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London’s Christmas markets open between 31 October and 26 November 2026, and most run until Sunday 3 January 2027. The biggest, Hyde Park Winter Wonderland, opens from Thursday 19 November 2026 to Sunday 3 January 2027, closed only on Christmas Day, and it is the one London Christmas market that charges for entry. The Southbank Centre Winter Market by the Thames runs from Monday 2 November 2026 to 3 January 2027 and is free.
This guide gives the confirmed 2026-2027 dates for London’s main Christmas markets, what Winter Wonderland entry costs, and how to get between the markets by Tube.
When are the London Christmas markets in 2026?
The London Christmas markets run from late October 2026 to early January 2027, with each market setting its own dates. The 2026-2027 dates for the main markets are listed below, from the organisers where they have published them and from Time Out London’s 2026 round-up otherwise.
| Market | Location | 2026-2027 dates |
|---|---|---|
| Christmas in Leicester Square | Leicester Square, West End | 31 Oct 2026 – 3 Jan 2027 |
| Southbank Centre Winter Market | Queen’s Walk, South Bank | 2 Nov 2026 – 3 Jan 2027 |
| Christmas in Trafalgar Square | Trafalgar Square | 6 Nov 2026 – 3 Jan 2027 |
| Winter by the River | London Bridge City, by Tower Bridge | 10 Nov 2026 – 3 Jan 2027 |
| Covent Garden Christmas | Covent Garden Piazza | From 12 Nov 2026 (lights switch-on) |
| Kingston Christmas Market | Ancient Market Place, Kingston upon Thames | 12 Nov 2026 – 3 Jan 2027 |
| Hyde Park Winter Wonderland | Hyde Park | 19 Nov 2026 – 3 Jan 2027, closed 25 Dec |
| King’s Cross Winter Market | Granary Square, King’s Cross | 26 Nov 2026 – 3 Jan 2027 |
Every market on this list except Winter Wonderland is listed as free to enter, though at Leicester Square the stalls sit around a ticketed ice rink, so check the entry rules before you go.
What is the biggest Christmas market in London?
Hyde Park Winter Wonderland is the biggest Christmas event in London, a festive park of Christmas markets, rides, a giant wheel and an ice kingdom that Time Out calls one of the capital’s most popular Christmas outings for 19 years running.
Hyde Park Winter Wonderland
Hyde Park Winter Wonderland opens every day from Thursday 19 November 2026 to Sunday 3 January 2027 except Christmas Day, according to its organiser. It stays open until 22:00 every evening, with last entry at 21:30. Most days open at 10:00, but a number of weekdays in November and December open at 11:00, 12:00 or, on 1 December, 14:00, so check the date you want before you go.
Entry to Winter Wonderland needs a timed ticket, and the 2026 prices include booking fees. The 3 entry prices are listed below.
- Off-peak entry: £1.00 ($1.35, €1.17). Off-peak entry covers the green time slots, including Monday to Thursday throughout November.
- Standard entry: £5.50 ($7.45, €6.40). Standard entry covers the gold time slots, available all day on some dates and in many morning and afternoon slots.
- Peak entry: £8.25 ($11.15, €9.60). Peak entry covers the orange time slots, mostly later in the day and at weekends.
Entry is free if you pre-book online and spend £25 ($34, €29) on rides, attractions or food and drink deals in the same transaction. Rides and attractions cost extra. The nearest Tube stations are Hyde Park Corner (Piccadilly line) and Marble Arch (Central line).
Which Christmas markets in London are free?
The free Christmas markets in London are the Southbank Centre, Trafalgar Square, Covent Garden, Winter by the River, King’s Cross and Kingston markets, which charge nothing to walk in, and Leicester Square, which Visit London also lists as free. Each is described below.
Southbank Centre Winter Market
The Southbank Centre Winter Market runs from Monday 2 November 2026 to Sunday 3 January 2027 along Queen’s Walk, under Hungerford Bridge, according to the Southbank Centre. The stalls open from 11:00 to 22:00 and the bars from 11:00 to 23:00. Visit London recommends it for riverside views and street food, and its nearest station is Waterloo.
Christmas in Trafalgar Square
Christmas in Trafalgar Square runs from 6 November 2026 to 3 January 2027, according to its organiser, Underbelly. The wooden stalls surround the Norwegian Christmas tree in front of the National Gallery, a gift that Norway has sent London every year since 1947. The nearest station is Charing Cross.
Christmas in Leicester Square
The Leicester Square Christmas market runs from 31 October 2026 to 3 January 2027 around the square’s ice rink, Leicester Square Skate, from 10:00 to 22:00, according to Time Out London. Visit London lists it as free and describes it as an enclosed market that gets busy in the evenings, which makes it harder to get round with large bags or buggies, while Time Out London reports that the stalls belong to the ticketed skating rink, so check the entry rules on the day.
Covent Garden Christmas
Covent Garden starts its 2026 festive season with the lights switch-on on Thursday 12 November, according to Covent Garden’s own site. Time Out London lists the Christmas market stalls on the Piazza from 12 November 2026 to 2 January 2027, beside a 55-foot (16.8 m) tree. Visit London calls Covent Garden one of the busiest festive spots in the city and suggests a weekday morning.
Winter by the River at London Bridge City
Winter by the River runs from Tuesday 10 November 2026 to Sunday 3 January 2027, daily from 11:00 to 22:00 and from 11:00 to 17:00 on Christmas Eve, according to London Bridge City. The wooden chalets sit on the riverside between London Bridge and Tower Bridge, with the Tower of London across the Thames. The nearest station is London Bridge.
