There are so many things that I love about Christmas in London. From early November when the Christmas lights are switched on through until the new year, the city is buzzing with festive spirit. One of the best ways to celebrate the season, is to visit one of London’s many Christmas markets.
Whether you want to buy Christmas gifts or simply indulge in some seriously good food then a Christmas market is one of the best places to go.
Here’s our guide to the best Christmas markets in London, each with its own charm, character and festive cheer.
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London’s best Christmas markets
The following are my favourite pop-up markets taking place over the festive period in London.
Winter Wonderland at Hyde Park
Taking over one large corner of Hyde Park every festive season, Winter Wonderland is undoubtedly London’s most famous Christmas event.
That’s not to say that it’s the most popular, not all Londoners love this festive fair owing to the cost (it can get very expensive) and because of how busy it is (although you can minimise the crowds by timing your visit for less popular times of day).
Winter Wonderland is filled with fun things to do including vintage-style fairground rides, an ice rink, Santa’s grotto, and a gigantic ferris wheel.
What’s possibly a little less well known is that Winter Wonderland is also home to an enormous Christmas market with hundreds of wooden chalet-style stalls selling all types of food, drinks and sweet treats. There are also a number of stalls selling Christmas gifts.
This is one of London’s Christmas Markets that is ticketed so you can’t just turn up and wander inside – you will need to buy tickets before being allowed entry. Generally tickets can be free for off-peak times (before midday) but at peak times (evening), tickets cost from £7.50 per person. You will also need tickets if you want to go on the rides, go ice skating or see any of the shows.
Winter Wonderland is open from 14 November 2025 to 1 January 2026.
Southbank Centre Winter Market
One of my favourite of the London Christmas markets is the Southbank Centre Winter Market.
Set along the banks of the Thames in central London, this market is filled with foodie stalls, pop-up bars and independent craft traders selling homemade jewellery, Christmas ornaments and fashion.
The best time to visit is in the evening, once the fairy lights have been switched on and the stalls are all lit up (to be fair, it gets dark around 4pm these days in London so you can time your visit for late afternoon!). There are lots of tasty foodie options to choose from including Yorkshire Pudding wraps, Himalayan dumplings and New Orleans-inspired Po’Boy sandwiches, plus plenty of sweet treats too.
It’s open from Monday 3 November to Sunday 4 January 2026 (closed 25 December, 31 December and 1 January) from 11am to 9pm (craft traders) and until 10pm for food traders.
Winter by the River
This pretty Christmas market at London Bridge City (in the middle of the southern entrances to London Bridge and Tower Bridge) used to be called Christmas by the River but has been rebranded, Winter by the River.
Regardless of the name change, this is a lovely market that enjoys some of the best views in town. Follow the frosted path and you’ll find dozens of market stalls selling everything from handcrafted gifts and local produce (the cheese stall is a personal favourite) to traditional market food and plenty of mulled wine.
There’s also the two-storey après ski themed Glasshouse Terrace, which is the perfect spot for indulging in a plate of hot waffles. I try and come here at least once over the holiday for a mug of spiced cider. The Glasshouse will be hosting events throughout the Christmas season, including live music.
If visiting with friends or kids, then don’t miss the Swift Stone Curling pop-up for some friendly parents vs kids competition.
Winter by the River opens on November 13, and runs until January 4, 2026. The nearest station is London Bridge.
Leadenhall Market
Leadenhall Market is one of the prettiest market halls in London thanks to its Victorian architecture, ornate arches and cobbled streets. Its good looks have earned it movie star status – it was used in the first Harry Potter film, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, as the street leading to the wizarding pub, the Leaky Cauldron.
During Christmas, Leadenhall Market is even prettier, decorated with wreaths, garlands and countless fairy lights. At weekends, a series of pop-up Christmas markets take place.
The SoLo Craft Fair Christmas Market takes place on November 8 and December 13, selling hand-crafted art, jewellery, homewares and children’s toys. It’s run by makers for makers and the artists are carefully selected so you can be sure you’re that you’re getting a quality item.
Taking place on November 30 is The Vintage Furniture and Flea Christmas Market with electric one-off pieces of furniture alongside vintage fashion, vinyl records, one-off presents and more.
