With some many Christmas Markets in the UK, it can be overwhelming to know which one to visit. But fear not we have put together your perfect travel wish list to the best Christmas Markets in the UK for 2024.
With the scent of mulled wine and mince pies wafting through the air, the little one skating on open-air ice rinks. Xmas markets bring much-needed festive cheer to our city centres. We’ve included the top Christmas markets in the UK, so if you’re looking for amazing food, traditional Christmas gifts or the best ice skating rinks, you’ll know where to go.
1. Glasgow Christmas Market
Located at St Enoch Square and George Square in the heart of Glasgow’s City Centre. There will be the return of the ice rink, observation wheel, ice climbing wall and more. Old favourites of St Enochs Christmas Market will return including street food stalls, a marshmallow toasting station, and the Bavarian moose bar and swing grill where you can grab mulled festive drinks.
Opening dates: From 18th November 2022 to 3rd January 2023
2. Southampton Christmas Market
Visit the Southampton Christmas Market on Above Bar, where you can expect a wide range of tasty treats and live entertainment. Enjoy delicious festive food from German sausages to crêpes and churros. The festive bars are stocked with tasty hot chocolates, hot glühwein and hot mulled cider, and you can buy special gifts from a selection of the vendors. There will also be children’s rides, including a traditional horse carousel.
Opening dates: From 16th November 2023 to 2nd January 2024
Shoppers can enjoy that festive feeling as they browse a huge choice of seasonal goodies on offer from the traditional wooden cabins located on Fargate, Pinstone Street, around the Peace Gardens and The Moor. It’s the perfect place to stock up on gifts, foods and treats for the festive period!
Opening dates: From 17th November 2023 to 24th December 2023
Located in the very heart of Bristol City Centre, the Christmas market is home to over 50 unique stalls, as well as entertainment from the likes of Santa and reindeer visits in December. Visitors can enjoy heated seating, delicious drinks and live music in the Jäger Barn Bar or can book one of the Igloos if relaxing in private is preferable to the bustle of the Bar. This is all underneath the huge glittering Christmas tree, which will be adorned with an array of delightful decorations, and spectacular lights that both welcome and guide you throughout the magical market.
Opening dates: From 4th November 2023 to 23rd December 20223
Set in the spectacular Rochester Castle gardens, the Christmas markets are held over three consecutive weekends. It’s the ideal place to search for that special gift and stocking fillers by wandering around the many craft and trade stalls. Food and drink stalls are available to purchase hot and cold beverages, mulled wine, roasted chestnuts and much more.
Opening dates: From 25th November 2023 to 10th December 2023
6. Cheltenham Christmas Market
Located along the pedestrianised Promenade and Long Gardens in front of the Municipal Office they will be approx 80 market stalls selling a range of Christmas decorations, unique foods and delicious festive goodies. Entrance is free.
Opening dates: From 8th December 2023 to 24th December 2023
Twinkling lights, live music and the scent of roasted chestnuts – soak up the festive atmosphere of the Market as you browse over 40 chalets for artisan gifts, one of a kind decorations and an array of culinary delights.
Opening dates: From 18th November 2023 to 23rd December 2023
8. Stratford Upon Avon Christmas Market
The Victorian Market will see stalls holders dressed for the occasion in Victorian period costumes, with hundreds of traditional Christmas Market stalls offering delicious food and drink and quirky Christmas gifts.
Opening dates: From 7th December 2023 to 10th December 2023
The stalls will be located on St John Street, Working Street, Trinity Street and the Hayes. This well established Christmas Market sited in the heart of Cardiff City Centre has been organised and successfully run for 30 years. It is a unique visitor attraction and offers an alternative shopping experience as you are buying original work directly from the makers themselves. Each year there is an extensive rolling programme of over 200 individual businesses selling a wide variety of diverse arts and crafts interspersed with seasonal food and drink.
Opening dates: From 9th November 2023 to 23rd December 2023
10. Oxford Christmas Market
Situated in the heart of the City on historic Broad Street, there will be choirs singing Christmas carols, market traders offering handmade gifts, colourful decorations brightening wooden stalls and the aroma of mulled wine and cinnamon drifting in the air.
Opening dates: From CANCELLED IN 2023
The traditional xmas market will offer a vibrant mix of unique gifts from a cross the globe, stimulating the senses and creating the sights, sounds, tastes, textures, and aromas of Christmas. Spend your daytime Christmas Shopping while soaking up the magical atmosphere before ending the day with a mulled wine, a delicious German Bratwurst sausage and some live music at the Apres Ski Bar. The Christmas Market is free to enter for the entire family.
