As a local tour guide, I spend a lot of time in Covent Garden showing my guests this wonderful part of London.
But my favorite time in the neighborhood is around Christmas and I think you will love it too!
In this post, I cover everything you need to know about celebrating Christmas at Covent Garden in 2025, including fun holiday activities, winter markets, and more.
Hundreds of thousands of lights will be switched on November 12, 2025.
Plus, the 55-foot Christmas tree will be lit on that date sparkling with 30,000 lights!
All the Covent Garden Christmas lights are on daily from 11 a.m. until midnight!
Other festivities I go over below take place from November until just after the New Year.
Before I get into the details, watch Sinead, my fellow tour guide here at London Tours by Foot, take you on a tour of the Covent Garden Christmas Market.
Tour Guide Tip: For an atmospheric place to grab a Christmas-inspired cocktail or a hot drink, go to the beautiful 3 Henrietta Street!
This 5-floor restored Georgian townhouse offers several places to eat in some truly stunning and unique surroundings.
Overview
The Covent Garden Market Building is worth visiting any time of the year, but at Christmas, it is a sight to behold!
The 180-year-old covered Market building and piazza are festooned with beautiful decorations, giant baubles, over 30,000 twinkling lights, and mistletoe chandeliers.
Music plays, the stall owners sell seasonal goods, and holiday food and drink are plentiful!
This is all in addition to the regular market stalls and shops open year-round.
But aside from hundreds of thousands of lights, giant baubles, and wreaths, there’s a lot happening in Covent Garden this Christmas time that you won’t want to miss.
Oh - and take note...Our London Christmas Lights Tour, the first Christmas lights tour in London, starts right here in Covent Garden so consider combining the two for a truly unforgettable festive experience!
And be sure to see our full schedule of walking tours here.
Below are our Christmas-themed tours.
THINGS TO SEE AND DO FOR CHRISTMAS AT COVENT GARDEN
As a local tour guide for many years, I've taken hundreds upon hundreds of my guests to Covent Garden during the holiday season so I know the best things to see and do.
Of course, I spend my free time there with friends as well -- it's one of the seasonal highlights in London.
Below I go over all the details so you know what to expect.
The Decorations and Lights
This year’s holiday installation is all about traditional Christmas decorations.
The decorations and lights will be up in the Market on November 12, 2025, and last through the New Year.
The Market Building will be decked out with 40 gigantic bells with bows, 12 giant baubles, 8 spinning mirror balls, 29 miles of gold leaf...and 275 kilos of glitter!
More lights will illuminate Neal’s Yard, Seven Dials and surrounding streets.
Altogether, a massive 260,000 bulbs will be on -- you may need sunglasses!
The lights will be switched on November 12, 2025 and stay on every day between 11:00 am to midnight.
The Tree
Right in front of the iconic covered market is the Covent Garden Christmas tree, one of London’s tallest, topping out around 55 feet (18 m) high.
Its lights will be switched on November 12, 2025.
It’s not hard to miss, but just in case, you’ll find it adjacent to the Royal Opera House.
The tree is trimmed by a team of around 60 workers who adorn the branches with 30,000 lights and ornaments.
The tree is actually brought in from the same place where the Royal Family gets its Christmas trees, which makes it that much more special.
To keep things sustainable, three trees are planted for every tree cut down from the farm where it is harvested.
At the end of the holiday season, the Covent Garden tree will be recycled into woodchips.
The Sleigh
Santa's sleigh returns to Covent Garden in 2025 and you can pose with it from November through January.
This recommissioned sleigh, dating to 1884 and hand-painted by British artist James Gemmill, will be on display.
The sleigh is not only beautiful to look at but guests are invited to take a seat for free and take photos.
I've seen photos from some of my tour guests who've visited the sleigh and they were perfect for Instagram!
The Sleigh is in the West Piazza South Hall and is open to the public from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
After hours it is roped off but you can still pose with it, just not on it!
Festive Thursdays
At the holidays, Covent Garden makes Thursdays a designated festive night with shops and restaurants opening with extended hours.
In past years there was music from the London International Gospel Choir and the cast from ELF the Musical!
This light-night event also sees shops hosting in-store events with exclusive offers and special festive moments to ensure something a little special for everybody who comes down to enjoy it!
In 2025, it starts on November 14th and runs until December 19th.
The Winter Warmer Mulled Wine Festival
If you are anything like me and love mulled wine, then Covent Garden is where you want to be in November!
Indulge in "Christmassy" drinks from Covent Gardens' well-known dining hot spots.
There will be traditional mulled wine and hot chocolate, as well as "creative twists" like mulled rosé and spiced sake!
In 2025, it runs from November 12th to December 1st.
The Mulled Wine Cart is based inside the Market Building on Central Avenue. Find out where else you can get mulled wine around Covent Garden here.
Music
There will be seasonal music aplenty, but keep your ears open for some special free performances in the piazza.
If you want to guarantee you see a holiday show, classics like The Nutcracker and Hansel and Gretel play at the Royal Opera House.
Covent Garden Chalet
The cozy, alpine themed chalet pops up from 29th November, offering mulled wine, seasonal treats and more.
The Christmas Sandwich Festival
The Christmas Sandwich Festival is back for 2025 and I can't wait to dig in again!
From the 1st to the 31st of December, Covent Garden will see participating restaurants offering a unique twist on a "Christmas Sandwich."
The festival will stretch from the iconic Covent Garden Market Building all the way to Seven Dials.
There are plenty of vegetarian offers available, too!
Let it Snow
London gets plenty cold in the winter, but it doesn't tend to snow as often as people think - except in Covent Garden!
Yes, that's right!
Snow is in the forecast again from 6th-31st December, on the hour every hour between midday and 9pm daily.
Sipsmith Gin
Sipsmith gin makers host a Classic British Christmas by bringing out their historic 1950s Sipsmith Express Bus plus a new Sipsmith Gin Shop.
From November 8 until December 1, 2025, the vintage bus will serve up festive gin cocktails, hot mulled sloe gin, and festive nonalcoholic cocktails.
My recommendation? The soul-warming zesty orange hot chocolate.
But there is so much more to enjoy at Covent Garden for the holidays!
I hope you consider joining our London Holiday Lights tour including Covent Garden - hopefully, we will get snowflakes on the tips of our noses!
The Covent Garden Wonder Wood
Covent Garden's Market Building is transformed into a forest brimming with dozens of beautiful Christmas trees, all expertly decorated by the creatives of Covent Garden's horticultural society.
Last year, the dates and times were 12:00 pm - 9:00 pm, every day from 29th November - 3rd January.
The exact 2025 dates have yet to be announced but you can expect them to be similar. Check back with us for updates.
I can't wait and neither should you!
Piazza Pop-Up Store Events for 2025
Around the Covent Garden Piazza, you'll find stores that set up pop-ups, making it easy for you to shop on the spot. Here are a two of many.
Jo Malone
Jo Malone, maker of an iconic London perfume, will be on the East Piazza from October 31 to November 24, 2025.
Step through an entrance made up of presents piled high, play interactive games and pose for pictures in a dazzling set.
How To Get Here
Here's a map to help you find Covent Garden (map)
Nearest Underground Stations:
- Covent Garden, Leicester Square (5-minute walk)
- Charing Cross (6-minute walk)
- Embankment (10-minute walk)
- Holborn (10-minute walk)
- Tottenham Court Yard (12-minute walk)
Nearest Rail Stations: Charing Cross Station
Bus Routes: 9, 13, 15, 23, 24, 139, 153
TIP: Read more about the other great things you can do in Covent Garden!
