What British People Eat for Christmas
Before my first holiday trip to London, my family asked what British people eat for Christmas. I wasn’t actually sure how to answer everyone. Would it be just like how it was depicted in ‘A Christmas Carol’? Do they really eat pheasant or goose now? Was that just the Victorian era or true English tradition that people still follow?
After living in London as an American for 11 years- I definitely know a lot about British Christmas food. And I love it! (Well, most of it.)
What British People Eat for Christmas: A Festive Feast Like No Other
When you think of Christmas in London, what’s the first thing that comes to mind? For me, it’s the Christmas lights and food! But what do British people eat for Christmas? Spoiler alert: it’s not candy canes. You can barely find them here!
And, if you’ve ever heard of a Christmas cracker– it’s not something you’d ever want to eat. They’re actually mini explosives!
Christmas dinner in the UK is a big deal. It’s steeped tradition and filled with dishes that might seem unusual to Americans. There are still a few things I won’t eat, as an American living in London since 2013.
So- what exists in the delicious world of British Christmas food and what sets it apart from what you’ll find in America?
The Build-Up: Festive Food & Drinks
In Britain, Christmas is more than just one meal—it’s a whole season of indulgence. From office parties to family gatherings, festive snacks are everywhere.
One classic is the sausage roll, a savoury pastry filled with sausage meat, often served warm. My husband makes the absolute best! Photos of his sausage rolls are above. Another favourite is pigs in blankets, little sausages wrapped in bacon, perfect as appetisers or alongside the main meal.
You’ll find both on many snack menus in London pubs.
To learn more about what happens at Christmas in London pubs– watch the video below.
When it comes to Christmas party food, Marks & Spencer and Waitrose reign supreme. Their shelves are packed with canapés, mini pies and everything you need for a posh spread. If you’re hosting a party, these are the go-to shops for elevating your festive fare.
Unlike the American obsession with candy canes—British Christmas snacks are all about the savoury side of life!
Christmas markets in London, especially Borough Market’s offers, are full of fun festive foods!
No British Christmas is complete without mulled wine. A warm, spiced drink made with red wine, cinnamon, cloves and orange, it’s often served at Christmas markets or family get-togethers. To be honest, it’s not something I enjoy at all!
Americans might prefer eggnog, but the Brits are all about this fragrant, warming drink. For non-alcoholic options, hot apple cider (with spices) often does the trick.
The Christmas Sandwich Craze
One unique aspect of the British festive season is the sheer popularity of Christmas sandwiches. In the weeks leading up to Christmas, nearly every café and supermarket in London rolls out their own version of a festive sandwich.
These are packed with turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce and even pigs in blankets. It’s a quick, portable way to enjoy the flavours of Christmas without sitting down for a full meal.
Pret’s turkey sandwich is a personal favourite of mine. It’s a delicious combination of tender turkey, stuffing and cranberry sauce.
Every year, people eagerly wait for Pret and other high-street chains like Tesco and Marks & Spencer to release their seasonal specials. These sandwiches have become a Christmas staple for those who want a taste of the holidays on the go.
Londoners take their love for these sandwiches to another level with the annual Christmas Sandwich Festival in Covent Garden. Stay tuned for when that will be this year by subscribing to my weekly email the SUNNY NEWS featuring highlights of Things to Do in London.
Whether you’re a fan of classic turkey or something more creative, the festival is a dream for anyone who loves a good festive bite. It’s the perfect example of how British food culture embraces the fun, casual side of Christmas while keeping those traditional flavours at the forefront.
What British People Eat for Christmas Day Dinner
The centrepiece of a British Christmas is the meal on Christmas Day, which is traditionally served in the afternoon. While Americans typically eat turkey for Thanksgiving, in Britain, turkey is the star of the Christmas table.
However, some families opt for alternatives like beef, pork, or game, such as venison or pheasant, depending on regional traditions. The later options are still not appealing to me. If you’re American, does eating pheasant seem strange to you too?
Alongside the turkey, you’ll find roasted potatoes, usually crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside. Yorkshire puddings are also served—these are not desserts, but rather savoury batter puddings that rise dramatically in the oven. While originally served with beef, many British families now enjoy them with any roast.
Vegetables are a big part of the Christmas spread. Brussel sprouts, roasted or sautéed with bacon, are a must. You’ll also find parsnips and carrots. British Christmas dinners tend to focus on hearty, comforting flavours that pair well with the colder weather.
And then there’s stuffing—whether it’s sausage-based or made with chestnuts and herbs, it’s a key component of the meal. Cranberry sauce, though more associated with Thanksgiving in the US, also makes an appearance. Gravy is poured over everything, from the meat to the potatoes, creating a rich, savoury plate of food that’s both satisfying and indulgent.
The grand finale? Christmas pudding. This dense, fruity dessert is different from what Americans eat during the holiday season. Made with dried fruits, nuts and spices, it’s steamed for hours and served with brandy butter or custard.
Tradition calls for the pudding to be set on fire at the table, creating a dramatic and festive moment. It’s a popular item at gastropubs.
