Sleigh bells ring, are you listening? It’s the sound of Christmas approaching – and nonetheless Scrooge-like you’re feeling within the run-up to Christmas Day, there’s nothing to place me right into a festive temper quicker than a Christmas market. UPDATED FOR 2024
Gluhwein and scorching chocolate to maintain out the nippiness, decorations and snuggly scarves among the many potential presents, plus something from ice skating and carousels to greater rides and child-friendly occasions. As a result of it’s not all about shopping the stalls once you’ve bought youngsters.
After taking my daughter to a number of Christmas markets in London – in addition to some others close by, together with Winchester, one among my favorite Christmas markets within the UK – I’ve made an inventory of the most effective Christmas markets in London with youngsters. I’ve even checked it twice…
For extra of the most effective issues to do for Christmas in London with youngsters, take a look at my prime picks
Winter Wonderland, Hyde Park
I first went alongside to London’s greatest and best-known Christmas market earlier than my daughter was born, squealing with glee on the rides whisking me excessive above Hyde Park and sipping a drink or two in Bar Ice. However even with a daughter who’s positively not a thrill seeker, there’s lots to do at Hyde Park Winter Wonderland.
This yr’s sights embrace The Magical Ice Kingdom, Zippos Christmas Circus, Cirque Beserk, the 70m excessive Big Statement Wheel and an ice skating rink.
And Santaland returns as effectively, with Christmas-themed rides and video games, and parades on numerous dates. Additionally take a look at Santa’s Grotto (open each day from 10am to 6pm besides Christmas Day, first come first served) the place you possibly can meet Father Christmas totally free.
There are gentler rides for all ages, together with a helter skelter and the Santaland Specific Practice, plus the prospect to tackle the ice slide, in addition to extra adrenaline-fuelled festive thrills.
Wrap up heat for the ice and snow sculptures of the Magical Ice Kingdom (it’ll be -10C, brr) then look down on the lights of London from the Statement Wheel earlier than toasting marshmallows across the fireplace pit.
For extra locations to see Santa in London with youngsters, take a look at my prime picks
Winter Wonderland ticket costs
As soon as once more for 2024, you have to a ticket to enter Winter Wonderland, with choices for off-peak, customary and peak entry relying once you go to. Costs begin from £5 for traditional entry, though there are some off-peak morning periods the place it’s nonetheless free.
Everybody wants a ticket, together with infants and toddlers (though it’s free for kids aged two and below). Household tickets are additionally obtainable (for 2 adults + two kids, or one grownup + three kids).
In case you prebook rides, sights and video games value £25 upfront, your entry ticket is free, so long as you guide all the things collectively.
With costs for ice skating, the Magical Ice Kingdom and reveals costing round £8-12 for adults, it doesn’t take lengthy to hit that quantity so you could solely want so as to add one or two extras to get free entry. In any other case, you possibly can simply pay for any actions and reveals as you go.
There’s additionally a bundle obtainable in Santaland the place you may get limitless rides for £25: this solely applies to the rides with the Santaland Limitless Brand and there could also be different age and peak restrictions – a fast approach to hit the £25 value totally free admission!
There are timed slots to enter and for the assorted rides and sights (some are a number of hours lengthy so that you don’t should be too exact). Skating must also be booked upfront.
Click on right here for extra particulars and to guide tickets.
Winter Wonderland dates
For six weeks from November 21 to January 5 2025.
Southbank Centre winter market
The Christmas market and winter pageant on the South Financial institution is one among my favourites and for the previous few years, my husband and I’ve been joined on our conventional evening out by Minnie. I can by no means get sufficient of the lights alongside the riverside, and will fortunately simply wander between the stalls ingesting all of it in.
This being London, there’s way more to drink in than the views – and way more to eat than bratwurst. I nonetheless have fond reminiscences of the confit duck burger we purchased one yr. It was so good, we went again for a second – you possibly can see my video right here.
However there’s an enormous selection on the stalls among the many Christmas bushes, with lots for much less adventurous small eaters together with crepes and a few wonderful scorching chocolate, in addition to foodie pop-ups which have included cheese-themed meals, cocktails and the Circus bar housed in a circus tent.
There’s normally one thing completely different occurring past the meals too, with household actions typically happening in December, together with storytelling, music and crafts, in addition to winter season reveals.
For extra of the greatest Christmas theatre in London with youngsters, take a look at my prime picks
Look out for the Winter Gentle show illuminating the bushes on Queen’s Stroll, plus a string of picket huts promoting the proper tempting odds and ends for presents and the normal carousel to journey on.
And if you happen to actually need an statement wheel, there’s at all times the London Eye…
Southbank Winter Market ticket costs
Free to get in, value for reveals varies.
