Everything happening in Covent Garden this Christmas: the 12 November switch-on, the tree and lights, the Christmas market, Miracle on Russell Street and nearby skating.
Covent Garden at Christmas 2026: lights, market, Miracle bar and what’s nearby
The short version: Covent Garden switches on its Christmas lights on Thursday 12 November 2026, the same day its Christmas market opens. Expect a British-grown tree on the West Piazza, more than 300,000 lights and the giant gold bells in the Market Building. The Miracle Christmas bar opens round the corner on 9 November, and Skate at Somerset House is a short walk away.
Here’s what’s on, when to go, and how to combine it with the rest of the West End.
Covent Garden at Christmas at a glance
| What | When |
|---|---|
| Miracle on Russell Street opens | 9 November |
| Skate at Somerset House opens (nearby) | 11 November |
| Covent Garden lights switch on | 12 November |
| Covent Garden Christmas market opens | 12 November |
| Leicester Square market and rink (nearby) | 31 October to 3 January |
The lights and the tree
The “Theatre of Christmas” theme returns this year, with a British-grown Christmas tree on the West Piazza and gold bells, mirror balls and baubles hanging in the Market Building. Covent Garden says there are more than 300,000 lights. New for 2026, Time Out reports a set of Christmas trees inspired by West End shows, a nod to the theatres all around.
The lights switch on on Thursday 12 November. They’re at their best after dark, which is from about 4.30pm in November.
The Christmas market
Covent Garden’s Christmas market opens on 12 November, alongside markets at London Bridge City and Kingston on the same day. It’s free to walk around. For every market and its dates, see Christmas markets in London 2026.
Miracle on Russell Street
The kitsch Christmas cocktail bar Miracle has moved to 9 Russell Street, on the opposite side of the piazza from its old home at the Henrietta hotel. It runs from 9 November to 30 December over two floors. Bookings open online and the December weekends go first. More in Christmas bars in London.
Nearby: skating and more lights
- Skate at Somerset House, on the Strand, from 11 November. See Skate at Somerset House 2026
- Leicester Square, five minutes away, with a Christmas market and an ice rink around the Shakespeare statue from 31 October
- Regent Street and Carnaby, lit from 4 and 5 November. Our Christmas lights walk ends in Covent Garden
A Christmas evening in Covent Garden: a simple plan
If you want to see the best of it in one go, this route works well on any weekday evening from mid-November.
- 4pm: skate at Somerset House while it’s still light, or watch from the side
- 5pm: walk up Wellington Street to the piazza as the lights come on
- 5.30pm: see the tree on the West Piazza and the bells in the Market Building, then browse the Christmas market
- 6.30pm: a drink at Miracle on Russell Street (book ahead) or an early dinner nearby
- 8pm: walk five minutes west to Leicester Square for its market and rink, then on to Piccadilly Circus and the Regent Street angels
The whole loop is under two miles on foot. If you have children with you, swap the bar for the market and finish at Leicester Square, where the skating is easy to watch from the edge.
When to go
- Weekday evenings are much calmer than weekends
- Arrive just before dark to see the lights come on
- The piazza gets very busy on December Saturdays
- If you’re seeing a show, the area is quietest during the performance, between 7.30pm and 10pm
Getting there
Covent Garden station can be crowded, and at busy times exits can be limited. Leicester Square, Holborn, Charing Cross and Temple are all within a 10-minute walk.
Eat and drink
For something festive, see our Christmas afternoon tea guide. For new places nearby, see new restaurants in London this November.
Frequently asked questions
When are the Covent Garden Christmas lights switched on in 2026?
Thursday 12 November 2026.
When does the Covent Garden Christmas market open?
12 November 2026, the same day as the lights.
Where is Miracle bar in 2026?
At 9 Russell Street, Covent Garden, from 9 November to 30 December.
Is Covent Garden at Christmas free?
Yes. The lights, tree and market are free to visit.
Sources
- Time Out: Christmas light switch-on dates 2026
- Londonist: Christmas 2026 dates
- Hot Dinners: Miracle on Russell Street
- London Lately: London Christmas lights 2026 (with official sources)
Last checked: 1 November 2026. Image: Editor5807, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
