Christmas markets · London
London Christmas markets 2026: Winter Wonderland, Southbank, Covent Garden and more
In 2026 Hyde Park Winter Wonderland runs 19 November to 3 January 2027 (timed-entry tickets from £1 off-peak, £5.50 standard, £8.25 peak), the Southbank Centre Winter Market opens on 2 November, Covent Garden's season starts on 12 November with the lights switch-on, and Chelsea Winter Village runs 25 November to 28 December. Here is every London market with dates, opening times, how to get there and our verdict. Don't drive into central London: use the Tube.
16 markets · checked October 2026
- Hyde Park Winter Wonderland2026: 19 Nov – 3 Jan 2027Free entry with a timed slot booked online; rides, rink and shows are paid.
- Southbank Centre Winter Market2026: 2 Nov 2026 – 4 Jan 2027 (closed 25 & 31 Dec)Free to enter.
- Covent Garden Christmas Market2026: from 12 Nov 2026 (lights switch-on opens the season; end date not yet published)Free entry.
- Winter by the River at London Bridge CityLast season: 13 Nov 2025 – 4 Jan 2026Free to enter; curling and the Glasshouse are paid.
- Christmas in Leicester SquareLast season: 1 Nov 2025 – 4 Jan 2026Free entry; ice rink and grotto ticketed.
- Wimbledon Piazza2026: four weekends (Fri–Sun): 27–29 Nov, 4–6, 11–13 and 18–20 Dec 2026Free entry.
- Christmas in Trafalgar SquareLast season: 9 Nov 2025 – 2 Jan 2026Free entry; high prices.
- Chelsea Winter Village & Illuminations2026: 25 Nov – 28 Dec 2026Ticketed.
- Victorian Christmas Village at St Katharine Docks2026: 7 Nov 2026 – 3 Jan 2027 (closed 25 Dec)Free entry.
- King's Cross Christmas MarketLast season: 27 Nov – 22 Dec 2025Free to enter.
- Bexleyheath Christmas Market2026 dates to be confirmedFree entry; rides paid.
- Christmas at Battersea Power StationLast season: 7 Nov 2025 – 4 Jan 2026Free entry; rink and Chimney Lift paid.
🧒 With kids
- Hyde Park Winter Wonderland · London
- Christmas in Leicester Square · London
- Chelsea Winter Village & Illuminations · London
- Victorian Christmas Village at St Katharine Docks · London
- King's Cross Christmas Market · London
- Bexleyheath Christmas Market · London
✨ Date night
- Southbank Centre Winter Market · London
- Covent Garden Christmas Market · London
- Winter by the River at London Bridge City · London
- Christmas in Trafalgar Square · London
- Greenwich Market at Christmas · London
- Mayfair Christmas Market (Novikov) · London
🎉 With friends
- Wimbledon Piazza · London
- Christmas at Battersea Power Station · London
- Buckingham Palace — Royal Mews Christmas shop (not a market) · London
- Borough Market at Christmas · London
- Kingston Christmas Market · Kingston upon Thames
- Lighting Up Brentwood · Brentwood
Winter festival
📷 Garry Knight · CC BY-SA 2.0 · 📷 Editor5807 · CC BY 3.0
Winter festival · London
Hyde Park Winter Wonderland
🧒 With kids🎉 With friendsWhat's there
- Huge Christmas funfair with rollercoasters
- Christmas market stalls and bars
- Ice skating, circus and shows
- Magical at night
What visitors sayGoogle 4.2 ★ · 4,854 reviews
Visitors love the lights, the rides and the sheer amount to do, especially after dark. The common warning is crowds: it gets very busy in the evenings and the week before Christmas, which is hard going with a disability or small children. Booking an entry slot online is recommended.
A full day or evening out for families and groups — but a funfair first, a Christmas market second. Book a weekday daytime slot.
- 2026
- 19 Nov – 3 Jan 2027
- Cost
- Free entry with a timed slot booked online; rides, rink and shows are paid.
Getting there and parking
- Tube to Hyde Park Corner or Marble Arch; don't drive into central London.
