The Southbank Christmas Market in 2015 had two quite different sides: traditional stalls beside the Thames and a lively evening scene around the Rekorderlig Cider Lodge. For Vlogmas Day 18, I walked over from Westminster Bridge, explored the market and stopped for winter cider and Swedish meatballs.
This film was published on 18 December 2015. The layout, bars and observations below belong to that visit and that Christmas season.
From Westminster Bridge to the London Eye
The evening began on Westminster Bridge, with Big Ben illuminated behind me and the London Eye glowing red across the river. I could zoom towards the carousel from the bridge, although getting there on foot took rather longer.
I used a walking time-lapse to take the camera along the route. In the film, I explain why I like these moving sequences: they give a sense of direction and scale, as well as showing the view. By the time I reached the foot of the London Eye, the walk had taken seven minutes and twelve seconds in real time.
The riverside Christmas stalls
Next came the carousel and wooden market stalls. Glowing star lanterns, small gifts and bright counters gave this stretch the familiar appearance of a Christmas market. The river and the London Eye were part of the setting, rather than distant landmarks.
I arrived looking for something festive to eat and drink, but the layout also prompted a longer reflection. I had liked the earlier riverside market and was less convinced by the changes I had seen the previous year. In this visit, I felt the 2015 arrangement worked better, with more separation between the traditional stalls and the food, drink and party area.
Rekorderlig Cider Lodge and winter cider
The two-storey Rekorderlig Cider Lodge became the centre of the evening. Its balcony, tables and surrounding lights gave it a different character from the quieter shopping stalls. There were drinks, a DJ and a busy crowd: much closer to a Christmas night out than a gentle browse for decorations.
I bought a Rekorderlig winter cider and took in the atmosphere. My view in the film was that this part of the market made more sense for friends wanting a festive party than for families seeking a relaxed outing. That was an impression of the evening in 2015, rather than a general verdict on the South Bank.
Swedish meatballs and a Christmas party
With a Swedish cider bar as the backdrop, Swedish meatballs seemed an appropriate choice. After eating, I joked about feeling as though I was in Sweden, via a brief detour to IKEA. The food was part of the evening, but the film spends more time on the setting and atmosphere than on a close-up tasting.
By then, the distinction was clear. There was a traditional Christmas market to explore, and there was a place to have a party. I enjoyed the latter for what it was, even though I still preferred the idea of keeping the two experiences more clearly separate.
Watch the original Southbank Christmas Market film
The film ends with more lights, river views and a look ahead to comparing London’s different Christmas markets. For another visit from the same month, see my Spit & Roast poutine at Southbank Centre Food Market.
