There's nothing like a Christmas market to get you into the festive season spirit, glass of mulled wine in hand.

From the show stopping all-out festive extravaganzas, to the neighbourhood markets with community vibes, here are some of the best Christmas markets in London spreading the festive cheer.

1 Winter by the River, Tower Bridge

In the shadow of Tower Bridge, this Christmas festival comes with market stalls filled with handmade presents and crafty treasures and food vendors selling K-dogs, burgers, empanadas and the like. There’s also two pop-up bars that have heated and covered sections as well as outdoor sections, which over Thame-side views as well as beverages.

Last but not least, Winter by the River has private karaoke rooms so you and up to nine mates can belt out festive bangers, living your best Beyoncé life.

Dates: November 14 – January 1

Address: London Bridge City, 2A More London Place, SE1 2DB

Website: londonbridgecity.co.uk

2 ICE at Kensington Palace

While primarily London’s plush new ice skating rink, ICE at Kensington Palace will also have luxurious shopping and food options, as it has partnered up with Fortnum & Mason. If you’re looking for elaborate hampers and sublime edible gifts, head here

Dates: October 21 to February 24, 2024

Tickets: From £19/£16

Address: Kensington Palace Grounds, Bayswater Road, W8 4QP

Website: iceatkensingtonpalace.co.uk

3 Miracle in Leake Street Christmas Market, Waterloo

As part of Leake Street’s Home Alone 2 inspired Christmas event, the street will host a craft market. There’s also a screening of Home Alone 2, a street party, performances, free wreath making workshops and face-painting, as well as food and drink from Lower Marsh Market traders.

Date: Thursday, December 7

Tickets: Free but register for a ticket here eventbrite.co.uk

Address: Leake Street Waterloo SE1 8SW

Website: wearewaterloo.co.uk

4 Ram Quarter Christmas Market, Wandsworth

A one day festive pop up market opens in Ram Quarter in November, peddling indulgent food and drink as well as crafts and clothing and other unique treats suitable for presents and stocking fillers.

Date: November 25

Tickets: free

Address: Wandsworth High Street, Wandsworth, SW18 1TH

Website: ramquarter.com

5 Eccleston Yards’ Makers Christmas Market, Belgravia 

This wonderful Christmas market in the picturesque courtyard of Eccleston Yards sees independent traders peddle a variety of hand-crafted gifts, from candles and jewellery to socks and slippers. Complete the festive experience with live music, mince pies and spiced mulled wine. 

Date: November 15 

Time: 2.30pm-8.30pm 

Tickets: Free 

Address: Eccleston Yards, SW1W 9AZ 

Website: belgravialdn.com

6 TOAST Market, Mexican Christmas Market, Crafty Fox & Canopy Market Lates, King’s Cross 

Several festive Christmas markets pop up at King’s Cross, all with their own individual flavour. Lifestyle retailer TOAST will host Coal Drops Yard festive market this year, showcasing the makers who have collaborated with the brand (Nov 9-Dec 23). Canopy Market Lates return (Nov 9 – Dec 14) with artisan gifts, live music and street food and drink each Thursday until 9pm. Lower Stable Street Market Lates will also run until 9m every Thursday (Nov 9 – Dec 14). Christmas under the Canopy (Nov 23-Dec 23) runs Tuesdays to Thursdays peddling artisan traders and food stalls including mulled wine and cider stalls. Also look out for a Mexican Christmas Market (Dec 1-3), an Illustrators Festive Fair (Dec 9), Crafty Club Market (Dec 10), and Crafty Fox brings its Christmas edition to the crossing once more (Dec 16-17) which supports emerging designers, makers and artists.

Tickets: Free 

Address: In and around Coal Drops Yard N1C 4DQ and Granary Square, N1C 4BH 

Website: kingscross.co.uk 

7 London Christmas Beer Festival, Tobacco Dock 

***2023 event cancelled*** From the London Craft Beer Festival team comes this festive, yeasty festival. A bumper two-day celebration, more than 100 bars and stalls will be packed with your favourite festive treats, which you can enjoy with your mates then and there, or (and) order ahead in time for Christmas. The market features brews from UK’s finest indie breweries, food from a selection of fab restaurants and food vendors, a drag queen and a live Christmas gospel choir.  

Dates: TBC

Tickets: TBC

Address: Tobacco Dock, Wapping E1W 2SF 

Website: londonchristmasbeerfestival.com 

8 Novikov’s Mayfair Christmas Market 

Packing a lot in, expect santa and reindeer as well as an Asahi bar and a champagne bar and house DJs on every night. Also, Minstrels & Carol Singers will woo you at various times over the day while you peruse stalls and tuck into indulgent treats such as chocolate, caviar, and oysters.  

Date: November 23-25

Time: 11am-9pm 

Tickets: Free entry 

Address: Mayfair Place W1 

Website: novikovrestaurant.co.uk

9 Winter Wonderland, Hyde Park 

It’s hard to beat Winter Wonderland, one of London’s biggest festive attractions. Browse the 100+ fairy light lit Bavarian-style wooden chalets near the ice-skating rink and pick out gifts for friends and family. Open during the day, but far more impressive at night. Look out for craftspeople holding live demos of their skills. 

