Christmas in London tomorrow. Help any suggestions for markets/lights?

[IwishIwasapigeon]

Going up with dd 17 tomorrow. We are going to a show at 3pm near Embankment. We will have two or three hours to kill before. Where’s lovely and Christmassy?!

I mean I think Covent Garden and Leicester Square have Christmas markets and maybe south bank, but which are nicest?

South Bank have lovely lights and a market! https://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whats-on/winter-light/

Battersea Power Station has a huge Christmas tree, an ice rink, churros, and shopping.

Covent Garden is beautiful - highly recommend

Covent Garden is nice and close otherwise I’d head to Battersea

Honestly, nowhere is that lovely in London at the moment. Everyone and their dog is visiting to “feel Christmassy” and it’s just endless queues, crowds and shoving, esp in the tourist areas you mentioned. Find somewhere close to your shoe and stick around there

I was in central London, Piccadilly Circus last Saturday at 4pm ish and it was an absolute nightmare. A few streets either side ie around Trafalgar Sqaure weren't too bad but I wouldn't not recommend going to Leicester Sqaure / Oxford Street / Covent Garden. 3 tube stations we tried to access were closed because it was so busy. It was worse than a festival trying to move around and pretty stressful! I don't why I didn't think about how busy it would be, I was meeting a friend who was coming in the opposite direction. It was honestly carnage! I shall.not be doing that again!

Regent Street always a must pre-Christmas. The giant light angels hanging over the road always take the breath away.

Oh god now I dont know what to do!

maybe walk from embankment to Covent Garden?

Or go Oxford street and regent street?

It will be busy but Covent Garden is very pretty at Xmas and its side streets will look Christmassy so worth an explore around and about. Piccadilly has lovely window displays usually in Fortnum and Mason. I wouldn’t bother with Oxford Street but Soho might look nice. Royal Opera House (Covent Garden) has a rooftop cafe might be nice to get off the street for a bit. I had an AMAZING hot chocolate just off the main Covent Garden plaza, in a Portuguese pastel de nata place, Santa Nata.

Walk around south bank. The views on the bridge are lovely. Or walk around trafalgar sq. Su day woll be less busy.

Go very very early if you want to do this. Yesterday there were so many crowds people were being kettled into massive queues to even get into the tube stations.

I’d avoid Oxford street and Regent street.

There is a Victorian market at St Katharines Dock which may be less hectic.

Don’t bother with Oxford St. If you need to be at Embankment then either the south bank across the bridge or Covent Garden.

Yes, do this walk - it will be fine and less mad than Oxford Street.

Maybe go for a nice lunch somewhere first - avoid the crowds a bit?

Seven Dials just west of Covent Garden has nice shops and will be a bit less busy - good lights and so on. All very walkable

We were in Covent Garden last weekend. Sunday evening, so most of the shops were shut, but it was HEAVING! Same for Fortnum and Mason in the afternoon - had to leave as it was just horrible.

I used to live in London, but even so, the amount of people (many doing the zombie shuffle in crowded places) was completely overwhelming. Very happy to get back to our quiet little village.

Honestly, it’s madder than ever this year. I’ve lived in London 25 years and it never used to be like this. Seems to be the social media-indication of everything: everyone seems determined to have “magical” experiences they can photograph. Which also now seems to include ten times more tourists flying in to see it too.

OP, look up all the videos of crowds from this weekend and last. I don’t just mean a bit busy. It’s so many people you can barely walk faster than a shuffle as you’ll be hemmed in. Especially on Oxford Street or Covent Garden. Don’t risk your show getting stuck

I haven’t read all the posts to see if this has been suggested, but when we go next week we are including Carnaby Street on our route

I was in Covent Garden yesterday afternoon and it was really busy. But you could walk around. Mounted police were moving on the terrible pedicabs just taking up space. Lots of numpties walking in the road and crossing without looking (we were on bikes at points) but honestly it was bearable. Didn’t even have to wait long to get into Wagamama for food. Looked like a massive queue - was five mins. Go - it’s gorgeous. Lights on New Bond St particularly lovely this year (went after work a few weeks ago, wouldn’t attempt it at the weekend). Enjoy your show. Southbank is always lovely too, though but with 3 hours I’d just do Covent Garden and get something to eat so you’re not rushing (as you won’t be able to!)

Thanks all. We went to embankment and walked to Trafalgar Square, not busy at all there and a Christmas market, then on to Covent Garden. CG was busy but not too busy and we could wander around the stalls and shops. Pretty, Christmassy and great show. No problem. Glad we avoided Oxford street!

Thanks all. We went to embankment and walked to Trafalgar Square, not busy at all there and a Christmas market, then on to Covent Garden. CG was busy but not too busy and we could wander around the stalls and shops. Pretty, Christmassy and great show. No problem. Glad we avoided Oxford street!

Thanks all. We went to embankment and walked to Trafalgar Square, not busy at all there and a Christmas market, then on to Covent Garden. CG was busy but not too busy and we could wander around the stalls and shops. Pretty, Christmassy and great show. No problem. Glad we avoided Oxford street!

Thanks all. We went to embankment and walked to Trafalgar Square, not busy at all there and a Christmas market, then on to Covent Garden. CG was busy but not too busy and we could wander around the stalls and shops. Pretty, Christmassy and great show. No problem. Glad we avoided Oxford street!