Christmas at Covent Garden 2011

Covent Garden's Xmas displays are bookended by a British-grown Christmas tree on the West Piazza and a 15-foot-high topiary reindeer on the East Piazza. Decorating the market building are giant red baubles and mirror balls, with festoon lighting illuminating the market arches. Martha Fiennes' SLOimage has created an animated nativity scene, which slowly changes during the course of each day. On Saturdays, London choirs sing traditional carols. Saturdays (every Sat noon-5pm) also see Santa's trusty sledge-pullers touch down for reindeer-petting sessions. Covent Garden Christmas Food Market (Nov 24-Dec 24 Thur-Sat) sees the usual top producers in attendance, selling seasonal goodies. Handmade crafts and collectibles for Christmas are on sale daily in the Apple Market building. To find Christmas lights all around London see www.timeout.com/xmaslights