Top 10 Festive Places to visit in London

London truly comes alive during the holiday season, offering enchanting Christmas markets and festive attractions that will leave you in awe. The sparkling lights and the delightful smells of gingerbread and mulled wine create a warm and fuzzy feeling, filling you with hope and optimism for the new year.

Numerous locations throughout the city have been transformed into winter wonderlands, complete with ice rinks, Christmas trees, and all the bells and whistles to bring in the festive cheer.

In no particular order, here is our selection of festive places in London that we definitely recommend checking out this season.

1. Fleet Street Quarter - Walking With The Snowman Trail

Fleet Street Quarter is celebrating the animation and original picture book by the late Raymond Briggs, The Snowman™. Throughout the Quarter, you can find 12 sculptures, each uniquely painted and designed by British-based artists. These sculptures are inspired by the carol 'The Twelve Days of Christmas'.

You can find the 12 sculptures tucked away in streets like Chancery Lane, Carter Lane, Ludgate Hill, and Fleet Street. You have until 5th January 2024 to find them all!

2. Eastern City - Tinsel Trail

The Eastern City Business Improvement District has laid on an incredible array of festive cheer. You can visit MOSAIC 2023 by artist Aurnard Lappierre, at One Bishopsgate Plaza until 5th January 2024. Delivered in partnership with Pan Pacific London and MTArts, the unique installation is fitted with mirrored cubes arranged in a manner which evokes the natural geometry of a pine cone reflecting the city around it.

You can also have your face projected onto a 20ft christmas tree until the 22nd December. Working with Trees for Cities charity, Aviva and inspirational artist Jasper Toeli ‘Be the Tree’, invites the public to connect with a city tree.

3. West End - Christmas Lights

Heart of London Business Alliance has partnered with The Crown Estate for the switch on of the dazzling ChristmasLights, a spectacle that will be on show to all until January 2024. The beautiful angelic dancers span the entire streets of Regents Street and Piccadilly, illuminating the buildings and streets below.

Source - Heart Of London Business Alliance

4. Wembley Park - Festive Market

Experience festive fun at Wembley Park Festive Market, where the magic of Christmas comes alive in Northwest London. The district offers a haven of artisan creations and handcrafted treasures, spread across Market Square and Olympic Way. From now until December 17th, you can explore a wide range of gifts, souvenirs, food, drink, and festive entertainment.

5. Battersea Power Station - Christmas at Battersea Power Station

The Battersea Power Station Christmas Market is a combination of the historic landmark and the festive ambiance creating a truly magical experience.

World-renowned artist David Hockney has sprinkled some Christmas magic, with a bespoke new piece of art, Drawn on iPad. Hockney’s 10-minute animation, ‘Bigger Christmas Trees’ will be here until the 25th December. Until 7th January 'Glide' at Battersea Power Station is London’s only riverside ice rink. If you are there before Christmas you can also meet the big man himself at Santa’s Cabin.

6. East Village - Lab E20

Lab E20 is East Village’s new flagship multi-use centre for experiential retail, cultural exhibition and creative workspace, with a focus on positive fashion and sustainable living.

Throughout December they are putting on a variety of festive workshops, ranging from Kids Christmas Painting to a market in partnership with Katy Mason who ran an upcycling workshop

7. King’s Cross - Christmas Under The Canopy

King Cross' famous Canopy Market has been given a Christmas twist. The popular covered market has extended its opening hours, until the 23rd December, opening its doors earlier in the week and later into the night.

The beautifully decorated space allows you to support amazing independent food producers, crafts, original designers/makers and street food traders.

8. Grosvenor Square - Ever After Garden

For the fifth year Mayfair’s Grosvenor Square has been transformed into the ‘Ever After Garden’. The space has been filled with the illuminated white silk roses and visitors are invited to dedicate a rose in memory of a loved one, to help raise funds for The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity.

Running until 19th December, the idea was conceived by designer Anya Hindmarch and fashion writer Camilla Morton after the loss of their friend Michael Howells, a famous production designer. Since its launch in 2019, the garden has raised more than £250,000 for the Royal Marsden Cancer Charity.

9. Belgravia - Christmas in Belgravia

Belgravia is renowned as one of London's most photogenic neighbourhoods. This year, it has been transformed into a winter wonderland adorned with twinkling Christmas lights and festive floral displays. You can learn to decorate Christmas biscuits, pose for a photo next to the angel wings in Eccleston Yards, or treat yourself to a festive afternoon tea. Make sure to visit Belgravia before December 17th to admire its spectacular Christmas window displays and participate in the Christmas Display Competition by voting for your favourite.

10. Better Bankside - Frost Fair

Following an incredibly successful first year at Better Bankside, Frost Fair will be back for 2024. Running between the 26th and 28th January you can celebrate one of the most extraordinary events in London’s history. From around 1605 to 1814, the surface of the River Thames froze over 24 times, bringing all trade on the water to a standstill.

Better Bankside will be embracing its rich history by reinventing the Frost Fair for the 21st century. You will be able to immerse yourself in traditional games, music and dance, artisan stalls, art and craft workshops, and even a life-sized elephant!

We wish you merry ramblings as you explore these festive places in our beloved city.

If you enjoyed this article, check out the other articles on our blog on related topics such as placemaking, branding, marketing and storytelling in the Built Environment.