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 Christmas in London 2009: Markets & Fairs
 
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Head to one of London's Christmas markets and festive fairs where shopping can be a fun day out (rather than a dreaded list-ticking chore). This year, there's a new German market next to the ice rink on Oxford Street adding to the choice which includes annual favourites on the Southbank and at Hyde Park returning for the Yuletide season.
 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Christmas in London 2009: Related Articles Shows & Pantos | Ice Skating | Carols & Services | Christmas Trees | Markets & Fairs | Christmas Day & Boxing Day | New Year's Eve | Christmas Lights | Hotel Hideaways   Cologne Christmas Market
Southbank Centre, SE1 8XX 20th November 2009 - 23rd December 2009 The Cologne Christmas Market returns to the Southbank Centre as chalet-style stalls are set up, running along the riverside stretch from the London Eye to the Royal Festival Hall. Strolling along the Southbank at any time of year is one of the best free things you can do in London but with the pretty market lining the pedestrian promenade it becomes a real treat. There are up to 60 traditional German market wooden chalets selling all kinds of gifts, food and hand-crafted items for sale from wooden toys to glass Christmas tree decorations. The German theme extends to the sustenence on offer - you can sip a warming gluhwein (German mulled wine), enjoy a famous German Bratwurst or try a gingerbread heart. The market is just part of the Southbank Centre's Christmas Unwrapped programme which includes performances of Sandi Toksvig's Christmas Cracker, The Cat In The Hat, Peter & the Wolf and ZooNation's award-winning dance show, Into The Hoods. Venue: Southbank Centre Address: Belvedere Road, SE1 8XX Phone: 0871 663 2501 Date: 20th November 2009 - 23rd December 2009 Time: 11am-10pm Pricing: FREE Nearest Station: Waterloo Rail / Tube Cologne Christmas Market - Information  Oxford Street Christmas Market
Parklife, W1K 6DE 20th November 2009 - 3rd January 2010 On one of London's busiest shopping streets you'll find the first ever Oxford Street Christmas Market with a good range of Christmas gifts and toys laid out at wooden challet stalls. The 'Bratwurst' sausages on offer help to create the atmosphere of an authentic German market. While the massive site - in a prime location on Oxford Street - awaits development, it's being put to good use with this Christmas Market, creating a festive winter escape in the heart of London. The Oxford Street Christmas Lights with giant illuminated presents hanging overhead add to the jolly, festive feel and you can combine a trip to the nearby retail giants of Oxford Street - Selfridges, John Lewis, Debenhams (all lit up in gold) and House of Fraser (in red) - with a trip to the smaller stalls found within the market. You'll find the Christmas Market directly facing Oxford Street, located diagonally across from Selfridges and taking up an entire block with Park Street at one end and North Audley Street at the other. Venue: Parklife Address: 33b North Row, W1K 6DE Phone: 0845 054 2230 Date: 20th November 2009 - 3rd January 2010 Time: Tue to Sat 10am-9pm, Sun 10am-7pm | Closed 23, 30 Nov & 7, 14, 25 Dec & 1 Jan | 31 Dec until 5pm Pricing: FREE Nearest Station: Bond Street Tube Oxford Street Christmas Market - Information  Hyde Park Winter Wonderland
Hyde Park, W2 2UH 21st November 2009 - 3rd January 2010 Throughout December a section of Hyde Park near Hyde Park Corner is transformed into a Winter Wonderland, complete with fairground rides, giant wheel, circus, Christmas market, food and drink stalls, Santa's grotto (free, first-come-first-served) and, of course, an ice rink. It's the third consecutive year that the Winter Wonderland has come to Hyde Park and it's already a favourite in many Londoners' calendars. Doing a turn on the 50-metre-high wheel takes in great views over London's most popular Christmas attraction, fittingly set in one of the capital's most prominent parks. Zippo's Circus is a new attraction for this year - and the 35-minute show is bound to pull crowds into its heated big top when temperatures plummet. The traditional German market, with its wooden chalets and various Bavarian bars and cafes, is a hoot - but don't go with an empty