The best Christmas Markets, London 2018
Twinkling lights, hand-made decorations and steaming mugs of mulled wine: we round-up the the best Christmas markets London has to offer this winter
Venn Street Christmas Market
For Christmas shopping without the stress of the high street, markets and fairs are the way to go. They'll help you source thoughtful and often hand-made gifts in more relaxed, laid-back surroundings. Sip mulled wine beside a wintry light display and take off your gloves, if only for a minute, to peel back the wrapping of a well-earned, sugar-coated treat. From the established markets making their annual return, to a little-known gem hidden down the cobbled streets of a sleepy neighbourhood, it's time to get exploring. What will you find this year?
Columbia Road Christmas Wednesdays
Location: Columbia Road, Bethnal Green, London, E2 7RG
Wednesdays from 28 November - 19 December, 5PM - 9PM
While you’re bound to have jostled your way along Columbia Road’s Sunday flower market at some point, you might not be aware of its Christmas offering. Every Wednesday evening in December, the street comes to life with residents selling mulled wine out of their homes, shops staying open late and a shoppers gathering round a piano – which is wheeled out onto the street – to sing carols. If you’re looking for a cosy pub to duck into on your visit, the Royal Oak with its garish decorations, craft beer selection and rollicking-good-time atmosphere is the one to go to.
Free entry
Real Food Christmas Market
Location: West Handyside Canopy, just off Granary Square, King's Cross, N1C 4BZ
Friday 30 November - Sunday 16 December (12:00 - 18:00 | Fridays: 12:00 - 20:00)
Canopy Market, run by Real Food Festivals, is serving up festive treats aplenty in the run up to Christmas. Their December market offers great Christmas gift ideas and the perfect opportunity to buy the very best seasonal foods for your festive celebrations, while enjoying the live music. It will also feature independent pop-ups and talks from the V&A.
Free entry
Crafty Fox Christmas Market
Locations include: Brixton, Canopy Market and the Mercato Metropolitano
Dates and times vary between locations
This year, there are a number of Crafty Fox markets held across London, including a Christmas collaboration with Canopy Market in Kings Cross. Meanwhile a second outlet is held on the first Saturday of every month at south east London's foodie paradise Mercato Metropolitano. Expect a huge variety of clothes, toys, homeware and accessories from quirky artists and designers. Fuelling the festive vibe will be live DJs, Christmas drinks and expert-led workshops.
Free entry
Venn Street Christmas Market
Location: Venn Street, Clapham, SW4 0AT
Saturdays in November and December (10:00 - 16:00)
The Venn Street Saturday market is readying itself for the festive season and will be offering a whole host of festive goodies and treats for Christmas. Chosen from a wide selection of independent and artisan producers, there will be everything from seasonal vegetables, Spanish cheeses, delicious patisseries, mulled wine, hampers and more.
Free entry
Marbles and Ware Collective present the Bizarre Bazaar
Location: The Vaults, Leake Street Street, SE1 7AD
Every weekend until Christmas (11:00 - 20:00 | 27 November and weekends in December)
Debauched. Decadent. Delicious. It sounds like an odd way to advertise a Christmas Bazaar, but the Marbles and Ware Collective version of a Christmas market is anything but ordinary. Young artists and designers showcase their wares at a four week posting in the Victorian arches at The Vaults for their Bizarre Bazaar, with live music and entertainment whilst you browse. Marbles and Ware are professional market curators, which means you only get the best of the best, and the weirdest of the weird on the Christmas stalls. Happy shopping!
Free entry
Gift of Sight Fair
Location: Chelsea Old Town Hall, King's Road, Chelsea, SW3 5EE
Wednesday 5 December (General Fair: 12:00 - 18:00 | Gala Reception: 18:00 - 20:30)
A classier Christmas shop awaits at the Gift of Sight Fair. The gorgeous Chelsea Old Town Hall plays host to some of the best festive finds in fashion, homeware and jewellery. Its beautiful surroundings will put you at ease as you search for through some of the more personal, unusual Christmas gifts on offer. The fair will be crowned by a gala reception, which starts at 6pm. And of course, this is all for a good cause, with all entry fees and 10 percent of sales going to the St John of Jerusalem Eye Hospital Group.
