Enjoy a fun-packed London Christmas in Covent Garden this year. This central London neighbourhood serves up a feast of holiday shopping, dining, sightseeing and entertainment at Christmas time. Here’s a local’s guide to where to go and what to do in one of the most festive corners of the capital.
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From majestic Christmas trees and the songs of a choir, to the scent of mulled wine and – is that actually a sprinkling of snow? Covent Garden at Christmas pulls out all the stops to get us in the mood to brave the elements and embrace the festive season.
For seven weeks, from 12 November to early January, the Covent Garden neighbourhood in central London sparkles with festive spirit and seasonal fun. It might just be the most Christmas’y place in London.
Visiting Covent Garden at Christmas
Last week a friend and I spent a happy few hours window-shopping Covent Garden’s stylish mix of international brands and independent boutiques. We browsed crafts on the market stalls, sipped mulled wine on a cosy outdoor terrace and snapped up treats for the holiday season.
This still left us time to admire the seasonal decorations and giggle with the street performers, all with the elegant and historic backdrop of the Market building, the Royal Opera House and St Paul’s church.
There is A Lot to see here. Christmas at Covent Garden is famous for its spectacular festive decorations. Couple that with the neighbourhood’s excellent year-round shopping opportunities. Then add in the special celebratory menus in the restaurants, the seasonal outdoor terraces and even a regular sprinkling of Covent Garden Christmas snow. There’s plenty to enjoy whilst you hunt for the perfect present.
Top tip – start early! The lights are switched on at 11am each morning.
Covent Garden Christmas Decorations
Huge golden bells, sparkly bows and mirror balls hang from the ceiling of the market buildings. Majestic Christmas trees are a gathering point in the Piazza and Neal’s Yard. Whilst the Covent Garden Christmas lights bedeck the local streets around the Market, The Yards and Seven Dials. The twinkling of thousands of LED bulbs are the perfect antidote to London’s gloomy winter evenings.
And, along with its iconic red phone boxes, Covent Garden has the perfect props for festive selfies and Instagram snaps.
Santa’s sleigh in West Piazza
Parked up ready for action, you’ll find Santa’s sleigh in the South Hall of the market building, opposite St Paul’s church. The beautifully restored and hand-painted antique sleigh is open for photo opportunities between 9 am and 9 pm each day. Be prepared to queue! After 9pm the sleigh is roped off so you can still get a snap of it, but you won’t be able to sit in it. NB the sleigh does not include either reindeer or Father Christmas!
Wonder Wood on James Street
On the north side of the Piazza, opposite the red phone boxes, stand a cluster of decorated Christmas trees, perfect for selfies. Walk down James Street from the Covent Garden tube station and you can’t miss them.
Infinity Chamber off Long Acre
The passageway that connects Floral Street and Long Acre is transformed by thousands of lights during Christmas in Covent Garden. Go at dusk or in the evening for the full effect. It’s a fun sight on an after-work Christmas shopping trip.
Christmas trees in West Piazza and Neal’s Yard
The famous Covent Garden Christmas tree is sited each year in the West Piazza. Handpicked from a UK farm, this 60 ft tall giant conifer twinkles with 30,000 LED bulbs and 200 huge baubles. It’s one of the best-loved festive trees in London.
Neal’s Yard, that not-so-secret gem tucked between Monmouth Street and Short’s Garden, has its own beautiful Christmas tree that sparkles against the colourful backdrop of shops and restaurants.
Snow in Covent Garden at Christmas
Of course it’s a White Christmas in Covent Garden! In fact you can catch a sprinkling of snowflakes every hour, on the hour, from 12 – 9pm in December.
Top Christmas Shopping Ideas
Snaffle up the best pre-loved Christmas jumpers at the pop-up Save the Children shop at 28 Henrietta Street. 100% of proceeds will go to the international children’s charity.
