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.
Gluhwein and scorching chocolate to maintain out the chilliness, 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 looking the stalls whenever you’ve acquired 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 perfect Christmas markets in London with youngsters. I’ve even checked it twice… (Up to date 2023)
For extra of the perfect issues to do for Christmas in London with youngsters, try my high 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 an 11-year-old who’s positively not a thrill seeker, there’s lots to do at Hyde Park Winter Wonderland.
This yr’s sights embody The Magical Ice Kingdom, Zippos Christmas Circus, Cirque Beserk, the 70m excessive Big Statement Wheel and an ice skating rink.
And Santaland returns as properly, with Christmas-themed rides and video games, and parades on varied dates. Additionally try Santa’s Grotto (open day by day from 10am to 6pm besides Christmas Day, first come first served) the place you possibly can meet Father Christmas without cost.
There are gentler rides for all ages, together with a helter skelter and the Santaland Specific Prepare, 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 Statement Wheel earlier than toasting marshmallows across the hearth pit.
For extra locations to see Santa in London with youngsters, try my high picks
Winter Wonderland ticket costs
As soon as once more for 2023, you have to a ticket to enter Winter Wonderland, with choices for off-peak, commonplace and peak entry relying whenever you go to. Costs begin from £5 for traditional entry, though there are some off-peak morning classes 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).
If you happen to prebook rides, sights and video games value £25 prematurely, your entry ticket is free, so long as you guide all the pieces collectively.
With costs for ice skating, the Magical Ice Kingdom and reveals costing round £12-13 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 brand new package deal obtainable in Santaland the place you may get limitless rides for £25: this solely applies to the rides with the Santaland Limitless Emblem and there could also be different age and peak restrictions – a fast approach to hit the £25 price without cost admission!
There are timed slots to enter and for the varied rides and sights (some are a number of hours lengthy so that you don’t must be too exact). Skating also needs to be booked prematurely.
Click on right here for extra particulars and to guide tickets.
Winter Wonderland dates
For six weeks from November 17 2023, to January 1 2024.
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 night time 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 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 possibly can see my video right here.
However there’s an enormous selection on the stalls among the many Christmas timber, 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 at all times one thing completely different taking place past the meals too, with household actions typically going down in December, together with storytelling, music and crafts, in addition to Christmas reveals (though fashionable turn-of-the-century Circus 1903 moved to a brand new dwelling in Hammersmith)
For extra of the greatest Christmas theatre in London with youngsters, try my high picks
Look out for the Winter Gentle show illuminating the timber on Queen’s Stroll, plus a string of picket huts promoting the proper tempting odds and ends for presents and the normal carousel to trip on.
And for those who really need an commentary wheel, there’s at all times the London Eye…
Southbank Winter Market ticket costs
Free to get in, price for reveals varies.
Southbank Winter Market dates
October 28 to January 7, 2023.
Leicester Sq. Christmas market
Proper within the coronary heart of London, Leicester Sq. is dwelling to one of many newer Christmas markets in central London.
It’s again for 2023 once more with a variety of outside bars, scrumptious meals and conventional market stalls deliberate as normal for Leicester Sq. Christmas market.
For now, there are not any reveals introduced for households (though grownup cabaret La Clique is lined up) – in earlier years, the family-friendly headliners have included a brand new tackle Sleeping Magnificence, magic, high notch puppetry, kids’s theatre firm Les Petits and performances from theatreland’s greatest younger performers, in addition to interactive leisure and improvised reveals. There are additionally no plans for Santa’s Grotto this yr.
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 8 to January 7 2024.
For extra issues to do round Leicester Sq. with youngsters, try my high picks
Trafalgar Sq. Christmas Market
2023 TBC: A stone’s throw from Leicester Sq., there’s a small Christmas market in Trafalgar Sq. as properly, run by the identical firm.
Whereas there aren’t large numbers of stalls to browse, it’s a beautiful location to get pleasure from Christmas within the metropolis with London’s large Christmas tree lit up, plus common carol performances.
Take a look at my tips about the perfect issues to do at Christmas in London with youngsters for extra particulars
Trafalgar Sq. Christmas market ticket costs
Free
Trafalgar Sq. Christmas market dates
2023 dates TBC
Christmas By The River at London Bridge Metropolis
One other implausible London location, this time with Tower Bridge within the background and the skyscrapers of the town alongside the Thames. Christmas by the River is a quieter occasion than a few of the others, however you’ll discover free workshops in addition to stalls.
You’re promised a singular 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 normally a collection 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 foods and drinks tastings with greater than 70 pop-up stalls – plus conventional presents galore to purchase. And you may 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
From November 15 2023, to January 1 2024
Covent Backyard Christmas Market
The final couple of years, you’ve been assured a white Christmas at Covent Backyard, with faux snow swirling over the piazza each hour – however whether or not the flurries return for 2023 or not, Covent Backyard is at all times an incredible possibility for a Christmas market in London with youngsters.
