Christmas Markets in London

London's story stretches back two millennia to the Roman settlement of Londinium, established on the Thames in 43 AD. Through medieval times, the city grew as a trading hub and seat of royal power, surviving the Great Fire of 1666 and emerging as the heart of a vast empire. Victorian London became the world's largest city, its fog-shrouded streets inspiring Dickens and countless literary works. The Blitz tested the capital's resilience during World War II, yet London rebuilt itself as a modern global metropolis while preserving its historic fabric.

London's Christmas markets are a relatively modern tradition, gaining prominence primarily in the early 2000s. Winter attractions at Leicester Square and the Southbank Centre drew inspiration from continental European markets while adapting to British tastes. Hyde Park's Winter Wonderland, launched in 2007, became one of the UK's largest seasonal attractions, establishing London's place on the European festive calendar.