Christmas Markets
I couldn’t just chose one, so hear is my round up of the best UK Christmas markets to visit.
From a craft fair to a fully fledged German style Christmas market, I completely adore them. It is the perfect way to start the festive season and ensure that you are left feeling full of festive cheer.
Of course they have a downside. Their rise in popularity means that they are incredibly busy, intimidatingly busy at times. For me though, this just adds to the atmosphere and general feeling of Christmas.
What could be better than eating a foot-long bratwurst while juggling your German beer and avoiding being touched up accidentally by a stranger?
Not many things that I can think of top that at Christmas!
A Market is the perfect meeting place over the Christmas season, catching up with friends. This is perfect for me as I am so guilty of trying to fit so much in throughout December that I leave little time to see all the people I love or I don’t fit all the Christmas fun in because I am seeing all the lovely people in my life. This solution is the perfect way to do both!
Here are my recommendations.
The best UK Christmas Markets to visit
York Christmas market
The market is held in Parliament street and Coppergate and begins on 14th November running right the way through to 22nd December. Plenty of time to enjoy all York and its market has to offer.
Manchester Christmas Market
Running from 8th November to 21st December, Manchester has 9 markets in various locations for you to browse this season! NINE! I’m on my Way!
Winter Wonderland
This monster market takes over a large area of Hyde park each year. If you are looking for big rides, ice skating and LOTS of amazing food, this is definitely the one for you. London at Christmas is a wonderful place to be.
It is open from 21st November through to 5th January, that’s great for all those who will be hitting London for the Boxing day/January sales!
Bath Christmas Market
The market in Bath runs from 28th November to 15th December, opening times vary so do check before you go.
150 stalls line the pretty streets of Bath offering all you could need to do your Christmas shopping.
Birmingham German Market
A personal favourite, maybe I am biased though as it is on the doorstep, I can jump on a train and not have to worry about having too much beer! Although I do tend to visit and make a weekend of it if I can.
The market pretty much begins at one end of Birmingham and takes you all the way to the Bullring. With plenty of great shops on the way.
The Market runs from 7th November until 23rd December.
Watch out for the singing moose!
Edinburgh Markets
A nice change to see a market running in to the new year. This is obviously to capture the masses who flock to the area for Hogmanay each year.
The Markets in Edinburgh run from 14th November until the 4th January, extending the fun long after Christmas.
Cardiff Christmas Markets
Do check the opening times before you head to the markets in Cardiff as they do vary on a Sunday and close fairly early by Christmas market standards.
But of course don’t let that put you off, you can visit from 14th November through to 23rd December.
Leeds Christkindelmarkt
Head to Millennium square in Leeds between 8th November and 21st December and you will find yourself smack bang in the middle of the Christmas market.
It is open between 10.30 and 9.30pm everyday and 7.30pm on Sundays so plenty of time to soak up that Christmas atmosphere.
Across the whole country, towns and cities transform in to Christmas wonderlands, a feast for the eyes and the senses. So no matter where you are in the UK, you won’t be too far away from one.
Do you enjoy Christmas Markets or are they your idea of hell? Where would you recommend and what is your favourite? Is it a Christmas must for you?
The Birmingham on is on my doorstep too, but I’m afraid to say it’s the only one I’ve ever been to. I’d like to go to Germany and visit some there though as I understand they have a wider range of types of Christmas market.
I really want to visit all the European ones x
I love Christmas markets but haven’t been to any in UK. I think I’d like to start with York, Bath and Edinburgh, they all sound lovely.
I can’t speak highly enough of York, the whole place is simply beautiful, add in Christmas and it is perfection!
As an American I would totally use this as a guide for shopping for Christmas time when I came to the UK!!
I would totally use this as a guide because I’m from America and would love to go to these places!
I hope you make it here one year x
I went to one a year or so ago in London that was quite nice. I’ve not ventured out to one yet this year so it’s handy to know where the good ones are.
Hope you manage to make it to one this year x
Some great recommendations. Love the smells of Christmas. The mulled wine gets me every time. Still not braved Winter Wonderland – think I might wait till little man is a bit bigger!
Oh I would say the older the better, I’d fear I’d lose a little one x
These all sound lovely! I would really like to see UK markets at the holidays.
Its really special Heidi x
I love a good Christmas market 😍 i haven’t been to that many in the UK but the Edinburgh and London ones are usually very good! I would love to visit the Bath one too. I’ve been to a couple in Europe – as i type this I’m actually in Vienna – the markets here are completely nuts!
