11 Of The Best and Most Festive Christmas Markets in London in 2023

It might still be November, but before you know it Christmas will be here! London at Christmas time means it’s also the season for the city’s markets and fairs to transform into charming gatherings that celebrate the festive season! These top Christmas markets in London are fantastic places for Christmas shopping, or just to help you get into the festive spirit. So take a look at some of the best London Christmas Market’s we’ve managed to visit every year!

My Personal Best Christmas Markets in London

Southbank Centre Winter Market

First up on our list for a magical christmas is the Southbank Centre Winter Market. Open on weekends, the market is an outdoor global street food market with an emphasis on artisanal and sustainable produce. With twinkling lights, traditional alpine-style chalets, and an abundance of seasonal goodies, the festive atmosphere was truly amazing. The festive atmosphere was enhanced by live music and performances, which made for a delightful stroll along the Thames.

With an emphasis on artisanal and sustainable produce, the market offered a wide variety of international street food options. I sampled some of the gourmet cheese toasties, fish wraps, and truffle burgers, and they were all excellent. There were also lots of sweet treats available at the market, such as fruit covered in chocolate, mince pies, and Dutch pancakes.

Trafalgar Square Christmas market

One of the top things to do in London this year would definitely be to visit t he Trafalgar Square Christmas tree. It’s a huge Christmas tree right in the middle of the festive market, with a gorgeous backdrop of The National Gallery and Big Ben. Each of the pop-up markets in the square are also fully decked-out with Christmas lights which make the whole place so sparkling and dazzling, and you have a bunch of carolers in the background ready to hype you up and help get into the festive spirit!

Visitors can peruse more than 20 stalls at the market, where they can select from exquisite handcrafted items like jewelry, candle holders, and Christmas ornaments, among many other things. It’s a terrific location to get original and considerate presents for loved ones.

Winter by the River at London Bridge City

With bright market stalls, themed karaoke rooms, and twinkling lights, Winter by the River is one of London’s most charming Christmas markets. The market provides breathtaking views of Tower Bridge and the City skyline and is close to Jubilee Gardens. These karaoke rooms are just perfect to bring out your Christmas Spirit! Singing popular Christmas songs and having strangers pass-by and sing-along was definitely a memorable experience for us.

Aside from the traditional winter treats and drinks you could get from other London Christmas markets, what makes this such a must-visit is because they have pop-up bars to take advantage of. The perfect Christmas Shopping in London should include a few sips of mulled wine or a few pints!

Covent Garden Christmas markets

Just like the last one, Christmas in Covent Garden also include a few bars to go along with your Christmas gift shopping! I mean, Brits always love to have a reason to include a few pints into any occasion but I never thought that shopping in the best London Christmas markets, is made better with a drink in hand.

This year, Blondies Kitchen, Lilly’s Cafe, French, and Chez Antoinette, to mention a few, will be among the pop-up venues offering novelty Christmas sandwiches that Covent Garden has partnered with local restaurants to host. Over fifteen Christmas sandwich varieties, from the classic (think turkey and cranberry) to the opulent (think truffles!), will be sampled by attendees from nine distinct locations. Additionally, there are lots of vegetarian options available!

📍The Management Office 41 The Market Building, London WC2E 8RF, United Kingdom

Leicester Square Christmas Market

One of my personal top markets to visit is this one! It functions more as a theme park to be honest, since there are a bunch of rides and attractions to go on! Christmas in Leicester square include, a Spiegeltent is a spacious tent featuring a stage and a circular dance floor, a carousel for kids and a giant Ferris wheel, like the London eye!

Definitely a must-visit for the family, as aside from the shopping and good food, you could also take part in a bunch of fairground games like, traditional fairground games, such as hook-a-duck and coconut shy!

Hampton Court Palace Festive Fayre

This one’s a bit of a unique Christmas event as the magnificent Hampton Court Palace is turned into a winter wonderland Christmas market! Opening hours are only between 10:00 – 18:00 and midway you’ll see a surge of people so I suggest you either get here early or late. I’d say out of all the fairs in London this one is the perfect fit for all the food lovers across London, I think around 70% of the stalls I saw were all about food.