Browse beautiful advent calendars at many stores in the neighbourhood. Pick from scented surprises at Jo Malone and Diptyque, chocolate treats at Godiva, jewels at Astrid & Miyu…..
Find vintage treasures on the antiques and collectibles stalls in the Apple Market and Jubilee Market every Monday.
The Royal Opera House shop has lovely ballet-inspired gifts and decorations. Whilst London Transport Museum is the place to find heritage posters, cosy Christmas jumpers and wooden toys.
For fun and affordable gifts, homeware and accessories, Sass & Belle at 31 The Market Building (on the lower ground floor) is an eco-conscious source of clever ideas.
Christmas Markets at Covent Garden
Faithful to its market origins, Covent Garden still hosts market stalls, open all year round. But instead of fruit and veg the Apple Market, in the central market buildings, is now home to craft stalls. From Tuesday to Sunday you’ll find watercolours and prints, bags, scarves and jewellery on the individual stalls. On Mondays the market is given over to antiques and collectibles.
The same applies to the Jubilee Market across the Piazza. Monday is the day to browse heaps of antique plates and cutlery, jewellery, art deco figures, posters and memorabilia. The weekends feature arts and crafts stalls whilst Tuesday to Friday is the general market. You’ll find plenty of London gifts and souvenirs here.
Covent Garden Christmas food and drink
This neighbourhood is always a great place to find a restaurant or bar. And there’s an array of lovely coffee shops and cafes in Covent Garden to suit all tastes. But we were blown away by the choice of festive options as we strolled the streets last week. So many restaurants have set up outdoor tables, awnings, fairy lights and – importantly – rugs and heaters! On a crisp dry day it gives a cosy Alpine feel and makes even a snack seem celebratory.
Floral Court, already famous for its wooden elephant sculpture has added a glade of Christmas trees. Italian restaurant La Goccia is here and you can enjoy their festive menus or sign up for wreath making and cocktail masterclasses. Or do what we did and pop into the Petersham wine bar and deli for mid-shopping coffee and a snack. Then pick up a stylish panettone or a bottle of prosecco for Christmas.
You’ll need to book in advance for Miracle at Henrietta, a jolly Christmas pop up bar serving festive cocktails inside the Henrietta hotel. It’s at 14-15 Henrietta Street until 23 December.
Sushisamba’s Patrón Winter Terrace has an air of Santa’s grotto with its sparkly silvery archway and rows of frosted Christmas trees. Inside this Christmas pop-up you’ll find a cosy terrace serving winter warmer cocktails and mocktails as well as signature dishes from Sushisamba.
Special Events for Christmas at Covent Garden
Festive Thursdays
Late night shopping, plus in-store events and offers in restaurants make Thursdays especially festive in November and December.
Christmas Choirs
Don’t miss the Thursday Choir Performances in aid of Save the Children charity. The London International Gospel Choir and The London Gay Men’s Chorus will be performing on Thursday evenings until 19 November. And check out the concerts at St Paul’s Church too.
Woofmas
Woofmas at The Yards on Sunday 1 December is the Covent Garden Christmas Market – for dogs! This is the area around St Martin’s Courtyard and Mercer Walk. You can sign your pets up for a light-hearted doggy tarot card reading. Or persuade them to sit nicely for a sketch or photo portrait for just £5. Browse pet-friendly products on the market stalls and enter the best-dressed pooch competition – with a prize voucher from Barbour. Many of The Yard’s restaurants are offering dog-friendly dining and al fresco terraces too. And don’t forget to order a puppacino with your hot drink at Fair Shot Cafe.
Winter Warmer Festival
You’ll find mulled wine gently warming all around the neighbourhood for the holiday season. And there’s plenty of non-alcoholic treats too. We took a mulled wine break on the Clos Maggiore terrace on King Street. And I spotted more tempting treats from the Suzette pop up and the Mulled Wine cart, also stocked with mince pies, in the Market buildings. The Sipsmith Express in the Piazza serves zesty hot chocolate and Christmas-inspired cocktails until 1 December and the Covent Garden Chalet will be popping up from 29 November. And check out Nappa Dori’s hot masala chai in Monmouth Street.
