While it’s rare for London to have a white Christmas, it’s magical nonetheless.
Colorful and white lights illuminate famous streets like Oxford, Regent Street, Picadilly Circus, and the Strand, and cafes serve comforting holiday treats like gingerbread lattes and mince pies. Street performers play festive Christmas music on every corner, hyping up strangers and getting them in the spirit.
If you’re heading to London during the holidays, you’ve got to visit the Covent Garden Christmas Market!
I’ve been to London twice, the first time with my husband Cecilio in October 2019 (and we got to ride the London Eye with some champagne and take a day trip to Stonehenge!) and the second time solo in November 2024 (with a day trip to Canterbury and White Cliffs of Dover).
By the time I booked my ticket back to the US from London (I had started my trip in Lisbon), I knew I had to scope out Covent Garden, especially because it was already going to be decked out for the holidays (and because Cecilio and I didn’t get to visit Covent Garden because we made the mistake an Airbnb that was way too far from the center).
This is not your typical rustic German Christmas market. Sure, there are some elements of the Christkindlmarkt like wooden stalls selling mulled wine and hot dogs (even the Christmas market I visited in Copenhagen was more German-inspired), but expect a more luxurious (and somewhat expensive) twist; it is London, after all!
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About the Covent Garden Christmas Market
A Brief History of Covent Garden
There have been records of the Covent Garden dating back to the 1200s. It actually used to be operated by the Westminster Abbey! In fact, it used to be referred to as ‘the garden of the Abbey and Convent’, and was located on the north bank of the River Thames.
After the Dissolution of the English Monasteries in 1552, King Henry VII granted the land where Covent Garden is to John Russell, 1st Earl of Bedford.
For about a century, there wasn’t much going on in this particular land, until Francis Russell, 4th Earl of Bedford, purchased the land and commissioned the Royal architect Indigo Jones to design an Italian-style piazza (or square) surrounded with houses for English royals. This was the first square ever designed in London, inspiring others to design squares/piazzas, like Trafalgar Square.
Covent Garden officially became “a thing” in 1670, when King Charles II and the Earl of Bedford established a fruit and vegetable market there.
Throughout the centuries, Covent Garden has undergone dramatic changes, including the design of the Covent Garden Market in 1828, and reopening in 1980 as Europe’s first specialty shopping/dining center.
Today, Covent Garden comprises the Market Building, Royal Opera House, London Transport Museum, Theatre Royal Drury Lane, Neal’s Yard, and Seven Dials.
Covent Garden Christmas Market as we know it today
Every year, from early November to December, Covent Garden goes completely all out with giant Christmas baubles, bells, and disco balls, hung under the ceiling of the Market, a 60-foot tree on the West Piazza (with daily “snow” showers), stalls selling goodies like mulled wine and churros, pop-up chalets offering an après ski experience in the alps, and a choir.
Inside the Market Building, you’ll find vendors selling artwork, crafts, jewelry, and gifts under the Apple Market.
And that’s barely scratching the surface of how decked out the Covent Garden Christmas Market gets and how it exudes total joy and cheer!
What to Expect at Covent Garden Christmas Market
The 60-foot hand-picked Christmas tree
Every year, in preparation for the Covent Garden Christmas Market, a fresh, 60-foot tree gets handpicked from a tree farm in the Midlands.
While it’s not as large as San Francisco’s 83-foot-tall Christmas tree in Union Square, it’s still a sight to behold!
The tree stands on the West Piazza throughout the holiday season, illuminated with over 30,000 LED lights and 200 decorations, requiring over 60 staff and a cherry picker to make this beauty come to life.
The 2025 Christmas tree lighting date is TBA.
Bells, balls, and baubles decked out in the Market Building
Get ready to be blown away by all the maximalist decor in the Covent Market Building, with lights on every nook and cranny, with pops of red and gold.
What makes the Covent Market Building unique during the holidays are the gigantic bells, baubles, and disco balls hanging from the ceiling.
These beastly decorations include 40 bells with red bows, 12 baubles, and 8 disco balls. They were unveiled just in time for the 2023 Covent Garden Christmas Market, taking 18 months to complete thanks to a staff of 70 people in a London-based studio.
Each bell weighs at least 5 tonnes (around 11,000 pounds, if you can imagine it!) and is crafted with red glitter and gold leaf. LED lights and lights from the disco balls illuminate the building.
A hand-painted, vintage sleigh for photo-ops
What’s a Christmas market without a sleigh or Santa in sight? While you won’t see Santa in the Covent Garden Christmas Market, his sleigh is located on the West Piazza in front of the Christmas tree. You can go inside it and get some fun, festive photos taken!
The sleigh is a vintage artifact built in 1884, and hand-painted by American/British artist James Gemmill.
