The Lord Mayor of London will kickstart Christmas at Leadenhall Market this month with the annual switch-on ceremony.
On Thursday November 16, from 5:15pm onwards, visitors can take their first step into Christmas and explore Leadenhall Market’s starry atrium, as well as its boutique shops, restaurants and bars.
Children from primary schools across the City will also be helping to fill the place with festive cheer by performing carols as part of the London Youth Choir.
At 6pm, the lights will be switched on by The Lord Mayor, a fitting role, considering it was Lord Mayor Richard ‘Dick’ Whittington who gifted the old stone structure of Leadenhall market to the City of London in 1411.
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The ceremony will see the market’s eight-metre tall, real Christmas tree lit up with a colour-changing LED display and pyrotechnic firework fountains. A new addition to the festivities this year will be the twinkling light tunnel, where visitors can walk across snow-covered cobbles through Beehive passage to find the perfect spots for shopping and dining.
For those visitors who would like to learn more about the history of Christmas at Leadenhall, the Leadenhall Market’s popular guided walks will also be taking on a seasonal spin.
Led by City of London guides, visitors can retrace the steps of the Romans, Dick Whittington and Charles Dickens’ characters, and become immersed in the tales of a Leadenhall Christmas past and present.
People of all ages are welcome, and walks will take place every Wednesday from 6:30pm to 8pm from November 22 to December 13 and must be booked in advance to avoid disappointment.
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