Six of London's Best Christmas Markets

London's Markets are often at their best in the run-up to Christmas and below are some of the most popular Christmas Markets and Pop-Ups coming up in the next few weeks.  They are all great places to find unique gifts and meet some of the local designer makers selling their wares.  These markets also offer some delicious festive treats and are a great way to get in the Christmas spirit.

1. E17 Designers
www.e17designers.co.uk
Twitter: @E17Designers
Instagram: E17designers
Xmas market at William Morris Gallery, Friday 23rd November 6.30-10pm
This market’s success is largely due to the enthusiasm and energy of the organisers, who make an effort to promote each season’s markets and over a decade of trading have acquired a great reputation and a loyal following. At the Christmas event at William Morris Gallery expect to find about 25-30 designer-makers offering jewellery, stylish knit wear, handmade clothing for adults and their offspring, artwork and original textiles as well as accessories and homewares. The stalls are almost all staffed by the designer-makers, who are keen to talk about their wares and how they are made.
The atmosphere at these events is very upbeat with lots of regulars showing up to chat and shop and few leaving without a bag of goodies and a smile. The event is more than just a place to shop with occasional workshops, craft or face painting for children and live music or DJ performances all part of the show and free entry to boot. Take a look at their website or follow on social media to find out more about the Christmas market.

2. Local Makers Market
www.localmakers.uk
Twitter: @LocalMakers_
Instagram: localmakersmarket
Xmas market at Abney Hall, Stoke Newington, Sat-Sun 24th-25th November 11am-6pm
These markets started in Wanstead, but have now expanded to other venues in east London, including Hackney Wick and Stoke Newington. The quality of the traders is always very high with genuine artisan designers offering unique clothes, framed original prints and cards, handmade jewellery and accessories, craft beer, naturally made toiletries and, of course, more succulents than you can point a cactus at! The markets take place from the spring until Christmas and are always well publicised on their website and through social media. It’s great to visit a market run with such generosity with no entry fee and a great little vegan pop-up café offering all kinds of homemade treats. Make a date in your calendar for this great weekend shopping experience.

3. Duck Pond Markets
Lauderdale House, Highgate Hill, N6 5HG
www.duckpondmarket.com
Twitter / Instagram: @duckpondmarket
Xmas Markets:  Heron Sq, Richmond Upon Thames, Thurs 22nd Nov 3-8pm
Ruislip Christmas Market , The Great Barn, Manor Farm, Ruislip, HA4 7QL, Sat-Sun 17-18th Nov 10am-3pm
Duck Pond Markets guarantee an interesting mix of textiles, ceramics, clothing, accessories, original artwork and a few artisanal food producers. The Duck Pond team always make an effort with extra activities like face painting and live music. Their Christmas markets in Richmond and Ruislip are well worth seeking out.

4. Crafty Fox Market
www.craftyfoxmarket.co.uk
www.shoppingwithsoul.co.uk
Twitter/Instagram: @craftyfoxmarket
Xmas Markets
Mercato Metropolitano, Elephant & Castle Sat-Sun 1-2nd December
Canopy Market, Kings Cross Fri-Sun 7-9th December
The Department Store, Brixton Sat-Sun 15-16th December
Since it started back in 2010 Crafty Fox Markets have gone from strength to strength by offering organised, well publicised events where traders get a fair deal.
Their Christmas events involve additional activities such as craft workshops with both adults and children engrossed in the process of cutting, gluing and painting their creations. The shopping experience is of course the main event, with at least 30 stalls displaying hand-made crockery, cards, unique jewellery, framed pictures and accessories. The traders are well chosen with some particularly high-quality independent jewellers, offering end-of-season discounts. They have a host of events in the run-up to Christmas which are well worth visiting.

5. Scandinavian Market
Albion Street, Rotherhithe, SE16 7HZ
www.scandimarket.co.uk
Twitter/Instagram: @scandimarket
Xmas Market Fri-Sun 23rd-25th November 10am-5pm
The Scandinavians certainly seem to have the edge on the Brits when it comes to winter festivities and the Christmas Market that takes over Albion Street in the run-up to Christmas is an incredible event extending over three days and involving over fifty stalls. The Danish have captured the imagination with the concept of Hygge, which might best be translated as the pleasure gained from winter cosiness and this market has a good deal of Hygge to go around.
Wherever you look there are chunky jumpers, beautifully made scarves and more comfy slippers than you can wave a stick at. Visitors hoping to try some traditional Scandinavian food will not be disappointed with all kinds of delicacies from sweet pickles to authentic Swedish meatballs and even reindeer meat sandwiches with lingonberry sauce.
The Christmas market has become a fixture in many Londoners’ calendars and is a great way to get in the Christmas spirit and bag a few presents.  A definite Christmas must do and make sure you stay until dark when the market is at its illuminated best.

6. Flea @ Flat Iron Square
53 Southwark Street, SE1 1RU
www.fleaflatironsquare.co.uk
Twitter: @fleaflatironsquare
Instagram: flea_flatironsquare
Tube: London Bridge (Northern & Jubilee)
Rail: London Bridge
Xmas Market Sat-Sun 15th-16th December 10am-5pm
Flat Iron Square Flea Market started in 2016, but it has the feel of a market that has been here for years and is a real throw back to the kind of friendly, great value second-hand market that looked threatened by London’s property boom.
Flat Iron takes place on what was once a rough square of land that has now been transformed into a lush garden with a bar and outdoor garden stage. It is here that about thirty traders set up, offering a mixed bag of vintage clothing, bric-à-brac, furniture and even a few designer-makers. Their special Christmas market should be a festive treat.

This blog is adapted from our latest book London's Markets.  Available from all good bookshops and on our website: