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 riverside Christmas market that sees a line of German-style wooden chalets line the South Bank, and a programme of Yuletide fun that includes a packed programme of Christmas shows.
What is Winter at Southbank Centre 2025?
Twinkling with fairylights and full of traders selling festive treats, gifts and decorations, the market might be the main draw for most visitors, but there’s plenty more to explore besides its stalls.
We’ll also see the return of pop-up tycoon Jimmy Garcia’s winter venue Fire & Fromage, a cosy winter lodge where you can sip on decadent hot chocolates, toast marshmallows around the fire pit and gorge on indulgent cheesy dishes including raclette burgers, baked camemberts and fondue with all the trimmings. And Bar Humbug returns, too, offering singalongs around the piano, festive brunches, frothing steins and Bavarian gaiety in a big Alpine lodge, while competitive souls can also go head to head against their mates by flinging stones across the ice at seasonal sporting pop-up The Curling Club.
And this being the UK’s largest arts centre, there’s also a brilliant season of music, theatre and art across the Southbank’s various stages, galleries and outdoor spaces. Winter theatre offerings include the stage adaptation of Top Hat, the 1935 Hollywood hit starring Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, plus the return of Evita Too, the return of fringe theatre icons Sh!t Theatre’s DIY musical on Argentinian president Juan Perón’s third wife, Isabel Perón. Art fans have until the second week of January to catch the Hayward Gallery’s major retrospective on Gilbert & George, while annual installation Winter Light sees a host of colourful light sculptures illuminate the venue’s outdoor spaces as darkness falls.
Other highlights of the festive season include a recital of Handel’s Messiah, the London Philharmonic performing Christmas classics and a New Year’s Day ceilidh. 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.
When is Winter at Southbank Centre 2025?
The Southbank Centre Christmas market and adjoining outdoor pop-ups open on Monday November 3, as does Winter Light. 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.
