London isn’t often described as quiet, but Christmas Day is the one day of the year when the capital can feel that way. But there’s actually no shortage of things to do and Christmas Day is a rare chance to explore and experience a different side of London.

There’s no public transport on Christmas Day, but you could opt for a Boris bike to explore Central London with much less traffic around. There will also be a few taxis and mini-cabs for hire.

With limited transport options, and thousands of Christmas calories consumed, walking might be your best bet. You’ll have London’s beautiful architecture, street art and Christmas lights largely to yourself, and walking is the best way to experience it. Take a look at these photos of London on Christmas morning by IanVisits, which include Trafalgar Square, Oxford Street and Hyde Park Corner.

Tours

You can even go on a guided walking tour. London Walks hosts two walks on Christmas Day: The London of Samuel Pepys at 1pm and Charles Dickens’ London Walk at 2pm. Both walks start at the big Christmas tree in Trafalgar Square and last for two hours.

Westminster guide Peter Berthoud is offering three walking tours on Christmas Day, with the first at 6am for anyone who wants to experience an eerie 28 Days Later-style London! If you’re keen on a Christmas lie-in, you can opt for a post-lunch walk at 4pm.

Fancy a more relaxing tour? Push the boat out and have your Christmas dinner on the Thames, enjoying the sights of the river on a cruise. Or take a luxury coach tour of London with a professional guide.

Activities

Almost all of London’s attractions are closed on Christmas Day, but the weird and wonderful world of Ripley’s Believe It Or Not is open all year round. Ripley’s is open from 10am with last admission at 8.30pm on Christmas Day (closing time subject to change so check in advance).

Or, for a different kind of weird and wonderful, head to The Serpentine (lake) at Hyde Park where the hardy members of the Serpentine Swimming Club take part in the annual Peter Pan Cup swimming race. The race starts at 9am.

Christmas Services

Most London churches will have Christmas Day services. It’s best to check with the individual church in advance but Central London churches with Christmas Day services include:

• St Martin-in-the-Fields
• Southwark Cathedral (closes at 1pm)
• St Paul’s Cathedral (arrive early and be prepared to queue)

Eating and Drinking

Many restaurants close on Christmas Day but check our blog post for Christmas dinner options in London.

Some pubs open for a few hours around lunchtime but most will be closed or ticketed in the evening. Make sure you check in advance for opening hours. Hotel bars are a good bet for a drink on Christmas Day, but again, check with the hotel in advance.

Do you have any advice or suggestions for spending Christmas Day in London?

Here’s a great video of the Kensington Palace tree. From 1 December 2012, Kensington Palace is transformed into a palace-size advent calendar, with a daily programme of exciting events, music and activities, all inspired by the young Princess Victoria’s Christmas diaries.

Did you spot the elf?

In Covent Garden, there’s a unique 26ft (7.9m) tall Barrel Tree in the East Piazza. Interested in how it got there? Here’s a video explaning all:

Have you spotted any more amazing Christmas Trees in London? Make sure you add any photos you take to our flickrpool.

Cambridge Satchel Company Opens Debut Seven Dials Store
If, like me, you’re a fan of the Cambridge Satchel Company, you’ll be thrilled to hear the brand is opening its first standalone store in Seven Dials. Located on Short Gardens, the store will open in two phases: first as a pop-up store on Saturday this week in time for Christmas, and open until January. Then the rest of the shop will be completed in time for London Fashion Week in Feburary, where they’ll have an exclusive Bloggers Lounge. I’m really looking forward to this one.

Zaeem Jamal Opens New Kings Road Boutique
And here’s another store with a split opening, combining Christmas and London Fashion Week. Luxury eveningwear brand Zaeem Jamal opens its new flagship boutique on London’s Kings Road today, coinciding with the area’s late-night Christmas shopping evening. However the official celebrity launch is planned for London Fashion Week in February, where the brand will also launch a bespoke shoe service. Pop in to peruse the boutique’s two floors, with the ground floor dedicated to ready-to-wear dress, gown and accessories collections, while the lower section features a swish private bespoke area and suite.

Harvey Nicks Jewellery Designer Showcase: 6 Dec
Head to Harvey Nichols on Thursday between 7pm and 9.30pm for a special evening showcasing their beautiful jewellery collections. Enjoy up to 20% off on the evening, plus sip on complimentary Champagne and sample funky bejewelled canapes while you shop for that perfect Christmas gift. Stylist Melissa Lund will be on hand, running a Jewellery Clinic offering top tips on how to wear this season’s key trends, stones and colours. Make sure you RSVP: eventsrsvp@harveynichols.com

Quintessentially British Christmas Shopping on Sloane Street
On 6, 13 and 20 December, there’ll be special shopping events taking place on Sloane Street. Look out for a host of traditionally uniformed British butlers. Lining either side of the street between Basil and Pont Streets, the butlers will be on hand to open car doors, guide visitors into stores and provide information about Sloane Street’s luxury retailers. In full uniform and holding umbrellas, the butlers will act as beautifully dressed beacons on wintry evenings, welcoming all Christmas shoppers to the street.

