Are you planning a family trip to London this festive season? Need help in understanding when all of the festive lights and markets are open? Well, look no further! This post is your guide to the dates when you can experience London’s Christmas lights, markets and other famous seasonal attractions like ice rinks. We know that when you are travelling with children, timing is everything. Whether you want the perfect family photo under Regent Street’s angel Christmas lights or you want to experience the magic of Covent Garden at Christmas, this post will help your family plan and time your trip to perfection.
Set out below are the start dates for the various attractions mentioned, where known, the end dates are also noted. For markets and other attractions, we have provided start and end dates only, do check opening times and days before visiting, especially if looking to visit on a Bank Holiday day.
This list will continue to be updated as we approach the Christmas season.
Christmas lights
- Oxford Street – Tuesday 5 November 2024
- Regent Street – Thursday 7 November 2024
- Carnaby Street – Thursday 7 November 2024
- St James’ – Thursday 7 November 2024
- Covent Garden – Tuesday 12 November 2024
- Seven Dials – Tuesday 12 November 2024
- Marylebone Village – Wednesday 13 November 2024
- Spitalfields Market – Wednesday 13 November 2024
- Leadenhall Market – Thursday 14 November 2024
- Chelsea – Saturday 16 November 2024
- Belgravia – Sunday 17 November 2024
- Bond Street – Thursday 14 November 2024
- St Christopher’s Place – TBD
- Coal Drops Yard – TBD
- Mayfair – TBD
Christmas light trails/other attractions
- Christmas at Kew – Wednesday 13 November 2024 to Sunday 5 January 2025
- Penguin Parade sculpture trail – Thursday 14 November 2024 – Sunday 5 January 2025
- Hyde Park Winter Wonderland – Thursday 21 November 2024 – Sunday 5 January 2025
- Sparkle in the Park – Thursday 28 November 2024 – Sunday 1 December 2024
- Christmas in Chelsea – Wednesday 4th December – Sunday 29th December 2024
- The Outernet – TBD
Christmas trees/decorations
- Trafalgar Square Christmas tree – Thursday 5 December 2024
- The Shard (lit up top section with four 15 minute festive light sequences every hour) – Thursday 14 November 2024
- Annabel’s – 14 November 2024
- St Pancras Station – 4 November 2024
Ice rinks
- Ice Rink Canary Wharf – Saturday 26 October 2024 – Sunday 23 February 2025
- Glide at Battersea Power Station – Friday 8 November 2024 – Sunday 5 January 2025
- SKATE at Somerset House – Tuesday 13 November 2024 – Sunday 12 January 2025
- Festive Skate is back at Ally Pally Ice Rink! – Wednesday 11 December 2024 – Sunday 5 January 2025
Christmas markets
- Southbank Winter Market – Friday 1 November – Thursday 26 December 2024
- Leicester Square Christmas market – Wednesday 6 November 2024 – Sunday 5 January 2025
- Trafalgar Square Christmas market – Friday 8 November 2024
- Winter by the River – Thursday 14 November 2024 – Sunday 5 January 2024
- Lower Stable Street Christmas market – 21 November – 22 December, Thursday to Sunday
- Mexican Christmas market – Friday 29 November, Saturday 30 November and Sunday 1 December
- Christmas Under The Canopy – Tuesday to Sunday from 29 November to 22 December, as well as Monday 16 December
- Urban Makers Market – 30 November & 1 December, and 14 & 15 December
- Crafty Fox Market – Saturday 30 November, Sunday 1 December, Sunday 8 December, Saturday 16 December and Sunday 17 December
- TOAST Festive Market – Friday through Sunday each week from 6 to 22 December
- Illustrators’ Festive Fair – Saturday 7 December
- Shōtengai Christmas Market – 12 – 15 December
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