Busy street in London with two phone boxes and Christmas lights

The best Christmas markets in London

By Karleen Stevens

Think summer’s the best time to visit London? Think again! If you happen to be in this enigmatic city as the days get colder and the nights get longer, you’ll notice a proliferation of twinkly lights that can only mean one thing – Christmas markets have appeared! There are plenty to choose from, each with their own charm – some are in grand, industrial-looking steel and glass constructions, in others you’ll find endless lanes of wooden chalet-style stalls more reminiscent of an open-air market in Germany. Whichever your preference, you’re bound to come away with some festive spirit, because nothing cheers up a dreary winter like fairy lights, mulled wine and some retail therapy! Some of London’s best include:

  • Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park
  • Covent Garden Christmas Village
  • Leicester Square
  • Southbank
  • Maltby Street
  • King’s Cross
  • Greenwich
  • Hampton Court

Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park

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The biggest (and most famous) of London’s markets, Hyde Park comes to life every year from the end of November to the beginning of January with this theme park-like open air market. Taking up most of the park between Wellington Arch, Marble Arch and Kensington Palace, you’ll find stalls selling all manner of handmade gifts, from traditional gingerbread hearts to candles, suncatchers and personalized Christmas decorations. It’s not just about the shopping, though – you’ll also find Bavarian-style chalets serving beer and oompah music, an ice rink, ice sculptures and rides and games for the whole family.

Covent Garden Christmas Village

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Covent Garden market is lively at any time of year, but it gets an extra sprinkling of magic dust at Christmas. A giant tree adorns the square and the roof of the South Hall in the main building is transformed into a colorful Christmas canopy. There’s a pop-up Christmas village, and all the regular stall holders get into the spirit with decorations and Christmas gift offerings. To add to the festivities, there are always plenty of buskers plying their trade in the square, so find a good spot to watch and soak up the Christmas cheer, whatever time of day you’re there.

Leicester Square

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Not far from Covent Garden is Leicester Square, famous for film premieres and M&M World – except at Christmas, when this modest plaza is packed to the edges with Christmas attractions. It’s free to explore, so warm your hands with a hot drink, wander through the maze of stalls and entertainers and perhaps indulge your inner child with a carousel ride. It’s quite compact, so you can easily see it all before or after your evening’s entertainment, or you could stay and enjoy a show here at the specially constructed Spiegeltent.

The South Bank

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There’s just something special about a market on a riverbank. Perhaps it’s the gentle sound of lapping water, the skyline views up and down the river or the reflection of thousands of fairy lights – either way, the Southbank Markets in London are not to be missed! As well as gifts and trinkets you’ll find plenty to keep you warm, from burgers and bratwurst to waffles and fondue. The Southbank Center always puts on a good show – it’ll be busy, though, so if you find a good spot to sit, grab it straight away and settle in for an evening of live carol singing, street entertainers and people-watching. If it’s too much, head along the river past Shakespeare’s Globe Theater, and you’ll find the less-touristy but just as charming Borough Markets.

Maltby Street

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Nestled under the main railroad line at London Bridge are the Maltby Street markets, which turn into a kind of grown-up street party every Friday night in December. Explore the labyrinth of narrow streets and lanes, with stalls and shops tucked neatly under railroad arches, and stroll up the main alley, known as Rope Walk. This is mainly a street food affair, so get stuck into such culinary delights as tapas, steak, cheese, patisserie or waffles – there’s also plenty to wash it down with, including mulled wine and craft gin. If you fancy sitting outdoors there’s always live entertainment and craft demonstrations, but if things are feeling a little nippy, pop into the nearby Bierkeller in Bermondsey for a warming meal and hearty atmosphere.

King’s Cross

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If you prefer your Christmas markets with a Dickensian feel, head for the indoor delights of the Canopy Christmas Market at King’s Cross in Coal Drops Yard. This curiously-named building has a large Victorian roof, which adds its own charm as well as keeping the weather out. Here you’ll find plenty of artisan craft and produce to take home, but while you’re there you might as well enjoy a tasting or two, along with live entertainment and various cooking masterclasses. There’s also one weekend each December dedicated to Vegan produce, so be sure to look it up for animal-free food, clothes, homewares and cosmetics.