Worth knowing
- Opening hours 2026: open daily 19 Nov – 3 Jan 2027 except Christmas Day, closing at 10pm; opening time is 10am on most days, 12pm on 19–20, 23–26 Nov, 30 Nov and 2 Dec, 11am on 27 Nov, 3–4 Dec, 7–11 Dec, 14–18 Dec and 28 Dec – 1 Jan, 2pm on 1 Dec. Timed entry (10am–8pm slots): £1 off-peak Mon–Thu in November, £5.50 standard, £8.25 peak; spend £25 on rides or food when booking online and entry is free.
IllustrationWinter festival · London
Chelsea Winter Village & Illuminations
Winter village with illuminations, food and family activities in Chelsea.
🧒 With kids✨ Date nightWhat's there
- Illuminated trail through the grounds
- Curling
- Marshmallow pit
- Small Christmas market at the end
What visitors sayGoogle 4.3 ★ · 85 reviews
Families loved the light trail, curling and marshmallow toasting, with good organisation and security. Some adults found the lights generic and the village small for the price; towards closing some paths were shut.
A well-run family light trail in west London — best with younger children.
- 2026
- 25 Nov – 28 Dec 2026
- Cost
- Ticketed.
Getting there and parking
- Nearest tubes Sloane Square or Fulham Broadway; check the venue on your ticket.
Worth knowing
- Opening hours 2026: 25 Nov – 28 Dec, gates open 4.30pm and close at 8pm or 8.30pm depending on the day, trail and village close at 10pm; closed Christmas Day; neuro-inclusive slots 4.30–5.45pm on selected Wednesdays and Thursdays.
- Arrive at opening for the best experience.
IllustrationWinter festival · London
Victorian Christmas Village at St Katharine Docks
Small Victorian-themed market at St Katharine Docks by Tower Bridge, with carol singers and a photo spot.
✨ Date night🧒 With kidsWhat's there
- Next to Tower Bridge at St Katharine Docks
- Carol singers
- Photo spot and festive drinks bar
- Small Victorian-style stalls
What visitors say
Charming and cosy with Tower Bridge as the backdrop, carol singers and pretty drinks; good for a stop if you are nearby. Small, with only a handful of stalls — not worth a long journey.
A lovely 30-minute stop on a Tower Bridge walk.
- 2026
- 7 Nov 2026 – 3 Jan 2027 (closed 25 Dec)
- Cost
- Free entry.
Getting there and parking
- Tower Hill tube or Tower Gateway DLR, a 5-minute walk.
Worth knowing
- Combine with the Tower of London and a walk over the bridge.
IllustrationWinter festival · London
Christmas at Battersea Power Station
Shopping-centre Christmas with the Glide riverside ice rink and skate trail (6 Nov 2026 – 3 Jan 2027), festive food huts in Malaysia Square and a makers' market on three weekends only.
🧒 With kids🎉 With friendsWhat's there
- Glide ice rink with a 200 m riverside skate trail
- Festive food huts in Malaysia Square
- Salad Days makers' market on selected weekends
- Chimney Lift with views over London
Come for the skating and the building — the market itself only runs on a few weekends.
- Last season
- 7 Nov 2025 – 4 Jan 2026
- Cost
- Free entry; rink and Chimney Lift paid.
Getting there and parking
- Battersea Power Station tube station (Northern line) is on site; step-free throughout.
Worth knowing
- Dogs on short leads are allowed at the makers' market.
Christmas market
IllustrationChristmas market · London
Southbank Centre Winter Market
🎉 With friends✨ Date nightWhat's there
- Alpine-style chalets along the Queen's Walk beside the Thames
- Artisan craft stalls: paper decorations, maps, skincare, candles
- Street food and pop-up bars
- Near the London Eye
What visitors sayGoogle 3.9 ★ · 1,559 reviews
A pleasant riverside stroll with views, but many found the market itself small and not very festive; prices are premium.
The riverside classic — good for a walk past the London Eye with a hot drink; busiest in the evenings.
