As expected with the holiday season, most businesses and organizations will have shortened hours or be closed entirely on Monday and Tuesday.
Below is a list of what is open and closed in London on Christmas and Boxing Day:
Government offices (federal, provincial, and municipal), banks, and Canada Post will be closed both days. Garbage and recycling collection will be paused on Monday, but will resume Tuesday. There are a number of municipal programs and services that won't return until 8:30 a.m. on January 2. A full list can be found on the city's website.
London Public Library branches, which close Saturday, will not reopen until Wednesday.
LCBO and Beer Stores, which will close early on Christmas Eve, will remain shut on Christmas Day. Select locations will reopen the following day. At the Beer Stores in London, the location at 1600 Dundas St. E, 155 Clarke Rd., 414 Wharncliffe Rd. S. (Drive-thru only), 1080 Adelaide St. N., and 1005 Wellington Rd. S. will be open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Boxing Day. The Labatt Brewery Store downtown will welcome customers from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday.
For people looking to do some shopping over the holidays, White Oaks Mall, Masonville Place, Westmount Shopping Centre, and Cherryhill Village Mall, grocery stores, and Costco Wholesale will be shut down on Christmas. But all, except Cherryhill, reopen their doors offering deals on Boxing Day. White Oaks will be open from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. on December 26, while Masonville will open from 9:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Westmount's Boxing Day hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Most drug stores will be closed for Christmas and reopen on Boxing Day. The Rexall location at 1593 Adelaide St. N. will be open on Christmas Day from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and the Shoppers Drug Mart at 510 Hamilton Rd. will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. that day.
Movie theatres, select coffee shops and restaurants, and some convenience stores will be open on Christmas Day. Anyone planning on visiting one is advised to call ahead to ensure hours of operation.
Even though the mild temperature expected over the holidays may prevent skating at the outdoor rink in Victoria Park, the Storybook Gardens skating trail will still be in operation. The 50-metre,10,000 square foot outdoor skating trail has a refrigerated surface which allows it to remain open even if the temperature is above seasonal. Admission is $4.75 for adults, $3.75 for children ages 17 and under, and free for children under 24 months old. To check ice rink conditions in Victoria Park call 519-661-4529.
Holiday lights in Victoria Park can be viewed nightly starting at 5 p.m.
The city is offering free holiday recreation drop-in programs on Boxing Day. These include activities like Zumba, badminton, family open gym, arts and crafts and science workshops. To see the full list of free programs available and to pre-register click here.
London Transit will be operating on a special holiday schedule both Monday and Tuesday with its downtown ticket office closed on Christmas Day. Regular bus service resumes on Wednesday.
