Pop Up
A Winter Market Is Popping Up on the Southbank
Southbank is one of the most magical places to visit at Christmas, and they are spreading the cheer this year with a winter market featuring festive pop-ups and alpine-style chalets. As well as shopping, there’s street food on offer, including dumplings, smashburgers, Cajun sandwiches, churros and Dutch pancakes, plus plenty of hot bevvies to sip on.
Do Some Late Night Shopping on Columbia Road
The indie shops on Columbia Road and Ezra Street are opening late (from 5pm – 9pm) on four Wednesdays leading up to Christmas for all your gifting needs and you’ll be able to pick up trees from the market too. There’ll be mince pies and mulled wine to keep you going but no carolling or entertainment to prevent overcrowding.
Feast Off-Piste at The Berkeley
The Berkeley’s rooftop is getting a winter makeover, transforming into an alpine winter wonderland this festive season. Cosy up inside one of the ski gondolas amongst the snow-dusted trees and twinkling lights, and tuck into a menu of raclette, tartiflette with fresh truffle, milk chocolate fondue, and gingerbread s’mores. You can toast to Christmas with winter cocktails like Dark Chocolate Old Fashioneds, Burnt Marshmallow Mezcalitas, and Wild Blackberry Picantes, and there are even ‘ring from Champagne’ bells inside each gondola.
Pick Up Presents at the Lower Stable Street Christmas Market
The Lower Stable Street Market is back in Coal Drops Yard this Christmas with a rotating selection of traders across food, drinks, homeware, art, books and clothing, plus a range of eco-friendly gifts.
Courchevel has come to the City as Coq d’Argent has popped festive Lodge d’Argent chalets on the rooftop. The huts are kitted out with faux-fur blankets and fairy lights, and you can cosy up with cocktails and alpine-inspired small plates.
Curl the Night Away at Club Curling in Coal Drop's Yard
Club Curling is back at Coal Drops Yard for some winter sports action and this year, it’s taking inspo from vintage Italian ski culture. You can curl the night away on one of the six lanes in teams of up to six, and children under 12 play for free when accompanied by an adult. There’ll be a pop-up lounge bar on site so you can have a festive tipple while you curl.
Hang With Santa at Humbug
What do you think Santa does after a long hard day at his workshop? He hits the bar of course, and now you can too as Humbug is popping up at the Vaults in Waterloo. Santa’s a bit low on Christmas spirit so Humbug is going to town on the festive entertainment – as well as cabaret performances, live music, games, festive sing-a-longs, dazzling Christmas lights, and holiday memorabilia galore, there’s Santa’s grotto, a themed beer can bowling alley and a shrine dedicated to Christmas queen Mariah Carey to explore. It’s not a bar without cocktails and Humbug is well equipped on that front too, with a Naughty or Nice drinks menu and festive street food from Bang Bang Burger.
Give Winter Sports a Go at Big Penny Social's Curling Emporium
Walthamstow’s Big Penny Social is bringing back its curling experience this winter, so grab your mates, grab some stones and slide your way to winter sports glory. Stay warm in between games by hitting the bar for spiced mulled wine and boozy hot chocolates.
Jimmy Garcia Is Bringing Fire & Fromage to the Southbank
Jimmy Garcia is taking over the South Bank this winter with Fire & Fromage. The alpine-inspired pop-up will feature weather-proof cabanas where you can indulge in cheese fondue, served with new potatoes, freshly baked bread, salad and cornichons, with mini chocolate doughnuts for pud. Or you can gather round one of the fire pits and tuck into raclette burgers, cheese hot dogs, chicken schnitzels, brie bites, toasted marshmallows and mulled wine.
Sweep Your Way to Glory at The Curling Club
Indulge in a little friendly competition and sweep your way to glory this festive season at The Curling Club in Chelsea (from 26th November) and Vinegar Yard (1st November). You’ll be able to get on the curling sheets and show off your skills, using the same granite stones as top curlers worldwide do. And there’ll be winter cocktails, street food, and music to keep the party going after the games have finished.
