Eat out on Christmas Day

Don't fancy slaving over a hot stove or stuffing that turkey? Who can blame you.

Balans 187 Kensington High Street, W8 (020 7376 0115) Turkey is on the menu and there is also steak, fish and, for vegetarians, a mushroomand-chestnut risotto. Open noon-10pm. £35 for three courses.

Belair House Gallery Road, Dulwich Village, SE21 (020 8299 9788) The scenic Belair House, which overlooks Belair Park, offers a £75 three-course set menu. Turkey with all the trimmings is available, as well as vegetarian options that include pancakes stuffed with baked aubergines. Open noon-2.30pm.

Chutney Mary 535 King's Road, SW10 (020 7351 3113) For a turkey-free zone, try Chutney Mary's fourcourse set menu of traditional Indian food for £55. Open 12.30-3pm.

Cucina 45a South End Road, NW3 (020 7435 7814) This Belsize Park institution is serving lunch from 12.30pm. For £39.50 you can choose from a set menu that offers fish, a vegetarian dish and, of course, turkey. A 20 per cent deposit is required on booking.

Indigo One Aldwych Hotel, One Aldwych, WC2 (020 7300 0400) For £69.50 there is a fourcourse set menu, including a glass of Kir royale and crackers. Dishes include pan-fried monkfish and scallops, aubergine-andgoat's-cheese ravioli and roast beef. Open 12.30-3.30pm and, for dinner, 6-11pm, for the normal à la carte menu for those fed up with turkey.

Marcus Wareing at the Savoy Grill, Savoy Hotel, The Strand, WC2 (020 7592 1600) For £185, the Savoy Grill's Christmas menu (noon-3pm and 7-11pm) will be the epitome of style. Celebrated chef Marcus Wareing is

offering a five-course set menu and a specially adapted children's menu for £100.

Menu at The Connaught The Connaught, 16 Carlos Place, W1 (020 7592 1222) Chef Angela Hartnett's Menu is one of the hottest restaurants in London. Open on Christmas Day for both lunch (12-3.30pm) and dinner (7-10.30pm), it offers five courses for £150, with a children's menu for £80. A magician and Father Christmas will keep the young ones happy.

MVH 5 White Hart Lane, SW13 (020 8392 1111) This extremely popular Barnes restaurant is serving food from noon to 10.30pm. For an extremely affordable £26 for two courses or £29 for three, the set menu includes six options for each course. For vegetarians, there are stuffed vol-au-vents and chestnut soup.

Rosemary Lane, 61 Royal Mint Street, E1 (020 7481 2602) This new East End pub turned bistro will be serving dinner (7-11pm). The £38 seven-course menu offers traditional French food with a Californian twist and includes braised pork belly, turkey confit, goose breast and a chestnut-and-leek terrine.