More festive things to do in Covent Garden
Royal Opera House
An evening at the opera or ballet at the ROH is a very special London experience. This season’s highlights include Fredrick Ashton’s Cinderella, Puccini’s La Bohème and the fairy tale adventure of Hansel and Gretel. But visitors can also enjoy a Christmas menu in the Restaurant or the Terrace Bar with views over Covent Garden. Pop into the gift shop too for beautiful decorations and perfect presents.
St Paul’s Church
Built by Inigo Jones, St Paul’s Church has stood in Covent Garden for over 300 years. Nicknamed The Actors’ Church because of its theatrical connections, it holds concerts throughout the year as well as regular church services. There’s a packed line up: from A Musical Theatre Christmas on 1 Dec to Ceremony of Carols on 23 Dec. It’s the perfect place to enjoy the true spirit of a Covent Garden Christmas.
Visit Santa at the London Transport Museum
Little ones can meet Father Christmas and his interactive Routemaster-inspired sleigh at the LTM in the Piazza from 23 Nov to 23 Dec. Discover the history of London transport, take a Hidden London underground tour or simply pop into the shop and the canteen-style cafe for Christmas treats.
Theatre Royal Drury Lane
One of the oldest theatres in the West End and an icon of Covent Garden, the Theatre Royal features Sigourney Weaver in Shakespeare’s The Tempest this December.
You can also visit the theatre’s Grand Saloon in The Lane on Catherine Street for a Christmas Afternoon Tea. Or sip a festive cocktail at the Cecil Beaton Bar.
Lyceum Theatre
The historic Lyceum on Wellington Street is a 200 year old theatre that’s the home of Disney’s much-loved musical The Lion King. The puppetry is astonishing: this really is an experience that all ages will love. I saw it here one Christmas when my sons were younger – and I highly recommend it!
St Martin-in-the-Fields Church
Adjacent to Covent Garden, in Trafalgar Square, lies one of London’s most famous churches. St Martin-in-the-Fields does significant work to help London’s homeless and the Vicar’s Christmas Appeal on BBC Radio 4 raises money for the disadvantaged across the country. The church has also become a landmark venue for live classical music. Find out more about its Christmas services and candlelit concerts.
Somerset House ice rink
South of Covent Garden on the Strand by Waterloo Bridge lies Somerset House, the venue for Skate at Somerset House. It’s one of London’s most popular seasonal ice rinks not least because of its magical location in a grand Georgian quadrangle. There’s something for everyone with Skate School, pop-up restaurants and bars, contemporary music and DJ takeovers for Skate Lates. Skate is open from 13 Nov to 12 Jan 2025.
How to get to Covent Garden
By Tube Covent Garden’s tube station is just a quick walk from the Market building on James Street. It can get very busy though so you might prefer the 5 minute walk from Leicester Square tube station.
By Rail Charing Cross is the nearest railway station to Covent Garden, whilst Waterloo lies on the south side of the Thames.
On Foot I often walk to Covent Garden from Waterloo station, crossing Waterloo bridge. It takes about 20 minutes and has lovely views along the river to either side. Alternatively you can walk from Embankment or Holborn tube stations in 10 mins. The Tottenham Court Road tube station and its Elizabeth Line stop are both about 12 – 15 mins from Covent Garden.
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Please note that all visitor information here is for guidance only. Please check the relevant websites for the most up to date information eg. accommodation details, tickets, entrance requirements, opening times etc.
About the author Nancy Roberts is a former women’s magazine editor and writer. She lives in London and is mum to two 20-something boys. In Map&Family she shares info and inspiration for curious travellers: singles and couples as well as families travelling with teens and young adults.
All photos are all rights reserved. Please do not reproduce these photos without prior written permission
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