Forget the John Lewis advert, it’s Christmas markets that really ring in the beginning of the festive season in London, and this weekend sees the first of them opening, filling the air with the scent of gingerbread men and mulled wine, and the sound of happy Christmas shoppers, and with that we give you The Resident’s top 29 Christmas markets…
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North London Christmas markets
1 The Mid Century Market, Camden
London’s only 1950’s fair will open to the general public for one day at the Cecil Sharp House in Camden Town. The Mid Century Market hosts the highest quality of vintage stallholders offering a variety of products ranging from clothing to music records. There will be stalls from Miss L Fire, Lady K Loves, Spindrift Records, Bow & Crossbones, Kool Kitten Jewellery, Harmedia pomades, Vera Mode Vintage and Razzle Dazzle vintage. You can even have your hair done by the retro hairdressers at The Vanity Box, who will be coiffing 50s barnets. The market is open on Sunday 14th December from 10:30am to 4pm. Entry costs £3. bettinascarlettpresents.co.uk
Cecil Sharp House, 2 Regent’s Park Road, NW1 7AY
2 Country Living Christmas Fair, Islington
The Country Living magazine is celebrating Christmas with style this year with hundred of artisan designers and makers at their market in Islington. The pages of the magazine will come to life with festive Christmas decorations. Special offers and discounts will be available to guests to help them complete their Christmas shopping in no time. Exhibitors will offer a range of products from handmade moccasins to handcrafted Christmas cards that will fulfil everyone’s Christmas wish list. The Country Living Christmas Fair starts Wednesday 12 November to Sunday 16 November at the Business Design Centre.
3 Clerkenwell Vintage Fashion Christmas Fair, Clerkenwell
Why does vintage make the ideal Christmas present? The Clerkenwell Vintage Fashion Fair, back again on 23rd November, points to five things: it’s one-of-a-kind, so you can rest assured you have bought something unique; it’s an investment as all of their traders are hand-picked for selling top quality, authentic vintage items that will increase in value as time goes by; it has a history, adding a romanticism; there’s something for everyone thanks to over 50 stall holders; and it’s a wonderful shopping experience where you can chat to knowledgeable traders, put your feet up in their Tearoom des Artists and listen to live festive music.
clerkenwellvintagefashionfair.co.uk
4 Waffle’s Christmas Pop Up, Clerkenwell
WAFFLE Design makes hand embroidered throws and cushions out of 100% organic cotton and lambswool, as well as charming homewares, which are all made in East London. This Christmas it will be having a pop-up stall from 2nd-7th December at 21 Clerkenwell Green, there will be special discounts, plus more gifts from local artisans selling soaps, candles and beautiful cards. The market is opening from 11am-7pm on weekdays and 11am-5pm on weekends, there will be a late-night shopping event on 4th December, until 9pm.
21 Clerkenwell Green, London, EC1R 0DX. waffledesign.co.uk
5 Exmouth Market, Islington
Exmouth market’s independent restaurants, bars and shops will host an evening Christmas Celebration on Wednesday 3rd December from 5pm until late. The market area will be ringing with street carols sung by the local church choir, a Santa’s Grotto for kids will be set up at In With the Old, and even fabulous festive drag queens will be handing out Great British Pizza! Moro, Morito and Medcalf are among the restaurants who will have pop-up food stalls in the pedestrianised street. The Klinik hair salon will offer a drop-in dry-styling, and Hummus Bros will host a special book signing. Each shop will stay open late, serving mince pies and mulled wine, and offering discounts.
Exmouth Market, London, EC1R 4QD
South London Christmas markets
6 Anorak and Molly-Meg pop-up shop, East Dulwich
Anorak, an outdoor British brand, and Molly-Meg, a children’s design shop, have opened a pop-up shop for Christmas in East Dulwich on Lordship Lane. Creative workshops and events will be available for families and the exclusive AW14 collection will be on sale. The shop is open Monday-Saturday 10am to 6pm, and Sunday 11am to 4pm, until 24th December.
15 Lordship Lane, East Dulwich, London, SE22 8EW
7 Diggin’ Design Christmas Fair, Lambeth
The Garden Museum is making Christmas green this year by holding an eco-friendly Christmas market with local designers. The most green-friendly products in London will be found there, from jewellery to homewares. After shopping, enjoy a picnic-style vegetarian Christmas menu, or homemade mince pies paired with mulled wine. The award-winning choir London Concord Singers will be singing Christmas carols throughout the days. The fair kicks off on Sunday 30th November, from 10.30am to 5pm in the Victorian Church of the Garden Museum, opposite Tate Britain. Admission is £3 at the door and includes access to the Garden Museum’s permanent collection, its temporary Gardens & War and the 17th century Knot Garden. Admission fee proceeds go towardsthe Garden Museum’s development project.