Southbank Winter Market dates
November 1 to December 26, 2024
Leicester Sq. Christmas market
Proper within the coronary heart of London, Leicester Sq. is residence to one of many newer Christmas markets in central London.
It’s again for 2024 once more with a variety of outside bars, scrumptious meals and conventional market stalls deliberate as ordinary for Leicester Sq. Christmas market.
For now, there are not any reveals introduced for households (though grownup cabaret La Clique is celebrating 20 years) or a Santa’s grotto.
In earlier years, the family-friendly headliners have included a brand new tackle Sleeping Magnificence, magic, prime notch puppetry, kids’s theatre firm Les Petits and performances from theatreland’s greatest younger performers, in addition to interactive leisure and improvised reveals.
As you’re within the coronary heart of Theatreland, it’s an ideal Christmas market to mix with a few of the greatest Christmas theatre in London with youngsters
Leicester Sq. Christmas market ticket costs
Free to enter, though there’s a cost for any performances (costs differ).
Leicester Sq. Christmas market dates
Runs from November 6 to January 5 2025.
For extra issues to do round Leicester Sq. with youngsters, take a look at my prime picks
Trafalgar Sq. Christmas Market
TBC A stone’s throw from Leicester Sq., there’s normally a small Christmas market in Trafalgar Sq. as effectively, run by the identical firm.
Whereas there aren’t big numbers of stalls to browse, it’s a beautiful location to take pleasure in Christmas within the metropolis with London’s big Christmas tree lit up, plus common carol performances.
Try my tips about the most effective issues to do at Christmas in London with youngsters for extra particulars
Trafalgar Sq. Christmas market ticket costs
Free
Trafalgar Sq. Christmas market dates
TBC Often mid November to early January
Christmas By The River at London Bridge Metropolis
TBC One other improbable London location, this time with Tower Bridge within the background and the skyscrapers of town alongside the Thames. Christmas by the River is a quieter occasion than among the others, however you’ll typically discover free workshops in addition to stalls.
You’re promised a novel expertise right here, with yearly twists on the standard theme. Earlier years included a classic ski theme aiming to move everybody to the snowy slopes of the Alps, full with scorching toddy on the apres-ski themed bar.
There’s additionally usually a sequence of workshops to be careful for, in addition to tastings, and storytelling occasions, with earlier festive crafts together with Christmas wreath and Christmas jumper adorning, many in assist of charity.
Together with the humanities and crafts, you possibly can strive food and drinks tastings with greater than 70 pop-up stalls – plus conventional presents galore to purchase. And you possibly can at all times hop on a riverboat from London Bridge Metropolis Pier close by to make extra of a day trip (wrap up heat for the river in winter although!)
Christmas by The River ticket costs
Free
Christmas by The River dates
TBC. Often from mid November to early January
Covent Backyard Christmas Market
The final couple of years, you’ve been assured a white Christmas at Covent Backyard, with pretend snow swirling over the piazza each hour – however whether or not the flurries return for 2024 or not, Covent Backyard is at all times an incredible possibility for a Christmas market in London with youngsters.
The primary cease in my London Christmas lights strolling route, take a look at my tips about the place else to see the most effective shows
In addition to the enormous baubles adorning the market itself, plus some pretty Christmas lights, you possibly can anticipate a forest of Christmas bushes and a few nice festive food and drinks within the Covent Backyard Christmas village.
Inside the principle Christmas in Covent Backyard celebrations, there are additionally further pop-up occasions to be careful for – the Winter Hotter pageant will get you within the festive temper throughout November, with a complete string of mulled wines and festive drinks.
Preserve an eye fixed out for the normal sleigh (though no Santa or reindeer), in addition to the enchanting Surprise Wooden pop-up on James Road, excellent for just a few festive selfies among the many fantastically embellished bushes, in addition to a 60ft Christmas tree.
Try the following tips for the greatest scorching chocolate in London with youngsters, if you happen to’re seeking to heat up after shopping
Covent Backyard Christmas market ticket costs
Free
Covent Backyard Christmas market dates
Festive celebrations will run throughout November and December (exact 2024 timings tbc).
Greenwich Christmas market
Enterprise additional down the river to Greenwich to find how the common Greenwich market transforms in time for Christmas – its 150 stalls, with some fabulous issues to purchase year-round, get illuminated by the lights in addition to the Greenwich Kids’s Lantern Procession to kick all the things off on November 20.
Greenwich normally has numerous festive occasions at the museums and the Cutty Sark throughout December too – whether or not there’s one thing happening or not, it’s value climbing on board the Cutty Sark between Christmas market shopping, with lots for teenagers of all ages.
Good if you happen to’re on the lookout for a day trip with added Christmas markets in south-east London.