Date: November 17 - January 1, 2024 Closed Christmas Day 

Time: Daily 10am-10pm

Tickets: Winter Wonderland entry from free

Address: Hyde Park, W2 2UH 

Website: hydeparkwinterwonderland.com

10 Chelsea Physic Garden Christmas Fair 

A sweet festive event with a community feel set in delightful surrounds. More than 100 handpicked stalls showcasing independent makers and suppliers will set up shop for the market, along with food and drink traders too.

Date: November 23-26

Tickets: £8 

Address: 66 Royal Hospital Road, London SW3 4HS 

Website: chelseaphysicgarden.co.uk

11 Southbank Centre Winter Festival and Winter Market 

Southbank Centre’s Winter Festival is an all-out celebration of Christmas with Thames-side views. The Winter Market showcases traders from around the world, offering an array of handmade gifts and street food from wooden chalets. Indulge in festive favourites, shop for seasonal goodies and enjoy warming drinks – pick up a mulled wine, hot toddy or a hot chocolate to cradle as you browse. Then, admire the light installations or try your luck at curling. 

Date: October 28 – January 7 

Tickets: Free

Address: Queen’s Walk, South Bank SE1 8XX 

Website: southbankcentre.co.uk

12 Fulham Palace Christmas Fair

The annual Fulham Palace Christmas Fair comes with more than 40 stalls celebrating up-and-coming businesses and artisans selling fine foods and gifts such as artwork, jewellery and spirits. There will also be a hot of festive entertainment including swing boats, choir carols, live instrumental music, Father Christmas, face painting and winter crafts. 

Dates: December 2-3

Tickets: From £5/£3 

Address: Bishop’s Avenue, Fulham, SW6 6EA 

Website: fulhampalace.org

13 Christmas at Greenwich Market 

Greenwich Market is great all year round, but this time of year it comes with the addition of sparkling Christmas lights, mulled wine, Santa’s grotto and the Late Night Wednesdays Arts & Crafts Gift Market – all set within a World Heritage site. Shop for gifts galore at up to 120 stalls with music, mulled wine and street food. It all kicks off with the annual Lantern Parade and Christmas Lights On with the procession starting in front of the Tourist Information Centre at the ORNC before the lights on and carol singing. 

Dates: From November 15

Tickets: Unticketed 

Address: Greenwich High Road SE10 9HZ 

Website: greenwichmarket.london

14 Christmas in Leicester Square 

Leicester Square, London’s home of entertainment since 1670, offers a sparkling programme of high energy entertainment and events, as well as a buzzing European-style Christmas Market. Christmas in Leicester Square transforms the central gardens into a festive pop-up market with more than 30 stalls purveying a fine selection of yuletide food, drink and gifts, plus a storytelling Santa’s Grotto. There’s also a line-up of great shows, such as La Clique and Drag nights - curated by Underbelly and performed in a beautiful 1920s Belgian Spiegel tent. 

Dates: November 8-January 7, 2024 

Tickets: Free entry 

Address: Leicester Square, WC2H 7NA 

Website: christmasinleicestersquare.com

15 Christmas at Covent Garden  

Amongst all its festivities, Covent Garden – a shopping destination every day of the year - hosts various markets throughout the festive season, amongst pop ups and trader events. Popping up alongside the neighbourhood’s resident traders, there’s the Festive Food Market, which will see restaurants jump in on the action, and dining igloos appear. The Winter Warmer Festival runs throughout November, and Festive Thursdays – late night shopping and festive happy hours – will also start in November and into December. Also look out for the Christmas Sandwich Festival.

Date: From November 7 

Address: Covent Garden, WC2E 

Website: coventgarden.london

16 Pexmas Festive Market, Peckham 

Celebrating local and independent makers and businesses, Pexmas sees a rotating roster of traders selling their wares over a weekend this December. It will feature more than 50 unique small stalls each day peddling prints, plants, bath products, ceramics, clothes, accessories, jewellery, homewares, foodie gifts, craft beers and wines. Watch out for street food and some pretty good mulled wine simmering away too. 

Date: December 2-3 

Tickets: Unticketed 

Address: Copeland Gallery, Copeland Park, 133 Copeland Road, Peckham SE15 3SN 

Website: pexmas.com

17 Wednesdays at Columbia Road, Hackney

***2023 event details unconfirmed*** A charming series of late-night shopping evenings fuelled by mulled wine, carol singing and loads of community spirit. Wander in and out of the shops and pubs that line the street and get amongst the revelry. Don't forget, you can also pick up your Christmas tree and the florally bits and pieces you need for decorations such as table arrangements and wreaths. 

Date: Wednesday November 29, Dec 6, 13, 20

Time: 5pm-9pm

Tickets: Unticketed

Address: Columbia Road, E2 7RG

Website: columbiaroad.info