One might be forgiven for feeling that with each December, Mayfair doesn’t so much celebrate Christmas as it does curate it. Long established as one of the most romantic parts of London, come the Yule Tide, this is dialled up to eleven. Georgian façades shimmer with wreaths, ribbons, and golden pine garlands, whilst it's impossible to venture along a darkened street thanks to the ever-present twinkle and glow of Christmas lights lining every stretch of houses.
Christmas Markets are an iconic part of the wintertime, and whilst Mayfair is no exception to this rule, due to the smaller size of the area, options are slightly more limited for finding a suitably festive fair. However, Mayfair more than compensates for this by being within easy reach of some of the most popular and, more niche, merry markets that the city has to offer.
Burlington Arcade
Arguably, Burlington Arcade is one of London’s most iconic parade of shops since opening in 1819, and perfectly exemplifies the coupling of Mayfair and Christmas. Its marble surfaces twinkle with garlands aglow with gold and crystal light courtesy of the thousands of lights that line store fronts and adorn the arcades with many Christmas trees. There is a palpable sense of Victorian London in the atmosphere here, thanks in no small part to the patrolling efforts of the historic Beadles, Britain’s longest-standing uniformed security. Resplendent in their frock coats and top hats, it's easy to feel – when strolling through Burlington – that one has quite literally stepped back in time.
Whilst there is no traditional market at Christmas in Burlington, it would be a disservice not to include the arcade on this list of celebrated festive spots in Mayfair. After all, many of the features of a Christmas market can be found in the arcade, from a showpiece Santa’s Grotto to pop-up workshops from some of the resident retailers, as well as live musical performances on select evenings. The spirit of Christmas in Mayfair is ever-present at the Burlington Arcade.
Novikov Mayfair Christmas Market
With the onset of the Christmas period, every year, Mayfair Place transforms into a festive wonderland as it plays host to the Novikov Christmas Market. The street is unrecognisable after the introduction of dozens of stalls that line the street beneath a canopy of lights, their awnings trimmed in ivy and ribbon, with the scent of roasted nuts and mulled wine heavy in the air. With this being Mayfair, it would only be fitting if the already atmospheric setting was kicked up a notch further.
The Novikov Market boasts a champagne bar serving perfectly chilled and crisp glasses of Louis Roederer, artisanal crafts from cashmere scarves and small-batch spirits to high-quality leather, so there’s no shortage of refined options here. But the real selling point of Novikov is the stellar culinary team. Offering the most elevated of Christmas street food experiences from oysters and caviar, to truffle pasta and gianduja hot chocolate, this is one Christmas market experience which is frustratingly fleeting as it only lasts for three days, but the mark it makes on the festive circuit is nigh incomparable.
Hyde Park Winter Wonderland
Few festive traditions have become as synonymous with London’s Christmas season as Hyde Park’s Winter Wonderland. Spilling across the park’s eastern edge, just a ten-minute walk from Mayfair via Marble Arch, the event transforms the historic greenery into a sprawling alpine village of chalets, bright lights and festive cheer. Its German-style Christmas market remains the centrepiece, a long avenue of timber-fronted stalls selling hand-crafted ornaments, gourmet confectionery, and steaming mugs of mulled wine.
Beyond the market itself, between the ice rink, the Bavarian Village beer halls, and the observation wheel overlooking the London skyline, visitors have no shortage of activities to partake in. The chance to engage in more niche activities such as ice sculpture carving, is what truly sets this event apart from other festive markets in the capital, along with its considerable size that far exceeds a traditional Christmas market in most places around the world.
Swedish Christmas Market, Marylebone
Just north of Mayfair, tucked along Harcourt Street near the Swedish Church, lies one of London’s most charming seasonal markets. Running over a single weekend in late November, it offers a distinctly Nordic interpretation of Christmas, steeped in tradition. The air carries the comforting scent of glögg, Swedish varietal mulled wine rich with cardamom and cloves, alongside fresh cinnamon buns and pepparkakor biscuits. Browsing through the artisanal stalls that are filled with traditional Nordic crafts and wears, one should not miss out on the opportunity to indulge in some Scandinavian delicacies, from gravlax to Julmust.
Families gather to sing carols with Swedish choir performances echoing from the church hall, and the small yet strong Swedish community within London turns out in force, making this a more intimate, curated Christmas market experience for those wishing to try something new. It has quietly become one of London’s most authentic festive experiences, forgoing the pomp and pageantry of events like Winter Wonderland and Novikov, and offers valuable insights into how the UK as a country celebrates Christmas, with so much of the season’s influence being imported by way of Scandinavia.
Covent Garden Christmas Village
Around a fifteen-minute walk east of Mayfair, Covent Garden comes alive each winter with its unmistakable grandeur and is one of London’s most iconic Christmas destinations. The magnificent piazza is transformed into a timeless array of lights, holly wreaths, and market stalls that spill out beneath the vast Christmas tree towering at its centre. Independent artisans line the arcade, with the resident Christmas shop that stays open throughout the entire year, now in its element.
Wandering around the cobbles under the glowing lights while street performers carve out spaces for themselves amongst the crowds feels impossibly romantic – especially amid the smell of hot roasted chestnuts and mulled wine filling the cold air. The area’s many restaurants all embrace the seasonal change, with special festive menus and drinks lists for those keen to linger past sunset, as the glow of festive decorations really captures the beauty of Covent Garden’s famously enchanting Christmas set-up.
Mercato Mayfair’s Festive Market
Mercato Mayfair is housed in the deconsecrated St Mark’s Church, a 19th-century structure that serves as a sustainable food hall. Its pews have been replaced by communal tables where locals gather for mulled cider and carol performances beneath vaulted ceilings and stained glass windows. The market fills to the brim, with the scent of cinnamon and wood smoke heavy within the confines of the church, and festive Italian pastries a la panettone, bomboloni, and cannoli laid out on marble counters.
Throughout December, independent artisans set up temporary stalls within the church’s aisles, selling everything from small-batch gins, handwoven textiles, and botanical wreaths that no household should be caught without at Christmas time. There is the option for wreath-making and calligraphy workshops for the more creative minds in attendance, keen to put their own personal stamp on the festive period. With the crypt bar below, offering up jazz music by candlelight and cocktails, it is no stretch of the imagination to realise what makes Mercato one of Mayfair’s most popular new traditions at Christmas.
