Christmas shopping should be fun (so what if you pick up a present for yourself in the process?) We’ve picked out some seasonal shopping locations to help you tick gifts off your list and enjoy yourself in the process.

Camden Lock Night Market

Best for: Evening shopping

Camden’s night market makes for an ideal trip if you’re pushed for time in the day. It runs on Thursdays between 5 and 10pm, offering arts and crafts and tasty festive food for Christmas. There’s also live entertainment from the likes of the Belle Fleurs, who deliver a twist on classic rock, pop, punk and metal numbers. 13 and 20 Dec

Southbank Centre Christmas Market

Best for: A taste of Cologne in London

Feast on mulled wine, bratwurst and gingerbread hearts at the German-themed market which has been set up for the fifth year on Queen’s walk outside the Southbank Centre. The 80 chalets focus on food, but gifts like hand-crafted toys should make perfect stocking fillers. There’s a carousel to amuse the kids, and a handy chalet map can be downloaded here. Until 24 Dec

London Glassblowing Christmas Open Studio

Best for: Christmas presents to treasure

Glassblowing is an elegant and beautiful art. Leading workshop London Glassblowing is opening its studio in London Bridge up to visitors for Christmas. It’s a chance to watch artists at work by the furnaces, and buy a piece from £45 if one takes your eye – a glass bauble perhaps. Mince pies and mulled wine will also be on offer. Until 24 Dec

Real Food Christmas Market

Best for: Gastronomic festivity

Real Food takes place weekly at the Southbank Centre Square, but at this time of year it takes on a distinctly festive focus. You can sample traditional mince pies fresh out of the oven from the Flour Station, pick up some marmalade vodka from Chase Distillery or get your

free-range Bronze or Norfolk turkey from The Thoroughly Wild Meat Co, which hangs its birds for a fuller flavour. 14-16 Dec and 20-23 Dec

Find more Christmas markets in our Christmas shopping guide here. Have any to add to the list? Share them below.

Is it an alien invasion? No, it’s a lovely photo of the modern funky Christmas lights in St Christopher’s Place by just.being.

If you’re looking for somewhere a little bit special to do your Christmas shopping, you’ll find lots of lovely boutiques in St Christopher’s Place.

Please share your Christmas in London photos with the Visit London Flickr pool.

Get everything on your Christmas wish list (for once!) on a festive shopping spree at Westfield.

Enter our competition and you’ll win a £250 gift card to spend at Westfield London or its sparkling new sister mall, Westfield Stratford City.

And thanks to Westfield’s hands-free concierge service, you won’t have to lug your bags around – just pick them up on your way out.

After you’ve indulged in all the fantastic shops Westfield has to offer, you and a friend can skate under the twinkling fairy lights of Westfield London’s ice rink or under the stars at Westfield Stratford City’s outdoor rink – for free.

This competition closes on 8 December 2011 - just six days away – so enter now, before it’s too late…

Enter now to win a Christmas shopping spree at Westfield

Doc18 spotted these little monsters from Felt Mistress making themselves at home in one of Selfridges Christmas window displays.

Tell us about your favourite Christmas window displays in London and share your photos with our Visit London Flickr Group. We’re excited that Fortnum & Mason’s windows are inspired by paintings from the National Gallery..

If you’re heading out to buy presents today, check our our guide to Christmas shopping in London for inspiration.

• Reindeer at Belmont Children’s Farm: It’s the farm‘s first birthday and they’re celebrating with tractor rides, party games and a chance to meet their three young reindeer. 4-5 Dec 2010
• Crypt-mas: A grotto with a difference as innovative lighting artists Illumini present their Christmas project (we really enjoyed their last show). Until 22 Dec 2010, The Crypt, St Pancras Church
• London United Film Festival: Features, shorts and documentaries by UK film makers at the King Charles Cinema. 3-4 Dec 2010
• Open Studios at Great Western Studios: Meet and buy from artists and designers at Great Western Studios. Plus, mince pies and mulled cider! 4-5 Dec 2010
• Pop-up Peter Jones for Men: Help for any men struggling with their Christmas shopping: Advice from personal shoppers and a chill-out zone with table top games. Until 7 Dec 2010

The fabulous Christmas Craftacular was held at Bethnal Green’s York Hall yesterday. Women, men and someone dressed as a panda queued round the block in the sunshine to buy handcrafted presents.

Organised by Bust Magazine, this popular craft fair brought the best independent designers together for a cool indie shopping experience. While the DJ’s played the greatest hits of Tiffany, hoards of shoppers descended on the 50+ stalls selling handmade cards, bags, jewellery and other cute gifts.

As well as shopping, there was a Tatty Divine tombola, crochet your own moustache classes with Prick Your Finger and Christmas bauble decorating with The Make Lounge. I spent a fun hour helping out with the bauble making and couldn’t resist decorating one of my own to take home.

The next Craftacular will be in 2011, keep an eye on their website to find out more. www.bust.com

If you can’t wait that long, you’ll love We Make London’s 2010 Christmas Fair, 4 December at Chelsea Town Hall. We Make London has an equally brilliant mix of exciting talented designers and is perfect for present shopping.

Don’t forget to check out our Christmas Shopping in London guide.

It’s Christmas week and here at VL Towers, we’re feeling pretty festive.

Nearly all our Christmas shopping is done (although there are some nervous eyes watching the post-room for last-minute deliveries), the decorations are up, and we’re looking forward to an exciting couple of days’ off towards the end of the week.

This week’s big question: what are you hoping Santa will bring you on Friday?

Now that we know we’re not getting one of Harrods’ famous Meerkats, what is it that you really, really want for Christmas this year?

Fill your Christmas stockings with lovely hand-made gifts! Head to We Make Christmas at Chelsea Town Hall where London’s top designer/makers will be selling their work at this sparkling Christmas fair.

Designers have been selected by the We Make London team who organise regular craft shows. Buying directly from designers is a lovely experience. You might even end up commissioning something special or falling in love with a new craft!

You’ll find cards, art, ceramics, textiles, jewellery and more. There are also carol singers, craft demonstrations and other festive fun. Check out the We Make London website to for a taste of the treasures you’ll see at the show. London is blooming with talented artists and designers!

London based artist Alexandra Ashby will be selling her cards and prints at We Make Christmas and loves to spend time drawing in London. We asked her where she goes for inspiration:

“I’m currently preparing for my spring collection and I’ve been looking at the Kew Gardens hot houses. Kew is the best place to draw rare, pretty flowers and plants. Battersea Park and Victoria Park are very ‘old Victorian London’ which inspires me when I’m thinking about drawing in a new style. Walthamstow Marshes is also great, as it’s often full of highland cows, which I love drawing.

The V&A has provided so much inspiration to me, especially seeing the botanical drawings in their archive which really triggered my interest in this type of drawing.

My line drawings of people wouldn’t be possible without observing the frenetic life of Londoners every day. I once spent a week sitting in the Royal Festival Hall drawing people. I didn’t need to move as there was constantly something new to look at – tourists, families, students, business men!”

We Make Christmas at Chelsea Town Hall, Saturday 5 December, 11am – 5pm, entry £2 for adults, free for children. wemakelondon.blogspot.com