Stuck for gift ideas, fancy browsing with a cup of mulled wine in hand or just looking for some festive fun? Here are London’s Christmas markets and special shopping events, broken down by borough. 
Barking & Dagenham
Handmade in Dagenham takes place at Dagenham Library on Sunday 1 December. Free entry, 11am-4pm
Pick up some handmade Christmas cards and cakes or join craft and wreath making workshops at Valence House on Saturday 7 December. Free entry, 10am-4pm
Barnet
The Tally Ho Ho Ho North Finchley Christmas Festival takes place on Saturday 23 November with a free Santa’s Grotto, reindeer, mini ice rinks, gift stalls and games. The Christmas tree is switched on at 4pm. Free entry
The Barnet Christmas Fayre takes place on Sunday 1 December with stalls, music and a funfair on the high street. Free entry
Bexley
The Bexleyheath Christmas Market is up and running until 24 December.
Find traditional crafts and contemporary gifts at the Hall Place Christmas Craft Fair 16-17 November. Free entry, 10am-4pm
Brent
Join Kensal Flea at the Paradise for Christmas stocking filler browsing on Saturday 30 November. £1, 11am-7pm
The Mayhew Animal Home transforms itself into a Winter Wonderland on Sunday 1 December for its annual fair. Pick up cards, gifts, foods and of course pet treats. £2 / £1, 12-4pm
Bromley
The Orpington Christmas Tree Festival runs 30 November-8 December (free to see the trees in the Methodist Church) with a market, refreshments and children’s activities on Saturday 30 November. Free entry, 10.30am-1.30pm
Browse arts, crafts and gifts at the Ripley Arts Centre on Sunday 1 December. £1 / free, 11am-4pm
Christmas comes to West Wickham with stalls, carol singing and children’s rides on Saturday 7 December. Free entry, 11am-6pm
Camden
The Danish Youth Hostel in Hampstead holds its Christmas fair on 23-24 November, where you can buy anything from candles to æbleskiver (a type of pancake). £2, Sat 11am-5pm Sun 11am-4pm
All kinds of crafted gifts and food (including Chocololo, cocoa fans) are at West Hampstead Christmas Market on Saturday 30 November. Join in craft workshops and activities and tasters from shops on West End Green and West End Lane.
Dandy Lion has a Jack Frost market at The Oxford in Kentish Town on Saturday 7 December, with vintage accessories and clothing, hand knitted hats, scarves and gloves, arts and prints for sale and a poetry lucky dip. Free entry, 12-5pm
Pop Up Vintage Fairs bring vintage traders, a tea room and live singers to St Stephen’s Hampstead on Sunday 8 December. £2 / £1, 11am-4pm
Camden Lock Market opens late on 12-14 December with traders open until 10pm and bars and restaurants opening late, too.
City of London
The Red Cross holds a Christmas market at Guildhall on Tuesday 19 November. Buy gifts from the livery companies, have afternoon tea or sip a glass of fizz at the pop-up champagne bar. £5 (includes glass of wine), 10.30am-8pm
The Barbican‘s Design Market returns to its foyers from 28 November-22 December. See what you can pick up at the toy shop and 35 artisan stallholders. Free, 12-8pm
Luxury gifts, foods and stocking fillers are on offer at the City Christmas Fair in aid of Wellbeing of Women on Monday 2 December at Drapers’ Hall. Maybe have a drinkie at the champagne bar. £5, 11am-8pm
Croydon
Coulsdon Yulefest is 7-8 December with a market, Santa’s grotto and lights switch on.
Ealing
Ealing Broadway Shopping Centre‘s Christmas Market runs until 24 December with gift stalls, hot food and drinks, live music and Santa’s grotto. Free entry, 9am-7pm
Northfields Christmas night market is on Saturday 23 November with 40 local businesses selling gifts and food. Free entry, 7.30-10pm
Go to Hanwell Clock Tower on Sunday 24 November for carol singers, roast chestnuts, mulled wine and stalls selling gifts and crafts. Free entry, 12-3pm
YUM W13‘s Christmas market is at the Forester pub on Saturday 30 November with craft stalls, live music, carols, mulled wine and cider and taster dishes from local restaurants. Free entry, 11am-5pm
Enfield
Nightingale Cancer Support Centre at St Andrews Parish Centre has a Christmas Market on Saturday 16 November with gifts, decorations and carol singers. Free entry, 10.30am-3pm
Forty Hall and Estate‘s Christmas Market is Saturday 30 November with creative stalls and the Choir of Saint Monica’s Players. Free entry, 12-4pm
Greenwich
The Woodlands Farm Trust in Welling holds its Christmas Fair on Sunday 1 December. Expect country crafts, cakes, jams, carol singers and mulled wine. Free entry, 11am-3pm
Greenwich Market turns festive from 2-24 December, with the usual selection of craft stalls, shops and food – and we’d just like to put in a word for Mr Humbug sweet shop.