- 2026
- 2 Nov 2026 – 4 Jan 2027 (closed 25 & 31 Dec)
- Cost
- Free to enter.
Getting there and parking
- Waterloo or Embankment stations; the Queen's Walk runs along the river by the Southbank Centre.
Worth knowing
- Expected hours (based on previous years, 2026 not yet confirmed): craft stalls 11am–9pm, food 11am–10pm, bars 11am–11pm; closed 25 and 31 Dec.
📷 The wub · CC BY-SA 4.0
📷 Editor5807 · CC BY 3.0 · 📷 Simeon87 · CC BY-SA 4.0
Christmas market · London
Covent Garden Christmas Market
✨ Date night🎉 With friendsWhat's there
- Giant Christmas tree and decorations
- Street performers
- Shops and cafés in the market building
What visitors sayGoogle 4.6 ★ · 596 reviews
Not a traditional market, but the decorations, tree and street performers make it feel magical, especially in the evening. Very busy and expensive.
The most festive spot in central London — go early evening on a weekday.
- 2026
- from 12 Nov 2026 (lights switch-on opens the season; end date not yet published)
- Last season
- 12 Nov 2025 – 5 Jan 2026
- Cost
- Free entry.
Getting there and parking
- Tube to Covent Garden or Leicester Square.
Worth knowing
- Lights switch-on and the 55 ft tree from 12 Nov 2026.
IllustrationChristmas market · London
Winter by the River at London Bridge City
Riverside market stalls with crafts and 'gifts for good', a two-storey Glasshouse bar and pop-up curling lanes, with Tower Bridge as the backdrop. Daily 11am–10pm in 2025.
🎉 With friends✨ Date nightWhat's there
- Boutique market stalls with crafts and gifts for good
- Two-storey Glasshouse bar with heated rooftop canopy and Thames views
- Swift Stone curling pop-up with six new lanes and an apres-ski bar
- Tower Bridge as the backdrop
What visitors say
Visitors like the views of Tower Bridge and the Tower, the food and drink and the cosy feel; others found it small, crowded for its size and pricey.
A good alternative to the central markets for an evening by the river — curling and the Glasshouse bar are the draw.
- Last season
- 13 Nov 2025 – 4 Jan 2026
- Cost
- Free to enter; curling and the Glasshouse are paid.
Getting there and parking
- London Bridge station, then walk east along the Thames towards Tower Bridge.
Worth knowing
- Season 2025: 13 Nov – 4 Jan, daily 11am–10pm; 2026 dates not yet published.
📷 Matt Brown · CC BY 2.0
📷 Oast House Archive · CC BY-SA 2.0 · 📷 DS Pugh · CC BY-SA 2.0
Christmas market · London
Christmas in Leicester Square
Busy West End market with lights, food stalls and a Santa's grotto; quality of some food stalls criticised.
🎉 With friends🧒 With kidsWhat's there
- West End market with lights and music
- Ice rink (added recently)
- Churros, fudge, hot dogs and marshmallow toasting
- Santa's grotto
What visitors sayGoogle 3.8 ★ · 255 reviews
Many enjoy the festive decorations, cheerful music and food choice; others found it overcrowded, pick-pocket prone, with long entry queues and little for children apart from food. Individual food stalls drew sharp complaints.
Fine for a quick festive stop in the West End — Trafalgar Square or Southbank are calmer.
- Last season
- 1 Nov 2025 – 4 Jan 2026
- Cost
- Free entry; ice rink and grotto ticketed.
Getting there and parking
- Leicester Square tube (Northern, Piccadilly) is next to the market.
Worth knowing
- Keep valuables close.
- Go in the morning to avoid queues.
IllustrationChristmas market · London
Wimbledon Piazza
The piazza by Wimbledon station hosts a seasonal Christmas market with independent food and pastry stalls.
🎉 With friendsWhat's there
- 70+ local traders on the Piazza by Wimbledon station
- Original art, jewellery, candles and homeware
- Street food from Greece to Argentina
- Mulled wine
What visitors say
Regulars praise the Piazza's markets for the good mix of independent food and craft stalls; one or two food stalls drew complaints about service.
