Where to go on bank holiday/Christmas if you can’t go home?
December 24, 2025
I want to be at home as little as possible over Christmas due to reasons that I don’t want to go into. Everywhere I would usually go (cafe, library) will be closed or have limited opening hours. What are my options other than a park bench?
42 comments
Maybe a posh hotel lobby or a long train ride. Too cold to give outdoor options for me but that’s because I haven’t acclimatised.
Gurdwara. They would welcome you on Christmas day
Pub!
Some pubs will be open. Places of worship if you are ok with that.
Sit through a few church services. You could check the times and do a church crawl. Might get a mince pie and a cuppa out of it too.
Go to the Winchester and wait for it all to blow over.
And by The Winchester, I mean Wetherspoons which is open.
Cinemas are often full on Boxing Day with people wanting to escape their families.
Christmas day – pub, hotel lobbies, or various cafes or gurdwaras or churches which have advertised as being open.
A choral Evensong can be quite cheery.
Couple of church services, couple of pubs.
Or service stations should be open.
Long hikes in nature.
Hospital cafeterias.
Church.
I would probably plan my days around these three.
Pack a thermos flask and food and set out on a long walk, research church services times and attend a few. If you’re not Christian it doesn’t matter. Other religious places may also be open eg Quakers.
Then I’d find a hospital that has good catering facilities and drop in for a spot of lunch or dinner.
Or there’s always the pub.
24hr gym!
Its a bit late but maybe see if there is somewhere providing Christmas dinner and shelter to the homeless you can volunteer at.
McD – many are open Xmas day and fairly quiet. If you have a mobile and buy coffee a hour, then they have wifi.
Look at church timetables – even if not religious, christmas services are fun to attend. Often mincemeat pie afterwards.
When living alone and lonely in London, I picked a bus route and a destination to go and see a park, stately home etc. Many free entrance. And gives another look at where you live.
Spoons. Food and drink and other people in a similar situation.
There are often groups that go walking on Xmas day – like in the country side etc – look on Facebook. I might do it myself next year. Some pubs are open across lunch time. Xmas is shit.
If you’re around London some Gail’s are open all day.
Go to the nearest big city and have an “immigrant christmas”
I’ve done that. Started at an Iranian restaurant for lunch, then Korean coffee shop, then a movie, then Indian dinner.
If you’re stuck at home alone over Christmas and bank holidays, I usually just stock up on decent food and binge a long series I’ve been saving – last year it was The Wire with a takeaway curry and it felt like a proper treat without the family pressure. Walks in local parks are good too if the weather holds – places like Richmond Park or any big green space stay open and get quiet after lunch when everyone’s indoors. Pubs that open Christmas Day are rare but worth checking your local on Google, some do limited hours for drinks only and it’s surprisingly welcoming for solos.
Search for local areas that don’t celebrate Christmas, there’s bound to be something beasties the norm church, pubs. If you wanna be on your own then I bet services will be open if you’re driving.
If you are driving then there’s your ticket, go for a long drive now much better than that when you want to be alone and think etc.
If you want to be away from home but still want to be festive, could always volunteer at local places serving food or what not for homeless etc.
Depends if you want to be alone or not?
You could get a table at a pub by yourself. They maybe fully booked by now but there might be room at the bar.
If you’re up for interacting with people then volunteering a shelter/soup kitchen or similar could be worth looking into. You’d be doing a good deed too.
Surfing!
A lot of parks are locked on Christmas Day.
Have a look for local charities/community organisations who might offer a free Christmas meal or just somewhere to go, often they are open to anyone who might be alone for any reason.
Pub, long walk.
Pack yourself a Christmas picnic and eat it somewhere with a good view.
Book a hotel and spa with an Xmas day breakfast.
Go to a city and wander round the mostly empty tourist spots, look at the Christmas lights.
What’s wrong with a park bench ?