Handmade Christmas runs 13-15 December at the O2 with hundreds of crafters, including from Folksy.com, selling gifts, jewellery, fashion, visual art and food and drink. £5 entry, Fri/Sun 1-8.30pm, Sat 12-8.30pm
Hackney
Creativity is the name of the game at Dalston Christmas Market in Dalston Square on Sunday 1 December. Find gifts by hand selected local artisans and designers. Free, 11am-7pm
Columbia Road shops will be opening until 9pm on Wednesdays 4, 11 and 18 December and a special Christmas Saturday opening on 21 December for any last minute bits and bobs.
Head to Rivington Street in Shoreditch on Thursdays 5, 12 and 19 December for late night shopping, performances and an arts and food market. Free entry, until 9pm
Secret Emporium hosts a showcase for independent designers at the Nicholls & Clarke building in Shoreditch 13-15 December. Free entry
Hammersmith & Fulham
The Hammersmith Farmers Market in Lyric Square will sell all your Christmas food needs Thursdays during December, and trees too. Free entry, 11am-3pm
There’s free mulled wine and mince pies at Fulham Palace Garden Centre on 7-8 December. Pick up your tree, decorations and gifts. Free entry, Sat 9.30am-5pm Sun 10am-4pm
Haringey
Noel Park Market is going Christmassy for all December. Come and meet Santa and buy your Christmas tree.
Pop Up Vintage Fairs bring vintage traders, a tea room and live singers to Alexandra Palace on Sunday 1 December. £6 / £3 2-4-1 offer, 9.30am-4.30pm
North London Vintage Market is in Crouch End on Saturday 7 December with mince pies along with the vintage fashion, jewellery and accessories. £1.50 / free, 10am-6pm
Myddleton Road‘s Christmas Market is Sunday 15 December with festive gifts, fresh produce and street food. Free entry, 11am-4pm
Alexandra Palace Farmers Market is a special festive one on 21-22 December. Free entry, 10am-3pm
Harrow
There’s a market as part of the Christmas lights switch-on fun in Harrow on Saturday 30 November. Free entry, 12-6pm
Havering
Over 20 stalls are selling handmade goods at Collier Row Library in Romford on Saturday 16 November. Free entry, 11am-3pm
There’s a Punch and Judy show and other activities to entertain the kids while you browse 30 stalls selling handmade crafts at North Romford Community Association on Saturday 30 November. Free entry, 11am-3pm
Hall Mead School in Upminster hosts a large craft and gift fair on Saturday 7 December. Free entry, 10am-2pm
Victorian carol singers give a festive shine to Romford Market on Saturday 14 December. Free entry, 11am-4pm
Hillingdon
There’s a Victorian Christmas Market in Harmondsworth on Saturday 30 November.
Hounslow
Browse a range of craft stalls at Feltham Christmas Craft Fair on Saturday 23 November. Free entry, free tea and coffee, 10am-3pm
St Faith’s Christmas Fair takes place on Tuesday 26 November with stalls run by local artists and businesses, hot food and drink from the Lord Nelson pub and choirs. Free entry, 6-9pm
Islington
Made in Clerkenwell spreads 150 designers over three buildings with a whole range of handmade goods. Refuel with Squaremile coffee, cakes, savouries and craft beer. 28 November-1 December, £3 / free, Thu 5-8pm, Fri 12-8pm, Sat/Sun 12-5pm
Angel Christmas Fair is an affordable art and design fair featuring the work of 50 artists and designers from all disciplines, with mince pices, mulled wine and Christmas cake at Candid Arts Trust. 6-8 December, free, Fri 5-9pm, Sat/Sun 11am-6pm
Buy gifts from the makers at Islington Christmas Gift Fair, 13-15 December at Islington Assembly Hall. £3 / free, Fri 12-8pm Sat 10am-6pm Sun 11am-5pm
Kensington & Chelsea
Royal College of Art students sell gifts ranging in price from £2-£200 on 27 November-1 December. Some of the presents have a genuine sense of humour; we couldn’t resist a chuckle over the pin cushion budgie and minimalist nativity set. Free entry, weekdays 12-7pm, weekend 12-5pm
Visit Chelsea Physic Garden on 30 November-1 December and browse stalls packed with plants and garden accessories, ceramics, jewellery, chocolate, chutneys and cheeses. The Tangerine Dream Cafe will be selling game stew, mince pies and mulled wine. £5 / u16s free, 10am-4pm
Discover gifts from 50 designers at Chelsea Old Town Hall on 7-8 December with the Chelsea Christmas Gift Fair. £3 / free, Sat 10am-7pm Sun 11am-5pm
Social enterprise Pocket Arts‘s Christmas Fair is on Sunday 15 December in Notting Hill. Pick up some handmade cards, jewellery and gifts, and enjoy music and food. Free entry, 1.30-6.30pm
Kingston
Kingston Memorial Gardens plays host to the Christmas Market until 5 January. Wooden chalets sell gifts and food, mulled wine, roast chestnuts and live music and carols. Free entry, 10am-7pm and late Thu-Sat
Eden Craft Fair also pops up in the grounds of All Saints church until 24 December, with a Santa’s grotto and mulled wine. Mon-Sat 9.30am-6pm (Thu til 7pm), Sun 10am-5pm
Lambeth
There are several markets by the Southbank Centre. The annual market along the river with 80 wooden chalets selling gifts, mulled wine, bratwurst and gingerbread is open now and runs until 24 December (open til 10pm). The Real Food Market also turns festive on 14-16 and 20-23 December with mince pies, more mulled wine, cheese, charcuterie and all the other nibbles it wouldn’t be Christmas without, or indulge a sweet tooth with the Chocolate Festival 13-15 December. On 14-16 December 50 designers/makers will be selling their wares, plus workshops and demonstrations. Free to enter.
