Whether you want to get your Christmas shopping done, or you're looking to buy festive treats and Christmas decorations, London's many festive markets and fairs are the place to be. They're also a great chance to shop small and support local and independent businesses.
Here's our pick of London's best Christmas markets for 2024.
Central London Christmas markets and fairs 2024
SOUTHBANK CENTRE WINTER MARKET: Once again, wooden chalets and twinkling lights pop up alongside the Thames for Southbank Centre's Winter Market. It focuses mainly on food and drink — think mulled wine, hot chocolate and street food — with a few craft traders in the mix. Fire & Fromage is back for 2024, serving unlimited raclette, with fire pits for toasting marshmallows. Be aware that the area tends to get VERY busy, particularly over the weekends. Consider visiting on a weekday or earlier in the season if you can. FREE entry, 1 November-26 December 2024
CHRISTMAS IN LEICESTER SQUARE: Underbelly brings festive circus show La Clique to Leicester Square again, encased in a traditional spiegeltent, alongside which you'll find the Christmas in Leicester Square market, bristling with food, drink and craft stalls. 6 November-5 January
BETWEEN THE BRIDGES: South-London based creative hub SoLo Craft Fair returns to Between The Bridges for a series of Christmas markets. Head for the events venue — between the London Eye and the Hungerford Bridge — on selected Sundays to browse products by up to 60 makers. BTB has plenty of bars and street food/drink traders too, so mulled wine and the like will be readily available. 10, 17, 24 November and 1, 8, 15, 22 December
WINTER BY THE RIVER 2024: Winter by the River looks to be offering the same experience as in previous years. Taking place in the area known as London Bridge City (between London and Tower Bridges, on the South Bank) expect market stalls selling gifts and treats, along with pop-up bars and entertainment including themed karaoke rooms and live choir performances. FREE entry, 12 November-5 January
LEADENHALL CHRISTMAS MARKETS: A series of special Christmas markets set up within the Leadenhall Market atrium building, alongside the Christmas tree (illuminated from 14 November). Vintage furniture and fashion is available from stalls at The Vintage Furniture & Flea Market, and hand-crafted art, jewellery, children’s toys from the SoLo Craft Fair. 16 and 24 November and 7 December
GLOBAL GIFT MARKET: SoShiro Gallery in Marylebone hosts Handcrafted by the World, a high-end pop-up market featuring work by over 20 makers from countries including Jordan, Kuwait, Colombia, USA, Germany, Greece, Brazil, Denmark, Mexico, Estonia... and the UK. Ceramics, textiles, metal and glass work curated by gallery founder Shiro Muchiri will be available, all with a price tag of under £500 (hint: you will need deeper pockets to shop here than at your average Christmas market). 21 November-20 December
HYDE PARK WINTER WONDERLAND: If you like your Christmas shopping with a side of rides, theatre shows, and even an ice rink, then Hyde Park Winter Wonderland is where it's at. Think traditional wooden chalets selling gifts, decorations, and more food and drink than you can shake a chimney cake at. Be warned though — it gets HECTIC, particularly on evenings and weekends closer to Christmas. If you're just here for the Christmas market, enter via the Blue Gate. Note the entry procedures introduced in 2021 still apply, including an entry fee of £5-£7.50 if you're visiting in peak times (it's still free entry off-peak). 21 November-5 January
CHARTERHOUSE CHRISTMAS FAIR: The beautiful Charterhouse in Clerkenwell hosts its Christmas fair on a Tuesday, so is likely to be less busy than other Christmas markets. Seasonal refreshments, accessories, crafts, clothes and homewares are available. 26 November
North London Christmas markets and fairs 2024
