The best family days out in London and beyond rated by kids and teens
Whether you’re in London for a day, a week, or it’s your hometown, London’s Christmas markets are a festive must-do for families on a budget. Stroll through stalls brimming with holiday gifts and tasty treats, sip on mulled wine or cider, while the kids (and teens!) enjoy hot chocolate, ice skating, and fun fairground rides. It’s the perfect way to soak up the holiday spirit together!
Keep scrolling for details of some of the top festive markets outside of London.
Southbank Winter Market 2021
Southbank Winter Market and Christmas Festival is brimming with festive treats your teens will adore. Parents can browse stocking fillers, secret santa gifts, decorations and crafts at a wide variety of stalls while enjoying the lights along the riverbank. Keep your belly merry with savoury plates of truffle burgers, duck wraps, lobster rolls or gourmet cheese toasties; winter classics like fondue and raclette; and toasted marshmallows, Dutch pancakes and other sweet treats. Beyond the shopping and food, there’s storytelling, music and Christmas shows to help get the whole family in the Christmas mood. You could even try your hand at curling at The Curling Club!
Winter Wonderland 2021
Winter Wonderland is the UK’s biggest festive event, bringing the holiday magic to Hyde Park! Wander through the charming Christmas market filled with decorated wooden chalets offering unique gifts and handmade ornaments. Family-friendly shows like Zippos Christmas Circus, Cirque Berserk, and the enchanting Magical Ice Kingdom add to the fun, while the UK’s largest outdoor ice rink is back for gliding under the stars. Santa Land is a must for kids, with Santa’s Grotto and rides like the Spinning Coaster and Flying Sleigh Ride. For thrill-seekers, epic rides like Munich Looping and The Hangover await. When hunger strikes visit the Sleigh-by for delicious street food stalls.
Picture courtesy of secretldn
Situated right in the heart of London, this delightful Bavarian-style Christmas market is full of food, drink and entertainment. As well as over 30 stalls, there’s a Santa’s Grotto and a whole host of events and shows to discover. Why not treat your older kids with tickets to the exciting cabaret show La Clique in the Leicester Square Spiegeltent? The Christmas Market remains free, with or without a show ticket, but there’s plenty more to explore in the heart of our great city.
#ChristmasByTheRiver
In sight of Tower Bridge and The Tower of London, wander amongst fairy-lit wooden cabins by the Thames and grab some stocking fillers from the range of handcrafted, artisan products. Enjoy yummy food from the pop-up stalls along the bank and make sure to treat yourself to a delicious hot chocolate or steaming glass of mulled wine! As well as the traditional Christmas market, the kids can enjoy a variety of activities such as outdoor film screenings, storytelling, choir performances and workshops at Winter by the River.
This Christmas at Covent Garden sees the return of the legendary 60ft Christmas tree, decorated with over 30,000 lights – perfect for the ultimate festive selfie! Or for younger kids let them sit in the Covent Garden Christmas Sleigh to get them really excited for the big man’s visit. All this can be found in the open-air Piazza with the surrounding streets of the West End.
Hampton Court Christmas Fayre
Discover a winter wonderland at Hampton Court Palace Festive Fayre. The courtyards are transformed with stalls selling artisan food, drink and gifts, live cooking demos, carol singing and more family fun. Plus, the ice skating rink is open from 22nd November – 5th January.
Courtesy of kingstonchristmasmarket.co.uk
Go back in time to the traditional Christmas Market of Kingston-upon-Thames, located on the outskirts of London. Discover over 40 wooden cabins full of stocking fillers. Head to Alpine Village and cosy up next to the fire pit with a bag of roasted chestnuts as the kids enjoy a ride on the vintage carousel. Feast on a hog roast roll, warm up with a mug of mulled wine and enjoy live entertainment under twinkling fairy lights. Oh and they’ve got curling this year too. But you have to book in advance!
Photograph courtesy of CNN Traveller
Another excellent place to pick up unique gifts is Greenwich Market, full of arts and crafts, jewellery and fashionable clothing. Expect lots of seasonal food and drink to keep you well-fuelled while you browse, too. 20th November sees the annual Christmas Light Switch on and Lantern Parade, definitely something to get you in the Christmas mood.
Image courtesy of Stephney City Farm
Stepney City Farm is a three-acre working farm, and a unique provider of environmental education and outdoor learning in Tower Hamlets, London. The Farm is free and open to visitors six days a week, and once again they’ll be hosting a Christmas Market at the venue. Featuring 25 stalls of seasonal produce and gifts, live music, carol singers, and free craft activities for the kids, plus a brass band Christmas tunes throughout the day it’s well worth a visit. Make a day of it with lunch from a range of street food stalls.
Trafalgar Square Christmas Market
Hang out with Nelson and his four famous lions in London’s most famous square. There”ll be wooden chalets filled with handmade crafts, gifts and tasty treats aplenty down at the Trafalgar Square Christmas market.