5 Lambeth Palace Rd, London SE1 7LB
8 White Christmas Fair, Battersea
Over 40 stalls filled with jewellery, clothes, trinkets, real Christmas trees and wreaths will be popping up at The Doodle Bar for one weekend. Those with a taste for finer things in life will be happy to find Italian prosecco, Parmesan and charcuterie to nibble on between shopping, plus the Doodle Bar will be serving up mulled wine and hot toddies, and The London Distillery Company will be there offering whiskey tastings and tours. There will be a pop-up blow dry bar by Uffizi Hair Salon, get your hair Christmas ready with no appointment needed. The fair takes place at on Parksgate Road on Saturday 6th and Sunday 7th December from 10am to 5pm. Entry is free and the event will be raising money for a local children’s charity, the Battersea Summer Scheme.
33 Parkgate Road, SW11 4NP
9 Horniman Christmas Fair, Forest Hill
The Horniman Christmas Fair is the perfect outing for families. The market will boast one-off Christmas gifts and many arts and crafts stalls. Shop until you drop while the kids enjoy a trail, face painting and a photo booth. Community choirs will spread Christmas cheer on Sunday from 11am, plus there will be even more yuletide activities in the museum and gardens. The fair will be open in the Gardens of the Horniman Museum on 6th and 7th December from 10.30am to 5pm.
The Horniman Museum and Gardens, 100 London Rd, London SE23 3PQ
10 Crafty Fox Christmas Market, Peckham
Get into the Christmas spirit with the craftiest market in London. The Crafty Fox Christmas Market will feature over 50 traders each day during its two day event. The market also gives you the opportunity to participate in many workshops. Nancy Straughan will be teaching the craft of block printing, while Betty & Walter will guide guests through the art of Christmas-styled origami. Special guest curator Supermarket Sarah will be inspiring shoppers as she sets up one of her famous wonder-walls with homemade products from traders at the market, meanwhile, in the courtyard, Sophie Stephens will perform her unusual style of live art. The Crafty Fox Christmas Market takes place at the CLF Art Café in the Bussey Building in Peckham on Saturday 13th and Sunday 14th December 12 to 6pm. (The market will be in Brixton on 6th and 7th December too)
Bussey Building, 133 Rye Lane, Peckham, SE15 4ST
11 Tate Modern Christmas Market, Bankside
Xmas Market Ltd is organising a traditional Christmas market at the Tate Modern this year. Special illuminations will turn the former Bankside Power Station into a Christmas wonderland with a towering Christmas tree. Wooden huts selling original handcrafted goods and festive food and drink will give the space a homey feel. The market runs from Friday 14th November until Wednesday 24th December.
East London Christmas markets
12 Christmas Foodies Festival, Spitalfields
After a successful series of nine events this summer, the Foodies Festival is bringing the spirit of Christmas to Old Truman’s Brewery in East London. One of London’s top chefs will be cooking live in a new open air Chef’s Theatre, allowing visitors to learn how to prepare the perfect Christmas feast. Attendees can also enjoy various Christmas street foods at the Christmas Feasting Table. Wash everything down at the Whiskey Arena or the Ski Bar, which will be serving après ski cocktails. And for kids, there’s an Elf Cookery School. The Foodies Festival takes place Friday 28th and Saturday 29th November from 11am to 9pm, and Sunday 30th November from 11am to 8pm. Tickets can be purchased in advance or for more at the door. foodiesfestival.com
The Old Truman Brewery, 91 Brick Lane, London E1 6QL
13 Taste of London Winter, Tobacco Dock
Among the many food stands at Taste of London Winter (20th-23rd November) you’ll find a Garden of Temptation put together by the pudding experts at Gü. A multi-sensory market space will be take visitors on a journey into the world of Gü’s flavours and smells, from the decadent Chocolate & Vanilla Cheesecakes to zesty Key Lime Pies. Master classes run by Gü Head Chef Fred Ponnavoy will demonstrate how he puts together the delicious desserts, while the pièce de résistance is the Gü Christmas tree, laden with chocolate baubles. Taste of London Winter tickets are available to purchase online and prices range from £19 for advance tickets to £65 for full VIP access. london.tastefestivals.com
50 Porters Walk, London E1W 2SF
West London Christmas markets
14 Brook Green Market and Kitchen, Brook Green
Brook Green Market and Kitchen, West London, is a heaven for foodies. During December prepare your Christmas dinner with the help of Brook Green Market and Kitchen’s free on-site cooking classes, where you’ll be taught how to prepare Christmas classics like Studded Gammon. After the cooking classes, shop for festive products and original gifts. A special Christmas raffle will be held, with winners announced Saturday 20th December. The market is open every Saturday in December from 10am to 3pm.