GOOD HOUSEKEEPING AND COUNTRY LIVING CHRISTMAS FAIR: Expect high-end goods aplenty at the Country Living Magazine Christmas Fair at the Business Design Centre in Islington, which caters for all aspects of the festivities — jewellery, gin, cheese, textiles, artworks, you name it. There's also a full programme full of talks and workshops, where you can make your own felted baubles or reindeer bunting. 13-16 November
FORTY HALL CHRISTMAS FAYRE: Forty Hall in Enfield hosts a two-day Christmas fayre — both inside the period rooms and out in the courtyard — showcasing local businesses. Mulled wine, mince pies and other seasonal treats are available to guzzle after you've browsed. 30 November-1 December
CRAFTY FOX CHRISTMAS MARKET: We're fans of Crafty Fox markets, which give local artists and craftspeople a place to sell their wares. It has its usual markets going on throughout the rest of the year, but the special Christmas Markets take place in mid-December. Stalls tend to chop and change every year, with a mixture of jewellery, ceramics, homewares, beauty products, textiles and cards. We've never left empty-handed. FREE entry, 30 November-1 December (British Library) and 8, 14,15 December (King's Cross)
KING'S CROSS: Independent makers are celebrated at the TOAST Festive Market at Coal Drops Yard in King's Cross during weekends in the run-up to Christmas. The line-up of stalls changes each week, with full details due to be announced in November. 6-22 December (Friday-Sunday only)
ANTIXMAS: And now for something completely different. Satanic Flea Market is holding its AntiChristmas Fayre (in Angel of all places), peddling taxidermy, spooky toys, occult books and the unorthodox like. We went along to one, and found everyone there to be quite lovely. Good place to find original gifts too. 8 December
South London Christmas markets and fairs 2024
BROCKLEY NIGHT MARKET: In addition to events at Between The Bridges and Leadenhall (above), SoLo Craft Fair hosts the Brockley Night Market on Thursday afternoons and evenings throughout November and December (despite the event name, it begins at 2pm). Head to local restaurant Parlez for 20 independent local businesses selling Christmas gifts, and a workshop where you can make your own Brockley tote bag. 14, 21, 28 November and 5, 12, 19 December
BLACKHEATH CHRISTMAS FAIR: The Friends of Age Exchange hold their 11th annual Blackheath Christmas Fair at Blackheath Halls, with 40+ stalls selling books, jewellery, gifts, food and drink. Money raised goes back to the charity. 17 November
DULWICH COLLEGE: A rare chance for the public to see inside Dulwich College, as the Barry Buildings, cloisters and courtyards host 120 stalls for its annual Christmas fair. 24 November
FINNISH CHRISTMAS FAIR: Rotherhithe's Finnish Church hosts a traditional Finnish Christmas fair, with various gifts and food from Finland. 29 November-1 December and 6-8 December
THE GARDEN MUSEUM: The Beautiful & Useful Craft Fair at the Garden Museum in Lambeth has an emphasis on supporting British designer-makers, with a carefully curated selection of small businesses selling their products. Mechanical toys, hand-carved bowls and porcelain mugs are the specialities of some of the producers already signed up. 1 December
PECKHAM: A festive edition of the DIY Art Market pitches up at Copeland Park in Peckham, showcasing work by 150 up-and-coming artists and makers. Browse art prints, ceramics, zines, sculptures, jewellery, sewn items, and much more — with mince pies and mulled wine available to enjoy as you browse. 7 December. The following day a Christmas Ceramics Market runs at the same venue, by the same organisers. 8 December
CURATED MAKERS' MARKET: Among the festivities at Battersea Power Station is the Curated Makers' Christmas Market, taking over Turbine Hall B with 60 different makers exhibiting across three weekends (20 each weekend). Candles, jewellery and baked goods are among the products on offer. Selected dates 9-22 December. Glide ice rink is open over these dates, in case you fancy combining your shopping with a skate.