Afterwards, grab a hot chocolate or mulled wine at the bar while listening to carol singers perform festive tunes by the Trafalgar Square Christmas tree.
Photograph courtesy of Hand Luggage Only
Borough Market is a fun day out anytime of the year but it becomes even more magical at Christmas. Take your kids for a sing-along with the Christmas choir and taste test all the seasonal goodies from the market’s independent traders – including yule logs, sprouts, cheese and wine.
Photograph courtesy of The Resident
The Christmas Edition of Canopy Market is packed with cheeses, festive treats, handpicked independent designers and craft-makers, as well as a host of street food and drinks options. Liliane Lijn’s much-loved ‘Temenos’ installation will also return to Lewis Cubitt Square in November. The immersive, 11-metre-high geometric winter sculpture comprises 19 neon poles which gradually change colour from a beautiful golden yellow to a cool winter blue. The kids will love it!
Courtesy of Crafty Fox Markets
Perfect if you’re looking for an unusual creative gift, the Crafty Fox markets are full of pieces from independent designers, with a different mix each time, including artwork, jewellery and children’s items.
Expect pop-up stalls from traders such as Grumpy Nook, Origamiest, Jolly Creative and Annabel Hewitson. Inspire your little creatives and find something for everyone at this two-day extravaganza.
Image by Fulham Palace
With over 65 stalls of foods and gifts, the Christmas Fair Weekend at Fulham Palace is not to be missed. After buying a few pressies and wolfing down a mince pie or two, why not explore the wonderful festivities taking place with your family? Kids can enjoy storytelling sessions, free craft workshops, face painting, music making, gift grotto tombola, carol singing and more…
Plus. don’t forget to visit the Illuminated Light Trail complete with cosy fire pits, marshmallow toasting and live music. 28th November – 22nd December. Tickets required.
Image courtesy of visitmanchester
This Winter Wonderland Funland experience down in Manchester is a delight for the whole family, with limitless adventurous rides, games, circus activities, food and more. Meet clowns and acrobats at the extravagant Christmas Circus. Expect all the trimmings of your traditional circus with sweet and salty popcorn and a side of candyfloss.
Image courtesy of Winter Funland
The UK’s largest indoor funfair is here again this Christmas. Watch some silly antics at the Circus before you head to some amazing rides at the indoor funfair and then glide around the ice skating rink before you stop for hot drinks and hot dogs!
The spectacular Christmas Market in Stratford-upon-Avon set against the backdrop of the historic buildings in the town is well worth a visit. With over 200 stalls it’s one of the largest in the West Midlands.
Look out for live entertainment with festive tunes and performances throughout the market making it a truly immersive experience. Shop, feast and enjoy the beautiful Christmas lights.
Winchester Cathedral Christmas Market is a magical family outing that brings the holiday spirit to life! Set against the stunning backdrop of Winchester Cathedral, this market is filled with charming wooden chalets offering unique gifts, handmade crafts, and festive treats. Families can explore together, sampling delicious hot chocolates, seasonal sweets, and hearty winter foods. With carol singers, holiday music, and beautifully decorated stalls, Winchester Cathedral Christmas Market is a festive experience that will delight visitors of all ages.
And why not call into the Cathedral Undercroft whilst you’re there to take part in some crafty Christmas workshops
Bath Christmas Market is a festive wonderland set against the city’s stunning Georgian architecture, making it one of the most picturesque holiday markets in the UK. With over 150 wooden chalets, visitors can browse a delightful selection of unique gifts, handmade crafts, and seasonal treats, all from local artisans and businesses. Families can wander through the charming stalls, warm up with a mug of mulled wine or hot chocolate, and enjoy the lively entertainment and carol singers filling the streets. It’s the perfect place to soak up holiday cheer in the heart of historic Bath!
York Christmas Market, also known as St. Nicholas Fair, transforms the medieval streets of York into a festive wonderland. With alpine-style chalets lining Parliament Street & St. Sampson’s Square, families can shop for handcrafted gifts, festive decorations, and delicious Yorkshire treats. Kids will love the cheerful lights and holiday atmosphere, while parents enjoy seasonal drinks at Thor’s Tipi, a cosy Nordic tent offering mulled wine by the fire. With a blend of tradition and holiday spirit, York Christmas Market is a magical experience for visitors of all ages.
Blenheim Palace Christmas Market is a magical holiday experience set in the palace’s stunning courtyard, where wooden chalets overflow with handcrafted gifts, festive decorations, and seasonal treats. Families can wander through the cosy stalls, warming up with mulled wine or hot chocolate and sampling delicious holiday goodies.
This year, the festive magic extends inside with a Neverland theme. Kids will love following Tinkerbell from room to room, discovering each enchanted space. Outside, the Illuminated Light Trail lights up the grounds, creating the perfect backdrop for family photos (or Snapchats with teens!). New for this year, there’s even a covered ice rink, The Great Skate —adding an extra layer of winter fun for all ages.
Clink Prison Museum
Matilda the Musical
