Top 14 London Christmas Markets in (2024 guide)
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From Christmas crafts to fun festive fare, there are lots of cracking London Christmas Markets to choose from in 2024 (and pretty much all of them have mulled wine – bonus!).
From riverside pop-up markets on the Thames to fine foodie festivals, Christmas has come early with these Christmas Markets in London.
If you are shopping in London for Christmas gifts or just want to indulge in some mince pies (or three), here is our guide to the best Christmas Markets in London in 2024:
This article was originally published in November 2021.
You might like:
- Best Christmas events in London 2024 >
- Best Christmas Shopping in London 2024 >
- Best Christmas Ice-Skating Rinks in London 2024 >
- Best Christmas Lights in London 2024 >
Table of Contents
Christmas Markets in London 2024 /2025
1. Leicester Square Christmas Market
Leicester Square Christmas Market runs from 6th November 2024 – 5th January 2025
Love it or loathe it, Leicester Square is the bustling centre of London’s arts and theatre scene, smack bang amongst all the cinemas, casinos and cultural spaces in the West End, attracting tourists in their thousands every day.

In the run up to Christmas in London, Leicester Square becomes a lively European style winter wonderland with alpine lodges, bars and pop-up theatres and events setting up home around the fountain.
This year’s 2024 Christmas Market in London’s Leicester Square will see the return of the multi-award-winning show, La Clique in a German style ‘spiegeltent’ – show tickets start from £26.50 whilst entry to the market is free. Prost!

Whilst the Leicester Square Christmas Market is pretty small in comparison to Hyde Park’s Winter Wonderland, this is one of the best free things to do in London. There is much to enjoy here – bring plenty of cash or credit cards though as the mulled wine and gifts here can be quite expensive!
Best visited at twilight, the Leicester Square Christmas Market runs from 6th November 2024 to 5th January 2025. You can also visit the nearby Leicester Square Scenes from the Square film statues with a Harry Potter statue.
Check out our things to do in Leicester Square post >

You might like: The best Christmas ice skating rinks in London 2024 >
2. Christmas Market at Winter Wonderland
Christmas Market at Winter Wonderland runs from 21st November 2024 – 5th January 2025
Likely London’s biggest (and possibly best) Christmas Market in terms of sheer number of stalls, the wonderful Winter Wonderland returns to Hyde Park from 21st November 2024 until 5th January 2025 (a little longer than last year – nice)!
The Winter Wonderland Christmas Market in 2024 has an array of awesome Alpine chalet stalls (who said garden sheds?), boasting over 100 stalls selling everything from personalised decorations to cotton candy canes, running from 10am to 10pm daily.

Other fun Christmas events and things to do at Winter Wonderland London this year include ice-sculpting workshops, Ice Mountain, a real ice slide and the UK’s largest open-air ice rink.
New shows at Winter Wonderland for 2024 include Justin Fletcher’s Singalong Christmas, Zippo’s Christmas Circus ‘Candyland’ and a stunt show from Cirque Berserk, Thunderbolt. You’ll find us in the Christmas Tree Arms pub or the Fondue Chalet!
If you want to access the Christmas Market at Winter Wonderland during the evening or at busy periods, you will need to pre-purchase Winter Wonderland tickets for admission starting from £5 – off-peak admission however (weekdays before 2pm) is free.
Book your tickets to Winter Wonderland >

Try this – Christmas Lights Bike Tour of London >
3. Winter By The River at London Bridge (formerly ‘Christmas By The River’)
Winter / Christmas By The River market starts from 12th November 2024
Christmas By The River is located on the banks of the River Thames with London’s stunning skyline lit up at night as a backdrop, including views of Tower Bridge, HMS Belfast and the Tower of London.

Winter by the River 2024 will likely see numerous craft, gift and food / drink stalls pop-up around the Scoop, Potter’s Field as well as Hays Galleria. Christmas By the River runs 7 days a week (except Christmas Day) from 12th November 2024 to 5th January 2025, between 11am and 10pm daily (except Christmas Day).
New for 2024, there will be a pop-up curling experience called ‘Swift Stone’ – it is located in a glass dome so you can curl whatever the weather!

Make a day of it with our top things to do in London Bridge guide before concluding your visit with Winter / Christmas By The River – our Christmas gift to you!


4. Greenwich Christmas Market
Greenwich Christmas Market launches 20th November 2024
We’ve always been a big fan of Greenwich Market, so much so that we include it in our best London markets list. At any time of year, Greenwich Market is a good place to eat, drink and be merry but particularly so during Christmas in London.

As well as the usual artisan wares and crafts, there will be festive decorations up, hot drinks (alcoholic and soft) and the main Christmas lights in Greenwich will be switched on between 4pm and 6pm on 20th November 2024, accompanied by a Greenwich lantern parade through the streets!
On previous Christmas visits, we’ve also seen / heard the local St John’s brass-band playing carol songs and raising money for charity. Sadly, the Christmas ice-skating at Greenwich Queen’s House is cancelled for 2024.