Tickets can be bought here
Southbank Centre Winter Market
Location: The Queen's Walk, Lambeth, London SE1 8XX
Friday 9 November – Thursday 27 December (Sunday – Thursday: 11:00 - 22:00 | Fridays & Saturdays: 11:00 – 23:00)
The Southbank Centre is fully embracing the Christmas spirit with a whole range of events this year, including the return of its popular Winter Market. Expect twinkling lights and an array of festive goodies. If you fancy an alternative to traditional Christmas foods, two new pop-ups are worth checking out: Bar Under the Bridge will be serving a range of cheese-based products, including an oozing-in-deliciousness baked camembert, and the Circus Bar is coming to town with crackling fire pits and scrumptious snacks in tow.
Free entry
Mayfair Christmas Market
Location: Mayfair Place, London, W1J
Friday 30 November & Saturday 1 December (11:00 - 21:00)
Are artisan gifts and hand-crafted baubles your thing? Then look no further than the Mayfair Christmas Market, hosted by Novikov Restaurant and Bar. The whole of Mayfair Place will be closed to traffic for one wonderful weekend of winter delights. The hand-picked stalls will provide visitors with all sorts of gifts and delicious snacks, including Novikov’s own Asian and Italian delicacies. Special mentions go to stalls A Small Shop in Africa (selling beautiful Kenyan products and empowering women in the process) and My Little Wish (creating environmentally-friendly gifts including rugs crafted from thousands of plastic bottles). And, of course, there will be the option for youngsters to meet not only Santa, but his reindeer too.
Free entry
Leadenhall Market
Location: Gracechurch St., London, EC3V 1LT
Public areas are open 24hrs a day (see website for specific store opening times)
Leadenhall is one of the oldest covered markets in London and is well-worth a trip at any time of the year. Known to a generation as Diagon Alley in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, this Victorian market knows how to bring the Christmas magic. The Christmas lights and 20ft tree are being unveiled at 6pm on 16 November (with music from the Rockabella Christmas Belles from 4:45pm) and stores within the market are expected to be offering up a whole range of wintery treats.
Free entry
Big Queer Christmas Fayre
Location: 2-4 Hoxton Square, London, N1 6NU
Sunday 18 November (13:00 - 18:00)
If you’re looking for something a little kinkier to go under your tree, why not go along to Hoxton on Sunday? The Queer Fayre is a two-room bonanza involving over 30 stalls. One room contains the market’s impressive arts & craft producers, selling everything from quirky t-shirts to homemade jam. Mulled wine will add some festive merriment and DJs will be on-hand to keep the good times rolling. The second room will be limited to those over 18, selling a range of sex-related items, books and clothes, with demonstrations from members of the BDSM community.
Tickets are £3 in advance or £5 on the door
Columbia Road Christmas Wednesdays
Location: Columbia Road, Bethnal Green, London, E2 7RG
Wednesdays from 28 November - 19 December, 5PM - 9PM
While you’re bound to have jostled your way along Columbia Road’s Sunday flower market at some point, you might not be aware of its Christmas offering. Every Wednesday evening in December, the street comes to life with residents selling mulled wine out of their homes, shops staying open late and a shoppers gathering round a piano – which is wheeled out onto the street – to sing carols. If you’re looking for a cosy pub to duck into on your visit, the Royal Oak with its garish decorations, craft beer selection and rollicking-good-time atmosphere is the one to go to.
Free entry
Real Food Christmas Market
Location: West Handyside Canopy, just off Granary Square, King's Cross, N1C 4BZ
Friday 30 November - Sunday 16 December (12:00 - 18:00 | Fridays: 12:00 - 20:00)
Canopy Market, run by Real Food Festivals, is serving up festive treats aplenty in the run up to Christmas. Their December market offers great Christmas gift ideas and the perfect opportunity to buy the very best seasonal foods for your festive celebrations, while enjoying the live music. It will also feature independent pop-ups and talks from the V&A.
Free entry
Crafty Fox Christmas Market
Locations include: Brixton, Canopy Market and the Mercato Metropolitano
Dates and times vary between locations
This year, there are a number of Crafty Fox markets held across London, including a Christmas collaboration with Canopy Market in Kings Cross. Meanwhile a second outlet is held on the first Saturday of every month at south east London's foodie paradise Mercato Metropolitano. Expect a huge variety of clothes, toys, homeware and accessories from quirky artists and designers. Fuelling the festive vibe will be live DJs, Christmas drinks and expert-led workshops.