Crafty Fox showcases 120 homegrown designers at The Dogstar in Brixton on 7-8 December, plus workshops, pop-up tearoom and DJs. Free entry, 11am-5pm
Details for the Clapham Common Christmas Market are a bit sketchy, but the Market Square Group says it’s been asked by Lambeth Council to set up a traditional British Christmas market 11-23 December, so keep your eyes open.
Lewisham
Friends of Age Exchange run the Blackheath Christmas Fair at Blackheath Halls on Sunday 17 November. Pick up gifts from 30 specially selected local designers, artisans and independent traders, many under a tenner. Free, 10.30am-4pm
Expect food, gifts and carols at the FUSS Christmas Fair in Hither Green on Saturday 7 December. Free, 12-5pm
Shop for gifts at the Horniman Museum Christmas Market with a Santa’s Grotto (book ahead), carols, food and mulled wine. 7-8 December, free entry, 10.30am-4.30pm
The Ladywell Christmas fair – Jinglewell – is Saturday 14 December. The Ladywell Tavern reopens the day before so it’s a double celebration.
Merton
Wimbledon Christmas Market runs Fri-Sun 29 November-22 December with 20 stalls selling gifts and food. If you head down on Sunday 1 December there’ll also be rides, games and live performances as Wimbledon becomes a winter wonderland. Free entry, 12-6pm
Morden Hall Park holds festive weekends on 7-8 and 14-15 December with Santa (£8 per child, prebook), live music, wreath making and food stalls. Free entry, 11am-4pm
The Provenance in Colliers Wood holds a Christmas market on Saturday 7 December with local crafts people, vintage clothing and edible delights. Free entry, 12pm
Newham
See the 45 foot tree at Stratford Christmas Market on 29 November and Thu-Sun through December, plus mulled wine, roast chestnuts and gifts. Free entry
Forest Gate switches the Christmas lights on Saturday 7 December at 5.45pm with a market and live music 3-6pm. Free entry
The
Olympic
Queen Elizabeth Park has a vintage Christmas and real ale festival 6-8 December. Play on a Victorian funfair, listen to live music, scoff snacks and quaff spiced cider, mulled wine and that real ale. Free entry, Fri 4-9pm Sat 12-10pm Sun 12-7pm
Redbridge
Wanstead Makers Market is Saturday 30 November with stallholders selling locally produced textiles, prints, jewellery, cakes and more. Free entry, 10am-4pm
Richmond upon Thames
Kew Gardens goes Christmassy 28 November-4 January with a Christmas village and boutique market, Santa’s woodland grotto and carousel which is free and open to all. On certain nights follow an illuminated trail through the Gardens, £12.50 / £8 / free
Shop by candlelight at Petersham Nurseries on Wednesdays 4 and 11 December. Listen to carols and an accordian trio, nibble mince pies and buy wreaths and gifts. Free entry, 6-9pm
Artists on Eel Pie Island throw open their studios 7-8 December. Pick up a new artwork while seeing inside the work spaces. Free entry, 11am-6pm
Southwark
Have a Scandinavian Christmas by popping to the Finnish and Norwegian churches in Rotherhithe on 22-24 November. You can buy Scandinavian designed jewellery and home accessories as well as food.
