‹ Holidays · The London food guide
Thanksgiving to New Year's · 2026-27
The holidays in London
The West End lit from early November, Winter Wonderland and the river markets, the mince pies worth crossing town for, who's serving Christmas Day (the Tube doesn't run), and the New Year's Eve dinners. With our own holiday Almanac.
Photo: Les Hull, CC BY-SA 2.0The dates to know
- Thu, Nov 5Regent Street lights switch on (listed; Oxford Street date to be confirmed)Listed dates, check before you go · From Londonist
- Nov 11 to Dec 24 · in 3 daysOld Spitalfields Christmas marketFrom Get Stuffed in London (our Almanac)
- Thu, Nov 12 · in 4 daysCovent Garden lights switch onFrom Time Out London
- Nov 19 to Jan 3 · in 11 daysHyde Park Winter Wonderland (closed Christmas Day)From Hyde Park Winter Wonderland
- Nov 30 to Jan 6Borough Market's Christmas runFrom Get Stuffed in London (our Almanac)
- Fri, Dec 25Christmas Day: most of London shuts and there's no Tube. Book lunch or dinner where you can walk. ›
- Thu, Dec 31New Year's Eve
The Christmas markets
Where to drink something hot and buy something you can eat on the walk.
1
Hyde Park Winter Wonderland
Get: Bratwurst, churros, roasted chestnuts and mulled wine.
The grandest of them, a pan-European tour by mouth with an ice rink attached.
Entry is timed and cheapest off-peak (from £1 in 2026). Go early, go hungry.
From Hyde Park Winter Wonderland, Time Out London, Get Stuffed in London · checked Nov 8, 2026
Photo: Garry Knight, CC BY-SA 2.0
2A photo like it
Southbank Centre Winter Market
Get: A molten cheese toastie, Dutch pancakes, and the hot chocolate, with the Thames in front of you.
The best place in the city to eat a toasted sandwich while a view of the river happens to you.
Walk it from Westminster Bridge to the National Theatre.
From Get Stuffed in London, DesignMyNight · checked Nov 8, 2026
Photo like it: Garry Knight, CC BY-SA 2.0
3A photo like it
Borough Market
Get: Cheese from Bath Soft Cheese Co, a bottle from Borough Wines, and Christmas lunch shopping.
The city's patron saint of cheese, at its busiest and best.
Go early on a weekday; the last Saturday before Christmas is shoulder to shoulder.
From Get Stuffed in London · checked Nov 8, 2026
Photo like it: Garry Knight, CC BY-SA 2.0
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Old Spitalfields Market
Get: Street food from Dumpling Shack, Bleecker Burger and Humble Crumble.
The covered market for gifts and lunch in one go.
Then walk to Brick Lane.
From Get Stuffed in London · checked Nov 8, 2026
Photo like it: Garry Knight, CC BY-SA 2.0
The lights
The lights worth leaving dinner for, in walking order.
The West End lights walk
About 2 km, an hour with stops. Go after 4pm, when it's already dark.
Walk it in Google Maps5
Regent Street lights
Look for: The angels over Regent Street, from Oxford Circus down to Piccadilly.
The classic London lights, and the start of the West End walk.
Walk south from Oxford Circus.
From Country & Town House, Londonist · checked Nov 8, 2026
Photo: Les Hull, CC BY-SA 2.0
6A photo like it
Carnaby Street lights
Look for: Each year a new theme strung over the street.
The most playful lights in town, a block off Regent Street.
Dinner in Soho after.
From Londonist · checked Nov 8, 2026
Photo like it: Les Hull, CC BY-SA 2.0
7A photo like it
Covent Garden
Look for: The giant tree and the lights in the market building.
The prettiest piazza at Christmas.
End the walk here; the restaurants around it are open late.
From Time Out London · checked Nov 8, 2026
Photo like it: Les Hull, CC BY-SA 2.0
The holiday sweets
Where to buy the mince pies. Order ahead: the good ones sell out in the last week.
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Pophams
Get: The mince pie: mincemeat steeped two months in The King's Ginger, 18 layers of Normandy butter pastry, Cornish clotted cream.
Not a pie so much as a legal declaration.
Arrive early or check their Instagram.
From Hot Dinners, Christmas 2025, Get Stuffed in London · checked Nov 8, 2026
Photo like it: Kai Chan Vong, CC BY 2.0
9A photo like it
Toklas Bakery
Get: Flaky mince pies with roasted quince, two apples, brandy and house-candied pomelo peel.
The rule is simple: arrive early, or make peace with a lesser life.
Mornings.
From Get Stuffed in London · checked Nov 8, 2026
Photo like it: Kai Chan Vong, CC BY 2.0
10A photo like it
Toad Bakery
Get: Emmer-flour mince pies with a glacé cherry hidden in the middle, like a clue.
South London's bakery of the moment.
Weekend queues; go weekdays.
From Get Stuffed in London · checked Nov 8, 2026
Photo like it: Kai Chan Vong, CC BY 2.0
11A photo like it
St. John
Get: The crumbly brandy-and-nut mince pie, and an Eccles cake for the road.
A whole career argued for the dignity of unfussy things.
Lunch in the bar while you're there.
From Get Stuffed in London · checked Nov 8, 2026
Photo like it: Kai Chan Vong, CC BY 2.0
Christmas Eve and Day
The night that matters most here, and where to book it.
