Southbank Centre Winter Market 2026

Waterloo is the nearest main line station, about a quarter of a mile from the stalls in a straight line (worked out from the coordinates, not a walking distance). It has step-free access to all platforms. Waterloo East, for trains from south-east London and Kent, is linked to it. By Tube, Waterloo is on the Bakerloo, Jubilee and Northern lines, plus the Waterloo & City line on weekdays only. From the north bank you can get off at Embankment (District and Circle lines) and walk over the river: the market runs along the Queen's Walk under Hungerford Bridge.

Driving is the awkward way to do this one. The riverside is mostly pedestrianised and Waterloo station has only 27 parking spaces, none of them accessible bays. Before setting off, put the postcode into TfL's checker: the central London Congestion Charge is £18 a day if paid on the day or in advance (October 2026), charged 7am to 6pm on weekdays and noon to 6pm at weekends and bank holidays, with no charge from Christmas Day to the New Year's Day bank holiday. The ULEZ charge of £12.50 a day (October 2026) is on top for vehicles that do not meet the emissions standard.

Two ice rinks are within reach on the other side of the river. Skate at Somerset House, just over Waterloo Bridge, runs from 11 November 2026 to 10 January 2027. Skate Leicester Square, with its own Christmas market stalls, is open every day from 31 October 2026 to 3 January 2027 except Christmas Day. Covent Garden switches its Christmas lights on on Thursday 12 November 2026.

The streets around Waterloo station and County Hall are the closest places to stay, a few minutes on foot from the Queen's Walk. The Strand and Covent Garden are also walkable, over Hungerford Bridge or Waterloo Bridge. Anywhere on the Jubilee, Bakerloo or Northern lines gets you to Waterloo without changing.