This is the perfect place to come if you are looking for something an original Christmas present.
Greenwich Christmas Market
Visitors to London don’t always take the time to travel along the River Thames to Greenwich but it’s well worth the effort. Much of this charming neighbourhood – including the historic town centre, Royal Park and the four sites of Royal Museums Greenwich – is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
There’s a year-round market in Greenwich but over the Christmas period, the market hall is transformed into a winter wonderland with over 200 of London’s best artisan traders selling everything from hand-crafted jewellery and candles to festive soft toys, artisanal chocolates, local food products and more.
Try and time your visit for Wednesday 19 November when the annual community Lantern Parade and Christmas Lights Switch-On takes place, marking the start of the holiday season.
Don’t forget the ice rink that takes place in the grounds of the Queen’s House every year.
Covent Garden Christmas Market
Colourful Covent Garden is fun at any time of year but it really comes to life over the Christmas period with an enormous 55ft-high Christmas tree decorated with 30,000 lights, giant golden bell decorations, oversized baubles and sometimes even snow. It’s also home to some of the city’s best Christmas lights.
There is a permanent market at Covent Garden with small businesses and independent boutiques selling a range of gifts, everything from hand-made crafts to designer products. There are also plenty of pop up shops and food stalls such as the Piper-Heidsieck Winter Garden pop-up where you can enjoy a glass of champagne after (or before?) hitting the shops.
During the month of November there is a pop-up Chalet of Play presented by LEGO, which will include a Christmas market with fairground challenges at the Tinsel Toss, gaming-inspired missions in the LEGO Minecraft Zone and the chance to make your own LEGO Heart in the Build to Give area.
Kids always love Covent Garden and there are typically lots of family-friendly events taking place, including Santa setting up a festive shop at the nearby London Transport Museum.
Skate Christmas Market Leicester Square
Leicester Square is one of the busiest spots in central London but it ramps up a notch over Christmas when its market opens. Located in the heart of the historic square, the market is packed full of stalls selling mulled wines, delicious food and gifts.
This year, Leicester Square also has an ice rink, just make sure to book a spot before arriving as spaces fill up quickly over the holiday period.
Borough Market at Christmas
London’s most famous food market, Borough Market is also a wonderful place to visit at Christmas. Already wonderfully atmospheric and photogenic, the market becomes even more charming during the festive months.
The market extends their opening hours over the holiday period too, which means plenty more time to enjoy glasses of hot chocolate, eggnog and mulled wine alongside hot turkey and cranberry rolls followed by a mince pie or two. Borough Market typically hosts a number of events in the run-up to Christmas including their alway popular, An Evening of Cheese.
For non-stop Christmas fun, combine a trip to Borough Market with the nearby Winter by The River Christmas market.
Coal Drops Yard Christmas Market, Kings Cross
Opening towards the end of November, the Christmas Market at Kings Cross is one of my favourites. Set in and around Coal Drops Yard, this is a less traditional kind of Christmas market with various pop-up events taking place over the holiday period.
Taking place between Tuesday and Sunday from 28 November to 22 December is Christmas Under the Canopy market, with a selection of London’s best artisan traders and food stalls.
For doggy delights there’s The Big Woof, a festive event for dog owners with a pop-up photo studio and more canine-friendly gifts than you could possibly imagine. The Big Woof takes place inside the Crossing on Sunday 30 November from 11am until 5pm.
One of my favourite events is the Mexican Christmas Market that is held from Friday 28 November to Sunday 30 November. No word yet on whether or not there will be any stalls selling lucha libr masks…
Other Christmas markets including the Crafty Fox Christmas Market, when more than 100 designers and makers will be selling unique gifts (7, 13 and 14 December); the Shōtengai Christmas Market, a traditional Japanese street market (18-21 December); and the Christmas Charity Super.Mkt, with quality second-hand fashion and accessories (5-7 December).
Even if you can’t make it to any of the markets, it’s definitely worth visiting Coal Drops Yard for Christmas. There are mince pie boat trips, a floating mulled wine pop-up on Regent’s Canal and the excellent Club Curling pop-up that is always a favourite with families.
Photos courtesy of Depositphotos.com