We would recommend going a little earlier in the day if possible so you can explore Greenwich by daytime then enjoy the Christmas lights at night along with all the other festive fun.
Afterwards, treat yourself to a pint or mulled wine in one of these top pubs in Greenwich >
Check out our things to do in Greenwich guide >

5. Southbank Winter Market
Southbank Winter Market runs from 4th November 2024 – 26th December 2024
The River Thames walk around South Bank is one of London’s best free attractions and none more so at Christmas when the area is bedecked with Christmas lights and traditional Alpine wooden huts selling festive favourites like mulled wine, Christmas decorations and damn fine hot food.
The annual Southbank Winter Festival featuring the Christmas Market runs until 26th December 2024 – so no excuses for giving poor gifts on Xmas day.

A Christmas caveat – the Southbank Winter Market can be a little hit and miss, some years only comprising a small number of stalls nestled below Hungerford bridge, selling quite similar fare, dimly lit by some meagre fairy lights – it was meh in 2023 so hopefully it is better in 2024!
The normal weekly Southbank Food Market also continues at the rear of the Southbank Centre (near to Waterloo Station) every weekend; we’d rate it as one of the best weekend markets in London.
If you want to continue the Christmas theme, there are several restaurants and riverside pubs along the River Thames in this area with igloo / plastic dome dining, including Jimmy’s Alpine lodge, Gauchos near London Bridge and Copa near the Tower of London.

YOU MIGHT LIKE: Christmas Party Tour – Silent Disco Walking Tours >
6. Kingston Christmas Market
Kingston Christmas Market runs from 14th November 2024 to 5th January 2025.
Kingston Christmas Market 2024 begins in mid November and runs until the first week of January. The annual Kingston Christmas market is always a festive delight, with alpine themed festive stalls festooned around the cobbled square, with a huge Christmas tree as a focal point.

Getting into the European Christmas spirit, a Bavarian curling slide is also available for some festive fun, costing £10 per lane (for a 45 minute session) and located in the grounds of Kingston’s All Saints Church.
Also, if you have a sense of deja vu when visiting the Kingston Christmas Market but you aren’t sure why, it may be because the festive favourite Mr Bean’s Christmas was filmed in the square here (the carol singing scene).
For information on the 2024 Kingston Christmas Markets near London, visit their website >


You might like: The best Christmas lights in London 2024 >
7. Canopy Christmas Market at King’s Cross
Canopy Christmas Market at King’s Cross runs Friday to Sunday in December 2024
As suggested by the name, this King’s Cross market is located under a large roof so is all weather, should you be looking to get your festive fix on a rainy day.
Unlike some of the other 2024 London Christmas Markets on this list, this isn’t just food focused, with half the space given over to various arts and crafts stalls (the combined aromas from the candle, food and mulled wine stalls will likely be heavenly).

Each weekend at Canopy Christmas Market sees a different theme and roster of stalls – details still TBC as of early November 2024.
Combine Canopy Market at Christmas with a trip to nearby Coal Drops Yard, King’s Cross newest retail development chock full of shops, bars and restaurants.
Check out our things to do in KIng’s Cross guide >

YOU MIGHT LIKE: London Christmas Lights Tour by Vintage Bus Open Top >
8. Borough Market at Christmas
Borough Christmas Market is open 7 days a week in December 2024
Make this a culinary Christmas with a visit to Borough Market. Although Borough Market can sometimes be a bit of a tourist trap with long queues for food, it is still one of the best, foodie favourites in London due to its setting and sheer range of amazing and beautifully looking food stalls.
You definitely want to visit Borough Market this Christmas season on an empty stomach so you can snack to your heart’s content (calories don’t count at Christmas – fact!).

From 1 December 2024, Borough Market will be extending its opening hours for the festive season and is open 7 days a week until Christmas Eve 2024 – it reopens on 28th December 2024.
Enjoy Christmas Cheese tastings and create a festive cheese board with festive drinks also available (we hope it is a wine and cheese combo!).

If you are planning on putting together your own Christmas hamper this year, this is likely the best place to start as there are bakeries, pate stalls, cheese stalls, champagne stalls – the list goes on.
Plus there are some fine Borough Market pubs to enjoy after all that Christmas shopping Indulge this Christmas 2024 at Borough Market – the diet can start in January 2025 (probably).
Read our dedicated guide to Borough Market here (it’ll make you hungry, we promise!) >

9. Covent Garden Christmas Market
Covent Garden Christmas Market runs from 12th November 2024 to January 2024
Hands up if you’ve seen the Wham-tastic movie ‘Last Christmas’ with Emilia Clarke? Yep, we might not admit it either as it was pretty bad but hey, it gives you a glimpse of what to expect from Christmas in Covent Garden and Soho (to note the Christmas shop in the movie is actually fictional alas and is actually a restaurant in real life).