Aside from all the food, it’s also a DIY Christmas art market as you get a bunch of stalls selling handmade crafts, jewelry, Christmas decorations, ornaments, and so much more! The festival confirmed their dates for 2023 and is expected to run on December 1-3 and 8-10, still a lot of time to plan out what to buy and what to eat!

Christmas Duck Pond Market

Same thing with the Fayre, this market is filled with stalls to buy a few handmade crafts. However, what makes this market stand out for me is their commitment to sustainability and their support towards independent business which I absolutely love. It’s also cool that this place is dog-friendly, so expect a bunch of furry friends accompanying their owners shopping.

There’s not a lot of info on what time they’re open or if they’re open 7 days a week so I advise everyone to check out their website for specific dates and times. While you’re there you could also check out what stalls are selling what so you could beeline to whatever you need!

Hyde Park Winter Wonderland

The biggest I think among London’s markets. More than 100 rides and attractions from all over Europe are available at the event, including a Giant Wheel, a number of live performances like ice shows, circus acts, and live music, as well as a large number of bars and eateries.

Last year, I spent a couple of days walking around here and I don’t think I was able to experience everything that the festival was offering! If you get hungry then there are a bunch of restaurants to choose from, and if you feel like having a drink then the bars here are just top tier. Truly, one of the best Christmas market I’ve ever been to, just make sure you’ve got enough money to try out as many things as you can!

King’s Cross Christmas Market

The King’s Cross market is more of a collection of London’s best Christmas events so I highly suggest taking a look at their website and see what event you’d like to see or experience. From curling, heath-making workshops, Mexican Christmas markets, to cosy terraces for drinking, there is literally anything for everyone here at this magical time. My personal favourite is the Crafty Fox Market as it’s an awesome lineup of 100 designers and artists, for art prints clothing, accessories and more!

They may not have a bunch of rides and attractions compared to the other markets on this list, but what it makes up for is the amount of things to do and interesting concepts they have and of course, the amazing food they have from local restaurants and cooks.

Spitalfields Christmas Markets

The Spitalfields market brings together a lot of the best vendors and sellers found in London SE1, from daily traders, to beauty and wellness brands. Everything is at a convenient location for all your shopping needs! Last time we went, my partner and I basically had our hands full of vintage vinyl and clothes, but it only took us an hour – I mean, it could be that we were just financially irresponsible but you honestly can’t blame us when almost every step you take something will catch your attention.

They are a must-visit location because of the numerous markets, lively atmosphere, artisan food and crafts, and free admission. Additionally, the new play The Lost Library of Spitalfields Market, which makes its premiere from December 1–24, is entertaining visitors.

Borough Market Christmas

Christmas at Borough Market is best described as a delicious pitstop when you’re experiencing Christmas in London. The Borough market itself is mainly known for their food so you’d expect the holiday season being celebrated here is best known for their seasonal ingredients and a bunch of events that are more or less food-related. Example of this is that the market holds a number of occasions, including the yearly Cheese-themed Evening.

Cheesemongers flock to this shopping extravaganza, which includes tastings and demonstrations. Cheeses from France, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, the Netherlands, and regional cheeses from Great Britain are available for tasting by the general public.

If you’re not much of a cheese fan, then there are a bunch of seasonal ingredients and baked pastries that you could indulge in! Also it’s super cool that there are a bunch of guides and recipe books that basically encourage everyone to cook their own Christmas dinner!

Looking for More Guides?

South London has a lot more to offer than the market and we’ve got you covered! We have guides on the best cafes, restaurants, bars, clubs, and more on not just near the Borough Market, but in a lot of spots across London, so head on over!

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FAQ

Q: When do Christmas markets start in London?

A: Most Christmas markets in London start popping up in mid to late November.

Q: What can I expect to find at London Christmas markets?

A: You can expect to find a variety of festive gifts, food, and drinks at London Christmas markets. These can include handmade crafts, seasonal treats, mulled wine, hot chocolate, and more.