Ice at Bussey Rooftop Bar
An ice rink is coming to the top of the Bussey Building for the first time ever this winter. Replacing the rooftop cinema, the ice rink will take over the Bussey Rooftop Bar, where you’ll be able to skate surrounded by Christmas trees, twinkly lights and some mega skyline views. Things get turned up a notch on Friday and Saturday nights where DJs will be spinning funk and disco. Once you’re done on the ice, you can warm up with mulled wines, spiked hot chocolates, pizzas and more in the heated bar.
After doing pop-ups around east London since the start of 2025, Fresh Hot Pizza is taking over the kitchen at The Fox in Haggerston. James Fox started Fresh Hot Pizza after working at the likes of Crisp, Dough Hands and Ria’s, and has been selling out his own thin and crispy pizzas, topped with the likes of pepperoni, banana peppers & hot honey and stracciatella & brown butter crumb ever since. With The Fox getting a new lease of life thanks to the team behind Hoxton boozer Howl at the Moon, and the fact that pubs have been successful proving grounds for a number of other pizza concepts, this is a great pairing.
Lucy & Yak Opens its First Ever London & Yak Pop-Up
Socially and environmentally conscious brand Lucy & Yak is opening its first ever London pop-up in Spitalfields and it’s gonna be there for at least six months. Inside the gloriously pink London & Yak, you’ll be able to shop from the brand’s colourful collections, all made from eco-friendly materials, as well as the new sub-brand L&Y, which features more subtle prints and tones. The shop will also act as a Re:Yak hub, meaning you can return pre-loved pieces to receive a discount voucher and you can come recycle, repair or upcycle your clothes.
An ice rink is coming to Leicester Square this winter thanks to Underbelly. The ice will encircle the square’s Shakespeare statue and there’ll be skating sessions starting every 11 minutes, with plenty of slots for walk-ins. The tickets are £14.50 for adults and £9.50 for kids, with an optional donation in support of Angel Child Fun at The Brain Tumour Charity added to each transaction. Once you’re done on the ice, you can keep the festive feeling by taking a spin around the Christmas market.
Gloverall to Open a Pop-Up at Coal Drops Yard
British outerwear label Gloverall, the original duffle coat maker, is setting up shop at Coal Drops Yard this October. From Tuesday 28th October to Sunday 2nd November, the pop-up will showcase a curated edit of signature outerwear at reduced prices, alongside garments from the brand’s surplus collection. Expect past-season favourites, one-off exclusives and specially made designs, all available with rare discounts. Founded in 1951, Gloverall has long been rooted in British fashion and culture, with craftsmanship and quality at the heart of every coat. The Coal Drops Yard store is a chance to get hands-on with the heritage pieces that made the brand iconic, plus discover unique finds from the archive.
Hampton Court Palace
With a huge rink, a massive Christmas tree, and a Tudor palace as a backdrop, there’s no better place to go for a spin than Hampton Court Palace. This year there’s also ice sculpting displays and DJ sets to enjoy, and you can refuel with hot chocolate, mulled wine and hot toddies at the Skate Exchange Cafe and Bar.
London's Kitsch Christmas Bar Is Getting Even Bigger
The US’s renowned Miracle bar is back in London for the 2025 festive season and this time, it’s bigger and better than ever. Now popping up in larger Covent Garden location, Miracle promises an even bigger dose of kitsch Christmas magic, spreading cheer from 10th November to 23rd December. Expect an over-the-top winter wonderland packed with twinkling fairy lights, candy canes, and retro holiday décor. Alongside its famously playful Christmas cocktails, including the Snowball Old Fashioned, the Christmasaurus and the Christmapolitan, guests can enjoy festive snacks in a space that feels like stepping straight into a nostalgic Christmas movie.
Barcelona's Bar Brutal Comes to Seabird
If your idea of heaven involves a rooftop, natural wine and seafood with serious attitude, then Seabird at The Hoxton is the place to be this autumn. Until the end of November, they’re handing over the reins to cult Barcelona favourite Bar Brutal. On the menu are eight dishes that riff on coastal classics – think bites with citrus and spice, smoky fish, vibrant seafood, autumnal veg and fun desserts, all paired with Catalonian natural wines and whisky cocktails. And because good food and drink deserve a soundtrack, every Saturday the vibe cranks up a notch with a line-up of vinyl DJs, spinning jazzy, left-field sets that’ll keep the rooftop buzzing well into the night.
