Best London Christmas markets for 2015

The festive Christmas season in London will see high streets and shopping centres bustling with holiday shoppers, mad rushes for presents and last-minute gift buying. Of course the high street alone may not satisfy everyone’s tastes and needs, so here are a few selections of some of the best markets and a few hidden gems London has to offer this winter.

Southbank Centre Winter Festival
The Southbank will be decorated in the sights and sounds of Christmas as the annual winter festivities get underway in Waterloo. The next few months or so will be full of entertainment and cultural experiences that appeal to all ages. There will be wooden stalls stretched across the riverside (selling handmade crafts, gifts, festive food and mulled wine), and a variety of attractions, pop-up performances and charity weekends to entertain the crowd. With so much going on it will surely fulfil anyone’s idea of a winter experience.

When: 27^th October – 17^th January 2016
Where: Southbank Centre
Open: 11am – 11pm daily
Nearest Tube: Waterloo
Cost: Free (purchase tickets for attractions)
For further information visit here.

Barbican Christmas Market
Perhaps most recognised as a successful music and arts venue, the Barbican Centre will host an alternative Christmas shopping experience for three weekends this December. With hot chocolate, mulled wine and mince pies serving a slice of festive vibes, and more than 35 independent makers, designers and artists (with stalls varying each weekend) showcasing some unique and attractive gifts, illustrations, crafts and designs, Christmas shopping at the Barbican will be an experience like no other.

When: 4^th – 20^th December
Where: Barbican Centre
Open: 12 – 8:30pm, Fri-Sun on these dates: 4-6, 11-13, 18-20
Nearest Tube: Barbican/Moorgate
Cost: Free
For further information visithere.

Hyde Park Winter Wonderland
Within the vast greenery of Hyde Park, Winter Wonderland will bring an extravaganza of Christmas fun and entertainment for the next few months. Colourful, bright lights will illuminate the buzzing festive atmosphere from day to night, hundreds of Bavarian-styled stalls will sell lovely gifts, crafts and stocking fillers, high-quality food and drinks will be served throughout, and there will be plenty of rides and attractions to delight the younger ones including an ice rink, giant observation wheel and the Ice Kingdom.

When: 20^th November – 3^rd January 2016 (except Christmas Day)
Where: Hyde Park
Open: 10am – 10pm daily
Nearest Tube: Hyde Park Corner/Green Park
Cost: Free (purchase tickets for rides & attractions)
For further information visithere. 

Crafty Fox Market
For something a little bit different, Crafty Fox Market is one to explore. Organised as a series of events, one of London’s favourite independent markets will give the opportunity for shoppers to avoid the chaotic crowds of city centre high streets and indulge in a wonderful array of creative crafts, gifts, graphic designs and illustrations. Crafty Fox Market will be dotted around various dates, times and places in London: The Dogstar, Brixton (5^th and 6^th), The Museum of London Docklands (8^th), CLT Art Café in the Bussey Building, Peckham (12^th and 13^th) and The Geffrye Museum, Hoxton (17^th). Each day and venue will have different traders and makers, so pop by on multiple days for a wider choice of gifts!

When: 5^th – 17^th December
Where: Various Locations in London
Open: 11am – 5pm (The Dogstar & CLT Art Café), 4pm – 9pm (Museum of London Docklands & Geffrye Museum)
Nearest Tube: Brixton (The Dogstar), West India Quay (Museum of London Docklands), Peckham Rye (CLT Art Café), Hoxton (Geffrye Museum)
Cost: Free (All venues)
For further information visit here.

London Bridge City Christmas Market
The London Bridge City Christmas Market is another place to get your holiday shopping done whilst taking in the wonderful festive displays and the magnificent view of city attractions by the riverside. Glittering Christmas decorations and more than 100 independent stalls and traders will cover the area selling crafts, gifts and delicious food and drink, while live music and carol singing will hope to entertain crowds.

When: 30^th November – 3^rd January 2016
Where: More London Riverside, Hay’s Galleria, London Bridge City Pier
Open: 11am – 8pm
Nearest Tube: London Bridge
Cost: Free
For further information visit here.

Islington Christmas Market
To see what North London has to offer, check out Islington Christmas Market. Introduced back in 2012, the annual market in Islington Green had been growing in popularity, and this year there will be over 70 exhibitors from across the UK (30 exhibitors will be there each week) selling a diverse range of products, including fine chocolates, wine, beauty care products, clothing and accessories.

When: 4^th – 20^th December
Where: Islington Green
Open: 10am – 6pm Mon-Sat, 12 – 5pm Sun
Nearest Tube: Angel
Cost: Free
For further information visithere.

Isaku Takahashi