Find foodie gifts, hand-crafted pressies and a bit of glühwein to help you get into that merry spirit
As Christmas approaches, London’s big, beautiful arts centre along the Thames turns into a festive wonderland. Soon, Winter at the Southbank Centre will once again be sprinkling some added sparkle along the riverside, with its charming Christmas market that sees a line of German-style wooden chalets line the riverside, twinkling with fairy lights and full of traders selling treats, gifts and decorations.
There will also be an annual helping of light installations which fill the trees and pavements along the South Bank. It's also likely we'll see the return of pop-up tycoon Jimmy Garcia’s cosy winter lodge, where you can sip on decadent hot chocolates, toast marshmallows around the fire pit and gorge on unlimited raclette. Competitive souls can also go head to head against their mates by flinging stones across ice at the Curling Club.
There’s plenty of fun inside as well with a brilliant season of music, theatre and art across the centre’s various stages and galleries.
No matter what you decide to go to, stick around till sundown so you can walk along the South Bank after dark. It’s guaranteed to give you all the festive feels.
What is Winter at Southbank Centre 2025?
Winter celebrations at Southbank Centre include Yuletide markets, plenty of street food, dazzling lights, family workshops and a packed programme of Christmas shows.
When is Winter at Southbank Centre 2025?
The dates of this year's Southbank Centre’s Winter Festival are yet to be confirmed, but it typically runs from the start of November into early January the following year. The majority of the Centre is open 10am to 10pm daily. The Southbank Centre is normally entirely closed on Christmas Day, with outdoor attractions staying closed on New Year’s Eve.
Where is the Winter Festival at Southbank Centre 2025?
The nearest train and tube station to the Southbank Centre is Waterloo (Bakerloo, Northern, Jubilee and Waterloo & City Underground lines). Embankment (Circle and District lines) and Charing Cross (Northern and Bakerloo) are just a short walk across a big river away. Many bus routes stop nearby or you can even arrive by boat to Festival Pier.
During the festive period, many public transport services will have reduced timetables so make sure you’ve checked how you’ll be travelling around London over Christmas and New Year.
Is there an entry fee?
The Winter Market is free to wander through, as are many of Southbank Centre’s festive happenings. Some events are ticketed, but there’s likely to be a whole host of free ones planned for 2025.
RECOMMENDED: Find more festive fun with our guide to Christmas in London.