wallet because while the whole thing is not cheap, it's such fun you'll want to get into the spirit and spend. Free entry means you can just walk around and absorb the festive ambiance - but it will take a strong will not to succumb to the smells and fun on offer. Venue: Hyde Park Address: Rangers Lodge, W2 2UH Phone: 0844 847 1771 Date: 21st November 2009 - 3rd January 2010 Time: Daily 10am-10pm | Closed Christmas Day Pricing: FREE admission. Tokens for rides & attractions | Ice Rink - £10-£13 (Adults), £7.50-£8 (Children), £9-£11.50 (Concs), £28-£34 (Families) | Wheel - £7.50 (Adults & Children - advance bookings), £20 (Families) | Zippo's Circus - £7.50-£8 (Adults), £4.50 (Child) Nearest Station: Hyde Park Corner Tube Hyde Park Winter Wonderland - Information  All I Want for Xmas
The Old Truman Brewery, E1 6QL 26th November 2009 - 20th December 2009 There would be no need to leave Christmas shopping until the last minute if it was always as enjoyable as a stroll down to the Old Truman Brewery. In a bid to banish the pre-Christmas blues they've come up with All I Want for Xmas, a colourful market that makes gift buying a pleasure - we think it could well be the perfect antidote to all known Christmas shopping allergies. Stalls, designer sales, art exhibitions and a temporary pop-up emporium are all housed on the first floor of the Old Truman Brewery in the vast T1 space. It all kicks off on 26th November with a Design and Gift Market to launch the event. Then, for the next four weeks you can shop every Thursday to Sunday with late night opening on Thursdays until 9pm. Retailers on neighbouring Dray Walk and Ely's Yard including Public Beware, Junky Styling, Son of a Stag and Traffic People, are also keeping their doors open until 9pm on Thursdays. Drop by the newly expanded Story Deli to pick up a healthy supper on your way home. Venue: The Old Truman Brewery Address: 91 Brick Lane, E1 6QL Phone: 020 7770 6100 Date: 26th November 2009 - 20th December 2009 Time: Thu 5pm-9pm, Fri 12pm-6pm, Weekends 10am-6pm Pricing: FREE Nearest Station: Liverpool Street Tube All I Want for Xmas - Information  Taste Of Christmas
ExCel London Exhibition Centre, E16 1XL 4th December 2009 - 6th December 2009 Heston Blumenthal, Jean-Christophe Novelli and Antony Worrall Thompson are just some of the top chefs at a Taste Of Christmas, the fabulous foodie event of the festive season. Joining them are some of London's top restaurants including The Modern Pantry, the brilliant Benares and critically acclaimed Eastside Inn where you can sample their signature dishes in exchange for the standard 'Taste of...' currency, crowns (£1 = 2 crowns). That's not all, there are food stalls hosted by 150 of the finest artisan producers where you can pre-order the Christmas turkey from well known suppliers like Allens of Mayfair while sampling the flavoured spirits at the Fabulous Vodka Company. For a bit more fizz, head to the champagne bar - run by Searcys, the same people who put the sophistication into The Champagne Bar Westfield and the lengthly St Pancras Champagne Bar - said to be the longest in Europe. Taste Of Christmas fills the ExCel Exhibition Centre with the wonderful flavours of the season, a time when fattening up is traditional - and three days of indulgent feasting can be forgiven. Venue: ExCel London Exhibition Centre Address: One Western Gateway, E16 1XL Phone: 0871 230 7132 Date: 4th December 2009 - 6th December 2009 Time: Fri to Sun 10am-6pm Pricing: £19 (Standard), £10 (Children), £35 (Premium), £50 (VIP), all plus booking fee | On the door £22 (Standard), £12 (Children), £39 (Premium), £55 (VIP) Nearest Station: Custom House DLR Taste Of Christmas - Information  Christmas Craft Fair & Santa's Grotto
Sutton House, E9 6JQ 5th & 6th December 2009 Visit Sutton House on the weekend of 5th & 6th December and you can enjoy the Christmas Fair at the medieval Tudor house. As well as a variety of handcrafted gifts to browse through there's the chance for children to visit Santa in his grotto. Built in 1535, Sutton House is a fantastic old brick building in Hackney, and its oak-panelled rooms are a wonderful place to host a craft fair and get in the Christmas mood. As you look around the stalls for gift ideas you'll be treated to some festive music while the kids will be kept entertained by Santa and his helpers and the special activities arranged for children. Venue: Sutton House Address: 2 & 4 Homerton High Street, E9 6JQ Phone: 020 8986 2264 Date: 5th & 6th December 2009 Time: Sat & Sun 11am-5pm Pricing: £1.50, National Trust Members FREE Nearest Station: Christmas Craft Fair & Santa's Grotto - Information  Ham House Christmas Fair