King’s Cross Winter Market
The King’s Cross Winter Market runs from 26 November 2026 to 3 January 2027 on Granary Square, with independent makers, food and drink stalls and a roller rink, according to Time Out London and Visit London. Its stalls open from 11:00 to 22:00 Sunday to Thursday and to 23:00 on Friday and Saturday.
Kingston Christmas Market
The Kingston Christmas Market runs from 12 November 2026 to 3 January 2027 in the Ancient Market Place in Kingston upon Thames, in south-west London. It is a Bavarian-style market, open from 10:00 to 18:00 Sunday to Wednesday and from 10:00 to 20:00 Thursday to Saturday, according to Time Out London. Kingston has its own National Rail station.
What food and drink can you try at the London Christmas markets?
Mulled wine and street food are what the London Christmas markets serve, alongside traditional sweets such as churros and crêpes. The Southbank Centre market is known for its street food and riverside bars, Greenwich Market sells churros, bratwurst, crêpes, doughnuts, mulled wine and hot chocolate, according to Time Out London, and Winter Wonderland adds alpine-style bars and food stalls. Borough Market, London’s famous food market by London Bridge, adds festive recipes and Christmas puddings for December.
What can you buy at the London Christmas markets?
Handmade crafts and gifts from independent makers are what the London Christmas markets sell. Covent Garden and Winter by the River focus on handmade crafts and artisan gifts, King’s Cross on independent makers, and Kingston on personalised presents and tree decorations. The Greenwich and Camden markets mix their year-round traders with festive stalls.
How do you get to the London Christmas markets?
The London Underground reaches every central Christmas market in this guide, so there is no need for a car. Hyde Park Corner and Marble Arch serve Winter Wonderland, Waterloo and Embankment serve the Southbank Centre, Charing Cross serves Trafalgar Square, and London Bridge serves Winter by the River and Borough Market.
From Paris and Brussels, the Eurostar arrives at St Pancras International, a short walk from the King’s Cross Winter Market, and the Paris trip takes about 2 hours 15 minutes. Before you travel, compare trains to London. For long-haul trips, compare flights to London.
Where to stay near the London Christmas markets?
The South Bank around Waterloo is a convenient base, because the Southbank Centre market is on the doorstep and Trafalgar Square, Covent Garden and Leicester Square are a walk across the river. Sofie stayed at the Ruby Lucy Hotel by Waterloo Station on a London trip, and her review covers the rooms and the walk to the London Eye and Westminster Bridge. For other areas, compare hotels in London and the UK and book early for December weekends. For other options, compare hotels in London and across England and book early for December weekends.
A Winter Wonderland visit pairs well with a walk through the rest of the park, and our guide to things to do in Hyde Park covers Kensington Palace and the Albert Memorial. For a warm break between markets, our list of the places for afternoon tea in London has options across the centre, and our day in Canary Wharf and Greenwich covers Greenwich Market. Our United Kingdom travel guide covers the rest of the country.
London Christmas Market FAQ
What date does the London Christmas market start?
London’s Christmas markets start on different dates in 2026. Leicester Square opens first on 31 October, the Southbank Centre on 2 November, Trafalgar Square on 6 November, Covent Garden on 12 November and Hyde Park Winter Wonderland on 19 November.
Is it free to go to Winter Wonderland London?
No, Hyde Park Winter Wonderland charges for entry in 2026, from £1.00 ($1.35, €1.17) for an off-peak slot to £8.25 ($11.15, €9.60) for a peak slot. Entry becomes free if you pre-book and spend £25 ($34, €29) on rides, attractions or meal deals in the same online transaction.
Are the London Christmas markets open on Christmas Day?
Hyde Park Winter Wonderland is closed on Christmas Day 2026, and Winter by the River closes early, at 17:00, on Christmas Eve. Check each market’s own site for 25 December, because most organisers publish their Christmas Day hours only in December.
What is the most Christmassy place in London?
Covent Garden, Trafalgar Square and Hyde Park Winter Wonderland are the most Christmassy places in London. Covent Garden has its giant tree and lights on the Piazza, Trafalgar Square has the Norwegian tree that has stood there every Christmas since 1947, and Winter Wonderland fills Hyde Park with markets, rides and an ice kingdom.
WonderfulWanderings Pro Tips
The 4 tips below come from the organisers’ 2026 timetables and from Sofie’s own stay on the South Bank, and each one changes how you plan the visit.
- Book Winter Wonderland for a Monday to Thursday in November. Those days fall in the off-peak slots, at £1.00 ($1.35, €1.17) entry rather than £8.25 ($11.15, €9.60) at peak times. One major listing describes off-peak entry as free, but the organiser’s 2026 tickets guide prices it at £1.00.
- Check the opening time for your Winter Wonderland date. Many November and December weekdays open at 11:00 or 12:00 instead of 10:00, and Tuesday 1 December opens at 14:00.
- Do not plan Winter Wonderland for Christmas Day. It is the only day the park is closed between 19 November 2026 and 3 January 2027.
- Base yourself on the South Bank for the free markets. The Ruby Lucy, the hotel Sofie reviewed, is by Waterloo Station, the nearest station to the Southbank Centre market, and the West End markets are a walk across the river from there.
About the author. This guide is written and maintained by the Wonderful Wanderings editorial team. Wonderful Wanderings was founded in 2012 by Sofie Couwenbergh, and the first-hand notes in this post come from her stay at the Ruby Lucy Hotel on London’s South Bank. The team covers the United Kingdom for independent travellers, including London’s Christmas markets, hotels, trains and tours worth booking, and updates this page when dates, prices and rules change.
