Jingle bells, OTT decorations, cinnamon on everything… it’s officially that time. Across our Hox cities, market stalls pop up with gifts to grab, snacks to sample, and plenty of reasons to wrap up and wander. Here’s where to stroll, skate and shop, before heading back to ours for a delicious night’s cosy sleep.
Germany invented festive markets, and Berlin runs with it. From Hox Charlottenburg, wander to Breitscheidplatz for 100+ stalls (and Bratwurst galore) and a charity Glühwein that does good while it warms you up. This market goes all in on the optics, with a 400-metre Lichtteppich (light carpet) by artist Andreas Boehlke turning the sky into a glittering spectacle. For extra sparkle, check out the Charlottenburg Palace market, beautifully illuminated for the season with a dreamy light show and ferris wheel.
Yes, it sort of feels festive year-round, but it really goes all-out come December. From The Hox, it’s a ten-minute stroll to the Wiener Christkindlmarkt and its 3,000m² ice rink (plenty of space to bust out those skating moves). Go for the romantic setting and trad food and crafts, sip a warming punch and dive headfirst into the kitsch – skating under fairy lights, roasted Maroni in hand, and all the Christmas chaos you can handle.
The City of Lights adds a few more bulbs each winter. The Tuileries Garden Christmas Market brings alpine vibes, an amusement park and an ice rink, all just a short stroll from the Louvre (thrills first, nightcap in our lobby after). For something more low-key, head up to Montmartre’s Christmas Market, tucked away on a cobbled square beneath the Sacré-Cœur. It feels more like a neighbourhood fête than a tourist stop: think 100% French crafts, steaming vin chaud and fairy lights wrapped around old chestnut trees. Grab a hot spiced wine or cider and a cone of roasted chestnuts, then wander up the hill for some of the best city views going. Et voilà – Christmas à la parisienne.
Winter Wonders lights up the city with a market-meets-light-show takeover. Make for Grand-Place for beers, bargains and those stocking-fillers you “definitely” needed.
A quick tram ride from The Hox, and you’re at Edinburgh Christmas Market and the Winter Festival. Hop on the Big Wheel for glittering views across the Old Town and, if you can, stay on for Hogmanay – no one does New Year like Edinburgh.
Holiday-movie magic, IRL. Hop the subway to Union Square Holiday Market (150+ vendors of handmade everything), then back in Williamsburg, our neighbours at Artists & Fleas are perfect for present-hunting – and main-character moments.
London doesn’t really do “low-key” at Christmas. Think full festive extravaganza: markets, rides, music, heaps of food and drink and more lights than your camera roll can handle. Go big at Hyde Park’s Winter Wonderland and don’t miss the Bavarian Village for steins, hot dogs and live music. In the heart of the West End, Leicester Square pairs its Christmas market with an ice rink. Over in Covent Garden, hourly “snow showers” in the West Piazza by the giant Christmas tree dial the festive vibes all the way up.
Street-food heaven by the Thames with London Eye, Big Ben and the National Theatre all in view. Southbank Centre’s Winter Market is the move: grab a mulled wine or spiced cider from The Winter Cellar, then track down Fire & Frommage for raclette burgers and baked camembert by the cosy fire pits.
East London gets in on the fun with ‘Christmas Shopping Lates’ on Wednesdays in December – extended hours for late-night shopping, with soulful gospel choirs and live music soundtracking your last-minute gift dash.
Out West, the shopping centre’s winter village comes with an outdoor ice rink under Europe’s tallest Christmas tree. Shopping, skating and snacking all in one place – very efficient, very festive.
Sunnier skies, same festive spirit. Browse design pop-ups and local makers, or make for Fira de Santa Llúcia, the OG Christmas market – lean into the retro charm, with vintage Catalan folklore meets gritty Gothic Quarter energy. Perfect for ironic nostalgia, photography and a cheeky vermut between nativity-scene shopping. In the mood for something sleeker? This is where Christmas goes concept-store: sustainable materials, indie brands, minimalist wrapping paper and locals who actually make what they sell. You’ll find gifts that look like they belong in an apartment with concrete floors and eucalyptus in a vase. Down by the water it’s Christmas by the sea – ferris wheels, light tunnels, street food and DJs sliding from disco to Catalan classics. Grab a craft beer, watch the harbour lights ripple and pretend you planned this level of aesthetic.
Back at The Hoxton, our La Cava space hosts a mix of emerging designers, vintage gems and effortless cool. Sip natural wine, browse local fashion labels and chat with makers who blur the lines between art, style and community. From 20 December, the 11-day Plaça de Catalunya Christmas Festival turns the city’s beating heart into full sensory overload – light installations, street performers and a carousel of creative chaos where families mingle with trendsetters and it somehow just works.
Festive fun as wide as the canals. Lace up at for some skating at Museumplein, go big at Winter Paradise (live shows, fairground rides, après-ski zone included), and try the Funky Xmas Market or Sustainable Christmas Market for a modern twist. All under the glow of the Amsterdam Light Festival.
Ready to make a weekend of it? Book direct at thehoxton.com and enjoy Flexy Time – free early check-in and late check-out at any time (hello, more browsing time) – plus free cancellation until 2pm the day before arrival. See you by the stalls.
Christkindlmarket has been the city’s German-style staple for nearly 30 years – expect steins, spices and serious cheer. Swing by the Randolph Street Holiday Market on 13–15 December for rare finds and vintage treasures.
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