The Tate Modern Christmas market brings wooden chalets, mulled wine and bratwurst to the riverside in this Roberts London archive vlog. Published on 5 December 2015, Vlogmas day five follows a festive lunch at home, a walk past St Paul’s and an evening browsing the market beside the Thames.
There is a shopping mission as well as the food: find a few more decorations for Christmas. The route to the stalls becomes part of the evening, with illuminated landmarks and views from the Millennium Bridge.
A festive sandwich and an Ottolenghi delivery
The day starts at home with another Christmas sandwich. This time it is Marks & Spencer’s turkey and pigs in blankets on sage and onion bread. Barry’s verdict focuses on the sausage, bacon and cranberry flavours, with the sage bread also getting a mention.
There is a white box tied with red ribbon waiting on the table: a Christmas sampler sent by Ottolenghi. Barry opens the delivery and looks through its sweet treats, including Christmas cake, nougat, chocolate brittle and jam. He explains in the vlog that this is not a sponsored segment.
The other topic is the Christmas tree. The little tree at home has prompted thoughts of a larger replacement, but for now the plan is to look for more decorations at the market.
St Paul’s and a Christmas tree detour
After travelling to Blackfriars, Barry takes a scenic detour before settling into the market visit. The walk leads to St Paul’s Cathedral and its Christmas tree, which makes quite a contrast with the small tree back at the flat.
The cathedral’s illuminated stonework stands out against the dark sky. It is a quieter interlude before the lights, music and food stalls across the river.
Across the Millennium Bridge after dark
The Millennium Bridge connects this part of the walk to the Tate Modern side of the river. The camera looks back towards St Paul’s, then out across the Thames and the surrounding city lights.
Barry pauses to take in the view and listen for the cathedral bells. These river scenes give the journey its own place in the film, before the Christmas market comes into focus at the other end of the crossing.
Mulled wine at the Tate Modern Christmas market
The market outside Tate Modern is the main destination. Decorated wooden stalls line the walkways, with lights overhead and the river nearby. Barry sets out his three priorities: Christmas decorations, mulled wine and a bratwurst.
A cup of warm mulled wine comes first. There is time to browse between stops, looking at the displays and watching the evening crowd move through the market.
A bratwurst beside the Thames
The street-food stop delivers the promised bratwurst in a bread roll. The film moves from the stall to a close look at the sausage, with the surrounding market music and activity continuing in the background.
It is an informal evening snack during the walk, part of the mix of food, browsing and riverside scenery that makes this visit feel festive.
Snow globes, decorations and pop-up cards
A display of small snow globes provides plenty to look at. Barry returns to the decoration stall and picks up a couple of items. He reports that the seller describes the range as a mixture of modern and traditional German Christmas decorations.
There is also a stop for intricate pop-up cards, recalling a purchase from the previous Christmas. The shopping adds a personal thread to the market tour: these are things to bring home and use, as well as displays to admire on camera.
One last loop and the journey home
The evening finishes with another loop around the food stalls near the foot of the Millennium Bridge, then a return to Blackfriars station. Barry reflects on how filming London has encouraged him to enjoy places he once associated mainly with visitors.
Back home, he decides to save the detailed look at the new decorations for another vlog. Day five is already a full account of festive food, a night walk and Christmas shopping by the Thames.
Watch the Tate Modern Christmas market vlog
Archive note: this film was originally published on 5 December 2015. The market layout, stalls and products described here belong to that visit.
