The best Christmas markets in London for 2024

If you’re struggling to find the perfect, unique present for a loved one, the Christmas Independent Ceramics Market is bound to have the answer. The annual fair brings together over 150 ceramics makers, from students to established artists, all selling their distinctive wares in one space. Browse stall after stall of cups, sculptures and more and keep your eyes peeled for that special treasure. The market will make things more festive with a sound system to soundtrack your shopping, plus mulled wine and seasonal food to keep you refreshed on your search.

Opening Dates: December 8

Best For: Stunning ceramics and sculptures

There’s always something faintly Christmassy about Leadenhall Market, thanks to its Victorian architecture. It’s about to really come into its own again once festive season arrives and, with it, twinkling lights and pretty Christmas trees return to the shopping arcade. This year, the Lord Mayor of London will once again take on the task of turning on the market’s Christmas lights, with the switch-on occurring on November 14 at 6pm. This year, the tree will be decked out in a colour-changing LED display, baubles and more, while the light tunnel will return to Beehive Passage. Markets will be held on weekends in the lead up to December 25, with crafts, vintage furniture and more up for grabs. 

Opening Dates: November 14, 16, 24 and December 7

Best For: Scoring crafts and vintage gems

Every winter the Southbank Centre turns the banks of the Thames into a frosty wonderland, full of little wooden Alpine-style cabins selling gifts, warming drinks, and snacks. This year, you can cosy up at Fire And Fromage with its heated riverside igloos where you can snaffle down cheese fondue. Further down, you’ll find huts serving up truffle burgers, duck wraps, and many more tasty morsels to keep you full and warm. Or grab a glass of mulled wine while you look through gifts, jewellery and decorations made by independent craft traders and take in those sparking riverside views. 

Opening Dates: November 1-December 26

Best For: Snazzy decorations and jewellery

The rides, rink and performances might make Winter Wonderland, but that’s not all there is to Hyde Park’s big festive takeover. In the Scandinavian-themed market square, you’ll find a more peaceful escape, with quaint huts housing stalls selling gifts and trinkets to give your loved ones (or yourself). Live music from the bandstand will soundtrack your shopping, and after, you can take a rest at the fire pit to much on some meatballs and waffles and other market staples.

Opening Dates: November 21-January 5

Best For: Heightening your hygge

The goods on offer at the Beautiful & Useful Craft Fair won’t just live up to the market’s name; they’ll also follow a theme. Fittingly, given the fair takes place at the Garden Museum, the gifts up for sale will be botanically inspired, so expect lots of flora, fauna and nature-adjacent designs to adorn everything from toys, decorations, homeware and keepsakes.

Opening Dates: December 1

Best For: Presents for plant lovers

The regenerated King’s Cross area will once again be transformed into a Christmas paradise from November, with eight different markets popping up over the course of five weeks. The Lower Stable Street Market offers up everything from food and drinks to homeware, art, books and clothing. Christmas under the Canopy will be showcasing some of London’s best artisan traders and food stalls, with a special vegan Christmas market over one weekend of its run.

Elsewhere, the Mexican Christmas Market will provide a spicy twist on the festive season, with piñatas and a roaming cumbia band while you shop for artisanal clothing, accessories, ornaments and crafts from the country. After its 2023 debut, lifestyle brand TOAST returns to Coal Drops Yard, bringing with it handcrafted and sustainably made lifestyle products, from textiles to stationery. The Illustrators Fair will highlight local independent artists, the Crafty Fox Markets will showcase more than 100 designers and makers in the fields of jewellery, homeware and more, and the Shōtengai Christmas Market will bring a taste of Japan to London. Talk about shopping til you drop!

Opening Dates: November 21-December 22

Best For: Gifts with an international flavour

Chiswick’s Duck Pond Market returns for a festive special at the end of November, just in time for Christmas shopping without the danger of last-minute panic colouring your buys. The M.O. of this market is small businesses making artisan goods, so you’ll be sure to find some special gifts among the stalls here.

Opening Dates: November 30

Best For: Unique finds from ethical and sustainable businesses

Spitalfields always gets in the festive spirit come Christmas time and 2024 is no exception. As well as all the usual stalls, stocking stuffers, and toasty food and drinks, there’ll be special discounts, advent calendars and late-night shopping so you can squeeze in some present-buying after work. If scouring the stands gets too much, head to 30 Spital Square to catch Wildefolk Theatre’s family-friendly adaptation of classic winter tale The Overcoat. 

Opening Dates: November 26

Best For: Stylish stocking stuffers

Had more than enough festive goodwill and cheer as you can stomach? The Satanic Flea Market’s (anti) Christmas special is the perfect antidote. As always, there’ll be a whole range of traders selling stuff from the darker side of life, like taxidermy, occult trinkets and even human skulls, plus other slightly more unusual goods than you might find at your typical Christmas market. It might not be the kind of place where you can get all your gifts sorted under one roof, but at least you won’t hear ‘Last Christmas’ or any other saccharine festive hits as you’re making your way around.