Ham House, NW3 7JR 5th & 6th December 2009 To celebrate Christmas, Ham House hosts its annual Christmas Fair in a heated marquee in the grounds of its Stuart mansion on the banks of the River Thames near Richmond. It's a great way to find those stocking fillers and one-off gifts with an individual touch, many having been made by local traders. There's plenty to keep younger members of the family entertained while parents shop with face painting, balloon modelling and story telling all laid on as well as a Christmas trail in the garden. Stay on after the fair on Saturday 5th December, from 4.30pm-6pm, and (for an additional fee) you can also hear the Family Carol Concerts when the trumpeter Simon Desbruslais returns to Ham House for another festive season of sing along family carols, Father Christmas and children's gifts in in the 17th century Great Hall. Booking is essential and can be done by telephoning 0844 249 1895, prices for the Family Carol Concerts are £15 for adults, £9 for children. For prices for the Christmas Fair see below. Venue: Kenwood House Address: Hampstead Lane, NW3 7JR Phone: 0844 249 1895 Date: 5th & 6th December 2009 Time: Sat & Sun Gates Open 11am, Last Admission 4.30pm Pricing: £3 (Adults), £1.50 (Children), £7.50 (Family - 2 Adults, 2 Children) | Family Carol Concerts £15 (Adults), £9 (Children) Ham House Christmas Fair - Information  Burgh House Christmas Fair
Burgh House, NW3 1LT Sunday 6th December 2009 The charming Burgh House in Hampstead village - home to the Hampstead Museum - is putting on a Christmas Fair on Sunday 6th December so you can enjoy a glass of mulled wine while you browse the arts and crafts stalls. Christmas Carols and face painting by mystical fairies adds to the family entertainment and festive spirit of the fair. Among the stalls you'll find textiles, glassware, ceramics, jewellery and all kinds of gift ideas. There's specialist book binding from Fleuron Bindery and textile creatures by Abigail Brown who also creates children's clothes as well as illustrations for children and made to order wall art. These are just some of the beautifully handmade items on offer among the seventeen stalls set up in Burgh House for the special Christmas Fair where entry is free but do note that, if you want to buy something, cards won't work - only old fashioned cash and cheques are accepted. Venue: Burgh House Address: New End Square, NW3 1LT Phone: 020 7431 0144 Date: Sunday 6th December 2009 Time: 11am-6pm Pricing: FREE Nearest Station: Hampstead Tube Burgh House Christmas Fair - Information  Belgravia Christmas Sunday
Pimlico Road, Elizabeth Street and Motcomb Street Sunday 6th December 2009 Carol singers, jugglers, stilt walkers and Father Christmas being pulled along by his reindeer turn the refined streets of Belgravia into a riot of colour and festive Christmas fun. For one day only, on Belgravia Christmas Sunday, Pimlico Road, Elizabeth Street and Motcomb Street will be shut to traffic as they become one big street party. Belgravia is home to some of London's most exclusive shops - luxury retailers like Nicky Haslam, David Linley, Philip Treacy and Christian Louboutin are just some of the beautiful boutique stores you can browse around. The usual calm of the three gentrified streets will be buzzing with 'balloonatics' and stalls selling food, gifts, toys and crafts, all lit up by fairy lights. If the five minute walk between streets is too much you can always flag down a free rickshaw from one street to the next. Finish the day with a rousing round of carols on Elizabeth Street where song sheets will be handed out so everyone can join in. Address: Pimlico Road, Elizabeth Street and Motcomb Street, SW1 Date: Sunday 6th December 2009 Time: 11am-4pm Pricing: FREE Nearest Station: Sloane Square Tube / Knightsbridge Tube Belgravia Christmas Sunday - Information  Christmas Fair In Bush Hall
