With regular events, alfresco dining and a thoroughly atmospheric market, Christmas at Covent Garden is a wonderful way to experience the best festive hubbub in the capital. Here’s what’s on for Christmas 2024.
By: Paul Healy | Last Updated: | Comments & Questions
If Christmas had a commercial, culinary, and intoxicating home in London, it would be Covent Garden.
As the capital’s festive hot spot, a Covent Garden Christmas is packed with uplifting events in central London.
Covent Garden was initially devoted to selling fresh fruit and vegetables. Today, the 180-year-old central market is one of the best speciality shopping locations in London. It’s also a great place to hang out at Christmas and the perfect end to our London Christmas lights walking route.
Enjoy retail pop-ups, over-the-top decorations, and charming Christmas markets. Eat in some of the best London restaurants. Amble past boozy stalls serving festive cocktails.
For more ideas, read our guide to Christmas in London.
1. THE CHRISTMAS INSTALLATION
The giant Christmas baubles have been the feature of Covent Garden for the last decade.
For the first time in many years, a new Christmas installation inspired by traditional golden bells has been unveiled at Covent Garden.
The iconic Market Building is decorated with 40 gigantic bells, 12 giant baubles, and spinning mirror balls. This fantastic installation is enhanced by the world-class opera singers who often perform free of charge in the halls.
2. CHRISTMAS MARKETS
The Covent Garden Christmas markets are set up under the portico of the Market Building in the middle of the piazza.
It’s one of the best Christmas Markets in London for quality crafts, jewellery, and collectables.
In true Covent Garden style, you can also find several London-inspired souvenirs to take home as gifts.
There’s no better way to enjoy the market than by grabbing a mulled wine and wandering around the small collection of very festive pop-ups.
3. ALFRESCO DINING
You’re never far from a top restaurant in this part of London, but this year, the heated alfresco dining in the piazza offers a festive way to experience Christmas in Covent Garden.
Several restaurants and bars have outdoor terraces, which fill the piazza with an entertaining winter vibe and Christmas-inspired cocktails.
Dirty Martini has a small outdoor bar behind a white picket fence. It serves regular cocktails with a Christmas twist, which are best enjoyed with one of its burgers or hot dogs.
4. COVENT GARDEN CHRISTMAS SLEIGH
Grab a quick photo opportunity with the kids on the Christmas Sleigh. The lush red sleigh is a reconditioned 1884 carriage which has been beautifully restored and hand-painted back to its former glory.
Unfortunately, there will be no Santa or reindeer this year, so you’ll have to make your own fun.
The sleigh is available for Instagram moments from 9 am to 9 pm.
5. COVENT GARDEN CHRISTMAS TREE
The Christmas tree at Covent Garden is one of the most spectacular in London.
Set in the historic piazza beside the South Market, it is a whopping 60-foot display, handpicked and grown in Britain. With over 30,000 lights, it’s a dazzling display for your Christmas photos.
For more dazzling displays, read our guide to the best Christmas Lights in London.
6. JUBILEE MARKET
The Jubilee Market is the perfect place to snap up a quirky Christmas gift in Covent Garden. The historic market, which is housed in a Grade 2 listed building, was built in 1904 and has been housing market stalls ever since.
- Antiques & Collectables (Mon 5 am to 5 pm) – Shop for Edwardian, Art Deco, and Georgian pieces, including fine art, sterling silver, and used books.
- General Market (Thu to Fri 10:30 am to 6 pm) – With everything from fashion to handmade pens, art, and puppets, the general market is perfect for unusual Christmas gifts.
- Arts & Craft Market (Sat & Sun 10 am to 6 pm) – Pick up handcrafted items including jewellery, candles, paintings, and clothing.
7. HENRIETTA STREET RESTAURANTS
Our London winter itinerary includes a night in Covent Garden. Here are some restaurant suggestions in the area.
Ivy Market Grill // Overlooking the piazza, Ivy Market Grill serves British classics in an elegant space with contemporary and classic cocktails.
Din Tai Fung // An excellent Taiwanese/Chinese restaurant in a refurbished building with oriental stylings and traditional character. Don’t leave without trying their famous Xiao Long Bao – the delicious, steamed bun.
Pivot Bar & Bistro // A modern British restaurant over two floors of 3 Henrietta Street with an innovative seasonal menu from Scottish chef Mark Greenaway.
El Ta’Koy // A cool subterranean bar serving Hawaiian/Asian fusion dishes. Their cocktail bar is one of the hottest spots in Covent Garden – happy hour is from 5 pm to 7 pm Monday to Thursday.
8. PETERSHAM NURSERIES CAFÉ
Located in a beautiful corner of Covent Garden, Petersham Nurseries Café is a tasty break from your Covent Garden Christmas experience.
Enjoy delicious Italian food, tempting cocktails, and workshops by masters of artisanal produce in several beautifully decorated spaces.
The Petersham serves lunch, dinner and afternoon tea using Italian flavours and seasonal produce. La Goccia is a cosy wood-fired space with botanical-enriched cocktails, and The Deli serves organic coffee and freshly baked pastries.
If you’re feeling particularly festive, try a wreath-making workshop, a pasta masterclass or a wine-tasting event. All details are on petershamnurseries.com.
9. CHRISTMAS SHOWS NEAR COVENT GARDEN
Located in London’s West End, there’s no better way to finish a day exploring Christmas at Covent Garden than by catching a festive production.
Here are some great shows taking place for Christmas 2024:
- A Christmas Carol is running from November 9, 2024, at The Old Vic.
- The Smartest Giant in Town is on from November 29, 2024, at St Martin’s.
- The Snowman is making its 27th return to the Peacock Theatre from November 23, 2024.
- The Nutcracker is on at the London Coliseum from December 12, 2024.
10. MIRACLE AT HENRIETTA
The best way to finish up your Covent Garden Christmas experience is by having a cocktail or two at Miracle at Henrietta.
This hidden pop-up bar is located in Da Henrietta on a secluded mezzanine floor. The nostalgic festive décor is inspired by the 1970s, with retro decorations and Christmas-inspired cocktails to match.
The very reasonably priced cocktails are paired with a good selection of tasty bar snacks.
Booking in advance is required.
Location: 14-15 Henrietta Street, WC2% 8QH // Website: miracleathenrietta.com
MORE GUIDES TO PLAN YOUR LONDON CHRISTMAS
- To plan your trip, start with our 4-day London Christmas Itinerary, a day-by-day walking plan.
- To book your accommodation, read our guide to the best neighbourhoods in London which includes our hotel recommendations.
- Hit the festive spirit with our guide to the best London Christmas Markets.
- Here are all the best places to see the London Christmas lights.
- Our bumper guide to Christmas in London has the best events and things to do.
- Read our guide to Christmas Day in London to see what’s open.
- Soak up the atmosphere with Christmas in Covent Garden.
- Find the best bars, restaurants, igloos and more in our London Christmas guide.
- Take our self-guided walking tour of the London Christmas lights.
- See what’s on in Leicester Square for Christmas.
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- Paul & Mark.
My cousin worked in Covent Garden in a coffee shop. He found it alarming with lots of sinister young native men (together with some of what used to be known as gangsters’ molls) hanging around staring and saying horrid things about people who drink coffee on the street. There seems to be a movement in London where people who dislike barista coffee carry out violent acts. I remember a similar movement against 2CVs in the 1990s. My cousin asked if I wanted a job in his coffee shop, and I lunged back and said “No. Thank. You.”