The London Christmas market season for 2026 starts in early November and runs into the first days of January 2027, with dozens of festive markets spread from Hyde Park to the South Bank. Some are huge and ticketed, like Winter Wonderland. Others are a row of wooden chalets along the Thames where you can grab a mulled wine and keep walking.
Below you’ll find the 2026 dates we could confirm, what each market is good for, where to eat and drink, how to get around, and where to leave your bags if you’re arriving or leaving on the same day.
London Christmas market 2026 at a glance
| Market | 2026 dates | Hours | Location | Entry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hyde Park Winter Wonderland | 19 Nov 2026 – 3 Jan 2027 (closed 25 Dec) | Mostly 10:00–22:00, later openings on some weekdays | Hyde Park | Booking required; free off-peak slots, paid standard and peak slots |
| Southbank Centre Winter Market | 2 Nov 2026 – 4 Jan 2027 (closed 25 and 31 Dec) | 11:00–22:00 (craft stalls until 21:00) | Queen’s Walk, South Bank | Free |
| Covent Garden | 12 Nov 2026 – 2 Jan 2027 | Varies by trader | Piazza and Market Building | Free |
| Christmas in Leicester Square | 31 Oct 2026 – 3 Jan 2027 | Varies | Leicester Square | Free market, paid shows |
| Trafalgar Square | 6 Nov 2026 – 3 Jan 2027 | Varies | In front of the National Gallery | Free |
| Winter by the River | 10 Nov 2026 – 3 Jan 2027 (11:00–22:00, closed 25 Dec) | Varies | London Bridge City | Free |
Winter Wonderland, the biggest London Christmas market
Hyde Park Winter Wonderland opens on 19 November 2026 and runs until 3 January 2027, every day except Christmas Day. It’s the largest London Christmas market by a long way, though calling it a market undersells it. Alongside the wooden chalets selling gifts and food, there’s a big outdoor ice rink, an observation wheel, fairground rides, circus and cabaret shows, and a Bavarian-style area with beer halls.
You need to book an entry ticket for every visit. Off-peak slots are free to enter, while standard and peak slots (mostly evenings and weekends) cost more. Most days run from 10:00 to 22:00, but several weekday mornings open later, at 11:00, 12:00 or even 14:00, so check the date before you go. The official Winter Wonderland ticket guide has the full calendar.
Nearest Tube stations: Hyde Park Corner, Marble Arch and Knightsbridge. It suits families and first-timers who want a full day out. If you just want a quiet browse with a hot drink, the riverside markets are a better fit.
Southbank, Covent Garden and other central markets
Southbank Centre Winter Market
The Southbank Centre Winter Market is the first to open, on 2 November 2026, and stays until 4 January 2027. The chalets line the Queen’s Walk under Hungerford Bridge, between the Royal Festival Hall and Jubilee Gardens, with the London Eye just behind. It’s open daily from 11:00 to 22:00 (craft traders close at 21:00) and shuts on 25 and 31 December. Entry is free.
Expect handmade gifts, street food from around the world and plenty of mulled wine. Go after dark, when the lights reflect off the river. Nearest stations: Waterloo and Embankment.
Covent Garden
Covent Garden doesn’t have one single market. The whole Piazza dresses up for Christmas from mid-November, with a giant tree, decorations in the Market Building and the Apple Market and Jubilee Market traders selling crafts and gifts. The covered Market Building is useful on a wet day. Nearest station: Covent Garden.
Leicester Square
Christmas in Leicester Square sets up chalets around the Shakespeare fountain, usually alongside a Spiegeltent that hosts ticketed cabaret and circus shows. In 2026 it runs from 31 October to 3 January 2027. It’s handy before a West End show or dinner in Chinatown, and it gets busy in the evenings.
Trafalgar Square
This is a smaller market on the terrace in front of the National Gallery, open from 6 November 2026 to 3 January 2027. The big draw is the Norwegian spruce, a gift from the city of Oslo every year since 1947, which is lit in early December. It’s a quick stop between museums.
Winter by the River, Greenwich and Borough Market
Winter by the River at London Bridge City runs from 10 November 2026 to 3 January 2027, daily from 11:00 to 22:00 except Christmas Day. Its chalets have Tower Bridge in the background and it gets crowded at weekends, so a weekday morning is calmer. Greenwich Market adds Christmas stalls to its covered halls, and you can pair it with the Cutty Sark and the Royal Observatory. Borough Market isn’t a Christmas market in the classic sense, but its December stalls and seasonal food make it worth a stop if you love eating.
Food and drink at a London Christmas market
Most stalls mix German classics like bratwurst, pretzels and glühwein with British favourites such as mince pies, hot cider and roast chestnuts. Southbank leans towards global street food. Winter Wonderland has sit-down bars and Bavarian beer halls. Borough Market is the place for cheese, oysters and seasonal treats to take home. Card and contactless payment is accepted almost everywhere, and many stalls are card only.
Getting there and getting around
Almost every central market is in Zone 1, so a contactless card or phone on the Tube or bus is the easiest way around. Many are also close enough to walk between. One easy route: start at Trafalgar Square in the morning, walk to Covent Garden for lunch, stop at Leicester Square in the afternoon and cross the river to the Southbank Centre for the evening lights. Hyde Park is a short Tube ride west.
Weekday afternoons are the quietest. Weekend evenings in December are the busiest, especially at Winter Wonderland and Leicester Square. Pack a waterproof jacket, because December in London is often wet.
Luggage storage near each London Christmas market
Arriving before hotel check-in or catching an evening train after a day of market hopping? Radical Storage partners with local shops and hotels across London, so you can drop your suitcase and walk around with nothing but a cup of mulled wine. Every booking includes protection up to €10,000 per bag and free cancellation, and travellers rate the service 4.8/5.
- Luggage storage near Hyde Park Winter Wonderland
- Luggage storage near the Southbank Centre
- Luggage storage near Covent Garden and Leicester Square
Frequently asked questions
The Southbank Centre Winter Market opens first, on 2 November 2026. Most other markets open between early and mid November, and Hyde Park Winter Wonderland opens on 19 November 2026.
Off-peak time slots are free, but you still need to book a ticket. Standard and peak slots, mostly evenings and weekends, are paid.
Trafalgar Square and the Southbank Centre on a weekday afternoon are usually calmer than Winter Wonderland or Leicester Square.
Winter Wonderland and the Southbank Centre Winter Market are closed on 25 December. The Southbank market also closes on 31 December.
Yes. Card and contactless payments are accepted almost everywhere, and many stalls no longer take cash.
Radical Storage has partner locations near Hyde Park, the South Bank and Covent Garden. You can book online, bags are protected up to €10,000 each and cancellation is free.