You don’t need a map or a compass to find the Leicester Square Christmas Market—just follow the sound of someone humming “Last Christmas” off-key at 4 PM. The good news is that its opening hours are designed to fit into even the messiest of schedules. Typically, it runs from mid-November right through to early January, which means you have absolutely no excuse to miss it.
For your actual diary, the market usually opens around 10:00 AM and closes around 10:00 PM on most weekdays. That’s eleven solid hours of tinsel, bratwurst, and queuing for a ride that makes you question why you agreed to this family outing. On weekends, things get a little wilder, with the stalls often staying open until 11:00 PM—perfect for that midnight impulse to buy a wooden reindeer you’ll struggle to fit on the Tube.
The “I’m Just Browsing” Window
If you’re the type who likes to “just look” without the crowds, the first two hours of the day are your golden ticket. Between 10 AM and noon, the market feels like a sleepy village where the elves are still having their coffee. You can actually walk without being elbowed by someone holding a giant candied apple.
But let’s be real: if you’re a parent, you’ll probably arrive at 11:30, right when the kids have realized that “just looking” is a lie. That’s okay—the market is patient. It has seen your tantrums, your confusion over which Glühwein mug to collect, and that one moment when your partner tried to haggle for a scarf as if it were a used car.
24hrs Christmas Break in the West End - Have Kids Can Travel