In addition to the large baubles adorning the market itself, plus some beautiful Christmas lights, you possibly can anticipate a forest of Christmas timber and a few nice festive foods and drinks within the Covent Backyard Christmas village.
Inside the principle Christmas in Covent Backyard celebrations, there are additionally additional pop-up occasions to be careful for – the Winter Hotter pageant will get you within the festive temper throughout November, with an entire 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, good for a number of festive selfies among the many fantastically embellished timber.
Take a look at the following tips for the greatest scorching chocolate in London with youngsters, for those who’re trying to heat up after looking
Covent Backyard Christmas market ticket costs
Free
Covent Backyard Christmas market dates
Festive celebrations will run from the start of November till January (exact 2023 timings tbc).
Greenwich Christmas market
2023 TBC: Enterprise additional down the river to Greenwich to find how the common 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 pieces off.
It’s simple to mix with a skate on the ice rink on the Queen’s Home, whereas Greenwich normally has varied festive occasions at the museums and the Cutty Sark throughout December – whether or not there’s one thing going down or not, it’s value climbing on board the Cutty Sark between Christmas market looking, with lots for teenagers of all ages.
Good for those who’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
Beforehand, there have been Christmas late markets each Wednesday in December, from 10am to 8pm so it’s value checking for additional festive occasions. In any other case, the final market took daily from 10am to five.30pm (precise 2023 dates TBC).
For extra concepts of festive gentle trails in London with youngsters, try this publish
Battersea Energy Station Winter Village
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 foods and drinks pop-ups, Christmas timber and cosy alpine picket huts to snuggle up towards the chilly.
For 2023, Glide at Battersea Energy Station, the town’s solely riverside ice rink, is again, created by the individuals behind the Pure Historical past Museum ice rink. The truth is, there are three interconnecting rinks, surrounded by twinkling lights and a 30ft Christmas tree.
Final yr additionally featured classic funfair rides, meals stalls and mulled wine to get pleasure from afterwards, together with a Christmas path that includes big baubles.
Earlier 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
Glide is open from November 10 till January 7 2024.
Kingston Christmas Market
Head out of the centre for the most effective Christmas markets in west London (properly, southwest London) as Kingston’s Historic Market Place will get its personal conventional Christmas Market with a string of particular actions for teenagers, in addition to 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 2023’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 with a reply and small present again, plus prizes together with a ticket to Kingston’s Rose theatre.
For extra issues to do in Kingston with youngsters, try this publish
Kingston Christmas Market ticket costs
Free
Kingston Christmas Market dates
November 16, to December 31, 2023
Wembley Park Festive market
2023 TBC: There are sometimes nice family-friendly occasions going down round Wembley Park and the festive season is not any completely different, 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 go over to Market Sq. and discover – don’t miss the particular selfie spots, together with a starry present field.
There’s additionally stay music on weekends, in addition to seven immersive artworks as a part of the free Wembley Park Artwork Path, themed round ‘Winter’s Wander.’
Three everlasting items of art work are additionally heading to the world, together with a brand new mural and light-weight sculpture, plus Unimaginable Greenhouses, which transforms six electrical cupboards throughout Wembley Park into imagined greenhouses.
Wembley Park Festive market ticket costs
Free
Wembley Park Festive market dates
2023 dates TBC
For extra issues to do in Wembley Park with youngsters, try this publish
London Christmas markets with youngsters: better of the remaining
Hampton Court docket Palace Festive Fayre
Hampton Court docket Palace will get dressed up for Christmas with its Festive Fayre from December 1-3 and 8-10, the place the palace courtyards are remodeled with foods 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 and January alongside with the winter gentle path.
Take a look at 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 choosing up a few of the fantastic meals, whereas bells ring and carols sound, plus particular occasions throughout December – tbc for 2023.
Artful Fox Christmas markets
Good for those who’re on the lookout for an uncommon inventive present, the Artful Fox markets are stuffed 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, at Mercato Metropolitano in Elephant and Fort and The Crossing at Kings Cross, whereas different earlier areas have included The Division Retailer, Brixton.
Winterville Clapham Widespread
Promising another Christmas, Winterville is a great distance from gingerbread hearts and conventional picket stalls – nonetheless, the occasions haven’t taken place for the final 4 years for varied causes, and there’s nothing confirmed for 2023 both.
With UV-powered Plonk Golf, a Curler Disco and avenue meals galore prior to now, entry was free for those who had an occasion ticket and for some weekday classes.
For extra options of the perfect Christmas markets in Europe for kids, try this choice from Suitcases & Sandcastles
PIN FOR LATER: CHRISTMAS MARKETS IN LONDON WITH KIDS
Photos: South Financial institution and Hampton courtroom, copyright MummyTravels. All others courtesy Depositphotos
