Last Updated on 08/12/2024
There’s nowhere more magical than London at Christmas time! Browse the London Christmas markets, drink mulled wine, eat sweet treats and buy unique presents in this best Christmas Markets in London 2024 guide!
Filled with festive cheer, this blog gives you all the London Christmas market 2024 dates to plan your Christmas activities in London.
This London Christmas markets guide includes nearby tube stations, cool bars, restaurants and attractions you can see nearby! Don’t forget to save my London Christmas markets map at the bottom of this post too!
Save this spectacular London Christmas Markets + Map for a later date!
If you’re wondering where to find the best Christmas markets in London, this post is for you!
Christmas is a busy time of year and an expensive one! If you’re short of time, you can either skip to the section you’re looking for by clicking the contents link options above or save the Pinterest image below to pin to Pinterest to read another time. It’s also worthwhile to bookmark this page as I’ll often update posts throughout the festive season!
If you want to save some pennies, after reading this, you may also want to check out my other post: Free Things to Do in London at Christmas!
Westminster & London West End Christmas Markets – Best London Chrismas Markets to Party
Set in the heart of London, these London Christmas markets are all located within easy reach of each other if you’re looking to do a London Christmas Markets walking route to visit a few markets or combine with my London Christmas lights walking route (<< check out my other post for the best Christmas light displays in London!)
If you want to check out the best London landmarks, be in the heart of the action to enjoy a night out or want to tick off all the bucket list London attractions, then these are the Christmas markets for you!
1. Trafalgar Square Christmas Market
Trafalgar Square is a plaza located in London’s City of Westminster, which received notoriety after Lord Nelson’s naval victory in the Battle of Trafalgar (1805) and is an iconic central London location, leading on to The Mall to Buckingham Palace, Pall Mall to St James’ Palace and parliament buildings, including Downing Street. Needless to say, it’s a great location to visit to see some iconic London landmarks, whilst enjoying some Christmas festivities in London.
The Trafalgar Square Christmas Market features a large Norwegian spruce tree, which is donated by Norway each year in gratitude for the support provided by the British people in World War II and is overlooked by The National Gallery, which adds to its charm as you browse the market.
Whilst this market is one of the busiest Christmas markets in London, you can browse gifts for Christmas such as macrame plant holders, candles, colourful star lights, pinecones and orange wreaths, whilst stopping for a sweet treat at the chocolate fountain! There’s also a Smokeshed serving pulled pork, beef brisket, chicken and chips – which had a London busker singing nearby, which added the festive cheer.
Head to the bottom of The National Gallery steps to find the Christmas in Trafalgar Square Bar, where you have a choice of hot drinks such as tea, coffee, and hot chocolate priced between £2.50 – 4.50 – if like me, you like to drink Bailey’s hot chocolate at Christmas, these are priced around the £7 mark. You can also enjoy mulled wine and mulled cider at a similar price, with last orders called at 9.30 pm.
Trafalgar Square Christmas Market is free to visit – Open 10 Nov 2023 – 7 Jan 2024 and the closest tube station is Charing Cross on the Central Line.
If you’re looking for somewhere to stay in Trafalgar Square – check out my Club Quarters Hotel Review.
2. Leicester Square Christmas Market
Located a short distance from the Trafalgar Square Christmas Market, it would be rude not to visit the Leicester Square Christmas Market too!
In all honesty, Leicester Square is not normally an area I frequent when I visit London as it’s always heaving with tourists, but if you’re exploring the central London Christmas lights then it’s worth stopping by to browse the market.
Christmas in Leicester Square includes stalls selling various gifts including jewellery, colourful household items, cheese and Christmas confectionery! I loved the London Christmas decorations and after seeing them at both Leicester Square and Trafalgar Square, I wish I’d bartered for a deal as at £14 each they’re on the expensive side!
It’s best to visit Christmas in Leicester Square at night as that’s when the action happens, with a live show from La Clique to witness incredible circus and cabaret performances! Located in Spiegeltent, tickets for La Clique need to be booked in advance and admission is for ages 16+.
The Leicester Square Christmas Market is located in front of the Odeon Luxe Cinema, a place where you’ll find all the Hollywood stars walking the red carpet on film premiere nights! So, you never know, you might be dazzled by more than just the Leicester Square Christmas lights! The location also makes for the start of a great London night out!
