Sleigh bells ring, are you listening? It’s the sound of Christmas approaching – and nevertheless 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 2025
Gluhwein and sizzling chocolate to maintain out the coolness, 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 while you’ve bought children.
After taking my daughter to a number of Christmas markets in London – in addition to some others close by, together with Winchester, considered one of my favorite Christmas markets within the UK – I’ve made an inventory of the most effective Christmas markets in London with children. I’ve even checked it twice…
For extra of the most effective issues to do for Christmas in London with children, 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 undoubtedly 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 Remark Wheel and an ice skating rink. And Santaland returns as nicely, with Christmas-themed rides and video games, and parades on numerous dates. Additionally take a look at Santa’s Grotto (open every day, first come first served) the place you may meet Father Christmas without cost.
There are gentler rides for all ages, together with a helter skelter and the Santaland Specific Practice, plus the possibility 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 Remark Wheel earlier than toasting marshmallows across the fireplace pit.
For extra locations to see Santa in London with children, take a look at my prime picks
Winter Wonderland ticket costs
As soon as once more for 2025, you will have a ticket to enter Winter Wonderland, with choices for off-peak, customary and peak entry relying while you go to, plus there are additionally particular packages for a few of the hottest choices together with Santa Land.
Costs begin from £5 for normal entry, though there are some off-peak morning classes the place it’s nonetheless free in addition to peak dates. Everybody wants a ticket, together with infants and toddlers (though it’s free for youngsters aged two and underneath).
For those who prebook rides, sights and video games value £25 upfront, your entry ticket is free, so long as you ebook 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 chances are you’ll solely want so as to add one or two extras to get free entry. In any other case, you may simply pay for any actions and reveals as you go.
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 ebook tickets.
Winter Wonderland dates
For six weeks from November 14 to January 1, 2026
Southbank Centre winter market
The South Financial institution Winter market is considered one of 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 consuming all of it in.
This being London, there’s much more to drink in than the views – and much 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 may 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 superb sizzling 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 often one thing totally different occurring past the meals too, with household actions typically going down in December, together with storytelling, music and crafts, in addition to winter season reveals.
For extra of the most effective Christmas theatre in London with children, 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 experience on. And should you really need an commentary wheel, there’s all the time the London Eye…
Southbank Winter Market ticket costs
Free to get in, price for reveals varies.
Southbank Winter Market dates
November 3 to January 4, 2026
Leicester Sq. Christmas market
Proper within the coronary heart of London, Leicester Sq. is house to one of many newer Christmas markets in central London.
It’s again for 2025 once more with a variety of out of doors bars, scrumptious meals and conventional market stalls deliberate as standard for Leicester Sq. Christmas market, plus a model new ice skating rink known as Skate Leicester Sq..
Though earlier years have had family-friendly reveals and a Santa’s grotto, neither of these are attributable to return this yr.
As you’re within the coronary heart of Theatreland, it’s an ideal Christmas market to mix with a few of the finest Christmas theatre in London with children
Leicester Sq. Christmas market ticket costs
Free to enter, though there’s a cost for skating (from £9.50 for youngsters aged 3-12, £14.50 for adults).
Leicester Sq. Christmas market dates
Runs from November 1 to January 4, 2026.
For extra issues to do round Leicester Sq. with children, take a look at my prime picks
Trafalgar Sq. Christmas Market
TBC A stone’s throw from Leicester Sq., there’s often a small Christmas market in Trafalgar Sq. as nicely, run by the identical firm.
Whereas there aren’t large numbers of stalls to browse, it’s a beautiful location to take pleasure in Christmas within the metropolis with London’s large Christmas tree lit up, plus common carol performances.
Try my tips about the most effective issues to do at Christmas in London with children for extra particulars
Trafalgar Sq. Christmas market ticket costs
Free
Trafalgar Sq. Christmas market dates
TBC Normally mid November to early January
Winter By The River at London Bridge Metropolis
TBC One other implausible London location, this time with Tower Bridge within the background and the skyscrapers of the town alongside the Thames. Winter by the River is a quieter occasion than a few of 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 same old theme. Earlier years included a classic ski theme aiming to move everybody to the snowy slopes of the Alps, full with sizzling 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 help of charity.
Together with the humanities and crafts, you may strive food and drinks tastings with greater than 70 pop-up stalls – plus conventional presents galore to purchase. And you can all the time 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. Normally 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 2025 or not, Covent Backyard is all the time an ideal choice for a Christmas market in London with children.
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 large baubles adorning the market itself, plus some pretty Christmas lights, you may anticipate a forest of Christmas bushes and a few nice festive food and drinks within the Covent Backyard Christmas village, with this yr’s seven weeks of occasions themed round ‘the theatre of Christmas’.