The East Dulwich Christmas Cracker takes place on Saturday 7 December, with carols and performances along Lordship Lane plus toy geese hidden in the shops. Free, 10am-5pm
Dulwich Craft Fair has over 20 exhibitors at St Barnabas Hall on Saturday 7 December. £2.50 / £1.50 / free, 10am-5pm
The More London Christmas Market runs 11-15 December at The Scoop, with stalls from 25 local businesses selling gifts and food. Free entry, 11am-6pm
Help Herne Hill as it gets back on its feet after the flood with its Christmas market on Half Moon Lane, Saturday 14 December. There’s gifts, vintage and arts and crafts market, a non-traditional Santa’s grotto, children’s entertainers, local bands and carols. Free, 11am-5pm
Crafty Fox showcases 120 homegrown designers at the Bussey Building in Peckham on Saturday 14 December, plus workshops, pop-up tearoom and DJs. Free entry, 12pm-6pm
Sutton
Eden Crafts Christmas Craft and Food Fair is in Sutton town centre 29 November-23 December. With seasonal and German foods, plus craft gifts. Mon-Sat 9am-5pm (Thu until 7pm), Sun 10am-5pm
Tower Hamlets
180 fine food and boutique food and drink stalls rock up to Tobacco Dock for A Taste of Christmas 21-24 November. You can also see star chefs demonstrate their skills and taste signature dishes from 12 of London’s top restaurants. Tickets £12.90-£70
The East London Design Show is at the Old Truman Brewery 5-8 December. Check out homewares, jewellery, ceramics, prints, lighting and furniture. There’s even activities to keep the kids amused. £5 / £3 / free, Thu 12-6pm, Fri 12-9pm, Sat/Sun 10am-6pm
The Bow Winter Craft Market is at St Stephen’s Church on Saturday 7 December with handmade gifts and cards, prints, decorations, jams, chutneys, cakes, mince pies and mulled wine. Free entry, 11am-4pm
Stour Space, near Victoria Park, presents its Christmas Designers Market on Saturday 14 December with independent designers, illustrators, makers and artists, workshops, live music and mulled wine. Free entry, 12-5pm
Pop Up Vintage Fairs bring vintage traders to Old Spitalfields Market on Saturday 21 December. Free entry, 11am-5pm
Waltham Forest
e17 Designers holds its Christmas market at the Walthamstow Asian Centre on 29-30 November. Browse handmade jewellery, accessories, textiles, arts and prints, plus food and drink. £2, Fri 7-10pm Sat 2-6pm
Also on Saturday 30 November in Walthamstow is the Eat or Heat Food Bank Christmas Fair. There’s local stalls, pulled pork, knitting workshops, storytelling and a portrait of William Morris in tea, which you could win for a £5 raffle ticket. £1, also gives half price entry to e17 Designers, 12-6pm. Stay later to hear to hear a piano recital by Aglaia Tarantino, £15, 8.30pm
Wandsworth
Putney turns on its Christmas lights on Friday 29 November and there’s also a market, carols, rides and mulled wine. Free entry, 3-7.45pm
The Wonder Hill Handmade and Vintage Market festival special is 30 November-1 December at the Tooting Tram and Social Club. Free entry, 12-5pm
The County Arms in Wandsworth holds a Christmas Fair with local stallholders selling jewellery, homewares and tasty morsels on Saturday 7 December. Free entry, from 12pm
Westminster
OK, we don’t speak Swedish but we can work out enough to tell that the Swedish church in Marylebone is having their Christmas market 21, 23, 24 November. There will be glögg and gravad lax.
Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park has two Christmas markets selling jewellery, handicrafts and other gifts, plus masses of food and drink options. Runs 23 November-5 January, free, 10am-10pm
Forty designers are at the Hellenic Centre for the Marylebone Christmas Gift Fair on 23-24 November. £3 / free, Sat 10am-7pm Sun 11am-5pm
There’s champagne, canapes, whisky tasting and live music on Wednesday 27 November on Chiltern Street in Marylebone. It’s more luxury shopping than rustic gift stalls down this way, mind. Free, 5-9pm
Buy ethical presents at the Fair Christmas Fayre on Saturday 30 November in the Salvation Army on Oxford Street. There’s Fairtrade, handmade, eco and vintage traders. Free entry, 11am-6pm
Belgravia is transformed into a Winter Wonderland on Sunday 1 December with a market on Elizabeth Street (12-5pm), carols and a brass band, Santa and reindeer; or go to Pimlico Road (11am-4pm) for a quirkier Christmas with jugglers, roast chestnuts, toffee apples and design shops.
Thanks to the people on Facebook who tipped us off about events! Let us know what we’ve missed in the comments.
Photo by Maki Aoyama from the Londonist Flickr pool