Greenwich

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Head east down the river a bit and you’ll find the maritime borough of Greenwich, famous for the National Maritime Museum, Royal Naval College and Royal Observatory (you might also recognize it from its appearance in Thor: The Dark World). There’s also a regency-period undercover market, which is lively all year but is especially good at Christmas, when evening opening hours are extended and Santa makes an appearance in his special grotto. Add to the adventure by getting there via the river, and be sure to try a bit of ice skating or climb aboard the Cutty Sark.

Hampton Court Palace

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If you need to get out of the city for a day, head south-west and in less than an hour you’ll be at Hampton Court Palace, Henry VIII’s favorite country escape. If you visit on the right weekend in December, even better, because you’ll be able to enjoy its Festive Fayre, complete with ye olde castle background and (somewhat more modern) ice rink and street food. Just for the weekend there are special carol services held in the Chapel Royal, and since you’re there you might as well explore the vast rooms and grounds of Hampton Court, which will be fully decked out in the season’s best finery. Highlights include the vast kitchens, the sumptuous banqueting hall and the yew hedge maze.

Celebrate the silly season with Go City

Warm up this winter with some retail therapy at London’s best Christmas markets. Be sure to have your Go City Explorer Pass handy, so you’ll save on all the city’s hottest attractions as well!

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Shop fronts in Camden London
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Things to do in Camden London

Linked with London’s various counter culture movements, Camden is much loved by those who believe they don’t fit in elsewhere, which, let’s face it, is all of us. It generally draws a younger crowd to its markets, live music venues, museums and green spaces. But if you’re wondering if it’s worth you visiting Camden, you’ll first want to know about the things to do in Camden London and what the area is all about. Camden, usually used to mean the Camden Town neighborhood, is an area of north London adjacent to Regent’s Park. Its quirky character – seeing young professionals rubbing shoulders with hipsters and dreadlocked wannabe revolutionaries – has attracted everyone from American poet Sylvia Plath to Grammy award winning singer-songwriter Amy Winehouse. Why? That’s exactly what we’re here to demonstrate! Go wild Camden contains over 160 blue plaques – denoting places where significant personalities have lived. However, it’s the neighborhood's non-human residents that capture the hearts of many visitors to north London. ZSL London Zoo is one of the world’s oldest and continues to be one of its most important conservation centers too. Visitors are able to get closer than ever before to Asiatic lions – of which only 400 exist in the wild, alongside gorillas and the creatures of London’s only rainforest. The zoo occupies the northernmost parts of Regent’s Park, one of London’s eight royal parks. Here visitors can take in the 12,000 individual roses that color Queen Mary’s Gardens each spring and summer, take a turn on the boating lake or wander across to Primrose Hill for views of the London skyline. Another spot to take in the quieter side of life in Camden is along the towpath of Regent’s Canal. Almost 14 km in length, the canal encircles much of north London, with some of its most picturesque areas being that within Regent’s Park and leading towards the market stalls of Camden Lock. Go shopping Forget the flagship stores of Oxford Street, Camden is all about its market stalls. Now primarily geared towards the tourist industry, you’re not going to be able to stock up on fruit and veg as easily as you once might have. However, you