7 of the best Christmas markets in London in 2022

If you still haven’t got your Christmas shopping done (or even started it!), there are plenty of twinkling Christmas markets in London 2022 where you’ll find something special

Let’s start central at Hyde Park Winter Wonderland (to 2 Jan), which is now a firm fixture on London’s Christmas calendar. As well as the fairground rides, street food stalls and shows, you’ll find a traditional market next to the pretty ice rink. The delightfully decorated wooden chalets look like gingerbread houses and are packed with one-off gifts, handmade festive decorations and sweets and chocolate galore. www.hydeparkwinterwonderland.com

Leicester Square’s Market, which is right in the centre of the square next to the Spiegel tent (don’t miss cabaret La Clique, on until 8 Jan). You’ll find plenty of hand-crafted gifts, clothes and jewellery on the market stalls and you can grab a hot chocolate or some mulled wine to keep you warm while you shop. After, wander south to Trafalgar Square to see the bulb-lit Christmas tree, taken from the forests of Oslo as a thank you for Britain’s support for Norway during World War II. www.christmasinleicestersquare.com

On the other side of Charing Cross Road, walk towards Covent Garden – you won’t be able to miss the festive sleigh, a reconditioned 1884 hand-painted carriage, in the South Hall of the Market Building. There will be ‘snow’ flurries on the hour every hour, so get ready for some Insta-worthy moments. Then look around the market, with its shops, stalls and temporary pop-ups on the Piazza. If you’re buying for little ones, you won’t go far wrong in Benjamin Pollock’s Toy Shop, which sells intricate old-fashioned toy theatres, and you can find cute Moomin merchandise in the market shop and Tintin treasures in the store on Floral Street. If you’re in Covent Garden on a Thursday evening (6.30pm-7.15pm), you’ll be lucky enough to listen to free choir performances from the London International Gospel Choir. www.coventgarden.london

You must visit Southbank Winter Market, and not just for the fairy-lit Alpine chalets selling crafts, trinkets, jewellery and leather goods – you are spoilt for choice with street food stalls here. Then continue walking east along the river and you’ll pass Gabriel’s Wharf, an arty enclave full of interesting independent shops and restaurants. Every Sunday until 18 Dec, there’ll be live music here and Father Christmas will visit before his return to Lapland. And don’t miss the augmented reality installations and street art transforming the Bankside Frost Fair. www.southbankcentre.co.uk

If you have any bon vivants among your friends and family, you’ll find all sorts of delicious gifts in Borough Market. Everyone will love McLaren’s Christmas puddings, handmade and vegetarian, and packed with fruit that’s been soaked in brandy, Guinness and lemon and orange juice. Or if you are planning a cheeseboard for the festivities, join the annual Evening of Cheese (15 Dec, 6pm-9pm). There’ll be loads of samples and chutneys and ciders on the side. www.boroughmarket.org.uk

Across the road, Christmas by the River at London Bridge City enjoys a spectacular setting. Listen to carol singers as you wander around the fairy-lit wooden cabins selling all sorts of hand-crafted gifts, food and drinks. If you can drag your gaze away from beautifully illuminated St Paul’s Cathedral and Tower Bridge just a stone’s throw across the river, you could watch a free outdoor film screening after you’ve done your Christmas shopping. www.londonbridgecity.co.uk

Museum of the Moon in the Painted Hall at the Old Royal Naval College © Amy Hughes

If you visiting the astounding Museum of the Moon at the Old Royal Naval College, why not pick up a few presents at Greenwich Market afterwards? Close to the royal borough’s historic sites, this shopper’s paradise sits inside an exquisite Regency-fronted quadrant and is surrounded by intriguing alleys and side streets. When it was established in 1700, the market sold fruit, vegetables and livestock, but you’ll certainly find more than that these days. www.greenwichmarket.london

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