Festive dining in London does not have to mean eye-watering prices or hotel-only experiences. From brasseries and Italian favourites to historic cafés, rooftop views and pubs doing Christmas properly, these menus all come in at £50 per person or less and offer a genuine sense of occasion alongside seasonal cooking.
Browns Brasserie
Browns Brasserie leans confidently into classic Christmas dining with a festive set menu available throughout November and December. Three courses are priced at £40 per person, with a reduced £35pp offer available on Mondays and Tuesdays between 12pm and 5pm from November 11 to December 9.
Starters include traditional oak-smoked salmon with orange-braised cranberries and rye bread, grilled goats’ cheese with maple fig salad and a classic prawn cocktail. Mains range from maple and cinnamon-glazed pork belly with mulled wine-braised red cabbage, to braised blade of beef in red wine jus or pan-seared rainbow trout with cauliflower velouté. Desserts are firmly festive, with Christmas pudding served with vanilla custard and brandy butter, or salted caramel profiteroles.
Bōkan
High above Canary Wharf, Bōkan offers festive dining with skyline views throughout December, excluding December 24, 25 and 31. Guests can choose from a two-course menu at £55, which sits just above the guide threshold, but Christmas Day dining at Bōkan Bar keeps things accessible, with a festive roast turkey main priced at £32 and desserts at £15, allowing diners to create a relaxed Christmas meal well under £50pp.
Dishes across the season include winter truffle tagliatelle with chestnut wild mushrooms, duck breast with braised cabbage, pears and walnuts, and comforting festive roasts prepared by the kitchen team. It is a strong option for those wanting a Christmas meal that feels special without committing to a full tasting menu.
The Landmark London
While some of The Landmark London’s festive dining experiences sit firmly in celebratory territory, there are several seasonal options that remain under £50pp. The hotel’s Christmas Shop, designed as a gingerbread house near the Marylebone entrance, offers handcrafted festive treats, warming seasonal drinks from £5 and gift boxes from £11, ideal for a low-key festive stop.
For a relaxed sit-down option, Great Central Pub by Matt Fletcher, located within the hotel, offers a three-course festive menu priced at £49 per person. Dishes include Gressingham duck croquettes, roasted turkey with all the trimmings, braised beef, red wine and mushroom pie, and a classic Christmas pudding, followed by mince pies and coffee. It is an easy, generous option that balances hotel polish with pub warmth.
Sopwell House
Sopwell House offers early festive dining in The Brasserie that remains within reach, particularly for lunch. Three-course lunch menus are priced from £39 per person, with dinner available from £45pp, running from December 1 to 23.
Menus focus on elevated British classics using locally sourced ingredients, with dishes such as Severn and Wye smoked and confit salmon terrine, crispy breaded ham hock, Suffolk bronze turkey with cranberry and orange stuffing, red wine braised lamb shoulder pie and roast salmon with charred courgettes. Desserts include Black Forest yule log and Baileys crème brûlée. It is a strong option for festive lunches that feel generous without tipping into full hotel pricing.
Young’s Pubs
Across London and the UK, Young’s pubs are embracing Christmas with festive menus, carol evenings, giveaways and community-led initiatives. Many locations offer set menus that sit comfortably within the £40 to £50pp range, alongside seasonal events such as live carols, mulled wine evenings and festive installations.
Standout moments include The Alexandra in Wimbledon’s complimentary Christmas Day dinner for anyone who would otherwise be spending the day alone, festive prize giveaways at Daly’s Wine Bar on the Strand and carol nights at pubs such as The Royal Oak in Bethnal Green. Young’s continues to make Christmas feel welcoming, generous and rooted in community.
Cafe Murano
Cafe Murano’s Menu delle Feste returns from November 27 across all four locations, replacing the Menu del Giorno for December. Priced at £33 for two courses and £38 for three, it remains one of London’s most reliable festive set menus.
Starters include spiced Delica pumpkin with buffalo mozzarella and radicchio dressed with cranberry and orange, followed by hearty mains such as venison ragù with soft polenta and black truffle or roasted stone bass with mussel minestrone. Desserts range from panettone bread and butter pudding with clementine caramel to truffled brie with honey and carta di musica, making this a comforting, quietly festive option for long lunches or early dinners.
Cellarium Café & Terrace
Set within Westminster Abbey’s restored medieval Cellarium, this is one of the most atmospheric festive dining rooms in central London. The Christmas Menu is priced at £28 for two courses or £32 for three, making it one of the strongest value festive lunches in the city. Dishes include pumpkin and coconut soup, sweet potato, chestnut and cranberry loaf, traditional turkey with all the trimmings and pan-fried sea bass. Desserts range from vegan Eton mess to date cake and classic Christmas pudding with brandy custard. A Christmas Afternoon Tea is also available for £38 per person, served beneath a vaulted glass ceiling with unlimited tea and coffee, with the option to add a glass of Chapel Down Classic Brut.