A pleasant local market if you live in south-west London.
- 2026
- four weekends (Fri–Sun): 27–29 Nov, 4–6, 11–13 and 18–20 Dec 2026
- Cost
- Free entry.
Getting there and parking
- Wimbledon station (trains, District line, tram) is next to the Piazza.
Worth knowing
- Fri noon–7pm, Sat–Sun 11am–6pm (2026).
📷 The wub · CC BY-SA 4.0 · 📷 DiscoA340 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · 📷 Editor5807 · CC BY 3.0
Christmas market · London
Christmas in Trafalgar Square
Small market in front of the National Gallery under the Norway Christmas tree — the setting beats the stalls.
✨ Date night🎉 With friendsWhat's there
- In front of the National Gallery
- The Norway Christmas tree
- Carol choirs
- Handcrafted and personalised gifts
What visitors sayGoogle 3.9 ★ · 108 reviews
The location, lights and tree are unbeatable and the choirs add a lot. The market itself is small, with repetitive stalls and central-London prices; seating in the bar areas is scarce on cold nights.
Worth a stop for the tree and carols — combine with the West End rather than making it the main event.
- Last season
- 9 Nov 2025 – 2 Jan 2026
- Cost
- Free entry; high prices.
Getting there and parking
- Charing Cross station and tube are on the square.
Worth knowing
- Come in the early evening when the choirs sing.
IllustrationChristmas market · London
King's Cross Christmas Market
🎉 With friends🧒 With kidsWhat's there
- Several markets around Granary Square and Coal Drops Yard
- Canopy Market from 27 Nov
- Crafty Fox Christmas Market (Granary Square) and Shotengai Market (Coal Drops Yard)
A programme of weekend and mid-December markets rather than one fixed market — check the dates before you go.
- Last season
- 27 Nov – 22 Dec 2025
- Cost
- Free to enter.
Getting there and parking
- King's Cross St Pancras station; Coal Drops Yard and Granary Square are a few minutes' walk behind the station.
Worth knowing
- 2026 dates found: Canopy Market from 27 Nov (Wed 12–7pm, Thu/Fri 12–8pm, Sat/Sun 11am–6pm); Crafty Fox at Granary Square 7, 13 and 14 Dec, 11am–5pm; Shotengai Market at Coal Drops Yard 18–21 Dec (kingscross.co.uk, londoncheapo.com). Coal Drops Yard shops Mon–Sat 11am–7pm, Sun 11am–5pm.
Christmas market · London
Bexleyheath Christmas Market
Local Christmas market on Bexleyheath Broadway in south-east London.
🎉 With friends🧒 With kidsWhat's there
- Local Christmas events on Bexleyheath Broadway in south-east London
Only a local event — we found no dedicated Christmas market for 2026, just the Broadway Christmas switch-on; check Bexley council before travelling.
- Dates
- 2026 dates to be confirmed
- Cost
- Free entry; rides paid.
Getting there and parking
- Bexleyheath station, then 10 minutes' walk to the Broadway.
Worth knowing
- No dedicated 2026 market date was found; the Christmas switch-on on the Broadway is held in mid-November (Enjoy Bexleyheath / Bexley council).
Christmas market · London
Greenwich Market at Christmas
The covered historic market in Greenwich dressed for Christmas: over 200 stalls and shops, seasonal food, Santa visits and a lantern parade with the lights switch-on. Daily 10am–5.30pm, closed Christmas Day.
✨ Date night🎉 With friendsWhat's there
- 200+ stalls and shops in the covered historic market
- Lantern parade and lights switch-on
- Santa visits
- Next to the Cutty Sark and Greenwich Park
A year-round market in festive dress — lovely with a Greenwich day out, and covered if it rains.
- Last season
- 19 Nov 2025 – early Jan 2026
- Cost
- Free entry.
Getting there and parking
- Cutty Sark DLR is across the road; Greenwich rail station is 10 minutes' walk; Greenwich Pier for Thames boats is 5 minutes away.
Worth knowing
- All stalls take cards; there are no toilets inside the market.