Despite being situated in an enclosed area due to crowd control, The Leicester Square Christmas Market is free to visit and includes some German food market stalls and even a Santa’s grill!
Leicester Square Christmas Market is free to visit – Open 10 Nov 2023 – 7 Jan 2024 and the closest tube station is Leicester Square on the Northern Line.
3. Covent Garden Christmas Market
Most people think of Covent Garden when it comes to Christmas in London, as it’s undoubtedly one of the most festive places to visit in the city and always has a great atmosphere.
You can see the 60ft Christmas tree with its twinkling lights from the end of November, with the start of the Covent Garden Winter Warmer Festival.
From the 1st of December, the snow in Covent Garden will begin to fall on the hour between 12-9pm.
This year the Jubilee Market has been decorated with huge bells and has a sleigh at the entrance where you can form an orderly British queue to take a festive picture!
As always the market has plenty of stalls selling gifts, crafts and London souvenirs.
Enjoy the Covent Garden Festive Thursdays to make the most of discounts and late-night shopping, and head to The Gingerbread Hut retro Christmas bar for all the festive food and drink!
Covent Garden Christmas Market is free to visit and runs from November 2023 – 7th January 2024.
Enjoy a Christmas cocktail in Miracle at Henrietta, a hidden bar decked in full Christmas decorations and festive-themed cocktail glasses!
This London Christmas bar does get busy and it’s well worth booking in advance – check out my Miracle Christmas Bar Review for all the details!
You can also visit Miracle’s sister bar Stereo, which is a relatively new addition to Covent Garden and opens from 4 pm.
4. Coal Drops Yard Christmas Market Kings Cross
If the beautiful lights outside the station aren’t enough, you will find Coal Drops Yard located right next to King’s Cross station.
Coal Drops Yard transforms into a magical winter village at Christmas, with over 50 independent boutiques, workshops, music and festive treats, including unique stalls and shops where you can buy sustainable gifts such as ceramics, prints, homewares, clothing and accessories, including custom card decks.
Dine on festive edition bao buns, drink warm winter tipples with late-night DJ sets.
The area is beautifully decorated with twinkling lights and many of the boutiques and eateries stay open late for a special winter night market atmosphere. Unfortunately, I visited quite late on a very rainy day, therefore most of the vendors had moved indoors!
The Christmas market and festive events at Coal Drops Yard run from November 9th through December 23rd, 2023 and are located next to Kings Cross Station.
East London Christmas Markets
East London has long been tantalising our taste buds, providing affordable eateries, cool bars and street art that becomes a beacon for fun-loving visitors to London come the Summer months.
The birthplace of pie n mash, salted beef bagels and home to some of the best curry houses in London, there are plenty of Christmas markets in East London to feast your eyes on for a taste of festive cheer!
5. Christmas at Borough Market
There’s no better way to enjoy good food from local vendors than by visiting Borough Market, which is the epitome of the London street food scene. The historic halls brim with quality nibbles, such as artisanal cheese, freshly baked pies, fruity pastries, or cured meats to enjoy beside twinkling lights strung over the railway.
This year you’re in for a real treat at The Black Pig, as they have brought out a Christmas corker (or should I say, porker) of a sandwich. The Sleigher is filled with slow-roasted pork shoulder, confit leek mayo, braised spiced red cabbage, smoked turkey, cranberry and orange sauce, pecan, sage and onion crumble, served in a toasted ciabatta and accompanied by a delicious gravy dip! Get stuck in, it’s Christmas after all!
A foodie heaven, at Borough Market you can actually create your own food gift box with all the mezze of free taster samples you get – don’t miss the truffle cheese!
Borough Market is a favourite for me, no matter the time of year…and did I mention the food?!
Christmas at Borough Market – One of the best places to shop for quality Christmas food and drink, especially the Evening of Cheese event on 13 Dec. Don’t miss visiting from 28th Nov – 31 Dec 2023.
Pssst. If you’re looking for a secret London hidden bar nearby, check out Call Me Mr Lucky located in Breakfast Club’s kitchen and use the password “I’m here to get lucky!” Apparently, it’s Tom Daley’s favourite dive bar, and we all know if there’s one thing he’s good at it’s diving!
6. Winter by the River London Bridge
Winter by the River transforms the outdoor riverside area by Borough Market into a vibrant Christmas village with its cosy riverside cabins decked in fairy lights, where you can shop homespun ceramics and cute accessory stalls while warming up with a spiced winter cocktail.
