12 Christmas Day menus around St Albans, from £63 to £230 at pubs, hotels and steakhouses, with children's prices and deposits. Checked November 2026.
For Christmas Day around St Albans, the lowest published prices are at the Speckled Hen on Hatfield Road (£63), the King William IV on Sandridge Road (£71.95) and the Three Hammers in Chiswell Green (£74.95). In the city, the Prae Wood Arms (£105.95) and Miller & Carter on Victoria Street (£104.95) sit in the middle, and the two hotels, St Michael’s Manor (£205) and Sopwell House (£230), are the big occasions. Prices are the venues’ own, as published on 1 November 2026.
One date matters soon: Miller & Carter, the King William IV and the Three Hammers all want full payment and your pre-order by 1 December, and the Colney Fox by 8 December.
There are no trains on Christmas Day, so if you are not driving, book somewhere you can walk to or arrange a taxi early. Our Christmas trains and travel guide has the details.
St Albans city
1. St Michael’s Manor, Fishpool Street
St Michael’s Manor is the hotel on Fishpool Street, between the Abbey and Verulamium Park. Its Christmas Day menu is a tasting menu that starts with canapés and a glass of Moët & Chandon champagne.
The mains are Norfolk turkey breast roulade, steamed wild sea bass or a dry-aged beef fillet wellington, with roast vegetables and potatoes shared at the table, followed by cheese, mince pies and petits fours. The menu sets a 12.5% discretionary gratuity on top and gives under-12s free soft drinks while they eat.
The hotel’s Christmas page also sells a two-night Christmas package that includes the lunch.
Price Christmas Day £205, ages 12 to 17 £165, ages 3 to 11 £105; 12.5% discretionary gratuity added
Booking through the hotel; two-night Christmas packages also sold
Call 01727 864444
Address Fishpool Street, St Albans, AL3 4RY
Hygiene rating 5, Food Standards Agency, 20 November 2025
Website stmichaelsmanor.com/christmas-and-new-year
Good for tasting menu, champagne on arrival, hotel, children's prices
2. Miller & Carter St Albans, Victoria Street
Miller & Carter is the steakhouse chain’s branch on Victoria Street, a short walk from St Albans City station. Its Christmas Day menu is £104.95 a head, with starters such as a twice-baked cauliflower and Camembert soufflé, and mains including a turkey paupiette with pigs in blankets.
The young guests’ Christmas Day menu is “from £47.95”. The booking terms ask £10 a head deposit on every Christmas Day table, then full payment and pre-orders by 1 December.
Deposits are non-refundable within 14 days of the booking.
Price Christmas Day £104.95; young guests from £47.95
Booking £10 a head deposit; full payment and pre-order by 1 December
Call 01727 834086
Address 11-13 Victoria Street, St Albans, AL1 3JJ
Hygiene rating 5, Food Standards Agency, 10 January 2026
Website millerandcarter.co.uk/restaurants/east-of-england/millerandcarterstalbans/menus/christmasdaymenu
Listing Our listing
Good for steakhouse, near the station, children's menu
3. Sopwell House, Cottonmill Lane
Sopwell House is the country house hotel and spa off Cottonmill Lane, south of the city centre. Its Christmas Day lunch in the St Alban Suite is open to non-residents.
Guests arrive from 12.30pm for champagne and canapés, then sit down at 1pm to five courses, paired with half a bottle of wine chosen by the sommelier, plus mineral water for the table. The hotel promises live music and a visit from Father Christmas, with unlimited soft drinks for under-18s and a gift for each child.
The dress code is smart casual. Later on Christmas Day, the Brasserie serves a buffet dinner from 7pm at £99, with juniors at £85 and children at £50.
Open Christmas Day lunch from 12.30pm, seated at 1pm; Brasserie buffet from 7pm
Price lunch £230, ages 13 to 17 £170, ages 4 to 12 £115; evening buffet £99, £85 and £50
Booking online; open to non-residents
Call 01727 864477
Address Cottonmill Lane, St Albans, AL1 2HQ
Hygiene rating 5, Food Standards Agency, 3 September 2026
Website sopwellhouse.co.uk/christmas-and-new-year/christmas-day-lunch-st-alban-suite
Good for five courses with wine, live music, Father Christmas, evening buffet too
Edge of St Albans
4. The Prae Wood Arms, Garden House Lane
The Prae Wood Arms is the Brunning & Price pub off the Redbourn Road on the western edge of the city, in what its own site calls a former cottage built in 1838. The Christmas Day menu costs £105.95 a head and opens with a duck confit and green peppercorn terrine among the starters.
After you book, the pub sends a link so you can pre-order, and it says Christmas Day is “very popular” and advises booking early. Its Christmas page gives Christmas Day opening as 12 noon to 4pm.
