Greenwich Christmas Market 2026: Lantern Parade and Skating

At the Greenwich Christmas Market, the person behind the stall has usually made what’s on it. Jewellers, printmakers and ceramicists trade under one roof all year, and before the holidays the hall fills with lights and Londoners hunting for presents. It’s small enough for an unhurried afternoon, with the river and the old naval town right outside.

Greenwich Christmas Market 2026

Dates

Status: Confirmed
Greenwich dates: 18th November to 24th December 2026
Last checked: October 2026

Update: Dates were announced in September. Sign up for our newsletter to be notified of changes.

Source: Verified by Ultimate Christmas Markets via Greenwich Market.

Plan Your Visit

Location and Times

Location: Greenwich Market, London
Opening hours: 10am to 6pm
Christmas Day: Closed

Travel and Accommodation

Recommended sightseeing: Royal museums Greenwich day pass.
Parking: Please take public transport to help limit congestion.
Where to stay: The Mitre is 2 minutes from the event.

Amenities and Attractions

Admission: Free
Lantern Parade: Opening day, 4pm to 6pm
Lights Switch-on: Opening day, 5pm
Santa: No.
Ice skating: Queen’s House Ice Rink, a 4 minute walk away.
Reason to visit: UNESCO World Heritage site location with unique stalls.

Dietary Options

Vegetarian: Plenty of options.
Vegan: Plenty of options.
Gluten free: Limited.
Specialities: British mulled wine, fruit mince pies, local cheese, artisan chocolates, British puddings.

Accessibility

Accessible: Yes.
Pet-friendly: Yes, but not recommended during busy periods.

Convenient Hotels

The best area to stay in Greenwich is near Cutty Sark DLR station. This location provides a straightforward route to the market and other notable sites in Greenwich. I recommend The Mitre if you want to stay nearby. However, most visitors prefer to stay in central London.

Recommended Tours

You might like to visit some of Greenwich’s iconic museums, which are part of the World Heritage area. This Greenwich museums day pass is a great bundle that provides access to the Royal Observatory and Cutty Sark.

For something different, try this Secret Old London walking tour. If you’re interested in London’s culinary scene, a food tour is a compelling alternative. This is a hugely popular London food tour I have taken.

Read our guide to the best London Christmas Markets.

Plan your visit to one of these UK Christmas Markets.

Visitor Feedback

What Visitors Loved

• Shoppers rate the one-off finds, from handmade silver jewellery to made-to-order leather bags.
• The stallholders get plenty of praise for being friendly and happy to chat about how things are made.
• Grazing is half the fun, with the coffee, macarons and toasted cheese singled out by regulars.
• The roof means a wet afternoon doesn’t spoil the visit, and the old lanes and pubs around the market are part of the appeal.

Common Complaints

• It’s smaller than many expect, and a quick lap only takes a few minutes if you’re not stopping to browse.
• Weekends get crowded, while some weekdays are given over mostly to antiques, so the crafts are thinner then.
• A few visitors found the vegan and gluten free choice more limited than they’d hoped.

The Bottom Line

It’s compact, so it works best as part of a longer Greenwich afternoon with the river and the park rather than as a whole day out. Aim for a Wednesday or Friday, when the makers are trading and the weekend crowds haven’t arrived.

Event Location

What to Expect

More than 120 stalls and shops sit under cover in the middle of the Maritime Greenwich World Heritage Site. Most traders are designer-makers, so you’ll find jewellery, ceramics, prints and clothing made by the people selling them; on antiques days, the tables fill with collectables, old maps and curios. The season starts with a lantern parade, when children from local primary schools carry handmade lanterns from the Old Royal Naval College through Cutty Sark Gardens to the market, and the crowd counts down to the lights. It’s very much a local school event rather than a show put on for visitors.

Food Specialties

• Mince pies: Small shortcrust pies filled with spiced dried fruit, the British Christmas snack, and the market bakers like to give theirs a twist such as a crumble topping.
• Mulled wine: Red wine warmed with cinnamon and cloves, sold by the cup as you browse.
• Pie and mash: The old London working-class lunch of minced beef pie, mashed potato and parsley liquor, still on the menu among the street food traders.
• British cheeses: Hard cheddars through to creamy blues, good for a picnic in Greenwich Park or a Christmas cheeseboard.
• Christmas puddings: Rich steamed fruit puddings to take home, sold alongside seasonal doughnuts and gingerbread.
• Artisan chocolates: Handmade bars and truffles, some using British ingredients such as Kentish cherries.
• Street food: Ethiopian stews, Turkish grills, Mexican, Thai curries and churros, which is why plenty of locals come here for lunch rather than presents.

Gifts and Stocking Fillers

• Handmade jewellery: The market’s strongest category, from silversmiths making one-off rings to pieces set with sea glass.
• Art prints: Local artists sell prints of the Cutty Sark, the Royal Observatory and the river, a better souvenir of Greenwich than a fridge magnet.
• Nautical finds: In keeping with the town’s naval past, look for model ships, compasses and antique or replica maritime maps, especially on antiques days.
• Teacup candles: Vintage British teaware refilled with soy wax, a very English present that’s easy to pack.
• British teas: Loose-leaf blends, including spiced winter teas, that slip easily into a suitcase.
• Felted woollens: Ornaments and small gifts felted from sheep’s fleece, some from a regenerative farming project.
• Wooden toys: Hand-painted toys from independent workshops, a nice change from plastic for younger family members.
• Local spirits: Small-batch gin and spiced rum from London distillers, often made with botanicals you won’t find in supermarket bottles.

Sustainability Tips

• Refill at Art of Zero Living: This zero waste shop inside the market sells everything from coffee and spices to cleaning supplies by weight, so bring your own jars and stock up for the holidays.
• Shop second-hand on antiques days: The antiques and collectables traders are the most sustainable gift shopping in the market, with vintage jewellery, old prints and curios that already exist.
• Ask what it’s made from: Stallholders here work with sea glass, recycled sterling silver and vintage teaware, and they’re happy to explain.
• Arrive by river: The Uber Boat by Thames Clippers stops at Greenwich Pier, a few minutes’ walk from the market, and doubles as a sightseeing trip past Tower Bridge.
• Walk under the Thames: From Island Gardens DLR station, the Greenwich Foot Tunnel takes you under the river and comes up in Cutty Sark Gardens, right by the market.