It’s free to get your photos taken in the sleigh, as there is no professional photographer, so you will have to have a stranger take your photo. The only downside is waiting for your turn!
Treats and drinks in every corner
Come November, cafes, restaurants, and food stalls on every corner start offering special Christmas meals and drinks. Covent Garden is no exception!
Of course, no trip to a Christmas market would be complete without a cup of mulled wine, which you can find in some of the stalls. Or you can get it at the Jubilee Market around the corner, where I got mine!
You’ll also find stalls selling piping-hot desserts like hot dogs, crepes, donuts, and churros.
Don’t forget the mobile cocktail bar, The Thirsty Farrier, where you can get fancy holiday drinks, like the £13 gingerbread espresso martini I ended up getting for free since the barista spilled the first drink on accident.
If you want a sit-down meal, here are a few eateries, cafes, and bars that have Christmas specials:
- Palm Court Brassierie: Parisian cuisine serving baked brie in filo and cranberry chutney, roast turkey, beef bourguignon, and decadent desserts like Christmas pudding (made with fruit, spices, and brandy sauce) and crème brulee.
- Bad Boy Society Pizza: Offering New York-style pizza in the Seven Dials Market around the corner, their Christmas special is the Naught & Spice Slice, topped with buffalo turkey, celery, blue cheese, and Hoot’s sauce.
- Gordon Ramsay Street Burger: If you’ve never heard of a Christmas burger, now you have: the world-famous chef’s burger joint offers a festive burger with turkey breast, potato rosti (basically a hash brown), brie, gravy, red cabbage, kale, and cranberry sauce!
- Chestnut Bakery: This bakery has a unique Christmas menu, featuring a chestnut and mushroom roll, chestnut frittata, chocolate brioche, French toast, and hot chocolate with hazelnut and pistachio.
Daily “snow” showers
As I mentioned earlier, it’s rare for London to get a white Christmas (although there was some snowfall a few days after I left).
But that doesn’t mean you can’t experience it with the daily snow showers during the whole month of December!
Everyday in December, a flurry of artificial snow falls from the Market Building, giving that Winter Wonderland experience.
Swiss chalet pop-ups
You may not be in the Swiss Alps inside a cozy log cabin under a few feet of snow with some drinks in tow, but that doesn’t mean you can’t experience something similar in the heart of London!
Covent Garden Christmas Market has two Swiss chalet pop-ups that replicate the après ski experience (without skiing and freezing your butt off).
Covent Garden Chalet
You won’t miss the wooden log cabin on the East Piazza, decorated with garlands, wreaths, icicles, and lights. The Covent Garden chalet serves comforting winter drinks like mulled wine, hot chocolate, and cocktails. Let’s not forget the yummy treats like churros and mince pies!
Henri Chalet
Henri, a fine-dining Parisian bistro, has a “chalet” with dim lighting, multiple candles on each table, pine tree garlands, and cozy blankets that make you feel like you are staying toasty after an intense ski sesh.
Even the cocktails at Henri chalet ooze with winter comfort, like the Le Farm, hot chocolate with vodka, Grand Marnier, and topped with a burned marshmallow.
To top it off, if you’re with someone else, you both have to try the La Grande Raclette, which consists of raclette cheese, charcuterie meats, boiled potatoes, and cornichons! It’s £20 per person, with a two-person minimum. You can also get an accompaniment of wines or an individual glass for £15.
The La Grande Raclette is only served on Saturdays and Sundays, so keep that in mind if you want to visit the Henri chalet.
Live Music to Enjoy
The Covent Garden Christmas Market is not only a feast for your eyes with the festive decor, but also for your ears. It’s time for Christmas music in the air, creating a more jolly atmosphere!
On the lower court in the Market Building, you’ll hear a woman perform an opera singing performance, which you can enjoy sitting down with a glass from The Wine Palace or above.
Every Thursday evening, you can also listen to performances from the London International Gospel Choir and the London Gay Men’s Chorus. Both groups raise funds for Save the Children, a nonprofit that helps children around the world get access to food, clean water, medicine, education, and better living conditions.
Shopping ’til You Drop
Covent Garden is one of London’s best shopping spots. Even nearby spots like Soho, Oxford Circus, and Regent Street are prime areas for luxury shopping.
In Covent Garden, you can find over 300 retailers, including worldwide brands such as Apple, NARS Cosmetics, and Uniqlo.
But if you’d rather not shop there and prefer to seek British brands, check out Elemis, Hotel Chocolat, and Radley.
Or better yet, you can support a local vendor/artist in the Apple Market (located inside the Market Building) by buying some of their works. By doing so, you are helping put food on the table and sustaining their business.