Open on Christmas Eve and Day in London ›12 holiday menus Chef has read, which year each menu is from, and when to book.New Year's Eve
New Year's Eve dinners worth booking now.
12A photo like it
The Ritz
Get: The New Year's Eve dinner (£150 in 2025), or the black-tie Palm Court gala (£975).
If you're going to do it once.
2025 prices; check the 2026 menus.
From Hot Dinners · checked Nov 8, 2026
Photo like it: Gerda Arendt, CC0
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Claridge's
Get: Six courses with a whole baked lobster (£180 a person in 2025).
The art deco grand hotel at its most festive.
2025 price; check the 2026 menu.
From Hot Dinners · checked Nov 8, 2026
Photo like it: Mitantig, CC BY-SA 4.0
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Hélène Darroze at The Connaught
Get: The New Year's Eve tasting menu (£225 a person, wine pairing £135, last year).
Three Michelin stars for the last dinner of the year.
Last year's price.
From The Sybarite · checked Nov 8, 2026
Photo like it: Ed g2s, CC BY-SA 4.0
Hot Dinners' easier pick, on the water at Paddington Basin.
Check the 2026 menu.
From Hot Dinners · checked Nov 8, 2026
Photo like it: Ruth Hartnup, CC BY 2.0
On the map
Plan your holiday trip
Tell Chef your dates and where you're staying. He puts the markets, the lights and the dinners you save into your Trips and fills the days around them. Free, no password.
More for your trip
The holidays somewhere else
JJonahJackalope17 picks · markets, lights, sweets
The holidays in New York
From the tree going up on November 7 to the ball dropping on New Year's Eve.
Jean-Pierre Dalbéra from Paris17 picks · markets, lights, sweets
The holidays in Paris
The Champs-Élysées lit from late November, the Christmas market by Notre-Dame, the bûches de Noël from the great pâtissiers, the réveillon dinners on the 24th, the Saint-Sylvestre on the 31st, and the galette des rois in January..
Nicholas Gemini15 picks · markets, lights, sweets
The holidays in Rome
Rome does Christmas around the table.
Daniel X. O'Neil from USA13 picks · markets, lights, sweets
The holidays in Chicago
The tree goes up in Millennium Park on November 20 and the German market opens the same night. Here's the lights weekend, the Walnut Room under its tree, stollen from the old German bakeries, who's open Christmas Eve, and where to eat on New Year's Eve..
Kstipek13 picks · markets, lights, sweets
The holidays in Vienna
The Christkindlmarkt in front of the Rathaus, Punsch at Spittelberg, the chandeliers over the Graben, Vanillekipferl from Demel, carp and a long dinner on the 24th, and the whole Innere Stadt out on the Silvesterpfad on the 31st..
Jordiferrer8 picks · markets, lights, sweets
The holidays in Barcelona
The Santa Llúcia fair in front of the cathedral, the lights up Passeig de Gràcia, turrón from the old shops on Portal de l'Àngel, a long Christmas lunch on the 25th, canelons on Sant Esteve, and grapes at midnight on the 31st..
Luis García (Zaqarbal)10 picks · markets, lights, sweets
The holidays in Madrid
The market in the Plaza Mayor, the lights down Gran Vía and Alcalá, turrón from Casa Mira, Lhardy's consommé on Christmas Eve, twelve grapes under the clock at Sol, churros at dawn, and the roscón for the Three Kings on January 6..
Alf van Beem6 picks · markets, lights, sweets
The holidays in Amsterdam
The Light Festival on the canals, skating on Museumplein, oliebollen from a stall in the cold, a long Christmas with two days off, and a New Year's Eve that, from this year, moves to Museumplein..
Good to know
What are the best Christmas markets in London?
Hyde Park Winter Wonderland (Hyde Park, November 19, 2026 to January 3, 2027 (closed Christmas Day)); Southbank Centre Winter Market (South Bank, Expected early November to January 4); Borough Market (London Bridge, Christmas run November 30 to January 6); Old Spitalfields Market (Spitalfields, November 11 to December 24).
Where are the best Christmas lights in London?
The West End lights walk: Regent Street lights, then Carnaby Street lights, then Covent Garden. About 2 km, an hour with stops. Go after 4pm, when it's already dark.
Where can you buy the mince pies in London?
Pophams: The mince pie: mincemeat steeped two months in The King's Ginger, 18 layers of Normandy butter pastry, Cornish clotted cream. Toklas Bakery: Flaky mince pies with roasted quince, two apples, brandy and house-candied pomelo peel. Toad Bakery: Emmer-flour mince pies with a glacé cherry hidden in the middle, like a clue. St. John: The crumbly brandy-and-nut mince pie, and an Eccles cake for the road.
Where to eat on New Year's Eve in London?
The Ritz (Piccadilly): The New Year's Eve dinner (£150 in 2025), or the black-tie Palm Court gala (£975). Claridge's (Mayfair): Six courses with a whole baked lobster (£180 a person in 2025). Hélène Darroze at The Connaught (Mayfair): The New Year's Eve tasting menu (£225 a person, wine pairing £135, last year). Smith's Bar & Grill (Paddington): Steak and a canal view.
Every pick was checked on November 8, 2026 and says where Chef found it. Market dates, holiday hours and menus change, and some places haven't posted 2026 yet (each card says which year it's from): check before you go. Photos marked "a photo like it" aren't of that place. Chef Amazing isn't paid by any place here. Something wrong or missing? hello@chefamazing.com.
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