will have plenty of choice when it comes to books, clothing and street food. That’s because Camden actually has five markets within walking distance of one another. The most famous is Camden Lock Market, whose stalls are located around Regent’s Canal. For fashion, head to Buck Street Market, whilst antiques aficionados might prefer Stables Market. If you start to miss the big store names, you’ll find them – and a good number of independent boutiques – on Camden High Street. Go cultural Founded in 1932, Camden’s Jewish Museum recounts details of the life of London’s Jewish populations over the years. Its treasures include the Lindo Lamp – the first Hanukkah menorah known to have been made in Britain. Covering three stories of a row of buildings in Albert Street, it also has an important collection of artefacts from Auschwitz concentration camp and several significant works of art. A taste for modern and contemporary art is catered for at Cob Gallery, whose white walls are used to primarily represent emerging female artists based in the London area. The paintings and drawings hanging in the gallery offer perhaps the first chance to examine the work of artists sure to hit the mainstream sometime soon. An even greater range of artists can be discovered at the annual Frieze Art Fair, taking place each October in Regent’s Park. One of the highlights of London’s cultural calendar, the fair hosts over 150 galleries from around the world, dotting the park with large scale sculpture as paintings find a home in the temporary structure built purposely each year. Go for a bite to eat The constant stream of visitors to Camden means you only have to walk a few meters before catching the scent of food and drink from around the world. From traditional British fish and chips to Neapolitan pizza, Jamaican jerk chicken and Middle Eastern wraps, there’s something to tempt everyone’s taste buds. On the drinks front, Camden has its very own brewery, the Camden Town Brewery, whose core range includes the award-winning German style Hells Lager and Gentleman's Wit, a Belgian white beer with a hint of Earl Grey tea. What could be more Camden than that? For a trustworthy authentic pub to sample the brewery’s latest batches try the Hawley Arms, a pub Amy Winehouse liked so much she would serve behind the bar. A statue of her stands not too far away in Stables Market. Go for a night out like no other Based in a converted railroad shed where engines were turned and stored, the Roundhouse is a theater and auditorium hosting everything from performances of Shakespeare to the Britten Sinfonia and Bob Dylan. Meanwhile the Electric Ballroom is a stalwart of the indie music scene – with occasional performances by the likes of Ed Sheeran too. The Jazz Café provides a space for blues fans, and anyone with an interest in traditional English folk need only head to Cecil Sharp House to get their fill of the vibes. For nightlife in Camden combining cocktails and live DJs, check out Belushis, who has a laid-back afterwork ambience during the week, turning to a full-on dance-till-dawn ethos come the weekend. For ease of access alone – right opposite Camden Town Underground station – The Underworld is also worth mentioning. It welcomes an eclectic crowd ready to fill the dance floor when the top indie and rock tunes hit the speakers. Uncover the myriad things to do in Camden London By day and by night, there are a huge number of things to do in Camden London. But if you’re still looking for more to fill your days in the UK capital, the British Museum is just a short distance away, alongside the Curzon Bloomsbury Cinema and Freud Museum. Visit these attractions with Go City and you’ll make incredible savings on admission costs, meaning there’s even more reason to take in the sites of this small part of north London!
Ian Packham
London Eye
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Things to do in South Bank London

