Christmas is already in the air. Are you looking for some home decoration and festive treats? London’s outdoor markets and fairs are now opened where you may find some exciting items to home. The first destination I highly recommend is Covent Garden – the most of London’s favourite spots of locals and travellers in every Xmas holiday.
Covent Garden has always been known as a must-visit spot for shopping and entertainment in the heart of London because there are numerous local and global brands from affordable to expensive, as well as interesting events (e.g., street performing and theatrical arts).
Before becoming a fancy place, Covent Garden had been used as an orchard garden of Westminster Abbey since 1200. And 350 years later, a wholesale market was constructed for selling fruit and vegetable.
In every Christmas holiday, Covent Garden always has a gorgeous and magical outfit glittering with over 150,000 lights across the historic Italian-style piazza and its neighbouring streets.
Taking a stroll around Covent Garden, you can see many lovely hand-made arts and craft sessions standing along with traditional food and drink stalls where you can grab some festive drinks (such as mulled wine, baileys or hot chocolate) and enjoy with your beloved in the best season of the year.
When in a Christmas market, don’t forget to try some ripe strawberries with warm chocolate sauce or apple covered in caramel from street-food stalls, topping with marshmallow or candy sprinkles. What a refreshing dessert for a winter day!
As I mentioned in “Good afternoon! Let’s have some tea”, Covent Garden is the home of several of London’s famous tearooms offering the quintessential English afternoon tea experience. Popping into Ladurée – a chic Parisian bakery serving signature macarons and fabulous cakes with a range of tea and sparkling wine. Nothing is more impressive than seating on the Parisian-style balcony overlooking St Paul’s Church and the West Piazza while enjoying delicious cakes with a hot teapot.
A green vintage ’67 Morris Minor has parked up on the North Piazza decking out with a stack of 21 Christmas gift boxes, 20 festoon lights and completed with a festive green wreath.
On another side of the piazza, an iconic 55-foot British grown handpicked Christmas tree is placed in front of St. Paul’s church which is decorated and glittered with over 30,000 lights until January 2019.
Let’s come and take some pictures with one of the most ultimate Xmas spots on Instagram this season.
Additionally, Petersham Nurseries – a stylish home furniture shop in Covent Garden – is holding some exciting events that you shouldn’t miss out if you’re interested in Xmas wreath making or festive decoration with woodland materials and seasonal British flower. Tickets are from £10 – £150 based on the session’s content. Checking available slot and buy the ticket online at the website.
“The Covent Garden Christmas Treasure Hunt” quiz is starting this December that families come to the Information booth on West Piazza, and give an answer for the questions “How many disco baubles hang in the Market Building or the colour of Rudolph’s sleigh?” every Saturday. Participating in this event, your family will have a chance to win special prizes from local businesses such as Benjamin Pollock’s Toyshop, Hotel Chocolat, and Godiva.
No entry fee is required at Covent Garden. Some nearby underground stations are Covent Garden (2-min walk), Leicester Square (5-min walk) and Holborn (10-min walk). Or you can take several buses (RV1, 9, 13, 15, 23, 139, 153) to this charming historic area.
The next destination of this topic will be London South Bank Winter Market, and I hope to see you there soon.
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