Using a bit of his Christmas magic, Santa is appearing at spots all over the capital this month, sometimes even at the same time!

Santa’s Grotto in Duke of York Square
Kids can have their photo taken with Santa and receive a gift at Duke of York Square’s free grotto, where there’s also a special post box to send your Christmas lists to Lapland. On some dates in December, Liz Earle will provide complimentary hand and arm massages in the back of the grotto, so parents can get pampered while the kids chat to Santa. Advanced booking recommended. 
Until 23 Dec

Santa’s Grotto at Westfield London and Westfield Stratford City
Seeing Santa in the flesh is exciting enough, but at Westfield London and Westfield Stratford City he’ll be appearing in 5D. Every child will see their name and picture appear in a personalised film, which sees Elbow the Elf save Santa’s presents. Visiting also lets you download the “Elbow Saves Christmas” mobile phone game, so you can take him away in your pocket. Tickets are £3 per person or £10 for a family.
Until 24 Dec

Santa Baby
Santa will be popping into this pop-up Christmas cocktail bar, tucked away in the arches under the railway lines at 347 Old Street in Shoreditch. Indie Christmas tunes provide the soundtrack and top mixologists have designed treats like mulled champagne and molecular Santa Baby Eggnog, using techniques like high-pressure distillation. Santa Baby has a vintage feel - the venue is modelled on a 1950s American suburban living room. 
Until 23 Dec

Santa and His Reindeer at London Zoo
Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Blitzen and of course Rudolph are all at London Zoo this Christmas. You can visit them in their paddock, as well as meeting Santa and telling him your present list (as long as you’ve been good). Cheeky elf photographers will be on hand to take a picture and each child will receive a gift to take home. Tickets are £7.
Until 24 Dec

Winter Wonderland
Every Winter, Hyde Park becomes more festive than a penguin in a Christmas jumper. Winter Wonderland is back in the park with a Christmas market, ice skating, observation wheel and a kingdom of ice and snow sculptures. Santa Land includes a free visit to Saint Nick, as well as the new “Santa’s Factory” where the elves are making gifts ready for the big day.
Until 6 Jan

Find Christmas grottos all over London with our Christmas grottos guide

Here’s a great video of the work behind Fortnum & Mason’s fantastic Christmas window display for 2012. The designs were unveiled by the Lord Mayor of London, with the participation of actors from the Hackney Empire’s Christmas pantomime, Dick Whittington.

The windows feature a replica of the Lord Mayor’s Coach: if you want to see the real one, pop into the Museum of London anytime for a look at the original article.

Christmas is a great opportunity to enjoy London’s amazing retail and shopping streets. Check out our guide to Christmas Shopping in the capital here.

London Turns On Its Christmas Lights
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas in Central London! This is the big week for London’s Christmas lights. Following Harrods’ Christmas Parade last week, look out for festive twinkles coming to Oxford Street, Regent Street, Carnaby, Covent Garden, Westfield, and Greenwich Market to name but a few. From now until Christmas, shopping in London after dark will be a real treat as all the main shopping areas show off their finest festive trimmings. Enjoy!

Superga Opens in Carnaby
Italian shoe brand Superga has opened its second London store. Superga’s trademark vulcanized rubber soles can now be browsed and bought at 13 Newburgh Street in Carnaby. The brand was born back in 1911 Turin under the stewardship of Walter Martiny. After the war Superga reopened with a new mission to bring high-quality footwear to the people of Italy. Look out for the 2750, the so-called “People’s Shoe of Italy”. British Superstar Rita Ora is the face of their Spring/Summer 2013 campaign; if you can’t wait til then, pop into the new Carnaby store for fantastic shoes galore.

Lucy in Disguise Launches The Drama Parlour
On Thursday there’s a new hair studio opening inside Lucy in Disguise in Lexington Street. Billed as a one-stop shop and salon, tucked away in the eclectic comfort of the vintage boutique, you can have your hair tamed, teased and whipped into shape by Victoria Saunders, with her individual, one-to-one service. Working alongside her will be Sarah Hill, a fantastic hairdresser, if you are bored with your barnet or frustrated with your fringe, the Hair Mistress and team are here to revamp and revitalize your look! There will also be a “Menu of Make-up looks” inspired by styles from the 1920s to the 1960s for you to choose from, created by make-up artist Holy Silius. Click here to find out more.

Keith Brymer Jones in Seven Dials
Another week; another fab Seven Dials pop-up shop. This time, British ceramicist Keith Brymer Jones is showcasing his full collection of beautiful, useable and practical objects at 15 Shorts Gardens. I really like his Word Collection: classic typewriter font stamped objects, with honest descriptors like “coffee” or “bowl”, and more quirky statements like “don’t panic” and “overworked and underpaid”. Look out, too, for the Punk range, where famous rock quotes are cleverly re-worded (“Sex, Mugs and Rock ‘n’ Roll”), and printed on safety-pin pierced mugs. As well as plates and mugs, the pop-up stocks baby gifts, pet bowls, kitchen items like aprons and jugs. There’s also the first home fragrance collection from the brand including soaps, scent diffusers and candles. Keith Brymer Jones is in Seven Dials until 27 November.

