is there are no (or so few) customers. Brits don't go out to eat on Christmas Day, they go to family/friends. A few of us go to quite formal Christmas lunches in hotels etc, which cost a fortune compared to normal prices and have a family party atmosphere.
Yes there are no regular Underground or buses shown. Actually there are a few but they find it difficult to get publicity.
Most notably, the Open Top sightseeing buses do run; it seems bizarre to see them out with nothing about but there you go. At least one of them has day pass tickets, as long as you get a timetable from them and their map ofwhere they run you can use them for longer journeys around the West End and the City.
I believe BAA hire coaches to do a link from Heathrow into Paddington.
The main reason tha restaurants, even those from non-Christian countries, close is there are no (or so few) customers. Brits don't go out to eat on Christmas Day, they go to family/friends. A few of us go to quite formal Christmas lunches in hotels etc, which cost a fortune compared to normal prices and have a family party atmosphere.
#24
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: London, England.
Programs: BA
Posts: 8,476
In more recent times Boxing Day (Dec 26) also became an official holiday in Scotland under the 1971 Banking & Financial Dealings Act (which also does public holiday rules, and why they are called 'bank' holidays), along with January 2, at the same time as New Year's Day became so in England. It seems strange now that New Year's Day only became a holiday in London comparatively recently.
If we are going back to past memories, I'll recall my father said that in the 1920s he posted ALL his Christmas cards on Christmas Eve, and they were ALL delivered on Christmas Day !
#25
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: UK
Programs: BA EC Gold
Posts: 9,236