Markets Walk, Mulled Wine Included

Christmas Lights and Markets Guided Walking Tour with Mulled Wine. Rated 5.0 across 72 reviews. Runs 1 hour 30 minutes. From $61.

Overview

This walk starts at Covent Garden station and spends an hour and a half moving through the market stalls, alleys and lit-up corners of central London. The route follows the same streets Charles Dickens knew, pauses at a garden lit by Victorian gas lamps, and finishes at Trafalgar Square. A glass of hot spiced mulled wine is poured along the way, and a guide carries the history and stories the whole time.

The tour is built around Christmas traditions and how they took shape, with Queen Victoria's influence cropping up more than once. Reviewers often mention guides who are upbeat and full of facts.

It suits visitors who want an afternoon of lights, markets and history without a long commitment. One reviewer recommended it for kids as well. Anyone who wants a slow, seated experience or wheelchair access should look elsewhere, since the route is on foot and not wheelchair accessible.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Meet at Covent GardenMeet your guide outside the exit of Covent Garden Tube Station, at the corner of Long Acre and James Street, by the Sunglass Hut shop. The guide holds an open umbrella. Start time is 15:30.
2. Covent GardenWander craft stalls and boutiques in Covent Garden, then discover a nearby garden glowing with Victorian gas lamps. This stop lasts 1 hour, 30 minutes, and admission is free.
3. Dickens alleysFollow in Charles Dickens' footsteps through secret alleys while the guide covers holiday traditions shaped by Queen Victoria.
4. Trafalgar Square finishThe walk ends at Trafalgar Square with a glass of hot spiced mulled wine to warm up.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points will help you get the most out of this walk.

• Meeting point. Meet at the Sunglass Hut shop on James Street, on the corner with Long Acre, outside the station exit. There is only one exit from Covent Garden station, and the guide will be holding an open umbrella. Arrive a little before the 15:30 start.
• Group feel. The tour runs with a maximum of 10 travellers.
• Pace and fitness. Expect a leisurely walk with no rush, as one reviewer put it. One reviewer also recommended the tour for kids, and the listing says most travellers can participate.
• Food and drink. A glass of hot spiced mulled wine is included, and one reviewer was treated to cider as well. No food is included, so eat beforehand if you will want more than the drink.
• Weather and clothing. The experience requires good weather, so dress warmly for an outdoor walk starting in the late afternoon. Service animals are allowed, but the route is not wheelchair accessible.
• Photos. One reviewer mentioned the guide sent photos of the group afterwards, a nice touch.

Common issues. The route is not wheelchair accessible, and there is no hotel pickup or drop off, so travellers make their own way to Covent Garden. Food is not included beyond the mulled wine, and one reviewer wished the tour had added one more Christmas market. The tour needs good weather, and if it is cancelled for poor conditions you get a different date or a full refund.

What To Decide Before You Go