Im sure there’s a homeless shelter that would welcome volunteers. Or go on a long walk, you will pass people in a similar situation who will appreciate hello from anyone
Personally id stay in watch tv with a few selection boxes as its only one day
Fly somewhere if you can afford it
Do you have access to your own vehicle? A walk at the seaside is nice when it’s quiet. Or go explore your local area. We never see where we live through the eyes of a tourist, but maybe there’s a walking route that would have some nice sights that you wouldn’t normally see, and you get connect this up with the other suggestions to fill the days
I would drive to the seaside for a nice walk & a better chance of things being open.
Best wishes & hope your living situation improves x
That’s a really tough spot to be in. I’ve heard Sikh temples (Gurdwaras) are incredibly welcoming and offer food to everyone, no questions asked. Popping into a few different church services on Christmas day could also be a peaceful way to pass the time and maybe even get a warm drink. Honestly, seeking out a community space that’s open sounds like the best bet to avoid feeling completely isolated.
Check local facebook pages to see if any restaurants are doing free meals for Christmas day. A few local Turkish restaurants near me offer it to anyone who is alone or in need of a meal on Christmas day
I spend the day at the beach on christmas, a little chilly but overall lovely
Cinema near me is open Christmas Day, pubs are open. See if there’s anywhere that needs volunteers.
I’m planning to wander round the wetlands outside Newport
Can you drive? Usually a motorway service station will have some where to get a drink on chrstmas
Not sure where you are at financially but I would book a room in the premier inn, should still have rooms available outside of city centres. 3pm check in 12pm check out. Comfy bed, free wifi and a telly. Get some snacks and veg out.
The pub. My local is opening at 2pm.
If london based a lot of indoor climbing gyms are open Christmas day. Fun hour or two of exercise.
24 hour gyms, a lot have 3 day free passes over this time
Can you afford a hotel? Get some snacks and watch some movies in a big bed?
You could volunteer at a parkrun (or take part in one – you can walk them). Lots of parkruns are taking place tomorrow at 9am
Parkrun at 9am and our local parkrun posted to say the cafe next to it is opening from 9 till lunchtime Christmas day and a bit longer on boxing day. You may find more open than you think: have a Google for cafes in parks etc.
42 comments
Maybe a posh hotel lobby or a long train ride. Too cold to give outdoor options for me but that’s because I haven’t acclimatised.
Gurdwara. They would welcome you on Christmas day
Pub!
Some pubs will be open. Places of worship if you are ok with that.
Sit through a few church services. You could check the times and do a church crawl. Might get a mince pie and a cuppa out of it too.
Go to the Winchester and wait for it all to blow over.
And by The Winchester, I mean Wetherspoons which is open.
Cinemas are often full on Boxing Day with people wanting to escape their families.
Christmas day – pub, hotel lobbies, or various cafes or gurdwaras or churches which have advertised as being open.
A choral Evensong can be quite cheery.
Couple of church services, couple of pubs.
Or service stations should be open.
Long hikes in nature.
Hospital cafeterias.
Church.
I would probably plan my days around these three.
Pack a thermos flask and food and set out on a long walk, research church services times and attend a few. If you’re not Christian it doesn’t matter. Other religious places may also be open eg Quakers.
Then I’d find a hospital that has good catering facilities and drop in for a spot of lunch or dinner.
Or there’s always the pub.
24hr gym!
Its a bit late but maybe see if there is somewhere providing Christmas dinner and shelter to the homeless you can volunteer at.
McD – many are open Xmas day and fairly quiet. If you have a mobile and buy coffee a hour, then they have wifi.
Look at church timetables – even if not religious, christmas services are fun to attend. Often mincemeat pie afterwards.
When living alone and lonely in London, I picked a bus route and a destination to go and see a park, stately home etc. Many free entrance. And gives another look at where you live.
Spoons. Food and drink and other people in a similar situation.
There are often groups that go walking on Xmas day – like in the country side etc – look on Facebook. I might do it myself next year. Some pubs are open across lunch time. Xmas is shit.
If you’re around London some Gail’s are open all day.
Go to the nearest big city and have an “immigrant christmas”
I’ve done that. Started at an Iranian restaurant for lunch, then Korean coffee shop, then a movie, then Indian dinner.