Bush Hall, W12 7LJ Sunday 6th December 2009 The Music House presents three Christmas events at Bush Hall this December. Firstly, you can buy your presents at their Christmas Fair (Sunday 6th December) at the stunning music hall on Uxbridge Road where there'll be a choice of toys, art, clothes. You can shop safe in the knowledge that all proceeds go to the Music House for Children, a not-for-profit charity which provides private tuition for people across London and offers subsidised musical lessons for children at Bush Hall. Then, on the following Sunday, 13th December, The Music House is back at Bush Hall for Carols by Candlelight, a festive evening of performances, carol singing, mince pies and mulled wine. Finally, for their seasonal show they've come up with a snowy interactive story of 'Humphrey the Very Hungry Snowman' (from Monday 21st to Wednesday 23rd December 11am & 2pm). This bespoke musical show will appeal to young children (under 1s go free) as we join hungry Humphrey on his journey around the world in search of the best Christmas dinner ever. Yummm. Prebooking advisable. Venue: Bush Hall Address: 310 Uxbridge Road, W12 7LJ Phone: 020 8222 6955 Date: Sunday 6th December 2009 Time: Christmas Fair Sun 6 Dec 7.30pm; Carols by Candlelight Sun 13 Dec 6pm; Humphrey... Mon 21 to Wed 23 Dec 11am & 2pm Pricing: Christmas Fair FREE; Carols by Candlelight & Humphrey... £5 (Adults), £3 (Children), FREE (Under 1s) Nearest Station: Shepherds Bush Tube The Music House at Bush Hall - Information  Christmas Market at Inn The Park
Inn the Park - St James's Park, SW1A2BJ Saturday 19th December 2009 Get professional help with your 25th December dinner as Oliver Peyton brings together recipe ideas, cooking tips and a 'best of British' festive Christmas Market at Inn The Park, his eco-friendly restaurant in St James's Park. Free-range meat and Mrs Tee's New Forest mushrooms - the mushrooms of choice at Le Gavroche, no less - are among the top quality ingredients you can buy. Using the produce from the market the restaurant's chefs will be serving a festive menu including a traditional Christmas roast ham, locally sourced from Sussex and covered in East London honey. Other recipes to take to the table include organic Bronze roast turkey from Clayton Farm, wrapped in bacon and potato dumplings with mushrooms and purple sprouting broccoli from Secretts Farm in Surrey. Head chef Gillan Kingstree and the food growers will be on hand to answer all your Christmas-related foodie questions. That's Christmas dinner taken care of. Venue: Inn the Park - St James's Park Address: St James's Park, SW1A2BJ Phone: 020 7451 9999 Date: Saturday 19th December 2009 Time: Sat 10am-5pm Christmas Market at Inn The Park - Information  London Markets
Various venues across London Most of London's regular markets put on something special for Christmas, from the famous flower market at Columbia Road, where you can get your Christmas tree, to the sweet smells of Borough Market for a very special Christmas turkey and all the trimmings. In the run up to Christmas, the shops that line Columbia Road - which are usually, like the market, only open on Sundays - will welcome shoppers on Wednesday evenings (from 5pm to 9pm) on 2nd, 9th, 16th and 23rd December - in addition to their regular Sunday opening hours. Shops including Ryantown and Supernice join in the festive fun, with food and live music laid on to get you in the Christmas spirit. Meanwhile, at Borough, they're putting on a special cheese evening on Wednesday 16th December, 4pm to 8pm when all the market cheesemongers will gather in the Jubilee market space (the newly opened part of the market) and you can sample their fragrant fromages. The Southbank Centre's Christmas Slow Food Market is another culinary treat and includes a demo tent where you can pick up tips on Christmas cooking from experts who are used to catering for large numbers on special occasions. We couldn't possibly list the details of all the special Christmas events going on at all the London markets so we've linked to a few of the markets to be found around London below: Borough Market - Information Brick Lane Market - Information Broadway Market - Information Cabbages and Frocks Market - Information Camden Lock Market - Information Columbia Road Flower Market - Information Greenwich Market - Information Leadenhall Market - Information Petticoat Lane Market - Information Portobello Road Market - Information Slow Food Market - Information Spitalfields Market - Information |
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