Greenwich Christmas market ticket costs
Free
Greenwich Christmas market dates
Exact timings TBC. Beforehand, there have been Christmas late markets each Wednesday in December so it’s value checking for further festive occasions. In any other case, the final market takes day-after-day from 10am to five.30pm.
For extra concepts of festive mild trails in London with youngsters, take a look at this submit
Battersea Energy Station Winter Village
TBC A comparatively new festive addition in one among London’s iconic landmarks – December normally sees Battersea Energy Station being remodeled right into a magical Winter Village with food and drinks pop-ups, Christmas bushes and family-friendly arts and crafts periods.
Glide at Battersea Energy Station, town’s solely riverside ice rink, is again for 2024 too, created by the folks behind the Pure Historical past Museum ice rink. In truth, there are three interconnecting rinks, surrounded by twinkling lights and a 30ft Christmas tree.
There’ll even be classic funfair rides, meals stalls and mulled wine to take pleasure in afterwards, whereas final yr featured a Christmas path that includes big baubles and former years have seen riverside curling lanes on the previous Coaling Jetty alongside the Thames, festive movies on the cinema and household favourites at The Turbine Theatre.
Battersea Energy Station Winter Village ticket costs
Free to go to, ice rink and exercise prices differ.
Battersea Energy Station Winter Village dates
Christmas actions TBC. Glide is open from November 8 till January 5, 2025.
Kingston Christmas Market
Head out of the centre for among the best Christmas markets in west London (effectively, southwest London) as Kingston’s Historical Market Place will get its personal conventional Christmas Market with a string of particular actions for teenagers, in addition to round 40 embellished wooden cabins promoting presents, stocking fillers and mulled wine.
Together with the stalls within the Alpine Village, there are additionally fairground rides, together with a carousel, for teenagers, in addition to avenue meals and a few stay leisure – particulars nonetheless to come back for 2024’s occasion.
In earlier years, there have additionally been trails to get kids exploring additional together with a Fairy Story Path, in addition to a Letter to Santa competitors, plus prizes of tickets to Kingston’s Rose theatre.
For extra issues to do in Kingston with youngsters, take a look at this submit
Kingston Christmas Market ticket costs
Free
Kingston Christmas Market dates
November 14 to January 5, 2025
Wembley Park Festive market
TBC: There are sometimes nice family-friendly occasions happening round Wembley Park and the festive season is not any completely different, typically with its personal little Christmas market working in December and an art work doubling as a tree.
With merchants promoting mince piles, mulled wine and handmade presents, it’s an incredible excuse to move over to Market Sq. and discover – earlier years have included particular selfie spots, together with a starry reward field.
There’s additionally normally stay music on weekends, whereas themed immersive artworks have been added to the free Wembley Park Artwork Path.
Wembley Park Festive market ticket costs
Free
Wembley Park Festive market dates
2024 dates TBC
For extra issues to do in Wembley Park with youngsters, take a look at this submit
London Christmas markets with youngsters: better of the remainder
Hampton Courtroom Palace Festive Fayre
Hampton Courtroom Palace will get dressed up for Christmas with its Festive Fayre from December 6-8 and 13-15, the place the palace courtyards are remodeled with food and drinks stalls, stay cooking demos and carol singing.
There are additionally extra carol occasions in December, whereas the palace ice rink opens between November 22 and January 5, 2025.
Try my video for a style of the ice skating
Borough Market
The market normally will get a festive facelift in addition to longer opening hours, so it’s simpler than ever to wander round selecting up among the fantastic meals, whereas bells ring and Christmas carols sound, plus some particular occasions throughout December.
Artful Fox Christmas markets
Good if you happen to’re on the lookout for an uncommon artistic reward, the Artful Fox markets are filled with items from unbiased designers, with a special combine every time, together with art work, jewelry, and youngsters’s gadgets.
Takes place in November and December, with places together with the British Library and Granary Sq. in Kings Cross. Earlier venues have additionally included Mercato Metropolitano in Elephant and Fort and The Division Retailer, Brixton, so look out for any further occasions.
Canary Backyard Christmas Market
In addition to the ice skating and winter lights at Canary Wharf, the standard market will get a festive makeover for Christmas. Dates for the Canary Backyard Christmas Market are tbc for 2024, however you possibly can usually anticipate stay performances and workshops in addition to loads of meals and a few nice stocking fillers to purchase.
For extra recommendations of the most effective Christmas markets in Europe for kids, take a look at this choice from Suitcases & Sandcastles
PIN FOR LATER: CHRISTMAS MARKETS IN LONDON WITH KIDS
Photos: South Financial institution and Hampton court docket, copyright MummyTravels. All others courtesy Depositphotos