There’s nowhere like London to explore the magic of Christmas
Is there any city in the world that shimmers with Christmas magic more than London? The image of falling snow on Dickensian cobbled streets where Ebenezer Scrooge, Bob Cratchit and Tiny Tim tread their boots still looms large over London. Or Prince Albert, haggling away with butlers as he hoisted the nation’s first Christmas tree up the steps of Buckingham Palace, defining the modern festivity as we know it.
It’s easy to understand why the festive season draws in millions of tourists from around the world before the last snowflakes of December are out. London does Christmas like nowhere else, with its cluster of warm, peculiarly British Christmas markets, set against a 21st-century blitz of LED lights, spectacular live entertainment, artisan stalls, mulled wine, real ales and pop-in-the-mouth flavours of street food from around the world.
We’ve rounded up all of London’s biggest and best Christmas fayres, telling you what you can expect along with the dates they start and finish so you can plan your perfect visit.
Full list of 2025 London Christmas markets
- Southbank Centre Winter Market: From November 3 to January 4
- Hyde Park Winter Wonderland: From November 14 to January 1
- Christmas in Covent Garden: From November 12 to January 5
- Leicester Square Christmas Market: From November 1 to January 4
- Trafalgar Square Christmas Market: From November 9 to January 2
- Winter by the River at London Bridge: From November 13 to January 4
- Old Spitalfields Christmas Market: From November 30 to December 24
- Greenwich Christmas Market: From November 19 to January 2
- Kingston Christmas Market: From November 13 to December 28
- Kings Cross (Coal Drops Yard) Christmas programme: From November 5 to January 2
- Christmas at Borough Market: From December 1 to December 24
- Hampton Court Palace Festive Fayre: From December 5 to 7; and December 12 to 14
Southbank Centre Winter Market – November 3 to January 4
A stroll through the Southbank along the Thames is one of London’s most magical walks, and it becomes a haven of festive indulgence when pop-up bars, street food stalls and independent craft traders descend just in time for Christmas.
Families can meet Santa or gorge on plates of truffle burgers, duck wraps, spicy chicken boxes with fresh-cut Cajun fries, or taste the sweetness of Dutch pancakes, churros and chocolate-smothered fruit. Find out more HERE.
Hyde Park Winter Wonderland – November 14 to January 1
A ticketed event, Hyde Park Winter Wonderland is opening a week earlier than last year, perhaps hoping to extend its earning potential after several storms led to days of cancellations last winter. Tens of thousands of people pile into London from across the UK to visit this attraction, easily the biggest Christmas event in the capital, with the UK’s largest open-air ice rink, and Bar Ice – where everything is made from ice and an après-ski theme transports you straight to the mountains.
Zippo’s Christmas Circus is packed with acrobatic routines within the heated Circus Megadome, while fairground rides include the Wild Maus XXL rollercoaster and the Blizzard knuckle-rider, plus a traditional Christmas market with wooden chalets. Find out more HERE.
Christmas in Covent Garden – November 12 to January 5
Covent Garden will switch on its world-famous Christmas lights on Wednesday, November 12, with over 300,000 sparkling lights throughout the neighbourhood, the return of the much-loved gold bells in the Market Building, and a towering 55ft British-grown Christmas tree. A seven-week immersive experience, The Theatre of Christmas, invites visitors to step behind the curtain of Christmas and into an immersive world of festive magic.
Santa’s sleigh is parked on the piazza throughout November and December for your Christmas card photo moment. Find out more HERE.
Leicester Square Christmas Market – November 1 to January 4
Leicester Square has perhaps had the biggest revamp of our Christmas markets for 2025, with a brand new ice rink in tow, as well as the soon-to-open Market Place Food Hall, turning London’s Hollywood satellite into a quaint outpost of the North Pole, filled with crafted homeware, exclusive fashions and an array of stalls serving mulled wine and Christmas treats. The market is free, but you will need tickets to for the ice rink. Find out more HERE.
Trafalgar Square Christmas Market – November 9 to January 2
One of London’s best-loved festive celebrations, Trafalgar Square Christmas Market runs from November 9 to January 2, and boasts rows of stalls laced with glowing lights and festive trinkets, plus food kiosks offering traditional German bratwurst and other suitably meaty dishes and sweets to warmly indulge this Christmas.
