Holiday Markets

Over the last few weekends before winter break (and my trip back to the Pacific northwest) my friend Jenny and I visited all the central London Holiday Markets.

Holiday Markets are craft/gift markets set up in preparation for the Christmas/Hanuka season. London has dozens of regular weekly markets which also offer great gift ideas but these were all temporary markets with a holiday theme.

We found one small market on the south bank of the Thames. It was made up of about a dozen little wooden huts with food, crafts and jewelry for sale.

The second market we went to was on a vacant lot across the street from Selfridges. It had the same huts as the south bank market with a few additions - hats, metal sculptures, wind chimes.

The biggest and by far the best was the Winter Wonderland Market in Hyde Park. Jenny and I had heard about this market - the organizers were doing a good deal of advertising on television. We had not gone earlier because it looked like a children's playground instead of a holiday market.

We we arrived we were surprised at the size and complexity of this market. It included an ice skating rink!














There were many food booths - we shared a cinnamon pretzel -


tons of craft booths, and many rides for both adults and children.













The market was like a small city with a large section for caravans where the employees lived.

Jenny and I rode on the observation wheel - like a Ferris wheel but with enclosed cars to ride in.


















No holiday market is complete without a pirate! There did seem to be a bit of a Halloween theme going on too on several of the rides.














It was a beautiful day and Jenny and I had a great time.