There are plenty of festive activities for all the family, from carnival rides, wreath-making workshops, an open-air ice rink bar, elf school, karaoke cabins for festive singalongs, and comedy nights over the weekends.
There are also pop-up cocktail bars and street food vendors offering festive drinks and global cuisine, such as German bratwursts, roasted chestnuts, mulled wine, and warm whiskey cocktails.
The highlight of visiting Winter By The River (other than the spectacular views over Tower Bridge) is O’Donnell Moonshine, a handcrafted spirits and liqueur brand. We were greeted by a delightful chap named Roger, who gave us some samples to try (I loved the Sticky Toffee and Original flavours best) and talked us through the brand. Offering a fine sweet alternative to your usual Christmas tipple, the reasonably priced bottles make a great Christmas gift.
Enjoy Winter by the River’s panoramic views over the water between London Bridge & Tower Bridge with craft stalls, bars and festive events open from 14 Nov 2023 – 1 Jan 2024.
7. Old Spitalfields Christmas Market
The historic Old Spitalfields Market is a London institution, located in an iconic covered Victorian market hall in East London.
Unlike many London Christmas markets crammed with generic kitsch, Old Spitalfields stands out with its community spirit and a curated selection of emerging designers and artisans, which makes for thoughtful Christmas shopping and the most unique gifts.
Beyond shopping, creativity flourishes around the market too with wreath-making workshops, candle-pouring classes, and other Maker activities ideal for DIY enthusiasts.
Ps. Old Spitalfields Market also has a Humble Crumble with a variety of different toppings to choose from, which is a reason to visit this London market on its own!
Old Spitalfields Christmas Market is located right near Brick Lane (if you want to check out some of the best London street art) and is runs from 15th Nov – 24 Dec 2023.
South Bank Christmas Markets
The sophisticated South Bank area is where you will find Tate London, Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre and the British Film Institute (BFI), with some equally fabulous festive markets to enjoy too!
8. Hay Galleria
For Christmas, Hay Galleria’s converted wharf building is beautifully decorated with festive lights strung across open walkways with a large Christmas tree as the centrepiece.
Throughout December, over 40 merchants and pop-up shops open at Hay Galleria for a magical indoor Christmas market, where you can buy unique jewellery, art, candles, flowers, clothing, home décor, sweets, and more from independent creators.
With its twinkling lights, Hay Galleria is a special spot for seasonal shopping and celebrating Christmas festivities in London. The indoor setting makes it great to visit even in cold winter weather!
Hay Galleria is located on the south bank of the Thames, very close to London Bridge station. It’s in a beautiful converted wharf building with riverside shops and restaurants.
Visit this London Christmas market from November – 2nd January 2024.
9. Southbank Centre Winter Market
One of London’s best-loved Christmas markets, Southbank Centre Winter Market is known for its global cuisine, live music entertainment and riverside ice rink.
This popular London Christmas location has warm, cosy igloos to enjoy festive treats and drinks, with pop-up bars and free live music, carolling, and DJ sets further amplify seasonal cheer.
Beyond its riverside location sparkling with festive lights, Southbank Centre’s Winter Market brims with unique Christmas gifts, including handprinted cashmere scarves, artisan gin from Bermondsey distillers, carved wooden cooking tools, and more!
The best local makers also run creative workshops like flower wreath making, pottery painting sessions for kids, and circus skills classes by the Underbelly performance tent.
Dine on Southbank’s festive market favourites, including sizzling German bratwursts, Belgian waffles dusted in cinnamon sugar, and Southbank Kitchen’s Christmas-themed afternoon teas. I mean, who doesn’t love an afternoon tea?! It’s a must if visiting London!
Southbank Centre Winter Market is free to visit and runs from 28 Oct 2023 – 3 Jan 2024.
Best Christmas Markets in London Map
I hope you’ve enjoyed reading about the best Christmas markets around London, with plenty of options whether you are looking to source unique gifts, enjoy London cheap eats or simply embrace the Christmas festivities in the city.
As well as the London Christmas market dates, I’ve also included a handy map above you can use to find all the London Christmas markets mentioned, as well as all my recommendations for festive things to do in London!
Let me know in the comments if you visit the London Christmas markets and use the sharing icons to save this post for a later date!
Merry Christmas!
Jaz