East London Christmas markets and fairs 2024
CHRISTMAS JEWELLERY MARKET: Over 100 established and emerging international jewellery artists and designers pitch up at Big Penny Social in Walthamstow for the Christmas edition of the Independent Jewellers' Market. Folk charms, chunky block rings, custom nameplate necklaces, pearl bracelets, bold bangles, and sculpted porcelain brooches are among the items available, across a range of budgets. 1 December
BOW ROAD: Bow Arts hosts the Bow Road Winter Market, giving visitors the chance to meet their creative community of artists, makers and designers and buy locally-made gifts and artworks. Expect 20 stalls selling homewares, prints, jewellery and more, plus seasonal food and drink in the cafe, and a free, drop-in festive art workshop. 8 December
West London Christmas markets and fairs 2024
SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS FAIR: If you're the sort of person who's already started counting down to Christmas by September, the Spirit of Christmas Fair at Olympia is very much for you. It's a great excuse to officially begin the festivities in early November (!), and goes on for a whole week — ample time to browse the 600+ independent brands selling everything from clothes, health and beauty products, and food and drink, to Christmas decorations and other festive paraphernalia. 4-10 November
KINGSTON CHRISTMAS MARKET: A European-style Christmas market takes over the centre of Kingston, including the Ancient Market Place. Wooden chalets, twinkling lights, a carousel for kiddies... all very photogenic. 14 November-5 January
BELGRAVIA: For one day only, coinciding with the Belgravia Christmas light switch-on, a festive market pops up in Eccleston Yards selling stocking fillers, mulled wine and the like. 17 November
CHELSEA PHYSIC GARDEN: 100 curated stands take over Chelsea Physic Garden for its Christmas Fair, spanning food, accessories, homewares and plants. The cafe is open too, serving up festive refreshments. 21-24 November
SYON PARK: Sadly, it doesn't look like the Enchanted Woodland light trail is happening at Syon Park this year, but the estate is hosting a two-day festive market, in the rather fancy setting of the Great Conservatory. 40 small businesses sell artwork, food, drink, clothing and accessories, jewellery and candles. FREE entry, 22-23 November
SWEDISH CHRISTMAS FAIR: The Swedish Church in Marylebone holds a three-day Christmas fair selling gifts, food and decorations, with a pop-up cafe to keep you fed while you shop. 22-24 November
IDEAL HOME SHOW AT CHRISTMAS: Head to Olympia for the Ideal Home Show At Christmas. The focus is on getting your home ready for the festive period, with a plethora of decorations to browse. There are also gift ideas, foodie items, festive theatre and live music performances — plus plenty of talks giving interior design inspo. 27 November-1 December
MAYFAIR CHRISTMAS MARKET: Italian-Asian restaurant Novikov closes Mayfair Place (close to Green Park station) to traffic for its three-day Christmas market. Gift stalls are present (if you'll excuse the pun), but as you might expect from a restaurant, there's a heavy focus on food — think speciality stalls offering parmesan wheel, oysters and caviar, as well as a champagne bar. Entertainment takes the form of DJs, roaming carol singers, and an appearance from Santa on the Saturday afternoon. Mayfair 28-30 November
FULHAM PALACE CHRISTMAS FAIR: Do your Christmas shopping in the grounds and rooms of Fulham Palace. There's a special adults-only preview evening on the Friday night, before the fair opens to everyone on the Saturday. Browse small business stalls selling gifts and food items, tuck into festive refreshments including mince pies and mulled wine, enjoy performances by local choirs in the courtyard, and keep the kids occupied with crafts and a Christmas trail. 29-30 November
HAMPTON COURT PALACE: Henry VIII would be happy that food is the theme at the Hampton Court Palace Festive Fayre, a three-day extravaganza in the courtyards of the Tudor king's former pad, happening on two consecutive weekends. Stock up on Christmas gifts for the foodies in your life, and keep yourself well-refreshed with street food and warming bevvies. Festive singalongs take place in front of the bandstand throughout the weekend, as well as carol services in the Chapel Royal. 6-8 and 13-15 December. Psst... the Hampton Court Palace ice rink is open by then too...
CHISWICK CHRISTMAS MARKET: Local and independent artists and businesses pitch up on the forecourt outside Chiswick House for the Chiswick Christmas Collective Market. Shop for gifts including jewellery, homewares and art pieces, and refuel on mulled wine, hot chocolate and festive snacks. Local groups give musical performances, and there are workshops to get stuck into if you fancy making your own Christmas pressies. 7-8 December
