Bankside’s Pop-Up ‘Frost Fair’ Festival a Day of Revelry and Merriment

12 Ocak 2026

https://banksidelondon.co.uk/frost-fair-2026/

Chase away the winter blues with FREE outdoor performances, creative workshops and music-filled pubs

– Saturday 31^st January 2026, 11am – 3pm & ‘After Hours,’ 7pm – late –

Location: Borough Yards and Throughout Bankside, SE1

From c.1605 to 1814, the surface of the River Thames froze over an incredible 24 times, bringing all river-based trade to a standstill. The people of Bankside, today we call them ‘Banksiders,’ responded with characteristic creativity and entrepreneurialism. An impromptu ‘Frost Fair’ was born on the ice, allowing traders to continue making money through a cornucopia of markets, pubs, entertainment and general revelry. It is even rumoured that an elephant was marched across the river alongside Blackfriars Bridge.

Business Improvement District (BID) Better Bankside brought back a reimagined Frost Fair to the area in 2024 and is set to continue the tradition this January. Immerse yourself in street performances, traditional games, music, art and craft workshops, and even an elephant! There will also be Frost Fair themed food and drink and special activities across the wider Bankside area.

Borough Yards: 11am – 3pm

Borough Yards is a culture-led, community-focussed destination to shop, eat, work and play, and on Saturday 31^st January, from 11am until 3pm, it will come alive with traditional games, free outdoor performances, roaming actors, puppeteers and music.

Along with live, acoustic music, highlights include:

Elephant Puppet: Relive the legend of an elephant walking across the Thames in 1814. Meet our massive elephant puppet as it roams the Borough Yards.
Traditional Games: Challenge family, friends and colleagues in our traditional games including hoopla.
FREE Face-Painting: Choose from magical winter themes like snowflakes and ice queens, or even transform yourself into an elephant (no booking required).
Walking Tours (12 – 2pm): Join Mr Londoner for a tour to uncover the secret history of Bankside and the historic Frost Fair. Booking required here: 31 Jan – Unfreezing the Past with Mr Londoner Tickets, Sat 31 Jan 2026 at 12:00 | Eventbrite
Frost Fair Folk: From bargemen to shopkeepers, accountants to animal handlers, the Frost Fair brought everyone to the ice. Look out for encounters with our Frost Fair Folk throughout the weekend.

Creative workshops: From 12:30pm Onwards

From lunchtime, there will also be workshops and interactive sessions organised by local creative powerhouses including M.Y.O and Art Academy.

At Arch 23 drop-in workshops will run from 12:30 – 4pm and will include:

– An immersive art installation led by artist Sammie Snow

– Rosie Brooks will be running winter crown crafting sessions

– Participants can also make elephant masks with Alice Clarke

Booking required here: Frost Fair drop-in doodle and crafting session Tickets, Sat 31 Jan 2026 at 12:30 | Eventbrite

At M.Y.O Creative, learn how to make a gorgeous winter wreath. Booking is required and the event costs £20pp (and is worth £60). Book here: 31 Jan – Frost Fair: You: Winter wreath making workshop Tickets, Sat 31 Jan 2026 at 17:00 | Eventbrite

Bankside’s iconic Golden Hinde ship will also be hosting creative sessions in the afternoon, followed by a band in the evening. Check the website for further details: Frost Fair 2026 – Bankside London

Most of the events and activities are FREE, will be family friendly and designed to appeal to a variety of ages. Some need to be booked in advance, so please check the website before attending.

Frost Fair Food & Drink

A number of Bankside businesses will be offering Frost Fair themed food and drink on the day, including:

– Frost Fair inspired hot chocolate and gingerbread at The Hilton’s Distillery Bar, priced at £5

– Mediterranean restaurant and bar MAM is running a 50% off promotion when quoting ‘Frost Fair’

Frost Fair ‘After Hours,’ 7pm Onwards

Into the evening, Bankside’s characterful pubs will be hosting a variety of folk musicians playing acoustic sets.

Irish pub Mc & Sons in Borough will be hosting the fiery sounds of The Shackleton Trio
The Glad (or the Gladstone Arms) on Borough High Street will be hosting the contemporary folk music of Moonrakers
The Union Jack on Union Street will be hosting Nastee Chapel and their lively clog dancing, guitar performances

Nicole Gordon, CEO of Better Bankside commented; “The Frost Fair is a brilliant moment in the history of London’s Bankside, where the local community pulled together to turn, what could have been a disaster for business, into a fresh opportunity for trade and fun. The same energy and spirit is still very much alive and kicking in our area, in ‘London’s Other Side.’ Our own little version of The Frost Fair will be an opportunity for enjoyment and playfulness for all the family, providing some light relief in the middle of winter.”

For further details, visit: https://banksidelondon.co.uk/frost-fair-2026/

About Better Bankside

https://betterbankside.co.uk

About Better Bankside

Powered by the people of Bankside, Better Bankside leads innovative economic, environmental and social action in one of the world’s great neighbourhoods, responding inventively to urban challenges and celebrating the differences that define the area as London’s Other Side. By co-creating a programme with Banksiders, Better Bankside brings benefits to businesses and Banksiders, improving the experience of the neighbourhood for everyone.

Better Bankside was one of the first Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) in the country, established in 2005. The Bankside BID covers the area from the riverside in the north to Borough Station and along Great Suffolk Street in the south. It extends to Blackfriars Road and Hatfields in the west, and stretches east beyond Borough High Street to Trinity Street. Visit betterbankside.co.uk for more information.

About Borough Yards

Borough Yards is a vibrant cultural and retail quarter at the heart of London Bridge’s thriving culinary and creative scenes. Set within historic railway arches and revived Victorian streets, the neighbourhood fuses heritage with award-winning contemporary design to create a dynamic stage for shopping, dining, working, and leisure. More than a destination, Borough Yards is a space designed to bring people together. Its arches and open streets host over 50 shops, acclaimed restaurants, vibrant bars, innovative pop-ups, and immersive cultural experiences. From pioneering dining concepts to design-led retail and year-round arts programming, Borough Yards is where London’s energy, imagination, and sense of belonging converge.