Opening Dates: December 8

Best For: Pressies for the witchy people in your life.

Need to buy something for that friend who always has the most on-point decor and an eye for unique and chic trinkets? Head to the North London Makers’ Market, a veritable treasure trove for all things arty and aesthetically pleasing. Over 60 artists, designers and makers will be showcasing their wares at this special festive edition of the monthly Stoke Newington market, so there’ll be plenty of opportunity to pick up the perfect goodies.

Opening Dates: December 14-15

Best For: Aesthetic homeware for those with an eye for design

The world of solid dairy has some truly devoted fans and they’ll do well to pay a visit to Borough Market’s annual Evening of Cheese, where they’ll find an enormous range of products from all over the world to tempt turophiles, including wines, ciders, chutneys and – obviously – absolutely loads of top quality cheese from around Europe. Looking to craft the perfect festive cheeseboard? Head down to get your paws on loads of tasty little samples, and some expert advice from the market’s artisanal traders. There will, of course, be drinks on hand to complete the gouty vibes. 

You don’t need to be a local to take part in Urban Food Fest’s Christmas Market at Get Living’s East Village development. The event promises to be an evening filled with festive fun – with a twist. It will marry traditional fare with multicultural delights, whether that’s on the food front (with Greek, Caribbean and Turkish tastiness on offer) or in the entertainment, which will see a mariachi band performing. All the standard Christmas fare will also be part of the extravaganza, so you can tuck into a plate of mince pies while listening to the angelic sounds of carol singers still. Elsewhere, there’ll be LED stilt walkers and, of course, a market selling stocking stuffers, jewellery, kids crafts and much more, while the little ones will be kept busy with free face painting, balloon modelling, festive arts and crafts and a visit from Saint Nick himself.

The DIY Christmas Art Market is a veritable jamboree of potential gifts – either to give to friends and family, or to treat yourself with. As well as art prints and risograph and screen prints, the market will have t-shirts, patches, comics, tote bags, ceramics, zines and independent publications on its stalls, ready to be wrapped up and put under the tree. Sample the eclectic creativity with a glass of mulled wine and a mince pie to really ramp up the festivities. 

Opening Dates: December 7

Best For: Finding true one-off gifts

Croydon is getting in the Christmas spirit with a lovely festive market popping up by the Centrale & Whitgift Shopping Centre. For 10 days in the run-up to Christmas Day, local makers and bakers will be manning stalls in Whitgift Square, providing gift inspo and tasty morsels to make your Yuletide extra yummy. Expect to find handmade cards, vegan cakes, mulled wine, scented candle, art pieces and much more for sale, while you can make your own goodies at one of the free workshops that takes place every day. Learn how to make your own Christmas ornament, DIY stocking, or decorate a gingerbread house plus more.

There’s a Bavarian flavour to Kingston Christmas Market, so much so you might be fooled into thinking you’ve stumbled through a portal into Germany. As you shop its many stalls, you can keep you energy up with bratwurst and mulled wine or take a pit stop at the Bavarian curling lanes. Live music and Christmas carol singers will also soundtrack the activities to really get you in the mood for Yuletide.

Opening Dates: December 7

Best For: Raising your festive spirit

Step into the historical world of Fulham Palace for its fourth annual Christmas fair for a taste of Crimbos past. There’ll be a grotto tombola, tuck shop full of festive treats, carols in the courtyard and a host of activities to take part in. The main attraction, though, is still the market itself, which celebrates small businesses and local traders. Shop til you drop as you peruse the handicrafts and fine foods up for grabs, then retire to the drawing room café for a well-earned glass of mulled wine.

Opening Dates: November 30

Best For: Handcrafted stocking fillers

‘Yokimono’ means ‘good things’ in Japanese and you’ll find plenty of stuff that falls under that category at this Dalston market. Head here for a wide variety of Nippon-themed goodies, including ceramics, stationary, clothing, jewellery and more. Everything on sale here is either made in Japan or produced by Japanese artists in London, so you know it's authentic. While you shop, you can enjoy live performances by Japanese musicians and demonstrations in everything from bonsai making to a traditional tea ceremony. Need sustenance to keep you going? There’ll be tons of yummy Japanese treats to enjoy, from onigiri to wagashi.

Opening Dates: December 6-8

Best For: Picking up Japanese goodies without the expensive flight prices

East London’s Tokobo Pottery is opening up its studios one weekend before Christmas for a special ceramics market. Need to find something one-off and worthy of going on display in a loved one’s home? Chances are you’ll find something here among the handmade wares up for sale. The studio is located in unit 74 at Regents Studios, just around the corner from Broadway Market.

If you’re looking for some unique, handmade presents to give your loved ones, London has a bounty of Christmas craft markets to explore in the run-up to gift-giving season. At St Bartholomew’s Hospital Square, 30 curated stalls will be taking off for three days, selling bespoke pressies to put in stockings or under the tree and make someone’s Christmas with. There’ll also be a Barts Heritage stand at the event, where you can help support the historic building that houses the hospital.