9 Festive Christmas Markets
Now that we’ve had Bonfire Night we don’t need to pretend that we aren’t excited about Christmas and we can start our Christmas shopping without feeling too eager. If you’d rather not battle the crowds in the shops and you don’t want to just order everything online (because there is nothing festive about an online checkout) head to one of London’s Christmas markets, because you can’t walk round a normal shop drinking mugs of wine… you can at these though:
Sutton House
A Historical Setting
There’s something about Christmas that gets us wanting to dig out our glue gun and make everything ourselves but for when time (or creativity…) isn’t on our side, we’re the first to buy handmade gifts – they’re still homemade, right? Hackney’s very own National Trust property, Sutton House, is welcoming the skilled stallholders from Soho Flea Market and Dalston Christmas market for their own handmade market – you’ll find everything from ceramicists to card makers. Oh, and a double decker caravan known as ‘The Grange’.
Weekends from 26th November – 18th December 2016, 12 – 5pm
Where: 2-4 Homerton High Street, Hackney, E9 6JQ
Website: www.nationaltrust.org.uk
Greenwich Market
The Only Market in a World Heritage site
Want to do your Christmas shopping in London’s only market set in a World Heritage site? Greenwich Market is the answer. With a strong collection of street food stalls, restaurants and pubs you won’t have to go far when hunger strikes and with 100 stalls selling crafts, antiques and fashion, we promise you will need somewhere to sit and recoup. The market is also child-friendly, complete with Santa in his grotto.
Where: 5b Greenwich Market, Greenwich, SE10 9HZ
Website: www.greenwichmarketlondon.com
Tate Modern Christmas Market
Wooden Huts and a Victorian Carousel
Get a dose of Christmas cheer with your culture. When you visit Tate Modern this Christmas you’ll find a Victorian carousel and wooden huts selling everything from wreaths to handmade chocolates so whether you are on a mission to track down last minute presents or simply want to soak up the atmosphere you will be able to. Music, mulled wine and German Bratwurst will help too…
19th November – 23rd December
Where: Tate Modern, Bankside, SE1 9TG
Website: www.xmas-markets.com
Crafty Fox Market
For One Day Only
Crafty Fox Market are hosting a Christmas market for one day at Oval Space in Bethnal Green – there’ll over 60 stalls selling unique gifts and crafts including Holly Francesca Cards, GRAYJAY Studios, Hoxton Mini Press and Relic. If you want to make something that no one else at all will have then Portable Print Studio will also be hosting a printing workshop where you can print your own t-shirt or tote bag.
19th November
Where: 29 - 32 The Oval, Bethnal Green, E2 9DU
Website: www.craftyfoxmarket.co.uk
Southbank Centre
The Best London Backdrop
Is Christmas really Christmas in London without an afternoon spent with the masses at Southbank Market? No, it’s not. Open until 10pm on Friday and Saturdays it would make for a festive date, have a couple of mulled wines, share a mince pie, feel all Christmassy and cute. Ahh. Or you know just go in the day and stock up on presents.
20th November – 24th December
Where: Belvedere Road, London, SE1 8XX, United Kingdom
Website: www.southbankcentre.co.uk
The Wonderland Collective
Eat Me Drink Me at Ealing Market
Each year we say we’re going to get ahead of the game when it comes to Christmas shopping and every year it’s the same – that mad dash that starts about a week before and the age-old worry of whether your order will be delivered in time. So, let’s make this year the year we actually achieve our Christmas shopping goals. Eat Me Drink Me the team behind W5 Food Market and Crafted W5 are launching The Wonderland Collective at Ealing Market a five -week pop up. House in traditional wooden cabins and with stalls changing weekly, you’ll be able to buy the likes of jewellery from Mala & Bunga and homewares from Popcorn Box. If you’ve already done your shopping (top marks) then head to the market for mulled wine and street from Woodbox Pizza and the German inspired food stalls.
18th November – 24th December
Where: Ealing Broadway Shopping Centre, Ealing, W5 5JY
Website: www.eat-me-drink-me.co.uk
London Bridge Christmas Market
Christmas by the River
If you think it’s cold now, during the Little Ice Age, fairs were held on the Thames…yep it was so frozen that they led an elephant down it at Blackfriars. Now of course there is no chance of that happening, so we’ll just have to settle for markets by the Thames. Returning for the third year is Christmas by the River which will fill More London, The Queen’s Walk, Hay’s Galleria and London Bridge City Pier with over 40 independent traders and of course plenty of mulled wine.
30th November– 3rd January
Where: Tower Bridge
Website: www.tudormarkets.com
Foodies Festival
GBBO’s Candice’s First Professional Appearance
Bake Off is still fresh in our mind – so fresh in fact that we won’t be surprised if we sit down with a cup of tea at 5 to 8 on Wednesday evening, ready for Mel and Sues familiar banter to open the show. Just as well then that Candice, this year’s winner, will be at Foodies Festival (the Christmas edition) when it comes to Old Truman Brewery next weekend. She’ll be joining Jane Devonshire, winner of MasterChef 2016, as they each host cookery demonstrations alongside a whole array of festive foodie experiences. An artisan Christmas market means you can gift loved ones the best thing of all… food. Artisan food, mind.
Where: Old Truman Brewery, 91 Brick Lane, Spitalfields, E1 6QR
Website: www.foodiesfestival.com
Real Food Christmas Market
The Foodies Market
Christmas is, let’s face it, a time of eating. But when Bratwurst and mulled wine seem to be the only option available, we all crave something a little more… classic. Enter Real Food Christmas Market at Kings Cross, where you’ll find everything from artisan cheeses to doughnuts. Buy your ham, stock up on mince pies and sample some of the finest foods London has to offer.
Where: Kings Cross Square, in front of the station, along Euston Road, N1C 9AL
Website: www.realfoodfestival.co.uk/
Want more Christmas Markets?
Duke of York Square: 3rd –4th December
Leicester Square: 11th November –8th January
Islington Christmas Market: 21st November – 24th December
Chelsea Christmas Gift Fair: 2nd – 3rd December
Check out all our Christmas page for all the latest festive happenings in London