If you’re stuck at home alone over Christmas and bank holidays, I usually just stock up on decent food and binge a long series I’ve been saving – last year it was The Wire with a takeaway curry and it felt like a proper treat without the family pressure. Walks in local parks are good too if the weather holds – places like Richmond Park or any big green space stay open and get quiet after lunch when everyone’s indoors. Pubs that open Christmas Day are rare but worth checking your local on Google, some do limited hours for drinks only and it’s surprisingly welcoming for solos.
Search for local areas that don’t celebrate Christmas, there’s bound to be something beasties the norm church, pubs. If you wanna be on your own then I bet services will be open if you’re driving.
If you are driving then there’s your ticket, go for a long drive now much better than that when you want to be alone and think etc.
If you want to be away from home but still want to be festive, could always volunteer at local places serving food or what not for homeless etc.
Depends if you want to be alone or not?
You could get a table at a pub by yourself. They maybe fully booked by now but there might be room at the bar.
If you’re up for interacting with people then volunteering a shelter/soup kitchen or similar could be worth looking into. You’d be doing a good deed too.
Surfing!
A lot of parks are locked on Christmas Day.
Have a look for local charities/community organisations who might offer a free Christmas meal or just somewhere to go, often they are open to anyone who might be alone for any reason.
Pub, long walk.
Pack yourself a Christmas picnic and eat it somewhere with a good view.
Book a hotel and spa with an Xmas day breakfast.
Go to a city and wander round the mostly empty tourist spots, look at the Christmas lights.
What’s wrong with a park bench ?
Im sure there’s a homeless shelter that would welcome volunteers. Or go on a long walk, you will pass people in a similar situation who will appreciate hello from anyone
Personally id stay in watch tv with a few selection boxes as its only one day
Fly somewhere if you can afford it
Do you have access to your own vehicle? A walk at the seaside is nice when it’s quiet. Or go explore your local area. We never see where we live through the eyes of a tourist, but maybe there’s a walking route that would have some nice sights that you wouldn’t normally see, and you get connect this up with the other suggestions to fill the days
I would drive to the seaside for a nice walk & a better chance of things being open.
Best wishes & hope your living situation improves x
That’s a really tough spot to be in. I’ve heard Sikh temples (Gurdwaras) are incredibly welcoming and offer food to everyone, no questions asked. Popping into a few different church services on Christmas day could also be a peaceful way to pass the time and maybe even get a warm drink. Honestly, seeking out a community space that’s open sounds like the best bet to avoid feeling completely isolated.
Check local facebook pages to see if any restaurants are doing free meals for Christmas day. A few local Turkish restaurants near me offer it to anyone who is alone or in need of a meal on Christmas day
I spend the day at the beach on christmas, a little chilly but overall lovely
Cinema near me is open Christmas Day, pubs are open. See if there’s anywhere that needs volunteers.
I’m planning to wander round the wetlands outside Newport
Can you drive? Usually a motorway service station will have some where to get a drink on chrstmas
Not sure where you are at financially but I would book a room in the premier inn, should still have rooms available outside of city centres. 3pm check in 12pm check out. Comfy bed, free wifi and a telly. Get some snacks and veg out.
The pub. My local is opening at 2pm.
If london based a lot of indoor climbing gyms are open Christmas day. Fun hour or two of exercise.
24 hour gyms, a lot have 3 day free passes over this time
Can you afford a hotel? Get some snacks and watch some movies in a big bed?
You could volunteer at a parkrun (or take part in one – you can walk them). Lots of parkruns are taking place tomorrow at 9am
Parkrun at 9am and our local parkrun posted to say the cafe next to it is opening from 9 till lunchtime Christmas day and a bit longer on boxing day. You may find more open than you think: have a Google for cafes in parks etc.
Lots of public living rooms open on Christmas Day https://camerados.org/public-living-room/
Thank you everyone 😊
Church . Long walk . Pub . Good luck and hope you find some beauty