Oh Wow!! I hope you had the most amazing time x x
I’ve heard that Christmas markets in the UK are some of the best on earth. They definitely don’t do Christmas markets here very well (in Canada), I’d love to be able to visit any of those markets!
I love Christmas markets because they are always so festive. My favourite is the Bath one and it was even better this year as they spread it out a bit more so it wasnt as busy as it usually is
I think that is the key to a market, they have to try and spread it out or it just becomes so busy that you can’t get to anything x
We love Winter Wonderland though it can be very expensive! We also have a lovely Christmas market where we live in Kingston. I love the one down at Southbank too.
Ohhh yes, i forgot about the southbank one. That is amazing!
I haven’t been to any of these, I haven’t even been to Belfast this year. I would love to go to Edingburgh, though, just because I already love it as a city, and to see it all festive would be even better.
Thank you for sharing!
I promised myself we’d make it back to Edinburgh this year but I think it will have to be a 2020 visit now x
i have never visited Manchester Christmas market its on my list for next year , but i been to few German ones and i loved it . kind regards Pati Robins
I’d love to go to the European ones, I think it would be an amazing experience x
Have always wanted to go to a German Christmas market. One day!
I hope you get the chance x
Aww I love a Christmas Market! We’ve visited the Birmingham one this year and although very busy was completely magical 🙂
I love how magical it feels x
I so rarely get to my local Birmingham market! Just with the three kids it would be insane! good round up here.
Oh it can be crazy, I tend to go early if I’m taking the children but you miss out on the lights at night. Saying that though, if you go late November it tends to be a bit quieter x
I’m not sure we have any great Christmas markets down south. Perhaps it’s because it’s so easy to pop over to the continent from here. I feel we need to take a leaf out of our Northern friends’ book!
I would Love to visit all the European ones as well x x
Oh how I would love to visit the UK. Sounds delightful at Christmas too. Thanks. It’s on my bucket list!
I hope you love it as much as I do x
I’d love to go to the Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park. I’ve honestly never been to a Christmas Market but that would definitely be first in my list.
Oh Natalie, I hope you love it x
Still never been to a Christmas market! Unlikely to get to one this year too – but next year I want to do the Birmingham German market. My boyfriend and I would love that. I wouldn’t go to Winter Wonderland again personally. I went twice when it sorta first started and it’s just gone crazy since! x
Oh yes, it was heaving when we went but it was 2 days before the big day x
The Edinburgh Christmas Market used to be really lovely when it first started out. Now it’s grown in to an oversized monstrosity. We’ve avoided it for the last few years, and are looking forward to visiting a market during our Christmas holidays in Germany instead.
Enjoy x
I never realized there were so many! I really need to visit Europe during Christmas time to experience all of it 🙂
This is just a drop in the ocean, we have so many here in the UK x
I have always stayed home for Christmas, but the kids are growing up. I would love to experience the Christmas Markets with them, time to plan a visit over the holidays.
Enjoy Jenny x x
Great recommendations! Christmas markets in the UK are so magical!
Thank you Paige, They are a lot of fun x
I love a Christmas Market. I go to one in Bury every year but would really like to try one from this list, I’ve never visited York so maybe there! Tasting all the cheeses is usually my highlight.
York is stunning, I honestly think it might be my favourite place in the UK x
Never been to a Christmas market but this looks like fun.
They are so full of Christmas, its magical x
I love the idea of a Christmas Market, it sounds so fun! We don’t have them here, but a lot of towns really go all out with winter festivals. Hopefully I’ll get to experience one someday! Thanks for the post!
Ibet the winter festivals are lovely x
They are a lovely festive thing to go to – been to the Bath one bit it did get ridiculously busy by afternoon. – then there’s a good reason to find a coffee shop tho 😉
Oh yes, a festive costa is my favourite x
Since I’m from Germany I’m very used to the idea of Christmas markets even in medium-sized towns. I think it can get annoying when they are too busy, but it’s always possible to find a more cozy one.
Oh I bet they are lovely in Germany x
This is great! I wish I came across this post earlier, I have saved this post for next year — it is always good to hop on a train to different cities and see more Christmas markets.
There are so many wonderful ones to try x x
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Having lived in Bath for many years, and contended with the chaos that the Bath Christmas Market always brings, I have to admit Christmas Markets are my idea of hell! Crowds of people wandering aimlessly, nowhere to park, all the restaurants and cafes heaving. I’m a Grinch and I hate it, haha, although I know it’s great for small businesses so I’m a supporter but I just stay at home 🙂 x