Red lights twinkle on a towering tree in the pedestrianised piazza, where a street entertainer has gathered a crowd. In the iconic Market Building, spinning mirror balls, huge red baubles and gigantic golden bells, decorated with bows, ring in this most wonderful time of the year.
The festive spirit is in full flow at London's Covent Garden, and the vibe is the rich warmth of a traditional Christmas.
After a book signing with children's author Jeff Kinney at Waterstones Piccadilly, we grabbed some churros from the Christmas market at Trafalgar Square and soaked up the festive atmosphere in central London, as we strolled to Covent Garden.
I was enjoying a lazy Sunday afternoon with my husband and our two young sons, Odhran, 10, and Reuben, 7, and we'd decided to head along to this vibrant part of London to check out two great new pop-ups that will leave you feeling full of festive cheer.
Reuben and I posed for a picture next to the large-scale LEGO models of Santa and Rudolph in the Market Building, before we all wandered past the boutique stores and made our way out the other side of the building to take a seat at a new outdoor pop-up, where we could raise a toast to the start of the season of celebration.
The world-renowned Champagne House Piper-Heidsieck has teamed up with Courtyard Wine Cellars to create a Winter Champagne Garden in the cobbled heart of Covent Garden.
The decor is warming red, and with twinkling wreaths, Christmas trees, overhead heaters, and blankets to drape across your legs. It's an inviting place to sit, sip, and soak up the merry atmosphere.
Guests can indulge in a sparkling line-up of Piper-Heidsieck’s signature Champagnes, from the iconic Cuvée Brut, poured by the glass or shared in celebratory Jeroboams, to the elegant Essential Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut. For those looking to add a splash of colour to their celebrations, the Rosé Sauvage brings an extra touch of festive cheer.
Indulging in a glass of Champagne was the perfect way to welcome in the season's magic. Music drifted from the Market Building, and as the evening darkened, the decorative lights around Covent Garden twinkled brighter. It was lovely to sit and watch people milling about, and there seemed to be a collective sense of excitement for Christmas in the air.
Reuben enjoyed a mocktail, and Odhran hugged a hot chocolate with whipped cream and marshmallows. The pop-up was full with friends and couples gathered, and a queue formed at its cart, selling mulled wine to take away.
As the evening chill set in, guest could retreat downstairs to the cosy Courtyard Wine Cellars, nestled beneath the arches of the Market Building, to enjoy wine and sharing platters.
But we wanted to catch another exciting pop-up before it closed for the evening. The LEGO Chalet of Play is located right next to Piper and Courtyard Wine Cellars' Champagne Garden, and this is another unmissable Christmas experience in Covent Garden.
In the centre of the Chalet is a LEGO Christmas tree, and you can build a decoration to hang from its branches. Reuben and I enjoyed following the instructions (printed on laminated cards) to build a mini tree decoration, but Odhran preferred to create his own design. There were giant Minecraft builds to check out, and Reuben stepped in for a photo with the LEGO Gingerbread Man. The boys also had the chance to build a LEGO heart - these builds are all being donated to charity.
The Chalet of Play is open Monday to Friday 11am to 7pm, Saturday 10am to 7pm, and Sunday 11am to 6pm. It's completely free of charge, but entry is on a first-come, first-served basis. On the evening we attended, people were being turned away - at busy times, a queue management process is in operation. They're using wristbands to manage queues. So arrive early to make sure to secure a slot. Once you have your wristbands, you can leave to explore the area and return at an allocated time later in the day.
Building LEGO is a relaxing and fun activity, and we weren't the only ones who really enjoyed the LEGO Chalet of Play.
Singer Lewis Capaldi surprised fans with a visit to the festive pop-up, where he spoke about growing up building LEGO with his brother, and how it's his go-to way to stay calm on tour. The star unwrapped a life-sized LEGO figure of himself, created from 41,254 bricks and taking over 200 hours to build. He also revealed the LEGO sets on his ultimate Christmas wish list, from LEGO Star Wars Death Star, to the LEGO Home Alone house.
Covent Garden is a bustling place, full of festive warmth cheer. It's the perfect place to celebrate the season. But hurry on down, as both the Champagne Garden and the LEGO Chalet of Play are only running until 30th November.