The Christmas season is now fully upon us (Sorry scrooges – bah-humbug to you), and what better way to get into the festive spirit than visiting some Christmas markets in London!
Christmas Markets are always a seasonal hit, but there’s something so magical about stepping out of the busy London streets into these festive winter wonderlands.
So, let’s start things off with pretty much the ultimate Christmas Market in Winter Wonderland.
1.Winter Wonderland Christmas Market – Hyde Park
- Where: Hyde Park, Winter Wonderland
- When: 21st November 2019 – 5th January 2020
Hyde Park’s Winter Wonderland is not just an attraction that draws in crowds but is also host to one of London’s best Christmas markets that is open daily throughout the festive season.
Split into sections, all around the event you can find over 100 traditional Bavarian wooden cabins that sell an array of Christmas gifts ranging from unique decorations and beautiful jewellery to delicious homemade treats.
The market is open from 10am-10pm daily excluding Christmas Day when it is closed.
2. Borough Market Christmas Market
- Where: Borough Market
- When: 4th December 2019 – 24th December 2019
Probably one of London’s most loved markets all year round, Borough Market continues not to disappoint when it comes to Christmas.
The produce market is decked with Christmas decorations, and carols fill the air as Christmas takes over, providing visitors with the best, fresh seasonal produce in London.
The market has various opening times, but they typically follow this schedule:
Monday-Thursday: 10am-5pm
Friday: 10am-6pm
Saturday: 8am-5pm
Sunday: 10am-4pm
We recommend checking their website for specific daily timings as they can change.
3. Leicester Square Christmas Market (Christmas in Leicester Square)
- Where: Leicester Square
- When: 8th November 2019 – 5th January 2020
Christmas in Leicester Square is back and is home to a traditional Bavarian-themed Christmas market, bringing the spirit of Christmas to London’s most popular tourist location.
The festive market sells a range of seasonal foodie-delights alongside a special selection of bespoke gifts including hand-crafted Children’s toys to beautiful Christmas ornaments.
Entry is free, and opening times are:
Monday – Friday: 12pm-10pm
Saturday – Sunday: 10am-10pm
They are closed on Christmas Day.
4. Southbank Christmas Market – The ‘Winter Market’
- Where: Queenswalk under Hungerford Bridge, Southbank
- When: 8th November 2019 – 5th January 2020
Alongside the River Thames lies the Southbank Winter [Christmas] Market that hosts an array of globally inspired gifts and street food.
Set amongst wooden winter chalets, visitors can delve into cuisines from around the world and sample some scrummy sweet treats. There are also many festive pop-ups that offer a selection of handmade seasonal gifts.
Open daily except for Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. Opening times are:
Sunday-Thursday: 11am-10pm
Friday-Saturday: 11am-11pm
5. Wimbledon Christmas Market at The Piazza
- Where: The Piazza, Wimbledon
- When: Saturday 23rd – Sunday 24th November 2019, Saturday 30th November – Sunday 1st December 2019, Saturday 7th- Sunday 8th December 2019, Friday 13th, Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th December 2019 and Friday 20th, Saturday 21st, Sunday 22nd December 2019.
This year Wimbledon is hosting 12 Days of Christmas Markets on The Piazza, full of festive and seasonal cheer, all topped off with sparkling lights and holiday music.
With over 50+ stalls each weekend, no trip to the market is the same. Each weekend, stalls home themselves on The Piazza and sell a range of unique gifts that are perfect for any budget.
Markets are open 11am-6pm every Saturday and Sunday until the 22nd December with late nights falling on the 13th and 20th December (extending closing to 7pm).
6. Trafalgar Square Christmas Market
- Where: North Terrace, Trafalgar Square
- When: 8th November 2019 – 5th January 2020
To accompany their gifted Christmas tree, Trafalgar Square, for the first time ever, are hosting their own Christmas market!
The market consists of 34 traditional wooden chalets that are decorated in sparkling lights and festive decorations, that sell a collection of high-end gifts and delicious festive food.
Open daily from 10am-10pm.
7. Greenwich Christmas Late Market
- Where: Greenwich Market
- When: Open throughout December with specific late-night days on Wednesday 11th December 2019 and Wednesday 18th December 2019.
The well-loved Greenwich market has taken on a festive twist this Christmas season as its historic surroundings are decorated in sparkling lights and Christmas-themed stalls pop-up throughout the month.
Here you can find a range of seasonal food and produce alongside stalls that sell antiques, pottery and home-made scented candles (just to name a few).
Late-night Christmas market shopping days fall on Wednesday 11th December, and Wednesday 18th December between 10am-8pm.
8. Christmas Market at Kings Cross – Christmas Under the Canopy
- Where: West Handyside Canopy, Canopy Market
- When: Open daily in the lead up to Christmas, finishing in December 22nd 2019.
Canopy Market embraces the festivities this Christmas with Christmas Under The Canopy which is open daily until the 22nd December.
The full-of-life market is bursting with festive warm food and pop-up stalls from independent designers that conduct their transactions over the chorus of carol singers.
The market operates between 12pm-6pm, excluding Fridays, where they have late-night shopping. On these days the market is open from 12pm-8pm.
9. Christmas by the River Market
- Where: Banks of the River Thames, near Tower Bridge
- When: 26th November 2019 – 5th January 2020.
Christmas by the River makes its annual appearance near Tower Bridge, bringing its festive sparkle back to the city.
This year, the market has a vintage-ski theme and consists of traditional wooden cabins that provide a home for the festive season to an array of pop-up craft shops, bars and street food vendors.
Open daily Monday to Sunday from 10am-9pm, excluding Christmas Day when it is closed. Open Christmas Eve 10am-5pm and New Year’s Eve 10am-8pm.
10. Kingston Christmas Market
- Where: Ancient Market Place ad the front lawn of All Saints Church, Kingston
- When: 14th November 2019 -31st December 2019.
Christmas returns to Kingston as the well-loved market makes its comeback.
Full of traditional cabins, Kingston Christmas Market, hosts a range of stalls that sell unique and handmade gifts amongst a selection of bars that sell a variety of festive delights – think all the mince pies and mulled wine!
Open Sunday – Wednesday 10am-6pm and Thursday-Saturday 10am-8pm.
These are just some of London’s many Christmas markets that on offer this year, so if you have any suggestions for us or have visited any of the markets we’ve mentioned, please let us know down in the comments below as we’d love to hear from you!