The best Christmas markets in London for 2025

The rides, rink and performances might make Winter Wonderland, but that’s not all there is to Hyde Park’s big festive takeover. In the Scandinavian-themed market square, you’ll find a more peaceful escape, with quaint huts housing stalls selling gifts and trinkets to give your loved ones (or yourself). Live music from the bandstand will soundtrack your shopping, and after, you can take a rest at the fire pit to much on some meatballs and waffles and other market staples.

Opening dates: November 14-January 1

What you’ll find: Scandi-themed goodies for heightening your hygge

Every winter the Southbank Centre turns the banks of the Thames into a frosty wonderland, full of little wooden Alpine-style cabins selling gifts, warming drinks, and snacks. You’ll find huts serving up truffle burgers, duck wraps, mulled wine, Dutch pancakes, churros and many more tasty morsels to nibble on while you look through gifts, jewellery and decorations made by independent craft traders. Once you’re done browsing, snuggle up at pop-up king Jimmy Garcia’s riverside venue Fire And Fromage, where you can snaffle all you can eat raclette, sip on seriously decadent hot chocolates, and even toast your own marshmallows round a cosy fire pit. 

Opening dates: November 3-December 26

What you’ll find: Alpine treats to snack on while you browse

There’s a Bavarian flavour to Kingston Christmas Market, so much so you might be fooled into thinking you’ve stumbled through a portal into Germany. As you shop its many stalls, you can keep you energy up with bratwurst and mulled wine or take a pit stop at the Bavarian curling lanes. Live music and Christmas carol singers will also soundtrack the activities to really get you in the mood for Yuletide.

Opening dates: November 13 - December 28 (excluding Christmas Day)

What you’ll find: Bavarian treats and cute decorations

There's arguably nowhere in London more Christmassy than Covent Garden's Piazza in December. Every year, the shopping district aims to outdo itself for sheer festive pizzaz. Beneath the Market Building’s 40 gigantic glittering bells, 12 giant baubles and 8 spinning mirror balls, stalls will be selling handmade crafts and artisan gifts. There'll be pop-ups and events to enjoy as the season unfolds, including mulled wine stations and a Santa's sleigh photo op. 

Opening dates: November 12-January 5 

What you’ll find: One-of-a-kind jewellery, artwork, garbs and antiques. 

You’ll find all the usual joys of Spitalfields Market and then some over the Christmas period. The market’s festive programme includes Christmas Shopping Lates, where shoppers can browse until 8pm serendaded by a live gospel choir. There’ll also be wreath making classes, seasonal dishes and a pop-up bar serving steaming cups of mulled wine and spiced chai. Bishop’s Square will become a village of pop-up chalets serving food and drinks, with a Gingerbread House hosting a range of festive activations. 

Opening dates: November 12-December 24

What you’ll find: Endless handmade, vintage and independently sourced gifts. 

Homemade gifts, bold design and a whole lot of community spirit are in store for visitors to Lewisham Shopping Centre this winter, and the Wakuda African & Caribbean Christmas Market arrives for the festive season. Founded by locals Albert and Nathaniel, Wakuda champions African and Caribbean heritage artisans. Born out of frustration with the lack of authentic cultural products in mainstream shops, Wakuda has grown into a platform supporting over 500 small businesses. This festive pop-up is the perfect place to discover unique gifts, back independent creators, and soak up some serious Christmas spirit.

Opening dates: Every Saturday and Sunday, Saturday November 29 – Sunday December 23. 

What you’ll find: Vibrant art, fashion, handmade jewellery, skincare and haircare made by African and Caribbean makers.

Each year, the bright lights of Leicester Square get a little bit more dazzling with its massive festive pop-up, which boasts a Christmas market, tons of scrumptious food and drink, and live entertainment. The square is also switching things up a bit this year, replacing its circus and cabaret venue The Spiegeltent with an ice skating rink. Wrapping around the Shakespeare statue in the centre of the square, London’s newest pop-up skating venue for nine weeks over the festive season, encircled by the market stalls. 

Opening dates: Until January 4 

What you’ll find: Classic Christkindlesmarkt snacks, beverages and crafts.

Greenwich Market will kick off its festive season with a glowing lantern parade and light switch-on on November 19. It’ll be decked out with twinking decor and the scents of Christmas dishes and drinks, alongside the usual line up of stalls for all your stocking-filler or secret Santa needs. 

Opening dates: From November 19

What you’ll find: Expect eco-friendly candles, handmade jewellery and artisan accessories, homeware and interior. 

The regenerated King’s Cross area will once again be transformed into a Christmas paradise from November, with ten different markets popping up over the course of five weeks. The Lower Stable Street Market offers up everything from food and drinks to homeware, art, books and clothing while Christmas under the Canopy will be showcasing some of London’s best artisan traders and food stalls. The Illustrators Fair will highlight local independent artists, the Crafty Fox Markets will showcase more than 100 designers and makers and the three-day Christmas Charity Supermarket will offer a curated of second-hand fashion and accessories. 

Elsewhere, the Mexican Christmas Market will provide a spicy twist on the festive season, with piñatas and a roaming cumbia band playing while you browse artisanal crafts and ornaments from the country and the Shōtengai Christmas Market will bring a taste of Japan to London. Talk about shopping til you drop!

Opening dates: November 22-December 22

What you’ll find: From vintage garbs to artsy zines to one-of-a-kind Japanese homeware, there’s something for absolutely everyone. 

You might think that Camden is too alternative to throw a classic Christmas knees up, but it's 2025 and times have changed at its sprawling, eclectic markets. The shiny new market at Hawley Wharf is the hub of this year's festivities, with tons of family-friendly activities. The Ice Palace Grotto offers a meet-and-greet opportunity with Father Christmas and Mother Christmas, alongside festive crafts, face-painting and decorations (£10 per ticket). The Wharf will also host live musical performances from the Big Sing and Camden Rock Choir.

The spirit of the season is also spreading to the rest of the markets, with a shimmering canopy of illuminations suspended over Water Lane, snowflake-themed lights, and of course Christmas trees galore. Perfect for picking up some pressies in festive style, whether you're after classy artisanal homewares or CBD beard oil. 

Opening dates: December 6-December 31

What you’ll find: Camden Market’s normal labyrinthine spread of shops and stalls, just with a Christmas makeover. 

Borough Market is one of London’s finest foodie destinations, so naturally it comes into its own during the feasting and boozing of the festive season. Its Christmas programme usually involves a series of live demonstrations, tastings and masterclasses, and the famous ‘cheese-themed extravaganza’ An Evening of Cheese. More details to come. 

Opening dates: December 1-31

What you’ll find: A bountiful spread of some of the finest food in town. 

Festive huts packed with gifts for every taste will line the Thames between London Bridge and Tower Bridge for Winter by the River 2025. For a mid-shop pit-stop there’s the après ski themed Glasshouse Terrace that’ll be serving seasonal drinks, craft beers, pizza and hot waffles, and hosting a series of events from live music to paint and sip sessions. And if that’s not enough to keep you busy, there’ll also be the Swift Stone Curling pop-up where you can take on family and friends sliding the stone down the ice. 

If you're passing through King's Cross station in the run-up to Christmas, don't forget to stop by King's Cross Square to pick up some delectable gourmet goodies. Real Food Market's pop-up is on daily during December, offering artisanal delights from cheeseboards to toasted marshmallows to handcrafted gifts. There'll also be a stage for Christmas music, so time it right and you could enjoy a hot chocolate with a seriously festive soundtrack. 

Opening dates: until Dec 22

What you'll find: delectable festive foods and handmade gifts, right by the station