Inside the primary Christmas in Covent Backyard celebrations, there are additionally additional pop-up occasions to be careful for – particulars are nonetheless tbc for the time being, though the Christmas lights switch-on will likely be November 12, so all the things will get going after that.
Preserve an eye fixed out to see if the the normal sleigh returns too (though often no Santa or reindeer), excellent for a number of festive selfies, in addition to a 60ft Christmas tree.
Try the following tips for the most effective sizzling chocolate in London with children, should you’re trying 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. Lights change on November 12.
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 19.
Greenwich often has numerous festive occasions on the museums and the Cutty Sark throughout December too – whether or not there’s one thing going down or not, it’s value climbing on board the Cutty Sark between Christmas market shopping, with lots for youths of all ages.
Excellent should you’re in search of 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 additional festive occasions. In any other case, the overall market takes daily from 10am to five.30pm.
For extra concepts of festive mild trails in London with children, take a look at this submit
Battersea Energy Station Winter Village
TBC December sees Battersea Energy Station being remodeled for Christmas with food and drinks pop-ups, Christmas bushes and family-friendly arts and crafts classes.
Glide at Battersea Energy Station, the town’s solely riverside ice rink, is again for 2025 too, with a brand new skate path becoming a member of the three interconnecting rinks, surrounded by twinkling lights and a 30ft Christmas tree.
There’ll are often additionally classic funfair rides, together with meals stalls and mulled wine to take pleasure in afterwards. Final yr featured a Christmas path that includes big baubles and former years have seen riverside curling lanes on the outdated 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 range.
Battersea Energy Station Winter Village dates
Christmas actions TBC. Glide is open from November 7 – January 4, 2026
Kingston Christmas Market
Head out of the centre for probably the greatest Christmas markets in west London (nicely, southwest London) as Kingston’s Historical Market Place will get its personal conventional Christmas Market with a string of particular actions for youths, in addition to round 40 adorned 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 youths, in addition to avenue meals and a few reside leisure – particulars nonetheless to return for 2025.
In earlier years, there have additionally been trails to get youngsters 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 children, take a look at this submit
Kingston Christmas Market ticket costs
Free
Kingston Christmas Market dates
November 13 to December 28
Wembley Park Festive market
TBC There are all the time some nice family-friendly occasions going down round Wembley Park and the festive season is often no totally different. Earlier years have seen the realm’s personal little Christmas market working in December plus mild installations on the everlasting artwork path to brighten up December.
With merchants promoting mince pies, mulled wine and handmade presents, there’s all the time an ideal excuse to move over to Market Sq. and discover – final yr’s picks included clothes made out of alpaca wool, historically sourced from South America to African textiles, plus wine and truffle merchandise from Tuscany.
Add in loads of meals in Market Sq., together with Caribbean avenue meals, conventional Hungarian pastries, German and Polish sausages, Turkish flatbreads, Italian delicacies and Chinese language flavours underneath a 50ft tree. You’ll be able to often anticipate reside music and different occasions on weekends too.
Wembley Park Festive market ticket costs
Free
Wembley Park Festive market dates
TBC however beforehand on weekends in December
For extra issues to do in Wembley Park with children, take a look at this submit
London Christmas markets with children: better of the remaining
Hampton Courtroom Palace Festive Fayre
Hampton Courtroom Palace will get dressed up for Christmas with its Festive Fayre from December 5-7 and 12-14, the place the palace courtyards are remodeled with food and drinks stalls, reside cooking demos and carol singing.
There are additionally extra carol occasions in December, whereas the palace ice rink opens between November 21 and January 4, 2026.
Try my video for a style of the ice skating
Borough Market
TBC The market often will get a festive facelift in addition to longer opening hours, so it’s simpler than ever to wander round choosing up a few of the fantastic meals, whereas bells ring and Christmas carols sound, plus some particular occasions throughout December.
Artful Fox Christmas markets
TBC Excellent should you’re in search of an uncommon artistic reward, the Artful Fox markets are filled with items from unbiased designers, with a unique combine every time, together with art work, jewelry, and youngsters’s objects.
Normally going down in November and December, areas have included the British Library and Granary Sq. in Kings Cross, plus Mercato Metropolitano in Elephant and Fortress and The Division Retailer, Brixton.
Canary Whard Christmas Market
TBC In addition to the ice skating and winter lights at Canary Wharf, the market often will get a festive makeover for Christmas, with anticipate reside performances and workshops in addition to loads of meals and a few nice stocking fillers to purchase.
For extra solutions of the most effective Christmas markets in Europe for youngsters, take a look at this choice from Suitcases & Sandcastles
PIN FOR LATER: CHRISTMAS MARKETS IN LONDON WITH KIDS
Pictures: South Financial institution and Hampton court docket, copyright MummyTravels. All others courtesy Depositphotos
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