For 2023, you should skip department stores and shop at London’s best holiday market and fairs.
Winter Market at Southbank Center
Every winter, the Southbank Centre turns the banks of the Thames into a winter wonderland with lots of little wooden cabins selling gifts, hot drinks, and snacks.
This year, you can warm up at Jimmy’s Winter Lodge, which has heated snowglobes by the river, where you can eat cheese fondue outside without getting cold. Beltane & Pop, a cool place to buy drinks, is further down. They have cider, mulled wine, and hot toddies. And if you want to try a classic winter sport, go to The Curling Club, a pop-up shop with an alpine theme.
Leicester Square
In past years, a wonderful holiday pop-up has appeared in the middle of one of London’s most famous places. It has had a full-fledged Christmas market, holiday lights, lots of places to eat and drink, and entertainment planned by Underbelly. This winter, it will be back in Leicester Square from November 9 to January 7.
The primary event is the alternative circus and cabaret performance “La Clique,” which will set up shop in a big Spiegeltent for eight weeks in 2022 with a completely new cast. When “La Clique” isn’t going on, which is every Wednesday through Sunday and some Tuesdays, there are also a lot of events for kids, like “Baby Loves Disco” and “The Bubble Show.”
And while you’re there, you can count on being close to places to eat, things to do, and holiday shopping. Even if you don’t have a show ticket, you can shop at the festive food and drink stands and visit the traditional Christmas market.
KERB
On rainy days, check out KERB, a new covered food market that opens November 24 in front of the National Theatre. Try food from places like Bad Boy Pizza Society, Sen Noods, and Lucky’s Hot Chicken, which are well-known in London. If you still have room after all the pizza, ramen, and fried chicken, you can get dessert at Utter Waffle or Humble Crumble. You can get into the holiday spirit at the Seasons Eatings bar with hot cups of chai and mulled wine.
During Christmas, King’s Cross
For the holiday season, Granary Square and Coal Drops Yard in King’s Cross have been turned into an “illuminated alpine festive wonderland.” A huge 35-foot Christmas tree will be set up in the middle of the Coal Drops Yard. There will also be glowing winter sculptures along the canal steps, an apres ski bar serving hot toddies and wintery cocktails, and a huge curling rink where you can knock stones across the ice while holding a drink.
Looking for Christmas gifts that are different and unique? They’ll take care of you. Over six weeks, there will be a changing lineup of eight markets, such as the Canopy Vegan Market, Independent Label Market, Mexican Christmas Market, The Illustrators’ Christmas Fair, and Crafty Fox Christmas Market. Each market will have a wide range of gifts, such as holiday street food, fashion, vintage vinyl, arts and crafts, and more.
Chiswick House & Gardens’ Duck Pond Market
This romantic Palladian villa was built in 1725 by Richard Boyle, the third Earl of Burlington. The Earl used the house as a showpiece to show off his fine collection of paintings, many of which still exist today. He did this to entertain the most famous artists and thinkers of his time. The house is beautiful, and now it has a surprisingly modern café that fits in perfectly. But the gardens are even more beautiful, and you can walk through them in royal peace.
By the River at Christmas
The annual Christmas market in London Bridge City will start up again on November 16. You can look out over the river and see a lot of beautiful winter cabins with pop-up bars, street food, and holiday crafts. As usual, there will be a lot of workshops and events, so keep an eye out for official notices.
Local bars will serve Christmas cocktails, warm cider, mulled wine, and craft beers, and over 60 vendors will sell gourmet treats and handmade gifts.
Leadenhall Market at Christmas
The majestic Victorian retail arcade in the City of London enhances its reputation as one of the most lovely locations in London by adorning its opulent halls with holiday garlands, miniature Christmas trees, and glittering lights. At 6 p.m. on November 17, the real Lord Mayor of London will turn on the Christmas lights at Leadenhall Market, including the big fir tree at the end. The market will then start to sparkle. Before and after the switch-on, there will be music to sing along to, and the lights will stay on until Twelfth Night.
It always goes all out for the holidays. It will host several Christmas workshops in December, from wine tasting to making wreaths. There will also be guided Christmas walks with stories about Christmases past and present in Leadenhall and late-night shopping.