Opening dates: From 18th November 2023 to 24th December 2023
12. Nottingham Christmas Market
The centrepiece of the city’s festive celebrations, the Winter Wonderland is a collection of over 60 market stalls, rides and take away refreshment stalls designed to be enjoyed by all ages. There’s nowhere better to celebrate Christmas with workmates, or just mates, than in the Sur La Piste or Altitude ski chalet bars that are also the perfect, cosy and intimate spot for friends and family to get together to enjoy a drink or two.
Opening dates: From 18th November 2023 to 31st December 2023
Taking place on Exeter’s famous Cathedral green, The Christmas Market has a wonderful atmosphere, set among a labyrinth of winding lanes that are covered with fairy lights. You will discover something for everyone with local gifts and produce, themed bars, seasonal entertainment, global street food and free entry into the historic Exeter Cathedral. It is free entry to the Market. Enjoy delicious global street food, served from pop-up restaurants, cafes and bars.
Opening dates: From 17th November 2023 to 17th December 2023
Taking place over four days there will be approx 150 stalls featuring everything from delicious food and drinks to festive homeware & gifts for all the family. The stalls will be located across the entire Cathedral Quarter, from The Lawn through to the grounds of Lincoln castle and out into Castle Square.
Opening dates: From CANCELLED FOR 2023
Attracting over one million visitors every year, the Belfast Christmas markets will take place within the grounds of Belfast City Hall at Donegall Square in the city.
Opening dates: From 18th November 2023 to 22nd December 2023
16. Winchester Christmas Market
At Winchester Cathedral’s Christmas Market there are so many different things to see and do. You will find everything from handcrafted jewellery, unique gift ideas, delicious food and drinks, beautiful decorations, handmade cards and much more.
Opening dates: From 17th November 2023 to 21st December 2023
17. Birmingham Frankfurt Christmas Market
Birmingham’s Christmas Market is a firm fixture in the annual calendar and attracts visitors from around the UK and Europe and the stalls on Victoria Square and along New Street offer a large range of traditional goods and gifts and a selection of tempting food and drinks. There is free live music on located in Victoria Square where musicians from Germany and Birmingham will entertain you with lunchtime and evening musics Monday to Friday and performances all day Saturday and Sunday.
Opening dates: From 2nd November 2023 to 24th December 2023
18. Edinburgh Christmas Market
Situated in Edinburgh’s stunning city centre, there will be over 70 stalls selling the best in artisanal festive products and goods from local makers will fill East Princes Street Garden, stocked full of handcrafted decorations and gifts for all the family, or little treats for yourself. With Street Food vendors bringing a selection of the finest Bavarian produce and Scottish delicacies as well as bars serving warming winter tipples, craft beers and hot chocolates, everything you could want to get in the festive spirit is catered for.
Opening dates: From 17th November 2023 to 6th January 2024
19. Chatsworth Christmas Market
Twinkling lights, live music and the scent of roasted chestnuts – soak up the festive atmosphere of the Market as you browse over 100 chalets for artisan gifts, one of a kind decorations and an array of culinary delights.
Opening dates: From 4th November 2023 to 26th November 2023
This year is the 30th Anniversary of St Nicholas Fair which is where you will find over 100 alpine chalets scattered around central York. From the Made in Yorkshire Yuletide Village, where you will find fantastic Yorkshire produce to Parliament Street where market traders sell more traditional Christmas gifts on there stalls. There is fun to be had for the whole family.
Opening dates: From 16th November 2023 to 22nd December 2023
21. Manchester Christmas Markets
The xmas markets will have an array of stalls selling stocking fillers, Christmas gifts, personalised decorations, jewellery and arts and craft goodies. Spread across six city centre squares they will be festive delights for the whole family.
Opening dates: From 11th November 2023 to 22nd December 2023
22. Liverpool Christmas Market
The xmas markets will have an array of stalls selling Christmas gifts, personalised decorations, arts and craft goodies, photo prints, jewellery and stocking fillers. It will also have a small selection of stands selling food ranging from the Yorkshire Pud Wrap Stall, the traditional swing grill selling a selection of sausages and burgers to vegan stalls.
Opening dates: From 18th November 2023 to 24th December 2023
Situated outside the Town Hall near to Chester Cathedral, the xmas markets has a range of over 70 stalls selling Christmas gifts, arts and crafts goodies, fudge, local spirits and stocking fillers all surrounding the beautiful Christmas tree in the heart of Chester City Centre.
Whilst shopping you can treat yourself to a hot mulled wine to get you in the festive spirit. There is also a small selection of stands selling food ranging from hot dogs to hog roasts.
Opening dates: From 18th November 2023 to 21st December 2023
