Festive feasting in South Bank

Festive street food

The Southbank Centre’s Winter Market is all about comfort food this season. Look out for market classics like duck wraps, sweet Dutch pancakes and Yorkshire pudding wraps. Wash it all down with a mug of mulled wine or hot chocolate from one of the winter pop-up bars.

Right opposite the Winter Market is Between the Bridges where you can find even more street food stalls. There are also several pop-up bars with both indoor and covered seating areas where Christmas cocktails, hot drinks and craft beers are on the menu.

Southbank Centre's regular weekend Food Market outside the Royal Festival Hall also continues to operate on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays throughout the season, with many stalls serving up some extra special treats to match the season such as gourmet hot chocolates and mulled wine.

Christmas afternoon tea

The Library at the grand London Marriott Hotel County Hall is serving a special Christmas afternoon tea this winter. The fantastically festive afternoon tea spread, served in County Hall’s grand Edwardian library, includes homemade Christmas scones and lots of festive flavoured sweet treats, enjoyed with a choice of sparkling wine or the finest loose-leaf teas.

Special occasion dinners

Celebrate in style this Christmas with a special occasion dinner at a top restaurant. Choose from the a la carte menu or book in advance for a multi-course Christmas feast.

At Skylon at Royal Festival Hall soak in the views of this year's winter lights with top-notch cocktails and classic British brasserie fare. Indulgent dishes on the winter menu include black truffle risotto and twice-baked cheese soufflé.

French bistro Brasserie Blanc's menus change with the seasons. As winter rolls around the Brasserie Blanc menu is all about rich, comforting and flavoursome Gallic classics such as rabbit leg confit, French onion soup and boeuf bourguignon. There's also a delicious set three-course Christmas party menu (booking required).

If you haven’t yet tried the critics’ favourite Lasdun at the National Theatre, now’s the time! Signature dishes like their celebrated chicken, leek and girolles pie are classic wintery fare and for dessert the brown butter and honey custard tart is unmatched.

Iconic locations

Situated on the eighth floor of the famous OXO Tower building, guests can take in unparalleled views of St Paul's from the expansive garden terrace at OXO Tower Restaurant, Bar & Brasserie. Floor-to-ceiling windows provide a spectacular backdrop for enjoying elegant seasonal British cuisine, an Afternoon Tea or cocktails.

At Forza, the chic wine bar and restaurant at the National Theatre, the celebratory Whole of the Menu option makes a great festive dining option for groups (minimum four). For £50 a head, you get the full selection of snacks, small plates and chunkier winter dishes brought to the table in portions designed for sharing, and for dessert there's the choice of a signature Custardo or chocolate orange and popping candy soft serves.

Also located inside a heritage landmark building is the award-winning Garden Cafe at the Garden Museum where this Christmas there's a three-course set menu designed for sharing and inspired by locally sourced and seasonal ingredients (booking required).

Sparkling nightlife

Say cheers to the fanciest cocktails in town at the glam Lyaness and 12th Knot cocktail bars at Sea Containers. Join the cool crowd sipping Christmas negronis on the terrace at the National Theatre's chic Forza Wine or settle in for tapas and wine at Southbank Centre’s Galician wine and tapas bar La Gamba.

For that inimitable Christmas-time pub buzz join the party at one of the UK’s biggest bars BrewDog Waterloo, where there are also duckpin bowling lanes and interactive darts to keep you busy.