Addison Primary School, Addison Gardens, Brook Green, W14 0DT
15 The Secret Christmas Grotto, Fitzrovia
Give to charity while catching up on your Christmas shopping at the Secret Christmas Grotto in Central London. The best of emerging British designers and brands have joined with the World Council of the Peoples UN, The Society of Young Philanthropists and #GivingTuesday to create an epic Christmas market. Designers include Tessa Packard, Troy London and many more. Ten percent of earnings will be donated to charity. The event runs on Tuesday 2 December 9:30am to 5:30pm and Wednesday 3 December 9:30am to 9pm.
2 Percy Street, London, W1T 1DD
16 Linley, Belgravia
Throughout December, Linley in Belgravia is hosting a series of fun Christmas shopping events, from mulled wine and board games on 14th December, where Linley is encouraging shoppers to stop in for a game of cards or round of Monopoly and giving 20% off all its games, to a visit from Father Christmas on 6th December. On 13th December, there will be wine tasting in the Linley wine room, with nibbles from Daylesford Organic, while on 20th December the shop is inviting guests to give marquetry a go and take home their own carefully crafted product. There will also be free in-store engraving every Saturday and gift wrapping available throughout the run up to Christmas.
60 Pimlico Rd, London SW1W 8LP; davidlinley.com
17 Late Night Shopping, High Street Kensington
Finish all Christmas shopping in a single day with High Street Kensington’s Late Night Christmas Shopping Event. Opening hours will be extended from 6pm until late on Thursday 4th December. Get into the Christmas spirit with live performances from the Royal College of Music and local choirs, plus Santa’s reindeer will be making an appearance at Bodos Schloss. It’s sure to inspire Christmas cheer!
Kensington High Street, W8 5SA
18 Christmas market, Duke of York Square
Chelsea’s Duke of York Square will have the most stylish of Christmas gifts with many accompanying events. The Square offers more than 30 luxury retailers with perfect gifts for everyone this season. Gift wrappers are offering wrapping services for all Square purchases, plus keep an eye out for Santa at the Square’s Christmas grotto from 10am to 5pm, and the farmers’ market every Saturday. The Christmas Grotto is open every weekend from now until December and then more frequently in the run up ro Christmas. Visit dukeofyorksqaure.com for more details.
Duke of York Square, London SW3 4LY
19 Quintessentially Gifts’ Christmas Atelier, Portland Place
Quintessentially Gifts is launching its first luxury Christmas Atelier, a one day event that will support the charity Rays of Sunshine. Find Christmas inspiration from limited edition items, which are available exclusively to visitors on the day. Guests will also have the opportunity to be a part of Quintessentially Wine’s Christmas Case Selection’s wine tasting. World-renowned wine expert, Matthew Jukes, has curated a selection of wines, including Quintessentially’s ‘Extra Age’ Ayala Champagne. The Christmas Atelier takes place on Tuesday 25th November from 3 to 9pm.
Ballroom, 29 Portland Place, London W1B 9QB
20 Hestia’s Christmas Market, Notting Hill
London charity Hestia will be holding its first Christmas market at St Peter’s Notting Hill to raise funds for women and children escaping domestic abuse. Shoppers will have a wide variety of vendors to choose from, while refueling on cakes made specially from Hestia’s baking stall. The market is open on 22 November 11am to 3pm.
St Peter’s Notting Hill, Kensington Park Road, W11 2PN
21 Nyetimber English Sparkling Wine Pop-Up, St James’s
To honour a year of awards English wine maker Nyetimber is launching a pop-up tasting room in St James’s. Guests will be able to sample a number of award-winning Nyetimber wines, including multiple vintages of Classic Cuvée and Blanc de Blancs. There will also be numerous other luxury retailers to shop from during the day. At night the pop-up space will become a celebratory event location where Nyetimber will host masterclasses with luxury British brands like Linley, Floris and Alice Temperley. Floris has partnered with Nyetimber to create a limited edition scent inspired by the wine label’s 2009 Rosé, and on 11th and 12th December guests will learn the parallels between winemaking and perfume making in a masterclass by Penny Ellis, bespoke fragrance maker at Floris and Cherie Spriggs, winemaker at Nyetimber. Tickets can be booked at nyetimber.com. The pop-up runs from 27th November until 13th December.
39C Jermyn St St. James’s, London SW1Y 6DN
22 Shepherd Market Christmas Party, Mayfair
Nestled in the heart of Mayfair is Shepherd Market, a small bohemian enclave of boutiques, shops, restaurants and pubs, many of which have been there since the 18th century. The market opens its doors for late night shopping on 4th December and there will be drinks, mince pies and carol singers to liven up proceedings, plus an as of yet unannounced celebrity to turn on the Christmas lights. The party runs from 6pm to 10pm, with the lighting ceremony taking place at 6:30pm.