Free entry
Venn Street Christmas Market
Location: Venn Street, Clapham, SW4 0AT
Saturdays in November and December (10:00 - 16:00)
The Venn Street Saturday market is readying itself for the festive season and will be offering a whole host of festive goodies and treats for Christmas. Chosen from a wide selection of independent and artisan producers, there will be everything from seasonal vegetables, Spanish cheeses, delicious patisseries, mulled wine, hampers and more.
Free entry
Marbles and Ware Collective present the Bizarre Bazaar
Location: The Vaults, Leake Street Street, SE1 7AD
Every weekend until Christmas (11:00 - 20:00 | 27 November and weekends in December)
Debauched. Decadent. Delicious. It sounds like an odd way to advertise a Christmas Bazaar, but the Marbles and Ware Collective version of a Christmas market is anything but ordinary. Young artists and designers showcase their wares at a four week posting in the Victorian arches at The Vaults for their Bizarre Bazaar, with live music and entertainment whilst you browse. Marbles and Ware are professional market curators, which means you only get the best of the best, and the weirdest of the weird on the Christmas stalls. Happy shopping!
Free entry
Gift of Sight Fair
Location: Chelsea Old Town Hall, King's Road, Chelsea, SW3 5EE
Wednesday 5 December (General Fair: 12:00 - 18:00 | Gala Reception: 18:00 - 20:30)
A classier Christmas shop awaits at the Gift of Sight Fair. The gorgeous Chelsea Old Town Hall plays host to some of the best festive finds in fashion, homeware and jewellery. Its beautiful surroundings will put you at ease as you search for through some of the more personal, unusual Christmas gifts on offer. The fair will be crowned by a gala reception, which starts at 6pm. And of course, this is all for a good cause, with all entry fees and 10 percent of sales going to the St John of Jerusalem Eye Hospital Group.
Tickets can be bought here
Southbank Centre Winter Market
Location: The Queen's Walk, Lambeth, London SE1 8XX
Friday 9 November – Thursday 27 December (Sunday – Thursday: 11:00 - 22:00 | Fridays & Saturdays: 11:00 – 23:00)
The Southbank Centre is fully embracing the Christmas spirit with a whole range of events this year, including the return of its popular Winter Market. Expect twinkling lights and an array of festive goodies. If you fancy an alternative to traditional Christmas foods, two new pop-ups are worth checking out: Bar Under the Bridge will be serving a range of cheese-based products, including an oozing-in-deliciousness baked camembert, and the Circus Bar is coming to town with crackling fire pits and scrumptious snacks in tow.
Free entry
Mayfair Christmas Market
Location: Mayfair Place, London, W1J
Friday 30 November & Saturday 1 December (11:00 - 21:00)
Are artisan gifts and hand-crafted baubles your thing? Then look no further than the Mayfair Christmas Market, hosted by Novikov Restaurant and Bar. The whole of Mayfair Place will be closed to traffic for one wonderful weekend of winter delights. The hand-picked stalls will provide visitors with all sorts of gifts and delicious snacks, including Novikov’s own Asian and Italian delicacies. Special mentions go to stalls A Small Shop in Africa (selling beautiful Kenyan products and empowering women in the process) and My Little Wish (creating environmentally-friendly gifts including rugs crafted from thousands of plastic bottles). And, of course, there will be the option for youngsters to meet not only Santa, but his reindeer too.
Free entry
Leadenhall Market
Location: Gracechurch St., London, EC3V 1LT
Public areas are open 24hrs a day (see website for specific store opening times)
Leadenhall is one of the oldest covered markets in London and is well-worth a trip at any time of the year. Known to a generation as Diagon Alley in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, this Victorian market knows how to bring the Christmas magic. The Christmas lights and 20ft tree are being unveiled at 6pm on 16 November (with music from the Rockabella Christmas Belles from 4:45pm) and stores within the market are expected to be offering up a whole range of wintery treats.
Free entry
Big Queer Christmas Fayre
Location: 2-4 Hoxton Square, London, N1 6NU
Sunday 18 November (13:00 - 18:00)
If you’re looking for something a little kinkier to go under your tree, why not go along to Hoxton on Sunday? The Queer Fayre is a two-room bonanza involving over 30 stalls. One room contains the market’s impressive arts & craft producers, selling everything from quirky t-shirts to homemade jam. Mulled wine will add some festive merriment and DJs will be on-hand to keep the good times rolling. The second room will be limited to those over 18, selling a range of sex-related items, books and clothes, with demonstrations from members of the BDSM community.
Tickets are £3 in advance or £5 on the door
