Experience Christmas like never before

December 25 is the only day of the whole year when London practically shuts down. Major sights and shops close their doors, the Tube and buses come to a standstill, and most people are at home unwrapping presents. But spending Christmas Day in the capital can be a great choice for families as the city will be adorned with thousands of Christmas lights and decorations. It's the ideal time to take advantage of the crowd-free streets and enjoy a fantastic day out. Take a step back in time and celebrate a very Dickensian Christmas. The Charles Dickens Museum on Number 48 Doughty Street was an important place in Charles Dickens's life where he resided from 1837 until 1839. Dickens described the terraced Georgian dwelling as 'my house in town'. The Museum, which contains more than 10,000 books and manuscripts, opened in 1925 and now hosts the world's most important collection and archive relating to the great Victorian writer. As part of its Christmas celebrations, it welcomes visitors on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day for special readings and seasonal events. If you're feeling a bit daring, go for a bracing Christmas day dip and race around the frigid waters of Hyde Park Lake. Join the hardy fools of the Serpentine Swimming Club as they compete in the annual Peter Pan Cup. Quite a few pools will be open as well, including London Fields Lido which will be open in the morning, and Hampstead Heath, where the pools are heated all year round. After spending a long day in a sightseeing tour London, cap your day off in a cozy pub. Lots of warm and friendly London boozers open up their doors to loyal customers and weary travelers on Christmas day. Options include the Bunch of Grapes and Founders Arms in Southwark, the Duke of Wellington in Notting Hill, the Last Running Footman in Mayfair and the Spread Eagle in Camden. If you are after food, however, we advise that you call ahead of time. Many churches hold carol services and concerts across the holidays. Relax with one of the outstanding classical music concerts taking place on Christmas Eve in London. St Paul’s Midnight Mass starts at 11.30pm on Christmas Eve. There will be a Christmas Day service at 11am and a Festal Evensong at 3.15pm. Westminster Abbey has a Midnight Mass (11.30pm Christmas Eve) and Sung Eucharist at 10.30am. Although nearly everything is closed, there are still many Christmas tours in London that you can do to fill your day. Bundle up the family early in the morning and head in to central London to take in the delights of the city with practically empty streets. Calm descends upon Oxford Street, Leicester Square, and Piccadilly Circus, areas of town normally crowded with tourists, shoppers, commuters and busy business folk. Take on an exhilarating panoramic excursion with interesting, informed commentary that brings alive the history and traditions of this great city. A London night tours will reveal the floodlit splendor of London’s landmarks as dusk falls. Glide past eminent structures and attractions such as the world renowned London Eye, St Paul’s Cathedral, inimitable Buckingham Palace, the formidable Tower of London, Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament. Do something different on Christmas Day and see London at its most peaceful!