Christmas Markets in London 2026

In 2026 the Spirit of Christmas Fair at Olympia London and the Southbank Centre Winter Market both open first, on Monday 2 November. The fair runs to Sunday 8 November and the Winter Market to Sunday 3 January. Winter by the River follows on Tuesday 10 November and Kingston Christmas Market on Thursday 12 November, and both stay open until Sunday 3 January. Leadenhall Christmas Market has two market days, Saturday 14 November and Saturday 12 December, and the South Bank Christmas Market opens on six Sundays from 15 November to 20 December. The Festive Fayre at Hampton Court Palace is on Friday 4 to Sunday 6 December and Friday 11 to Sunday 13 December, and the fairs at Eltham Palace and Fulham Palace are on Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 December. Each market's card shows the dates.

It differs from market to market. The South Bank Christmas Market welcomes dogs and has not said whether they must be on a lead, and dogs are welcome in the public areas of Leadenhall Market, on a lead and under control. Kingston Christmas Market permits dogs on a lead at all times and says it can be very busy at weekends. Olympia admits only police dogs and assistance dogs to the Spirit of Christmas Fair, Eltham Palace and Hampton Court Palace admit only assistance dogs, and Fulham Palace allows only service dogs on site. The Southbank Centre Winter Market and Winter by the River have not published a dog rule.

The South Bank Christmas Market and Kingston Christmas Market are free to enter, and at Kingston tickets are needed only for rides and attractions such as the carousel. The Spirit of Christmas Fair sells tickets, and children under 12 go in free. The Christmas Fair at Fulham Palace sells adult, child and family tickets. The Festive Fayre at Hampton Court Palace and the Christmas Fair at Eltham Palace come with palace admission and members go free, and the Hampton Court fayre must be booked ahead. Leadenhall Christmas Market, the Southbank Centre Winter Market and Winter by the River have not published an entry price.

It varies from market to market. Olympia's car park has limited spaces, which must be booked before you travel. Hampton Court Palace has limited on-site parking that cannot be booked ahead and takes cards only. Eltham Palace has limited parking, free for English Heritage members who display a valid car sticker; other visitors pay, and Blue Badge holders park free. Fulham Palace has no public parking on site, though there is metered parking on Bishop's Avenue. Kingston Christmas Market recommends public transport and names several town-centre car parks, among them Ashdown, Bittoms, Cattle Market and Rose. The Southbank Centre Winter Market gives only its Blue Badge spaces, and Leadenhall Christmas Market, the South Bank Christmas Market and Winter by the River have published no parking details.

Kensington (Olympia) station, served by London Overground and National Rail, is beside Olympia London. Waterloo and Embankment are the nearest Underground stations to the Southbank Centre Winter Market, and Waterloo is its nearest train station. The South Bank Christmas Market is about 0.3 miles from London Waterloo station. Winter by the River is about 0.1 miles from London Bridge station, and Leadenhall Market is about 4 minutes' walk from Monument Underground station. Hampton Court Palace is a five-minute walk from Hampton Court station, with half-hourly trains from London Waterloo. From Kingston station, about 25 minutes by train from London Waterloo, the market is a 7 to 8 minute walk. Mottingham station is about a 15-minute walk from Eltham Palace, and Putney Bridge station, on the District line, is a 15-minute walk from Fulham Palace.

Yes. At the Southbank Centre Winter Market the stalls open at 11am and close at 10pm, with the bars open until 11pm, and Winter by the River is open from 11am to 10pm every day, with shorter hours on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve and closed on Christmas Day. The Spirit of Christmas Fair stays open until 9pm on Thursday 5 November. At Kingston Christmas Market the stalls close at 8pm from Thursday to Saturday, while the bar, food and entertainment stay open until 10pm. The Festive Fayre at Hampton Court Palace, Leadenhall Christmas Market and the South Bank Christmas Market close at 5pm, and the fairs at Eltham Palace and Fulham Palace close at 4pm.

It varies from market to market. Olympia has wheelchair-accessible toilets across the venue, a limited number of wheelchairs to hire and a limited number of Blue Badge bays, which it recommends booking ahead, and a carer is admitted free with one standard adult ticket and proof of need. Fulham Palace describes its house, cafe and museum as fully wheelchair accessible, with a ramp always on hand for the few steps in the main house corridor, though it gives no separate access details for the fair. Eltham Palace has a ramp at the visitor centre drop-off, lists wheelchair loan and accessible toilets, and has three disabled parking bays by the entrance; the basement, the Minstrel's Gallery and the raised dais in the Great Hall can be reached only by stairs. Hampton Court Palace has 10 Blue Badge bays and open toilets but no Changing Places toilet at present, and a free ticket is available to a carer or companion. Kingston Christmas Market stands on brick tile paving, staff can provide a ramp for stalls that need one, and the nearest accessible toilet is in the Bentalls Centre, about 2 minutes' walk away. At the Southbank Centre all toilets are accessible, with four Blue Badge spaces on the Queen Elizabeth Hall slip road. Leadenhall Christmas Market, the South Bank Christmas Market and Winter by the River have published no access details.