- Friday 19th November – Light switch on with Lord Mayor of London
- Wednesday 8th December – Christmas workshops, music and late-night shopping
The iconic Victorian splendour of the City of London’s Leadenhall Market will be sparkling with light as its giant Christmas tree, decorations and beautiful garlands are unveiled on Friday 19th November. As part of the much-loved annual ceremony, The Lord Mayor of London will switch on the lights at 6pm, accompanied by firework fountains to kick-start Christmas.
A fun filled festive evening of late-night shopping and Christmas workshops – from wreathmaking to whisky tasting – with Leadenhall Market’s talented tenants follows on Wednesday 8th December.
On 19th November, the free to attend evening starts a festive sing-a-long and live music from interactive party starters The Super Tenants from 5.15pm, before the countdown begins for the Lord Mayor’s speech and Christmas light switch on at 6pm. More music – including a Christmas mash-up – follows to soundtrack the opportunity to browse Leadenhall Market’s boutique stores, eat delicious food and toast the start of the festivities at its range of wine bars or traditional pub, The Lamb Tavern.
Appropriately, The Lord Mayor will arrive by Whittington Avenue – named after Dick Whittington who created the previous stone structure of Leadenhall Market in the 15th Century. This was replaced in 1881 with Leadenhall Market’s current stunning wrought iron and glass structure – including a magnificent central dome depicting a starry night sky.
On 8th December the Victorian market’s cobbled streets and airy alleyways will once again come alive with Christmas cheer. Visitors will enjoy an evening of festive fun with live music, a choice of interactive workshops, late-night shopping in the Market’s boutique stores, a photobooth and the Market’s famous shoeshine team will all continue through the evening until 8pm.
Workshops will take place throughout the evening at various times². Whether it be making your very own Christmas wreath at Windsor Flowers, indulging in cheese & port tasting with Cheese at Leadenhall, discovering the best wine & charcuterie pairings with Amathus Drinks, sipping on whisky with The Lamb or learning how to wrap presents with Esther Thorpe from Origami Est, there’s plenty on offer to help people prepare for this year’s celebrations. Tickets must be booked in advance for the workshops to avoid disappointment on the night. To make a booking, visit: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/leadenhall-market-christmas-workshops-tickets-198151425247
For those simply wishing to soak up the atmosphere with family, friends or colleagues, in one of London’s most beautiful settings – made all the more magical with its Christmas decorations – the market’s 35 boutique retailers, bars, restaurants and cafes will be open as usual.
The following Leadenhall Market stores and restaurants will be open for late night shopping on 8th December until 8pm:
- Amathus Drinks
- Askinology
- Barbour – including free gift wrapping service
- Cheese at Leadenhall
- Waterstones
- Windsor Flowers
- And Shoeshine will also be in the Market to polish your footwear for Christmas!
Want to find out more about the festive history of Leadenhall Market? From the Victorian era through to the 20th century, Leadenhall Market was the fashionable place to buy poultry. It’s even thought to be the place to which Scrooge sent a passing boy to purchase a turkey for the Cratchits in Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol.
The present market hall was designed in 1881 by City of London Architect, Sir Horace Jones, to provide a ‘respectable arcade’ for the poultry market, which still stands to this day.
He also designed Tower Bridge and Smithfield Market… and it just so happens that the Museum of London is moving to parts of West Smithfield in the coming years.
Come and find out more about the other objects in Museum of London’s collection relating to Leadenhall Market’s 700 year history in our Windows into History display.
This Winter you can also be in with a chance of winning a £5 Waterstones voucher by taking part in Leadenhall Market’s festive treasure hunt. A great activity for the kids during the Christmas holidays; simply print out the worksheet below and fill out the answers. From Thursday 9th December, the first 30 worksheets handed in to Waterstones will receive a £5 voucher.