Open Christmas Day 12 noon to 4pm
Price Christmas Day £105.95
Booking online; pre-order link sent after booking
Call 01727 229090
Address Garden House Lane, St Albans, AL3 6JZ
Hygiene rating 5, Food Standards Agency, 12 March 2025
Website brunningandprice.co.uk/praewoodarms/christmas_event/christmas-day-2026
Listing Our listing
Good for country pub, pre-order online, Boxing Day too
5. The King William IV, Sandridge Road
The King William IV is the Ember Inns pub on Sandridge Road in the north of the city. Its Christmas page prices three courses on Christmas Day at £71.95 for adults and £35.95 for children.
Ember’s deposit terms take £10 a head for every Christmas Day guest, then ask for full payment and pre-orders by 1 December. The pub also runs a two-course festive set menu through December at £22.99, £9.99 for children.
Price Christmas Day £71.95, children £35.95; December festive menu £22.99
Booking £10 a head deposit; full payment and pre-order by 1 December
Call 01727 869272
Address 185 Sandridge Road, St Albans, AL1 4AH
Hygiene rating 5, Food Standards Agency, 15 September 2026
Website emberinns.co.uk/nationalsearch/eastofengland/the-king-william-iv-st-albans/christmas
Listing Our listing
Good for lower price, children's price, Boxing Day too
6. The Speckled Hen, Hatfield Road
The Speckled Hen is the Greene King pub on Hatfield Road, listed by the FSA as the former Bunch of Cherries. Its Christmas Day page offers three courses for £63, the lowest published Christmas Day price on this list, and the children’s menu PDF linked from the page is £29 for three courses.
The pub takes a £10 deposit for every adult and child to secure the booking. The menu PDF says the Christmas Day menu runs on 25 December 2026 only.
Price Christmas Day £63, children £29
Booking £10 a head deposit, children included
Call 01727 866856
Address Hatfield Road, St Albans, AL4 0XG
Hygiene rating 5, Food Standards Agency, 27 July 2026
Website greeneking.co.uk/pubs/hertfordshire/speckled-hen/christmas/christmas-day
Listing Our listing
Good for lowest price here, children's price, family pub
Harpenden
7. The Harpenden Arms, High Street
The Harpenden Arms is the Fuller’s pub on Harpenden High Street. Its Christmas Day menu is £99 a head and starts with a glass of English sparkling wine and two canapés per guest, a cauliflower, hazelnut and Wookey Hole cheese croquette and a smoked salmon blini.
The children’s Christmas Day menu is £49.50 and is for children aged 12 and under. The pub’s Christmas page also lists a Boxing Day menu and a Christmas buffet for parties.
Price Christmas Day £99, children 12 and under £49.50
Booking online or by phone
Call 01582 461113
Address 188 High Street, Harpenden, AL5 2TR
Hygiene rating 5, Food Standards Agency, 24 July 2026
Website harpenden-arms.co.uk/christmas
Listing Our listing
Good for sparkling wine and canapés, children's menu, Boxing Day too
8. The Old Bell, Luton Road
The Old Bell is the Chef & Brewer pub on Luton Road on the north side of Harpenden. Its Christmas Day page prices three courses at £86 a head, and the young guests’ Christmas Day menu PDF linked from the page is £37 for three courses.
A deposit of £10 for each adult and £5 for each child secures the booking. The pub’s last FSA inspection, on 25 September 2026, gave it a rating of 3, which the FSA calls “generally satisfactory”.
Price Christmas Day £86, children £37
Booking £10 a head deposit for adults, £5 for children
Call 01582 712484
Address 177 Luton Road, Harpenden, AL5 3BN
Hygiene rating 3, Food Standards Agency, 25 September 2026
Website chefandbrewer.com/pubs/hertfordshire/old-bell/christmas/christmas-day
Listing Our listing
Good for children's price, no gluten containing menu, family pub
9. Inn on the Green, Leyton Road
Inn on the Green is the Greene King pub on Leyton Road in Harpenden. The Christmas Day menu PDF linked from its Christmas Day page gives three courses for £81.95, with a separate no gluten containing version at the same price, and the children’s Christmas menu is £38.95.
The pub takes £10 a head deposit for adults and children: online bookings pay it straight away, and phone or in-person bookings must pay within 72 hours.
Price Christmas Day £81.95, children £38.95
Booking £10 a head deposit; pay within 72 hours if booked by phone
Call 01582 461804
Address 18-20 Leyton Road, Harpenden, AL5 2HU
Hygiene rating 5, Food Standards Agency, 10 August 2026
Website greeneking.co.uk/pubs/hertfordshire/inn-on-the-green/christmas/christmas-day
Listing Our listing
Good for by the common, children's price, no gluten containing menu
Villages
10. Miller & Carter Wheathampstead (The Bull), High Street
Miller & Carter Wheathampstead is the steakhouse in the Bull, the timber-framed inn on Wheathampstead High Street. It serves the same Christmas Day menu as the St Albans branch: £104.95 a head, with young guests “from £47.95”.