Trafalgar Square’s Christmas tree has been a prized gift from Norway since 1947 in thanks for Britain’s support during the Second World War. For many, it marks the start of London’s holiday season like no other attraction. The Christmas tree lighting ceremony this year will take place on Thursday, December 4, starting at around 5pm and it will conclude by 6.30pm. See here for more information.
Winter by the River at London Bridge – November 13 to January 4
Winter by the River is one of the most atmospheric Christmas markets, as stalls full of artisan goods line the frosted paths along the banks of the iconic River Thames from November 13 to January 4, promising a festive escape for all ages.
This year, Winter by the River unveils a brand-new look for The Glasshouse – now a spectacular two-storey festive venue with panoramic views across the Thames. Guests can relax under an enclosed, heated rooftop canopy or step onto the open balcony to soak in the riverside views. For more information, see HERE.
Old Spitalfields Christmas Market – November 30 to December 24
One of London’s great halls of commerce, Old Spitalfields Market boasts over 40 food stalls and nearly 60 shops, with events lined up throughout the year. The market will host its Christmas light switch on Wednesday, November 12, with the lights coming on at 6pm. From November 30, Old Spitalfields Christmas Market will officially launch.
This daily market (Friday–Wednesday) sees the market floor packed with designers and craftsmen selling original gifts and homewares, while each Thursday the Antiques Market gets a seasonal makeover, with retro decorations. On Wednesday, December 4, 11 and 18, the Market’s Christmas Shopping Lates offer an opportunity to shop at market stalls and retailers until 8pm. See HERE for details.
Greenwich Christmas Market – November 19 to January 2
Greenwich Market commences its Christmas trade on Wednesday, November 19, sticking to the market’s usual opening hours of 10am to 6pm. Festivities will kick off with the traditional lantern parade at 4pm, which sees children from local primary schools parade handmade lanterns around the grounds of the Old Royal Naval College, through the Cutty Sark Gardens and to the heritage-listed Georgian Market.
Once there, crowds of people will join in the countdown as Greenwich Market’s Christmas lights will be switched on at precisely 5pm, while traders will sell their unique arts, crafts, clothing and food until 6pm. Find out more HERE.
Kingston Christmas Market – November 13 to December 28
One of the more traditional Christmas markets in the capital is in Kingston town centre, which has the feel of a German square alight with Christmas trees, food stalls, flowing mulled wine and all kinds of artisan goods. Immerse yourself in festive cheer with classic Christmas carol singers, live music and Bavarian Curling lanes. Find out more HERE.
Kings Cross (Coal Drops Yard) Christmas Programme – November 5 to January 2
Coal Drops Yard in King’s Cross will run a packed Christmas programme throughout November and December, as fabulous stores attend to your shopping needs in the Christmas under the Canopy market. Festivities kick off with the 50-ft alpine Christmas tree installed in Coal Drop’s Yard on November 5, later to be joined by a 60-ft Norwegian spruce tree in Granary Square on November 15.
Club curling is back from November 11 to March 1, with a pop-up cocktail bar set in an alpine wonderland. Other highlights include the Mexican Christmas Market in Coal Drop’s Yard from Friday, November 28, to Sunday, November 30, as well as the Japanese ShĹŤtengai Christmas Market in Lower Stable Street from Thursday 18 December to Sunday 21. Find out more HERE.
Christmas at Borough Market – December 1 to December 24
One of London’s most famous shopping zones, Borough Market opens for seven days a week in December, with crowded shop stalls, beer and mulled wine to give you a warm and fuzzy feeling before December 25. The historical arches are decked out with lights, garlands and sparkling baubles, with buskers singing happy tunes. The Market will operate extended opening times, trading seven days a week from Monday, December 1, to Wednesday, December 24. Find out more HERE.
Hampton Court Palace Festive Fayre – December 5 to 7 and December 12 to 14
A ticketed event. Henry VIII’s famous palace will be transformed into a food lover’s paradise at this year’s Hampton Court Palace Festive Fayre. A dazzling Christmas market features over 100 independent artisan producers, while food stalls sell everything from Christmas pudding to sausages, and brownies to churros, mulled wine to mince pies. Find out more HERE.
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