Shepherd Market, Mayfair, London W1J 7QU
23 The ShopUp, Chelsea
Set up by the fabulous parenting blog Babyccino Kids, The ShopUp is the place to be when shopping for your family this Christmas. Over 30 independent children’s boutiques will fill Chelsea Old Town Hall with children’s clothing, toys and home decorations, plus plenty of discounts on many of the products. While adults shop, kids play will have heaps of activities to keep them entertained, like a Colouring Wall by Anorak Magazine. Refuel throughout the day with healthy drinks and snacks. The ShopUp is open Wednesday 3rd December 12pm to 9pm and Thursday 4th December 9am to 5pm.
Chelsea Old Town Hall, King’s Rd, London SW3 5EE
24 Chelsea Christmas Gift Fair
Another great market at Chelsea Old Town Hall, the Chelsea Christmas Gift Fair will see over 60 independent exhibitors selling original gifts over three days. Children’s clothes designers Ben & Lola, Atticus & Gilda and Emma Levine will be selling their wares, plus there’s jewellery from Ana Verdun and Rogue Lobster and homewares from Rue Candles London, So Cosy and Flint & Flame. Everyone who attends will be entered into a competition to win prizes worth over a total of £700. The fair is open on Friday 12th December from 12pm to 8pm, Saturday 13th December from 10am to 6pm and Sunday 14th December 12pm to 5pm. Proceeds for the event go to the Make a Wish Foundation. Admission is £3 per person.
Chelsea Old Town Hall, King’s Rd, London SW3 5EE
24 British Red Cross Christmas Fair, Kensington
Kensington is welcoming the British Red Cross’s Christmas Fair this year with over 90 stalls of luxury goods. Find the perfect gift for everyone while enjoying the entertainment of live music and celebrity guest speaker Claire Bertsinger will be making an appearance. Indulge your sweet tooth with one of the chocolate tasting workshops, or take time out from shopping at the World War I exhibition. In the evening there will be drinks and a canapé reception to celebrate the Christmas season. The fair will be held on Wednesday 26th November from 11.30am to 8.30pm at the Kensington Town Hall. Tickets are £10 including a glass of wine and entrance to the evening reception at 6pm.
Kensington Town Hall, Hornton St, London, W8 7NX
26 The Noel Fair, Fulham
Fulham-based jewellery company Merci Maman is hosting The Noel Fair Christmas market on 20th November at The Worx in Fulham. Along with the brand, which specialises in personalised engraved jewellery, there will be 25 local designers selling everything from jewellery, books, accessories, home decoration, children clothing and food and drink. The Beauty Room Fulham will be pampering guests and there will be complimentary cakes and pastries. The Noel Fair is in aid of The Octavia Appeal, Friends of Royal Brompton, a local charity, it is on Thursday 20th November from 9.00am to 3.30pm.
10 Heathman’s Rd, London SW6 4TJ
27 Belgravia Christmas Sunday, Belgravia
Grosvenor’s London estate plays host to a series of charming seasonal events to envelop its communities in the festive spirit. In addition to an evening shopping event on 4th December, 6pm-8.30pm in which Motcomb Street invites you to peruse its high-end specialist retailers, sampling some Michelin-star food in-between strolls, the larger Christmas Sunday event on 7 December, 12pm-5pm, transforms the area into a haven of market stalls along Pimlico Road, Elizabeth Street and Motcomb Street. Here you will find gorgeous plated jewellery, sheepskin, tasty pastries, singing from the Holland Park Opera Singers and Father Christmas himself. Visit grosvenorlondon.com for more details
28 Chelsea Physic Market, Chelsea
In addition to its Christmas Fair on 29th to 30th November (£5 entry) the Chelsea Physic Market hosts shopping days on 2nd to 5th December and 8th to 12th December, where a range of gift ideas, edible treats and an eclectic range of books will be available for sale. Once you’ve made your purchases, and seasonal discounts are available, the Tangerine Dream Café will also be serving a special Christmas menu for hungry shoppers afterwards. Entry to the garden is free.
66 Royal Hospital Road SW3 4HS
29 Winter Wonderland, Hyde Park
Christmas shopping with children can require unlimited amounts of patience so if this is likely to be you, plan a visit to Winter Wonderland to bribe youngsters with a trip to the ice-rink or fairground before embarking on your own pursuits. There are over 200 Bavarian style wooden chalets at the event’s Angels Christmas & Yuletide Markets, prettily lit with fairy lights and bearing a selection of unusual crafts including ceramics, candles, nativity scenes and Christmas decorations. Entry is free, but main attractions are ticketed and early booking is advised. Winter Wonderland runs from 21 November until 4th January 2015.
Hyde Park W2 2UH
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