The best Christmas markets in London 2022, from Southbank Centre to Selfridges

There’s no need to make a beeline for Bavaria if you want to experience a Christmas market this winter; London is heaving with chalets, trees and twinkling lights.

Here, we’ve rounded up the places to check out, from the markets serving up mulled wine and mince pies, to those that will help you finally nab a gift for those hard-to-buy-for relatives. Tis the season and all that.

Leadenhall Market

Always one of the most picturesque displays at this time of year, Leadenhall Market is, as perhaps the name suggests, a great Christmas market. There are plenty of boutique stalls offering up gifts not easily found elsewhere, and plenty of food and drink too. If activities are your thing, step into Santa’s Workshop and let Leadenhall Market be your teacher — there are wreath making workshops and wine tasting sessions from November 17 onwards. Plus, there are some great pubs nearby if you’re hanging around for a drink.

From November 17, EC3, leadenhallmarket.co.uk

Borough Market

This historic market has routinely given itself a Christmas makeover with lights and decorations, and from the beginning of November 15 it’ll be lit up all over again, as the Christmas lights are hoisted and the halls are decked. The market is open from 10am until 5pm most days (and it’s even open on Christmas eve for the latecomers, but only 8am-3pm), while the famous Evening of Cheese returns on December 15 — consult with the market’s cheesemongers and get stocked up on blues, bries and more.

From November 15 until January 9, SE1, boroughmarket.org.uk

Southbank Centre

Things always get Christmassy along this stretch of the Thames, with Jimmy’s Lodge offering gooey fondue and gloopy toasted marshmallows in its transparent “snow globes”, and a blissful trail of lights all along the market. The market vendors are a treat, too, with alpine-style chalets serving up everything from gifts and decorations to mince pies and hot toddies.

Until January 8, SE1, southbankcentre.co.uk

Greenwich Market

Another excellent place to swing by and pick up a unique gift, Greenwich Market has all manner of wares ready for your perusal, from arts and crafts to jewellery and fashion. Expect lots of seasonal food and drink to keep you well-fuelled while you browse, too. It’s open seven days a week, now until 6pm — making it easy for those who want to pop in after work to collect a couple of last minute gifts.

Starts Nov 16, SE10, greenwichmarket.london

Kingston

With 40 separate stalls to wander around, this market down in Kingston is the place to go in the south-west. Shopping stalls are on hand for stocking fillers, and the food vendors cook up hog roasts, bratwurst and other cold weather staples. Londoners can even drop by for a spot of Bavarian curling on their synthetic ice.

November 10-December 24, KT1, kingstonchristmasmarket.co.uk

King’s Cross

There’s one big USP to this market — it sits beneath a canopy, so if the weather gets up to its old tricks, you’ll be safe. Otherwise, expect to find everything from cheese to natural wine, and a wide variety of creations from the independent designer-makers that will take residence. Head down from December 2-4 for a special fashion market with all the hottest, most up-and-coming designers in Coal Drops Yard, and from December 10-12 for a special Mexican Christmas market.

Starts December 1, N1C, kingscross.co.uk

Selfridges

While it may not be the Selfridges Christmas market as you know it — sadly the large outdoor market with street food vendors and performances from Santa himself (what a headliner!) isn’t on this year, but the alternative is just as good, and twice as sustainable.

The South London Makers Market are hosting a pop up Christmas market inside Selfridges this festive season, for the second year in a row. The pop-up runs for four days, from November 24 to 29, and will have a wide range of jewellery, homeware, art, skincare, candles, accessories and Christmas cards on offer.

It may not be a huge event, but it’s worth a while if you’re in the area — and we all have to brave Oxford Street at least once during Christmastime.

From November 24, W1A, eventbrite.co.uk

Battersea Power Station

Again, not truly a Christmas market, but well worth mentioning. Battersea Power Station just opened to the public following its long restoration, and this winter it’s also treating guests to an ice rink.

Located just outside the power station, the rink boasts a bar serving mulled wine, a ferris wheel, and a Jo Malone pop up (the perfumer is the sponsor).

Until January 8, SW8, batterseapowerstation.co.uk

Pexmas

For the south east London crew there’s Pexmas, Peckham’s very own Christmas market, hosted in Copeland Park (which means it’s walled, covered and much warmer than most Xmas markets, not something to be taken for granted).

It’s a bit of a flash in the pan compared to the other Christmas markets as it only runs for two days, but Pexmas is not to be missed: there are over 100 independent traders and stalls each day of the market, with prints, plants, beauty products, ceramics, clothes, accessories, jewellery, homewares, food and drinks, textiles - everything you can think of basically - on offer.

December 3-4, SE15, pexmas.com

Bohemia Place Market

Hackney’s own Bohemia Place is hosting its Christmas Market once again, and this year there’s a Christmas beer festival too. The organisers are promising plenty of ethical, vegan and sustainably sourced goodies as well as a vast assortment of hot and cold food vendors, and yet more mulled wine.

This market is on every weekend, as well as Fridays, where it runs as late as 10pm — you could call it a party market, of sorts. The Friday nights are also when the beer festival runs (on November 2, 9 and 16) with tons of local breweries present, as well as a DJ set until closing time. And if you get peckish, there’s Caribbean fusion, soul food, vegan ‘hogless’ hog roasts, and festive burgers too.

Beware that, though it’s free, a ticket is required to get in.

From November 26, E8, @bohemiaplacemarkets