London comes alive during the holiday season, when its busiest shopping streets and riverside walkways are lit up with some of the most dazzling festive displays in the country. The capital is also home to the finest Christmas markets, offering everything from quaint Alpine chalets selling homemade crafts to seasonal street food stalls serving up truly decadent dishes and winter warming cocktails. Here’s our edit of the best Christmas markets in London for 2022.
18 November 2022 – 2 January 2023
This is one of the most popular Christmas markets in the whole of the UK, and with good reason. People flock from all over the country to come and browse the hundreds of Bavarian-style wooden chalets at Winter Wonderland’s Angel’s Market, which sell the usual Christmas decorations and handmade crafts alongside jewellery and clothing from independent brands. Afterwards, take a turn on the ice at Hyde Park’s skating rink, have a go on one of the many fairground rides or book in for a tour of the magical ice kingdom, which features sculptures crafted from 500 tonnes of ice and snow.
Hyde Park, Kensington, London W2 4RU
hydeparkwinterwonderland.com
Until 9 January 2023
The foodie wonderland that is Borough Market gets a festive transformation at this time of year, with special opening times throughout the Christmas season. Extending their opening hours into the evening, the historic venue is decked with wreaths and hung with sparkly tinsel and fairy lights as their stalls get into the Christmas spirit, stocking up on festive additions like mulled wine and traditional Christmas cakes. Alongside their usual offerings they’ll also be hosting a series of Christmas-themed tastings and demonstrations in their festive kitchen, including their Evening of Cheese on Thursday 15 December, where you’ll get the chance to put together the ultimate festive cheeseboard.
8 Southwark Street, Southwark, London SE1 1TL
boroughmarket.org.uk
Until 8 January 2023
The Southbank has become synonymous with festive fun over recent years, thanks to the Christmas market that runs along it every winter, casting a fairy-lit glow across the Thames. Wooden huts and Alpine-style chalets covered in twinkling lights line the riverside promenade, selling everything from stocking fillers and gifts to delicate baubles and homemade crafts from independent sellers. As well as getting your Christmas shopping sorted there’s a big emphasis on food and drink here, with the ultimate festive dining spot found in the cosy igloos at Jimmy’s, where you can feast on traditional cheese fondues and toast your own marshmallows.
Southbank Market, The Queen’s Walk, Southbank, London SE1 8XX
24 – 27 November 2022
There are few places in the capital more enchanting than the Chelsea Physic Garden, which was founded in 1673 and remains one of London’s best-kept secrets. This is doubly true during the festive season, when the bucolic gem plays host to the most refined of Christmas fairs. Head here to explore over 100 stalls manned by some of the finest independent makers in the land, where you can pick up everything from handmade ceramics and jewellery to unusual plants. Pay a visit to the charming café while you’re there, which will be serving up suitably festive snacks and nibbles.
66 Royal Hospital Road, Chelsea, London SW3 4HS
chelseaphysicgarden.co.uk
Until 15 January 2023
Bigger is better at Covent Garden this year, where their world-famous Christmas tree reaches to a staggering 60ft and is festooned with over 30,000 lights. The market itself has been transformed into a dazzling Christmas village, filled with craft stalls selling festive trinkets as well as designer offerings from the likes of Dior, Mulberry and Dolce & Gabbana, who have taken over the Piazza with an immersive Christmas pop-up. As if that wasn’t magical enough, there’s also a traditional Christmas sleigh hand painted by British artist James Gemmill, and you can guarantee it’ll be a white Christmas thanks to the daily snow flurries held every hour in front of the Christmas tree.
Cranbourn Street, Covent Garden, London WC2H 7AR
coventgarden.london
24 – 27 November 2022
The dynamic twins behind the hugely popular A South London Makers Market, Daisy and Liv Tinker, are bringing their infectious brand of energy and curated roster of small makers to Selfridges this Christmas, with a special festive pop-up market in their Accessories Hall. Featuring 14 of London’s most innovative small businesses, this is their second pop-up in the iconic department store, and this year the focus is on all things sustainable, so you can expect carefully sourced vintage pieces, fine antique jewellery, artworks made from reclaimed materials and eco-friendly refillable handmade candles.
400 Oxford Street, Mayfair, London W1A 1AB
eventbrite.co.uk
3 – 4 December 2022
This charming Christmas fair, held in the beautifully landscaped gardens of the Tudor palace, is packed with fun events for the whole family. Start by taking a tour of the market, which features over 60 stalls run by local small businesses –nyou can pick up everything from sustainable coconut wax candles to homemade chutneys – before exploring the kids’ activities on offer, which include face painting, storytelling sessions and traditional fairground rides. To really get you in the festive mood, there are also carol singalongs from a local choir and elegant Christmas wreaths for sale, hand-crafted by the Palace’s gardeners and volunteers.
Bishop’s Avenue, Fulham, London SW6 6EA
fulhampalace.org