Other things to do in and near Covent Garden
Watch The Nutcracker and La Bohème in the Royal Opera House
‘Tis the season for sugar plum fairies, so watching The Nutcracker is a must! Around the corner from the Covent Garden Market Building at the Royal Opera House, where you can watch this classic Christmas performance.
Although not as well-known, the Italian opera La Bohème is also live in the Royal Opera House from December 13, 2024–January 17, 2025.
La Bohème takes place in Paris’ Latin Quarter in the 1840s on Christmas Eve between two bohemians, Rodolfo and Mimì. They fall in love and Rodolfo introduces Mimì to his friends, but tension arises when they learn that Mimì is ill. It’s a sweet love story that’s sure to break audiences’ hearts.
While a little on the pricier side, the Royal Opera House has restaurants, bars, and cafes serving Christmas meals and snacks to whet your appetite between intermissions!
Visit the London Transport Museum
Are you fascinated with trains and buses? Especially London’s iconic double-decker buses and underground tube? Then you’ve got to visit the London Transport Museum, right next to the Royal Opera House. This is the perfect activity for families with young children!
The London Transport Museum has a variety of exhibitions and artifacts, including different trains, horse-drawn carriages, and buses from the 19th century and beyond. And you can even go in some of them!
During the holidays, the museum has so many festive activities like getting a chance to meet Santa, or “drive” his sleigh. You can also ride the elf trail and do some last-minute shopping at the gift shop for yourself and your loved ones!
Go on a Christmas Lights Tour
Despite the lack of snow, London is oh-so-magical during the holidays, with fairy lights hanging on major streets near Covent Garden. These streets include (but are not limited to) Regent Street, Oxford Circus, and Carnaby Street.
If you’re visiting London for the first time in November or December, I highly recommend going on a guided Christmas lights tour with a local or an expert. They’ll also take you to other Christmas markets and hidden gems!
Below, I compiled a list of Christmas lights tours at or near Covent Garden. Some of these tours will pick you up at your accommodation!
- London Bespoke Black Cab Christmas Lights & Sights Private Tour
- London Christmas Sparkle Private Walking Tour
- London Christmas Lights Private Walking Tour
- London Christmas Lights Private Guided Taxi Tour
- London Magical Christmas Walking Tour with Guide
- Christmas Lights and Markets Guided Walking Tour with Mulled Wine
How to get to Covent Garden
The easiest way to visit Covent Garden is through the tube, (officially known as the London Underground station).
Depending on where you’re staying, you will need to take a specific line to get to Covent Garden. For example, if you’re taking the…
- Piccadilly line: Exit on Covent Garden Station
- Central Line: Exit on Tottenham Court Road or Holborn Stations, and walk 15–20 minutes
- District/Circle Lines: Exit on Embankment or Temple Stations, and walk 10–15 minutes
- Elizabeth Line: Exit on Tottenham Court Road Station, and walk 20 minutes
- Jubilee Line: Exit on Bond Street Station, and walk 25 minutes
- Hammersmith Line: Exit on Euston Square Station, and walk 25 minutes
- Victoria Line: Exit on Oxford Circus Station, and walk 22 minutes
- Northern Line: Exit on Tottenham Court Road Station, and walk 20 minutes
I stayed in Notting Hill during my 2nd time in London, and took the Underground since the Notting Hill Gate station was literally across the street from the apartment I stayed in. I exited on Tottenham Court Road and had a nice, scenic walk to Covent Garden, passing by the cathedral St. Giles-in-the-Fields, the Butterfly Trail, and various high-end shops and restaurants.
On the map below, the purple pinned location is Covent Garden, and the red pinned locations are the closest train stations. Click on (or tap if you’re using your phone) the sliding icon on the top left corner where exactly your closest station is. You can also zoom in on the map!
Wrapping up the Covent Garden Christmas Market
Covent Garden is the perfect Christmas haven, with lights twinkling all around, massive bells and baubles under the ceiling, a fresh 60-foot tree from the Midlands, and melodic songs.
I keep reiterating how magical London is during Christmas, but I can’t say it enough; words and photos don’t describe how enchanting it is in person!
Another reason I love the Covent Garden Christmas Market is because it opens earlier than other Christmas markets and popups in London. Since I went in mid-November, I was able to visit it on my first night. I didn’t stay long enough to see some of the other major holiday attractions like the Hyde Park Winter Wonderland (one day, though!).
Whether it’s your first or 100th time in London, a trip to Covent Garden during the holidays is a must for a fun, cheerful experience!
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Hannah is a travel writer, graphic designer, and the founder/editor of Hannah on Horizon. She is based in Sacramento, California, living with her husband and two adorable dogs. She shares tips on how to experience luxury travel on any budget, and how to maximize time at each trip or destination, no matter what your budget or amount of vacation time at work. She enjoys making you feel like you have visited each destination with her through her storytelling and informative writing style.