Born out of the 1951 Festival of Britain and home to the London Eye, London’s South Bank occupies a prime area of riverside between Blackfriars and Lambeth Bridges. With views across the Thames to the Houses of Parliament, and galleries, theaters and other major attractions to keep you entertained, the South Bank is an unmissable part of the London cultural scene. Check out the top things to do in South Bank London right here! Enjoy the riverside location With so many familiar landmarks and photographic opportunities it would be difficult to list them all, London’s South Bank is a part of the capital you’ll want to tackle on foot. Running uninterrupted from Lambeth Bridge to the west through to Tower Bridge in the east, the Queen’s Walk follows the banks of the Thames past many of the neighborhood’s big ticket attractions. However, don’t miss the temptation to detour down its warren of side streets, which amongst other points of interest include the graffiti of Leake Street tunnel and the Old Vic Theatre – established in 1818 and still one of London’s most important performances spaces. Initially constructed as a temporary attraction to celebrate the new millennium in the year 2000, the London Eye has become a firm fixture on London itineraries. With a diameter of 120 meters, it’s one of the world’s largest Ferris wheels, although what sets it apart from the competition is its unrivalled views of the Houses of Parliament and St Paul’s Cathedral. On clear days, the views stretch 65 kilometers. Sticking firmly in the area, Gabriel’s Wharf is a little bit of authentic London within the glitz and glamor of the riverside. A pedestrianized thoroughfare lined with independent stores, cafés and restaurants, it has something for everyone, including access to the urban beach which appears on the Queen’s Walk each summer. Take your pick of South Bank’s museums When it comes to things to do in South Bank London, its museums should be high on your must-do list. Edging its southern boundary, the Imperial War Museum blends spectacular displays – the main atrium is hung with a Spitfire and V2 rockets – and the voices of ordinary citizens during times of conflict. Recognizable by the giant naval guns that dominate its front façade, also keep an eye out for the slither of Berlin Wall that sits in the gardens. Green spaces remain the theme of London’s Garden Museum. Using the former Church of St Mary-at-Lambeth as its exhibition space, it displays objects from 400 years of gardening, including the recreation of a 17th Century knot garden. Because of its previous life, the gardens also contain several tombs, such as that to Vice-Admiral William Bligh, the man who survived the Mutiny on the Bounty. Next door to the Garden Museum is the London residence of the Archbishop of Canterbury, the country’s most senior Church of England cleric. Lambeth Palace opens its gardens to the public just a few times each year, most commonly on the first Friday of the month during the spring, with admission fees going to local charities. Spend an afternoon at the Southbank Centre The bare concrete form of the Southbank Centre is an unavoidable presence filling 11 acres of prime real estate with auditoria, galleries, libraries and their adjoining meeting points. Providing performance space for no less than eight orchestras, traveling art exhibitions and a busy calendar of live events, the center is a hub of action right through the day. The Hayward Gallery hosts three or four exhibitions on modern and contemporary art each year, with past smash hit shows dedicated to Roy Lichtenstein and Bridget Riley. Meanwhile, the National Theatre, the brainchild of Sir Lawrence Olivier, has brought Hollywood royalty to its stage – Helen Mirren, Glen Close and Julie Walters are just a few of its well-known names. Things to do at the Southbank Centre also include looking for books at the secondhand market, admiring the tricks of the skateboarders in the Undercroft and soaking in the river views from the rooftop garden bar – and that’s when there’s no official event taking place! For epic cinema experiences, turn your attention to the Odeon BFI IMAX a three minute walk away. Containing the largest screen in the UK, screenings vary between specially created movies and some of the top blockbusters of the moment. Things to do in South Bank with the kids Surely one of the most unusual locations for a day out with the kids, South Bank’s County Hall is a listed building, putting it on a par with Westminster Bridge and the BBC’s Broadcasting House for national significance. But enter its interior and you’ll be faced with a very different scene from when it was home to the Greater London Council in the 1980s. Situated on the riverfront beside the London Eye, its central portion has been taken over by Shrek’s Adventure!, comprising a live immersive walk-through of a brand new story involving the world’s favorite ogre. Monsters – human and otherwise – are also in abundance amid the rides and live actors of The London Dungeon next door. Featuring 19 shows and two rides, it takes visitors on a tour of a thousand years of history, stopping by events such as the 1605 Gunpowder Plot and the streets of Whitechapel as they were terrorized by Jack the Ripper. Altogether more wholesome is the SEA LIFE Center London Aquarium. In the same County Hall building, highlights include the Shark Walk tunnel, a small colony of penguins and the country’s largest living coral reef in a tank 12 meters long. Discover the wonder of London’s South Bank Welcome to London’s South Bank, a small area of the British capital big on attractions. Easily accessible by train and Tube, this once humble south London neighborhood now contains some of the most loved attractions in the city. Things to do in South Bank London include floating above the Thames in one of the pods of the London Eye and sinking to the depths of the ocean in the London Aquarium. In between, there’s narrow streets dating back centuries, important museum collections and a fine array of restaurants too. Explore with Go City and you’ll be able to make great savings as you discover the South Bank for yourself!
Ian Packham
Christmas in London
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Christmas in London | Go City®

Christmas, the most magical time of the year and what better place to spend it than London? Christmas in London is known for its holiday lights and dizzying array of festive activities, so whether you’re looking to stroll the streets in the crisp winter air or hide away from the British weather, this guide has all the ideas you need and more! Save on London attraction admission Christmas is a magical time to visit London, but the endless activities can become pretty pricey. With Go City® you’ll save on entry to many of London’s top attractions, ditch endless paper tickets and have the flexibility you want for a stress-free holiday.
Alice Padfield

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