The booking terms are also the same: £10 a head deposit on every Christmas Day table, then full payment and pre-orders by 1 December.
Price Christmas Day £104.95; young guests from £47.95
Booking £10 a head deposit; full payment and pre-order by 1 December
Call 01582 833379
Address The Bull, 11 High Street, Wheathampstead, AL4 8BS
Hygiene rating 5, Food Standards Agency, 24 January 2026
Website millerandcarter.co.uk/restaurants/east-of-england/millerandcarterwheathampstead/menus/christmasdaymenu
Listing Our listing
Good for steakhouse, timber-framed inn, village centre
11. The Colney Fox, London Colney
The Colney Fox is the Vintage Inns pub on Barnet Road in London Colney. The Christmas Day menu PDF on its Christmas Day page is three courses for £92.95, and the children’s menu is three courses for £40.50; the menu notes that a deposit may be needed when you book.
The chain’s deposit terms set it at £10 a head for all Christmas Day tables, with full payment and pre-orders by 8 December, and a 10% discretionary service charge on Christmas Day tables of seven or more.
Price Christmas Day £92.95, children £40.50
Booking £10 a head deposit; full payment and pre-order by 8 December; 10% service on tables of 7 or more
Call 01727 823698
Address 1 Barnet Road, London Colney, AL2 1BL
Hygiene rating 4, Food Standards Agency, 11 February 2026
Website vintageinn.co.uk/restaurants/east/thecolneyfoxlondoncolney/christmas-day-menu
Listing Our listing
Good for country pub, children's price, Boxing Day too
12. The Three Hammers, Chiswell Green
The Three Hammers is the Ember Inns pub on Watford Road in Chiswell Green. Its Christmas page prices three courses on Christmas Day at £74.95 for adults and £37.50 for children.
Ember’s deposit terms take £10 a head for every Christmas Day guest, with full payment and pre-orders by 1 December. Through December the pub also runs a two-course festive set menu at £22.99, £9.99 for children.
Price Christmas Day £74.95, children £37.50; December festive menu £22.99
Booking £10 a head deposit; full payment and pre-order by 1 December
Call 01727 846218
Address 210 Watford Road, Chiswell Green, AL2 3EA
Hygiene rating 5, Food Standards Agency, 1 June 2026
Website emberinns.co.uk/nationalsearch/eastofengland/the-three-hammers-st-albans/christmas
Listing Our listing
Good for lower price, children's price, Boxing Day too
How we chose
These are the places people search for when booking Christmas dinner in St Albans, Harpenden and the villages around them. Each one publishes a Christmas Day price on its own site and has a Food Standards Agency hygiene rating of 3 or above. Some places are missing for a reason. The Silver Cup in Harpenden is closed on Christmas Day, as is the Peahen in St Albans. The Fox at Kinsbourne Green and the Wicked Lady at Nomansland both have Christmas Day menus, but neither shows a price, so they are not listed. The Three Horseshoes at Smallford now has a closure notice on its site. Prices are as published on 1 November 2026. Christmas menus usually need a deposit and a pre-order, so check the terms when you book.
Run a place that should be here, or spot something that has changed? Email newsdesk@stalbansdaily.co.uk. Taken a good photograph of any of these places? Email it to newsdesk@stalbansdaily.co.uk and we will add it with your name as the credit.
For more on Christmas locally, see the St Albans Christmas markets, the ice rink, Christmas at the Cathedral, the Christmas Cracker, the Harpenden Christmas Carnival, Christmas bin collections, New Year’s Eve in St Albans and what’s on in St Albans this month. For the rest of the year, see our guide to things to do in St Albans and the pubs in our St Albans business directory.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I have Christmas dinner in St Albans on Christmas Day 2026?
Twelve places on this list publish a Christmas Day price. The cheapest are the Speckled Hen on Hatfield Road (£63), the King William IV on Sandridge Road (£71.95) and the Three Hammers in Chiswell Green (£74.95). In the city, Miller & Carter on Victoria Street is £104.95 and the Prae Wood Arms is £105.95. The two hotels are the dearest: St Michael’s Manor at £205 and the five-course lunch at Sopwell House at £230.
How much is Christmas Day lunch for children around St Albans?
Published children’s prices are £29 at the Speckled Hen, £35.95 at the King William IV, £37 at the Old Bell in Harpenden, £37.50 at the Three Hammers, £38.95 at Inn on the Green, £40.50 at the Colney Fox, from £47.95 at both Miller & Carter restaurants, £49.50 for 12 and under at the Harpenden Arms, £105 for ages 3 to 11 at St Michael’s Manor and £115 for ages 4 to 12 at Sopwell House.
When do I have to pay for Christmas Day lunch in St Albans?
Miller & Carter in St Albans and Wheathampstead, the King William IV and the Three Hammers want full payment and pre-orders by 1 December. The Colney Fox wants both by 8 December. Most pubs here take a £10 a head deposit when you book.
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