Covent Garden has a year round market but at Christmas, they put out all the stops and adorn the interior market with huge mistletoe decorations and giant disco balls – could you imagine what a work Christmas party here would be like? Scandal central…).
Apart from possibly the one in Trafalgar Square, Covent Garden’s Christmas Tree is also the most iconic, given its picture perfect setting on the piazza (ideal for Instagram if that is your bag).
Returning in 2024 will be the small Covent Garden Christmas Village Market (in front of Sushi Samba) with festive themed pop-up food stalls and the magical Wonder Wood, a perfect seasonal selfie spot.

One of the best free things to do in London at Christmas is to visit the historic Covent Garden Christmas sleigh, that dates back to the 1880s – you can pose for photos in the sleigh (although Santa will alas not be around).
Festive Thursdays return to Covent Garden throughout November and December for late night shopping, Christmas discounts, festive happy hours and live performances.
Find out about all the London Christmas events in Covent Garden here >
YOU MIGHT LIKE: Best things to do in Covent Garden guide >
Looking for a perfect London Christmas present in 2024?
Try the Go City Pass London – choose from over 70 London attractions for one fixed price >
10. Trafalgar Square Christmas Market
Trafalgar Square Christmas Market 2024 dates still TBA but like 5th December onwards
Trafalgar Square this year not only has the huge Christmas tree (an annual gift from the good people of Norway to thank for our help in the war) but for the first time, there is also a Christmas Market in Trafalgar Square in 2024 (TBC).
What we do so far is the Trafalgar Square Christmas tree will be switched on December 5, 2024 – the Trafalgar Square Christmas tree is always switched on during the first Thursday of December by Norwegian dignitaries and The Mayor of Westminster.

Immediately in front of the National Gallery on the upper tier of Trafalgar Square, there is a line of around 25 to 30 Christmas market stalls and festive huts, with an outdoor drinking and seating area centrepiece, looking out over the main square.
From the organisers of Underbelly, this is a welcome addition to Trafalgar Square and a nicely Noel place to get some Christmas crafty gifts or indulges in festive fare and drink mulled wine – just try not to go for a swim in the fountains afterwards.

You might like – The best Christmas shopping in London 2023 guide >
11. Maltby Street Christmas Market
Maltby Street Christmas Market Festive Fridays start from 29th November 2024
“Have yourself a Maltby little Christmas” as the famous song (kinda) goes.
Maltby Street Market has a wonderful year round street food market but usually at Christmas, Maltby Street plays host to an extra market most Fridays in December in the run up to Christmas with street food served from 6pm to 9.30pm – expect fairy lights, flags and seasonal tipples.

Maltby Street Christmas Market 2024 promises live music and carols, incredible street food, decoration and gift ideas galore plus the usual trees and wreaths.
The Maltby Street Christmas market takes place along the Ropewalk alleyway that will be festooned with Christmas lights.
We also rate Maltby Street Market one of our best street markets and food courts in London >
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12. Spitalfields Christmas Market
Spitalfields Christmas Market runs from 13th November 2024
East London’s epic Christmas Market located close to Liverpool Street Station, Spitalfields fun and festive Christmas market returns this November.
Promising late night shopping, pop up events and Christmas Theatre shows, this will one be of the best things to do in East London this winter time.
Billed as “East London’s jolliest Christmas market”, take a stroll by Spitalfields for street-food, Santa, London Christmas shopping and more!

Try this – A Christmas Carol & Charles Dickens Small Group Walking Tour >
13. Pexmas: A Christmas Market in Peckham
Pexmas Christmas Market is 14th and 15th December 2024
Pexmas 2024 lands in Peckham mid December at Copeland Park for one weekend only. There is loads to do in Peckham all year round; read our things to do in Peckham guide here.
Promising over 150 stalls and independent traders over both days with a stellar street-food line – Pexmas promises independent boutique stalls with small batch gifting products including prints ceramics, textiles and jewellery.
Pexmas is billed as “…Peckham’s home grown free entry festive market; an annual celebration of local business, creativity and community spirit” – plus the legendary Pexmas mulled wine will be on hand to get you into the Christmas spirit.
Our final Christmas Market in London 2024/25…
14. Leadenhall Market Weekend Christmas Markets
Leadenhall Market Weekend Christmas Markets run from 16th November 2024
Every year, the historic Leadenhall Market in London’s Square Mile lights up with a huge Christmas tree as the centre piece and twinkling fairy lights.
There will be weekend Christmas markets in Leadenhall between 12pm and 5pm on 16th November, 24th November and 7th December 2024.

Leadenhall Market is one of London’s most historic markets (originally built in the 14th century) and an equally beautiful place to visit at Christmas (or any time of the year really) – the interiors are stunning and intricately painted.
Walk along the covered, cobbled streets and lanes in Leadenhall Market, browse the stalls or simply grab a winter warming mulled wine at one of the old bars here and marvel at the architecture, imagining all that has happened here over the last several hundred years.
You might like our guide to the Horizon 22 free viewing deck near to Leadenhall >

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- Best Christmas shopping in London 2024
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