Southbank Winter Festival

Last weekend I visited the Christmas market / Winter Festival by the Southbank Centre in London. I also went to their usual street food market, which is always nice.

I always like coming to this area, but before Christmas there's a special atmosphere, tasty food, nice drinks, good street music and jolly people. There was even a spectacular sunset to behold towards the Houses of Parliament.

Here are some photos I took there. Have you been to lovely Christmas markets and fairs this year?

Christmas market

Yesterday I spent the day in London's Southbank at the Winter Festival and food market. It was as delightful as ever enjoying some veggie food and mulled cider. Here are some photos that I took there.

We also got to witness a curious happening, about 200 cycling Santas rode past us on their decorated bikes. There were also some elves, Santa's wives and a Christmas tree. It was quite an impressive and funny view. However they were a bit too fast moving for my camera, I hope you get the idea from these photos.

In the Southbank Centre we saw the “Lights Are Shining” exhibition, which is displaying lovely lanterns made by school children.

Winter Festival at the Southbank

Last weekend I visited the Winter Festival in London's Southbank including the Christmas market and Real Food Market.

I love the Southbank, so had automatically a good time. I preferred last year's Christmas market, though, when it was on the actual bank and not in a corner closer to the London Eye. I believe that the Christmas tree maze is a new added feature, but unfortunately it wasn't free to enter. Luckily the delightful illuminated rabbits had arrived to different places around the area to bring joy. I also thought that the small train transporting kids by the river was a nice touch.

The Real Food Market is always brilliant and one of my favourite places to visit in London. They offer excellent street food and drink, and many of the options are vegetarian. In this season it's lovely to hang around there and sip some mulled cider or wine.

Here are some photos from my visit.

Christmas markets

I love the atmosphere in Christmas markets (unless they are too crowded) and town centres decorated with lights and trees. The best Christmas markets I have ever been to are in Germany, but even here in England more and more nice ones start appearing. Many of these markets are German style anyway. I think that Christmas markets are all about eating nice veggie snacks and sweets and especially drinking mulled wine. It's nice to get a warming drink when you are outside in the cold. This year I visited a few Christmas markets in England, and wanted to share some photos I took while I was visiting them.

The large Gothic cathedral offers a wonderful backdrop to the Winchester Christmas market, and the whole town centre is decorated with beautiful lights around Christmas. Here you can certainly get into the season's spirit.

If you are visiting London, pop into the busy area of Southbank to enjoy the Christmassy feeling at the Southbank Centre Christmas market and the Real Food Christmas market. You can make great discoveries there especially in terms of food shopping.

I bumped into these friendly creatures when I was walking through the forest to the New Forest Christmas fair in Brockenhurst in early December. The fair itself was also a nice event, and there was lots of local produce available.

Southampton's Christmas market is centrally located in the city's shopping area and it's also a German style market.

Have fun visiting Christmas markets!

Your VegHog