Boxing Day: Bubble & Squeak
After the indulgence of Christmas Day, you might think the feasting is over. Not in Britain! Boxing Day, celebrated on December 26th, is the perfect opportunity to enjoy leftovers in a dish called bubble and squeak.
This is a fried mix of leftover vegetables from the Christmas meal—often potatoes, cabbage and sprouts—mashed together in a pan until crispy and golden.
Bubble and squeak is usually served with cold cuts of meat, including turkey and ham. It’s a simple, no-fuss dish that turns Christmas leftovers into something delicious. You won’t find this tradition in the States, where Boxing Day isn’t celebrated, but it’s a staple in British households.
My English husband always plans to have extra for Christmas dinner so he can use the leftovers for his Boxing Day Bubble and Squeak!
Other Boxing Day favourites include turkey sandwiches (with stuffing and cranberry sauce, of course) and mince pies. These sweet pies filled with spiced fruit are another British holiday classic, served throughout the festive season. If you’re still feeling festive, mulled wine or a nice ale makes a great accompaniment to these post-Christmas snacks.
American vs British Christmas Food: What’s the Difference?
Now that you’ve had a glimpse into what British people eat for Christmas, how does it differ from American traditions? First, while both countries enjoy turkey, the side dishes and desserts are quite different. In the US, candied yams, green bean casseroles and pecan pie are common on holiday tables, whereas the British opt for roast vegetables and Christmas pudding.
Another key difference is the absence of candy canes and peppermint-themed treats in British Christmas cuisine. While Americans enjoy gingerbread houses and peppermint bark, the British prefer mince pies, Christmas cake (a dense fruit cake covered in marzipan) and rich, warming puddings.
Beverages are also a point of difference. Eggnog is beloved in the States, while mulled wine takes the spotlight in the UK. British drinks are generally more spiced and warming, aligning with the colder winter weather.
Final Thoughts- What British People Eat for Christmas
British people eat for Christmas with tradition and indulgence at the heart of their celebrations. From the savoury snacks to the significant Christmas Day feast, every bite is steeped in history and culture. Whether it’s turkey with Yorkshire puddings or Christmas pudding set alight at the table, the food plays a central role in bringing people together.
If you’re curious about what happens in London during the festive season, I have a guide to Visiting London at Christmas you’ll want to read.
So, what’s your favourite British Christmas dish? Or do you have a holiday tradition you’d love to try in the UK? Let me know in the comments!
If you’re British, be sure to add your additions and thoughts to what British people eat for Christmas in the comments below. What’s on your Christmas dinner plate this year? Do you eat a meal at home or book a table at a restaurant?
You’re husband is being lazy in educating you.
Cranberries are not usually in mince pies… they are a sweet mince made traditionally with apples, currents and raisins with spices, sugar and fat. Historically they included meat mince, and this was a way of preserving the meat in winter. They’re now meat free you might like to know!
Borough market (pronounced “bur-ra” market, not “Borrow” – don’t worry, most Americans do this!) is a great foody spot. It was better ten-twenty years ago when it was more of a market.
Yorkshire is pronounced “York-Shear” or “York-Shuh” dependent on location.
Turkey is rather a modern addition, and cranberry sauce even more so. The UK are so great at adopting new foods as part of tradition.
Game is definitely featured in older more traditional families. Mine included. It’s still hunting season, so partridge, pheasant, duck are all possible as traditional centrepieces. Three bird roasts are becoming more popular. Some families like to have beef wellington for Christmas. A good gravy.
Stuffing is a huge thing on Christmas.
Crackers contain a toy, a paper “crown” hat (my family it was compulsory to wear it throughout Christmas Lunch – which is when Christmas dinner is served) and most importantly a very bad “joke” to share with people at the table. Each person pulls an end, and a “bang” is made from a small gunpowder ‘firework’ inside. One person gets the larger side with the contents inside, and thus “wins” the prize.
Christmas pudding – a suet pudding that’s boiled and historically contained a lucky sixpence. This is set alight at the table by pouring burning brandy on the top.
There’s so much that’s missed in this, it’s a shame.
Rude. Maybe her husband’s depiction is how he or his family celebrated? You are a sniveling troll, who perhaps needs to get a hobby and stop trying to make others feel inferior.
I , too, was surprised that you didn’t mention Christmas pudding. When I was growing up , there were small silver charms and silver coins hidden in the pudding. There was always somebody round the table who pretended they had swallowed a coin. The pudding is served with brandy sauce or brandy butter,
Custard , cream or a combination of these. You will often see it represented on Christmas cards, Christmas jumpers or hats. Perhaps you have it in America and that’s why you didn’t mention it.
Thank you so much for adding this, Andrea. I actually haven’t heard of it, so I really appreciate you including the information. Sounds yummy!
No, we don’t have anything like that in the United States.
Love Yorkshire pudding, but not on Christmas Day. Unless roast beef is on the menu. Roast potatoes a must and in my family braised red cabbage. What about Christmas cake, and a glazed ham to eat cold with turkey on Boxing Day?
