Photo: Used courtesy of Barge East (bargeeast.com)
Christmas Tree Market Hackney Wick
The Christmas Tree Market at Barge East Gardens turns a stretch of the Hackney Wick waterside into one of east London's most atmospheric festive stops. Set beside a converted Dutch barge on the canal, the seasonal market sells freshly cut Nordmann firs alongside mulled wine, hot drinks and food from the riverside kitchen. It opens for collections from late November and runs through to Christmas Eve, so you can pick a tree, warm up with a drink and soak up the twinkling lights all in one trip. Entry is free and no booking is needed to browse.
Opening times
The market opens for tree collections from late November (Thursday 28 November in 2025) and runs seven days a week through to 24 December. Weekday hours are roughly 2pm to 7.30pm, with longer weekend hours from about 11am to 5pm. Weekday evenings are the quietest time to browse, while weekends bring the busiest, most festive crowds. Pre-orders placed before late November usually come with a festive discount.
What's on the stalls
The headline draw is the Christmas trees: sustainably sourced Nordmann firs, freshly cut and ready to take home, in sizes from about 3ft up to 8ft with prices starting around £55. The firs come from sustainable farms in Scotland and Denmark that replant after each harvest. While you choose, the riverside gardens serve mulled wine, hot drinks, lunch and dinner, so the visit doubles as a festive day out rather than a quick errand.
Around the market / getting there
Barge East Gardens sits at Sweetwater Mooring on White Post Lane in Hackney Wick, E9 5EN, right on the water near Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and the London Stadium. The nearest station is Hackney Wick Overground, a short walk away. Pair the tree run with a wander along the canal towpath, the independent galleries and breweries of the Wick, or a meal in the heated waterside gardens before heading home.
Common questions
- When is the Christmas Tree Market in Hackney Wick?
- It runs at Barge East from late November (28 November in 2025) through to Christmas Eve, open seven days a week, with weekday afternoons/evenings and longer weekend daytime hours.
- Is the Hackney Wick Christmas Tree Market free?
- Yes, entry is free and no booking is needed to browse. You only pay for a tree if you buy one, plus any food or drinks from the riverside gardens.
- What is the best time to visit?
- Weekday evenings are the calmest, while weekends are the most festive but busiest. Going earlier in December gives you the widest choice of trees.
- Where is the Hackney Wick Christmas Tree Market?
- It is at Barge East Gardens, Sweetwater Mooring, White Post Lane, Hackney Wick, E9 5EN, a short walk from Hackney Wick Overground near Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.
Other markets nearby
- Roman Road Market Bow, Tower Hamlets
- New Spitalfields Market Leyton, Waltham Forest
- Well Street Market Hackney
- Chatsworth Road Market Lower Clapton, Hackney
- Victoria Park Market Victoria Park, Hackney
- Globe Town Market Square Bethnal Green, Tower Hamlets