Christmas market · London
Buckingham Palace — Royal Mews Christmas shop (not a market)
There is no Christmas market at Buckingham Palace: the viral 'palace Christmas market' of 2025 was the Royal Collection Trust's first Christmas pop-up shop at the Royal Mews (Time Out called the market posts fake). For a real market nearby, walk to Trafalgar Square or Leicester Square.
✨ Date night🎉 With friendsWhat's there
- Royal Collection Trust Christmas products in a pop-up shop at the Royal Mews
- No market: this is a shop only
- Official royal gifts, decorations and festive treats
Fun for official royal gifts, but it is a shop, not a Christmas market — for a market walk to Trafalgar Square or Leicester Square instead.
- Last season
- 14 Nov 2025 – 5 Jan 2026
- Cost
- Free to enter; no advance booking.
Getting there and parking
- Victoria station is 10 minutes' walk.
Worth knowing
- Season 2025/26: 14 Nov – 5 Jan, Thursday to Monday (closed Tuesday and Wednesday); 2026 dates not yet published.
Christmas market · London
Borough Market at Christmas
London's food market in festive mode: Christmas food, cheese and drink stalls under the railway arches; the market publishes special Christmas opening times.
🎉 With friends✨ Date nightWhat's there
- Christmas food, cheese and drink stalls under the railway arches
- More than 100 stalls across 4.5 acres
- Mulled wine, pastries and gourmet street food
London's best Christmas food walk — go on a weekday morning, since weekends and the last weekend before Christmas are packed.
- Dates
- 2026 dates to be confirmed
- Cost
- Free to enter; food and drink pay-as-you-go.
Getting there and parking
- London Bridge station is next to the market; Borough (Northern line) is a short walk.
Worth knowing
- Opening hours 2026: 24 Dec 8am–3pm; closed 25 and 26 Dec (boroughmarket.org.uk Christmas opening times, checked 2026-10-06).
Weekend Christmas market
IllustrationWeekend Christmas market · London
Mayfair Christmas Market (Novikov)
A three-day pop-up market run by Novikov restaurant on a traffic-free Mayfair Place: a champagne ice bar, oysters and mulled wine, gift stalls, carol singers, DJs and Santa with a real reindeer.
✨ Date night🎉 With friendsWhat's there
- Champagne ice bar
- Oysters, caviar and mulled wine
- Carol singers and evening DJs
- Santa with a real reindeer
A glamorous three-day pop-up — fun if you're in the West End that weekend.
- 2026
- 26–28 Nov 2026, 11am–9pm
- Cost
- Free entry; drinks and food at Mayfair prices.
Getting there and parking
- Green Park station is a few minutes' walk.
Worth knowing
- The restaurant's dress code (no sportswear or hoodies) applies to its areas.
Questions
When does the London Christmas market 2026 open and close?
2026 dates — Hyde Park Winter Wonderland: 19 Nov – 3 Jan 2027. Covent Garden Christmas Market: from 12 Nov 2026 (lights switch-on opens the season; end date not yet published). Southbank Centre Winter Market: 2 Nov 2026 – 4 Jan 2027 (closed 25 & 31 Dec).
What are the London Christmas market opening hours?
Southbank Centre Winter Market: Expected hours (based on previous years, 2026 not yet confirmed): craft stalls 11am–9pm, food 11am–10pm, bars 11am–11pm; closed 25 and 31 Dec. Hours can change, so check the organiser's site before you go.
Is the London Christmas market free to enter?
Hyde Park Winter Wonderland: Free entry with a timed slot booked online; rides, rink and shows are paid. Covent Garden Christmas Market: Free entry.
How many Christmas markets are there in London?
Our guide lists 16 Christmas markets in London, including Hyde Park Winter Wonderland, Covent Garden Christmas Market and Southbank Centre Winter Market.
How do I get to the London Christmas market?
Hyde Park Winter Wonderland: Tube to Hyde Park Corner or Marble Arch; don't drive into central London. Covent Garden Christmas Market: Tube to Covent Garden or Leicester Square.