Hotels near Christmas in Leicester Square

Leicester Square turns into a compact Christmas village in the heart of the West End, with market stalls, festive decorations and Skate Leicester Square, a small ice rink around the square's Shakespeare statue. The rink is the first in London to open each season, on 31 October 2026.

The stalls sell gifts, decorations and food, and the square is surrounded by cinemas, theatres and restaurants, so it fits easily into an evening out. It is smaller than other London Christmas markets but very central.

Skating is ticketed separately, while browsing the market is free. The square gets crowded in the evenings, when theatre and cinema audiences pass through.

Pro Tip: Book an early-evening skate before a West End show; the theatres of Shaftesbury Avenue are a few minutes' walk away. Weekday afternoons have the quietest rink sessions.