Carl Warner at Westfield Stratford City
If you’re shopping at Westfield Stratford this weekend, don’t miss your chance to check out some free food art while you’re there. Food artist and photographer Carl Warner will be at Westfield Stratford City from today until Sunday 11 November. Carl will also be making an appearance, showing how he puts his work together in a series of demonstrations from Friday to Sunday, between 1pm-5pm each day in the Great Eastern Market on the Lower Ground Floor.

 Click here for more images and info.

Disney fans are in for a festive treat at Harrods, where Disney Princesses are the stars of its magical Christmas window display.

The Knightsbridge department store has asked internationally renowned designers such as Valentino and Versace to create new gowns for some of Disney’s best loved characters, and the results are fantastic in every sense of the word. In each of the store’s main windows you’ll see spellbinding scenes that feature princesses such as Cinderella dressed by Versace, Snow White by Oscar de la Renta and Mulan by Missoni. Modern yet true to the Disney films, these captivating dresses really bring the characters to life, and it’s easy to lose track of time as you stand in front of the magical display. The gowns will be on view throughout the festive season, after which they will be auctioned for charity.

Those inspired by these sparkling windows can then head up to Harrods‘ first floor, which is home to equally beautiful gowns by the world’s leading designers. Budding princesses will also love the Disney pop-up shop on the fourth floor, as it contains everything children need to recreate their favourite films. There’s even a treat for mums at the Cinderella Slipper salon, which carries a sparkling selection of shoes in both child and adult sizes.

Happy Christmas! Did you get all the presents you hoped for?

Here’s a present you might not have thought of: “sneak peek” tickets to see the new Warner Bros Studio Tour London – before it opens to the rest of the world!

Enter today’s competition, and you could be walking around the film studios that made the wonderful Harry Potter film series.

In addition, we’ve thrown in some Harry Potter goodies: exclusive signed merchandise, the complete Harry Potter series on Blu-ray, and a knitted Dobby toy…

If you’re free on 23 or 24 March next year, enter this competition now. You could be seeing this brand new Harry-Potter themed attraction before it opens to the general public. Good luck!

Happy Christmas Eve, everyone! Hope you’re all ready for tomorrow.

In the meantime, we’ve got yet another fantastic Christmas competition for you to try your luck…

Like eating out? Then you’ll love this fantastic year-long foodie prize: vouchers to spend at top Covent Garden restaurants throughout 2012.

Enter now to be in with a chance of winning six £100 vouchers, which can be spent in the following places:

• Mishkin’s
• The Opera Tavern
• Boulevard Brasserie
• Cote Bistro
• Hi Sushi
• Sofra

You can dine with as many guests as you like, on any date, and at any time to suit you between January and December 2012.

We’re so excited about this prize. Enter now for your chance to win.

Whoever you are, wherever you’re from, one thing’s for sure: you’ll have never seen anything like Slava’s Snowshow before.

And therein lies the problem in trying to blog about it. It’s impossible to do it justice without giving too much away. Still, I’ll give it my best shot. The show is the brainchild of Russian performance artist and clown, Slava Polunin, and has proven to be a box office smash hit in cities around the world, among them New York, Los Angeles, Paris, Rome, Rio and Moscow. The fact that this is a full length show almost exclusively mimed is what makes it so accessible to international audiences. Putting it simply, Slava and his co-stars are a bunch of clowns larking around against the backdrop of a wintery set.

I only took my eldest son as the show is not recommended for under-eights. There is nothing overtly frightening or inappropriate, but darkness and the very loud noises might prove somewhat scary for little ones. Even my eight-year-old took a while to get to grips with it, repeatedly asking “what’s happening?” and “what’s it about?” I did my best to explain that it wasn’t really about anything other than clowns being silly in the snow. Once he accepted that, he loved it.

And what’s not to love? Madness and mayhem ensues when Slava and his fleet of floppy-hatted clowns take over the massive auditorium at the Royal Festival Hall. This is a venue accustomed to hosting orchestras and world-famous artistes. Audiences tend to be respectful and restrained. But not during Slava’s Snowshow. In this production, the actors clamber over your seats, spray you with water and throw your coats on top of your heads. A giant web descends over the stalls, trapping the bewitched spectators until well into the intermission. There’s a blizzard, a storm and lots and lots of snow.

Nevertheless it is the finale, which I won’t spoil, that is the best thing about this magnificent spectacle. My son sat beside me, holding on to me, eyes wide with amazement. He and the rest of us were under the spell of Slava’s pure Christmas magic.

Slava’s Snowshow at Royal Festival Hall until 8 January 2012. Book tickets