'Christmas by the River', London Bridge City’s festive market

Christmas markets are some of the best places to shop for the festive season and London has its fair share of festive markets - from Winter Wonderland to Pexmas at Peckham and from Christmas by the River at London Bridge City to Southbank's Winter Market. With a fun-filled, festive atmosphere, not only will these markets get you into the mood for shopping (think hand-made gifts, ethical presents, locally sourced products), but you’ll also get the chance to savour tasty treats like gingerbread biscuits, mince pies, mulled wine and much more. With their sparkling lights, festive decorations and array of stalls, these markets are a lovely way to get into the Christmas spirit.

We recently visited a couple of Christmas markets in London and one of them was 'Christmas by the River', London Bridge City’s charming festive market that runs along the river from London Bridge to Tower Bridge.

Since its arrival a few years back, Christmas by the River has become one of London's most popular Christmas markets. The market is not huge but with its riverside setting and line of wooden winter cabins that sell everything from arts & craft to clothing & confectionery, the market has something to suit every taste.

Food & Drink at 'Christmas by the River'

For the foodies - whether you are heading to the market for lunch or an evening out with your family, you will love the variety on offer. Some of the stalls this year at the market include Chilli Cha Cha (Punjabi fusion fast food), Taste of Greece, Kokodoo (for Korean specials), Healthy Pad Thai, German Bratwurst, Happy Crepes, Choc n Churros, Gaucho, YT Patisserie (for French pastries), Burger & Fries and Chocolate Kisses to name a few.

Pick up one of the 'Christmas by the River' guides and will find the A-Z listing of all food & drink stalls in it.

Walking with the Snowman - Festive Art Trail

This year in addition to the market stalls, Christmas by the River features a special Snowman art trail. Twelve snowman sculptures inspired by 'The 12 Days of Christmas' have been set up in a trail across the market. It is a fun, family-friendly trail that is sure to be a hit with both the young and the old alike. Check out my 'Snowman Sculpture Trail' post for more details.

Christmas Workshops

Christmas by the River is also organising a number of fun workshops in the run-up to Christmas. Some of them are listed below.

Handmade cards & wrapping paper - Wednesday, 4th December - 12:00 & 13:00
Christmas wreath making - Wednesday, 11th December - 12:00 & 13:00
Make your own Christmas Jumper - Friday, 13th December - 12:00 and 13:00
Snowman's snowglobe - Saturday, 14th December - 11:00 to 15:00
Winter wellness workshop - Wednesday, 18th December - 12:00 and 13:00

Shopping at 'Christmas by the River'

The riverside market is also great place to pick up unique gifts with a number of stalls selling a variety of items - winter woollen accessories, jewellery, toys, handlooms, home decor, beautiful paintings, traditional German candle spinners, Christmas decorations, grooming essentials, London souvenirs, ceramics, leather goods, figurines, metal signs and clothing etc. – much of which is handcrafted or created by local artists/designers.

London is a lovely place to visit around the holidays. If you are heading to London to explore its Christmas markets, don't forget to take a look at my A-Z London guide for some travel inspiration. And for more details on Christmas by the River's opening times, check below.

When and where

Christmas by the River | London Bridge City, SE1 2DB
26 November 2019 - 05 January 2020
Monday to Sunday: 10am to 9pm
Christmas Eve: 10am to 5pm
Christmas Day: Closed
New Year's Eve: 10am to 8pm

Insider tip 1 | The market tends to get busy during the weekends, so it’s best to visit it during the weekday to avoid the crowds.

Insider tip 2 | Not all stalls accept credit/debit cards. So, don’t forget to bring some cash with you.


Do you have any tips for visiting Christmas markets? What do you love the most about Christmas markets? Let us know via the comments section below.