Find foodie gifts, hand-crafted pressies and a bit of glühwein to help you get into that merry spirit
London’s big, beautiful arts centre along the Thames is about to make its annual winter transformation. Winter at the Southbank Centre will once again be sprinkling some added sparkle along the riverside, with its charming Christmas market that sees a line of German-style wooden chalets line the riverside, twinkling with fairy lights and full of traders selling treats, gifts and decorations.
There will also be an annual helping of light installations which fill the trees and pavements along the South Bank, pop-up igloos where you can cosy up with a hot toddy and chow down on cheese fondue as you wave at passers-by from your very own private glass dome. And competitive souls can go head to head against their mates by flinging stones across ice at the Curling Club.
There’s plenty of fun inside as well with a brilliant season of music, theatre and art across the centre’s various stages and galleries. Look out for South Korean artist Haegue Yang’s Haywood Gallery show ‘Leap Year’ which will be filling the gallery with multisensory installations inspired by East Asian traditions and folklore, ‘Carlos Acosta’s Nutcracker in Havana’ which will be adding some Latin American spice to the traditional Christmas tale, ‘Circa's Duck Pond’ that will be turning the ballet ‘Swan Lake’ into an inventive circus show and ‘Tom Fletcher’s The Creakers’ for musical, pantomime-style fun for families.
No matter what you decide to go to, stick around till sundown so you can walk along the South Bank after dark. It’s guaranteed to give you all the festive feels.
What is Winter at Southbank Centre 2024?
Winter celebrations at Southbank Centre include Yuletide markets, plenty of street food, dazzling lights, family workshops and a packed programme of Christmas shows.
When is Winter at Southbank Centre 2024?
Southbank Centre’s Winter Festival runs from November 1 2024 – January 5 2025. The majority of the Centre is open 10am to 10pm daily. The Southbank Centre is normally entirely closed on Christmas Day, with outdoor attractions staying closed on New Year’s Eve.
Where is the Winter Festival at Southbank Centre 2024?
The nearest train and tube station to the Southbank Centre is Waterloo (Bakerloo, Northern, Jubilee and Waterloo & City Underground lines). Embankment (Circle and District lines) and Charing Cross (Northern and Bakerloo) are just a short walk across a big river away. Many bus routes stop nearby or you can even arrive by boat to Festival Pier.
During the festive period, many public transport services will have reduced timetables so make sure you’ve checked how you’ll be travelling around London over Christmas and New Year.
Is there an entry fee?
The Winter Market is free to wander through, as are many of Southbank Centre’s festive happenings. Some events are ticketed, but there’s a whole host of free ones planned for 2024.
RECOMMENDED: Find more festive fun with our guide to Christmas in London.
