London's Christmas Markets: Festive Fun and Unique Attractions Await

London's Christmas markets are back and better than ever. There’s festive shopping, and so much more – even Mexican wrestling, giant puppets and a roller disco! Here's a rundown on the best of the many Christmas markets.

From a full-blown theme park in Hyde Park to a market set within a World Heritage site, here are the best of the bunch worth a visit this season. Pick up unique gifts, sip a seasonal cocktail, or simply soak up the festive atmosphere.

Festive accommodation in London fills up faster than the Christmas markets. But with 5 incredible properties located all across London, you'll find the perfect fit for you and your squad.

Winter Wonderland

The big one. One of London's unmissable activities. This Christmas extravaganza in Hyde Park blends Yuletide wonder with full theme-park thrills, so it's a good shout for families and groups of friends alike. There's an ice rink, Zippos Christmas Circus, a Santa's grotto, an ice slide and a fairground of rides that run the gamut from gentle kiddie carousels to heart-in-the-mouth, high-flying contraptions.

To make a day of it, arrive in daylight to wander the stalls and let the little ones loose on the gentler rides, then stay on as dusk falls and the whole park lights up — just remember to book the ice rink in advance.

When you've had your fill of the festivities, the surrounding area has plenty to keep the day going. Oxford Street is a short stroll from the Marble Arch side, perfect for ticking off the last of your Christmas shopping beneath the famous lights, while nearby Mayfair and Marylebone are dotted with cosy pubs and restaurants for a warming dinner.

It runs from 14th November 2026 to 1st January 2027 (to be confirmed), closed Christmas Day, over at Hyde Park, London W2 2UH. Entry is free but must be booked ahead — opening times and tickets go up on the Hyde Park Winter Wonderland website nearer the time.

Wherever you're based across the city, our Staycity London aparthotels put you within easy reach of the magic. Hyde Park sits on the Central and Piccadilly lines, so you can hop the tube to Marble Arch or Hyde Park Corner and stroll straight into Winter Wonderland in minutes.

Head over in the afternoon while it's quieter, warm up with a mulled wine as the lights come on, then head back to your apartment when you've had your fill!

Southbank Centre’s Winter Market and Wintertime Events

It’s lovely to wander down the Thames in the shadow of the Eye eating everything from Thai food to raclette to fish-shaped pastries filled with cream (why? We don’t know, but we love them). The ornate carousel here is great for pictures and you can pick up gifts, drink seasonal cocktails, and soak up the festive spirit.

Save time for the Southbank Centre's wider Winter series too, where there's Christmas culture of every kind — a fresh spin on Rumpelstiltskin, Circus 1903 with its life-sized elephant puppets from the War Horse team, and The Snow Ball, where everyone dons fancy dress and hits the floor to seasonal hits, plus storytelling, classical music, a Caribbean Christmas, a drag show and more. It's well worth scanning the full programme before you visit, as the variety is half the joy.

Dates vary year to year but the market is due to run from 3rd November 2026 to 4th January 2027 at the Southbank. The market itself is free, with events ranging from free to ticketed — check the Southbank Centre Winter Market site closer to the time for confirmed dates and the full line-up.

Christmas in Leicester Square

Compact but full of buzz, the Leicester Square market packs in a Santa's grotto, fairy lights and a proper festive atmosphere. The real draw is the vintage Spiegeltent, with its programme of Christmas shows, pantomimes and kids' theatre — ideal for an afternoon with the family before dinner in the West End. It gets busiest in the evenings, so go earlier in the day if you'd rather dodge the crowds.

Dates shift slightly each year, but the market typically runs from early November through to the start of January - 1st November 2026 to 4th January 2027 (to be confirmed) at Leicester Square, WC2H 7NA, with tickets from £26.50. The full schedule lands nearer the time on the Christmas in Leicester Square website.

Christmas by the River

What could be more English than browsing twinkling stalls beside Tower Bridge? Christmas by the River stretches from Hay's Galleria to London Bridge City Pier with more than 50 independent traders, plus a bar carved entirely from ice at Eis Haus (said in your best German accent). It's an easy one to fold into a riverside stroll. Take a slow lap of the stalls for handmade gifts, warm up with a drink, and time it for dusk when the bridge and the river light up. With older kids in tow, the late-night shopping until 8pm on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays is your friend.

Dates for 2026 are tbc but likely to fall from mid-November to early January, over at 2A More London Riverside, London SE1 2DB. Entry is free, keep an eye on Tudor Markets for confirmed dates.

Greenwich Market

London's only market set within a World Heritage site is open seven days a week and stuffed with exactly the sort of distinctive gifts that friends and family love to find under the tree. It's certainly one of the must see places in Greenwich.

Find vintage maps, creamy linen and bona fide antiques sitting alongside original fashion and jewellery, classic and modern. Technically it's not a Christmas market, since it runs all year, but it's one you won't want to miss, especially once the Christmas lights are switched on usually in mid November (17th November, to be confirmed). Make a relaxed afternoon of it browsing the stalls, then explore Greenwich town centre and the riverside while you're there.

You'll find it in Greenwich Town Centre, SE10 9HZ, open every day and free to enter. Handily, the nearby Staycity Greenwich High Road puts you just minutes from the market and the town centre.

Country Living Christmas Fair

The popular magazine brings its signature style to the season, with designers, makers and regional food purveyors selling their wares and sharing their secrets in talks, demos and hands-on workshops.

For a fee in the Crafting Studio you can decorate gingerbread, block-print your own Christmas card, weave with sari strips and more. There's no need to rush this one — check the Crafting Studio schedule and book a place before you go, as sessions run all day.

It runs from 12th to 15th November 2026 (to be confirmed) at the Business Design Centre, 52 Upper Street, Islington, N1 0QH. Advance tickets start at £25 for adults, with some packages including extras like drinks or a goody bag.

Hampton Court Palace Festive Fayre

Prepare for a royal treat at this Christmas food festival and market, set in the gorgeous palace that was a favourite of Henry VIII. Wander the courtyards tasting artisan food and drink, watch cookery demonstrations and soak up the carol singing.

Don't miss the festive classics at the Courtyard Bandstand, where a sing-along is all but compulsory. It's the sort of place to take your time, so go with an appetite and let the day unfold.

With dates changing each year it is due to run across two weekends, 5th–7th and 12th–14th December 2026 (to be confirmed), at Hampton Court Palace, East Molesey KT8 9AU. Members and under-5s go free, with adult tickets from £28 and children from £14.

Making a day (and night) of it

Once you've picked your market, whether that's the theme-park thrills of Winter Wonderland, the riverside stalls by Tower Bridge or the buzz of Leicester Square, build the rest of your day around it.

Spend the daylight hours wandering the chalets, grazing on everything from bratwurst to roasted chestnuts and ticking off a few handmade gifts, then let the afternoon roll into evening as the lights flicker on and the city takes on its festive glow.

Round things off with mulled wine and dinner at a cosy pub or restaurant nearby, or catch a seasonal show if your market has one on. The beauty of London is that you never need the car.

The Underground links every market to the next and back to your apartment, so you can hop between them at your own pace and let the tube do the hard work while you soak up the Christmas spirit.