I’ve never heard anyone have pheasant for Christmas Day lunch, and goos, though traditional, is rarely eaten now. Turkey is the usual meat, though we often had roast beef. Roast potatoes are a must too. The stuffing you showed wasn’t British stuffing, its much more dense and solid, and often has forced meat (like sausage meat) in it too. Yorkshire pudding doesn’t go with turkey, we only have them when eating roast beef. Lots of people skip the sprouts nowadays too.
Christmas pudding isn’t mentioned in your video, we always have custard with ours, with the options of brandy cream and clotted cream fir those who don’t want custard. Trifle is more for eating during a family party over Christmas, i would say. Mince pies are for eating any time over the Christmas period, and i suppose could be eaten later on Christmas Day with a cup of tea, but not for Christmas lunch.
Thank you for adding such an extensive comment. Seems like with any culture, there could be variations on meals. It’s always great to learn how different people within a population are both the same and different.
Do you have a recipe for the traditional Christmas pudding? My grandmother never wrote down her recipes. Born in 1901-1996
Though every family has their own traditions, this is what we have each year for christmas dinner:
Roast turkey, sage and onion stuffing, bread sauce, gravy, roast potatoes, brussles sprouts, carrots,
Christmas pudding/ mince pies (which do not include Cranberry).
In addition we have very snacks and sides guests might bring along (sausage rolls, fried leek, etc)
Trifle is not something we would eat on christmas day but probably at some point between christmas and nye.
Though yorkshire puddings are very British (and very tasty) they are not something our family would eat for christmas dinner.
* various snacks
Roast parsnips with honey are my veggies of choice. Lots of people have a nut roast now
My husband and children are Scottish, and this will be their eleventh year here in the U.S. Because they gave up so much of their culture to emigrate, I have worked hard to learn how to cook and bake Scottish and British foods, and keep some traditions, including haggis. Sometimes we have had haggis for Christmas, but our children are no longer fond of it, so we make it now (from scratch) just for Burns Night, and sometimes for my husband’s birthday. It takes us two days to make it. Our main dish for Christmas is different each year. Sometimes we have even had lamb, which of course is nothing special in Scotland so you wouldn’t have it for Christmas dinner, but here it is expensive so we only get it as a treat. Lamb is about as expensive here as your beef is there, but here beef is cheap. We’ve also had venison, roast beef, and even once… goat (it doesn’t sound good but it was actually wonderful! We enjoyed that. It’s a shame my husband doesn’t eat poultry, or we would also sometimes have goose or turkey.
I make Christmas pudding every year, and always source dried currants for it along with other things, but I have not yet made it weeks before hand, steamed it in a cloth and hung it up, and I would like to do that. My Australian neighbor does it, and showed me how to last year. Mine is still steamed, very rich, served with brandy sauce or what my Canadian (of Scottish descent) relatives called “hard sauce.” They always made it in Canada, and my father grew up with that tradition. Because I don’t age my Christmas pudding, it is soft like sticky toffee pudding, and I like it that way. But this year I did make a fruit cake that is aging and waiting for Christmastime, and I will steam a Christmas pudding also. I will make an aged Christmas pudding next year!
We have also had trifle sometimes for Christmas Eve. I don’t know if this is more of a Scottish thing than British – you would have to tell me. But that is where we get our custard, and we usually make up Birds. Mince pies are for Hogmanay (New Years). I prefer making mine from scratch because they are so much better than store-bought.
‘Neeps ‘n tatties” always accompanies our Christmas dinner (potatoes and turnips or Swede(rutabaga) mashed together). We usually also serve Brussels sprouts with dinner. We tried asparagus, but one of our grown children hates it.
What would a British holiday be without excellent craftsman cheeses? Wensleydale, sharp cheddar, smoked cheeses, and stilton? We put out a cheese board with good crackers, sliced pear, nuts, and other things for nibbling on Christmas Eve. Usually somewhere during the holiday, either along with the cheeseboard or for what my husband calls “a cookie breakfast,” we will have kippers or smoked herring, or even cockles.
Another food that accompanies our holiday, is a LOT of gingerbread… oh and quality homemade shortbread, too, that I press into a mold for nice designs. And SOMETHING made with puff pastry! Puff pastry is also less common here in the U.S. I wonder what I can make with it this year? Any suggestions?
We also order British chocolates and “sweeties” for Christmastime… Cadburys, particularly types of Cadburys we can’t get off the shelf here like Cadburys drinking chocolate. This year I ordered large boxes of Whispa and Bounty which the kids love. Allsorts is another one… Flake… and my husband always orders a large tin of Quality Street for me, which I try to share… sort of.
Thank you everyone for giving me ideas!
TURKEY
SAUSAGEMEAT STUFFING
PIGS IN BLANKETSMASHED POTATO
ROASTIES COOKED IN BEEF DRIPPING
OTHERS IN GOOSE FAT
PARSNIPS IN HONEY GLAZE
SPROUTS
A BAKED GAMMON HAM GLAZED HONEY & MUSTARD + STUDDED WITH MANY CLOVES
XMAS PUD MUM RECIPE SPICY RUM SAUCE
OR TRIFLE
CHEESEBOARD
FOOD OVER FOR AN HOUR
CARD GAMES