Welcome to the Experience Gifts' guide to the UK’s best Christmas markets. If you’re looking to find out the best markets to go to this festive season, look no further.
As the days get colder – and, occasionally, wetter – the run-up to Christmas is well underway. Whether you’re looking for small, affordable gifts, extravagant presents or just an excuse to drink some mulled wine, Christmas markets are a great option.
Before you get bombarded with all the glossy adverts for the latest things to buy, why not go local and consider small businesses and market stalls for your Christmas gift giving?
Read on to find out our top picks.
Edinburgh
Edinburgh has to be one of the most perfect cities to visit if you want to get yourself in a festive mood. It looks like something straight out of a storybook – rows of colourful buildings, cobbled streets, and historic architecture that gives the city a beautiful, timeless feeling. Not that you need an excuse to go to Edinburgh – but we think a visit to their superior Christmas markets is a pretty good one.
In our opinion, this is one of Edinburgh's best Christmas locations:
Santa Land, Santa's Grotto and Christmas Markets - West Princes Street Gardens
Make the kids' Christmas dreams come true! We all remember the feeling of visiting a Santa's Grotto when we were children, so treat your little ones to some festive magic by bringing them along to meet the bearded dream-maker himself in this fun, family-friendly environment.
Santa Land and Grotto Edinburgh is in the West Princes Street Garden, and makes the perfect day out for families. Santa will be reading festive stories, and offering crafting sessions in his elves' workshop. Tickets start at £10 for a 25 minute slot, which covers one adult and one child. Extra adults can be added for £3.50.
Kids receive a lovely, age-appropriate gift covered by the ticket price. You can also check out the Christmas Tree Maze for £5, or have a go on some of the fairground attractions on offer!
Cardiff Christmas Market
Cardiff Christmas Market runs from 9th November – 23rd December, so you can get your shopping done right up until the finish line.
Spread across St John Street, Working Street, Trinity Street and the Hayes, the market showcases some incredible local vendors selling just about everything you can think of. Expect jewellery, art, wine, baked goods, clothing, decorations, soaps and candles to name just a few of their huge selection of offerings.
Whether you want to get merry with a Christmas tipple, stock up the pantry, or adorn your loved one with handmade accessories, the Cardiff Christmas Market is the place to be this season.
Belfast Christmas Market
Visit Belfast's incredible Christmas market to see why it draws so many visitors from all over the country! All manner of festive delights await, including incredible food from all over the world, pop-up bars, and handcrafted gifts to get you ready for the big day.
Even the Grinchiest of hearts will triple in size when you catch sight of the twinkling light displays, trees and decorations as far as the eye can see!
Belfast's Christmas Market runs from 19th November – 22nd December.
Leeds Christkindlemarkt
Leeds' authentic German Christmas Market is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, and takes place in the City Centre. This fun, festive event runs for six weeks from 5th November – 17th December.
You can expect authentic German food, bars, restaurants, attractions and local vendors selling homemade goods from chalet stalls.
The kids will be entertained with a Sunday morning show including face painting, balloon-making and more, as well as a Christmas carousel and other rides. Meanwhile, the adults can expect daily evening light entertainment – and plenty of festive tipples.
Winchester Cathedral Christmas Market
Regarded as one of the best Christmas markets in Europe, Winchester Cathedral’s Christmas Market will make you feel like you’re walking through a festive wonderland designed to get you in the Christmas spirit. People come from all around the world to wander around the adorable wooden chalets while drinking mulled wine, browse the selection of gifts and just generally soak in the Christmas cheer. Winchester Cathedral Christmas Market runs from 17th November – 21st December.
Manchester Christmas Market
Manchester's Christmas Market is a grand affair, with stalls spread out across nine city centre locations. Piccadilly Gardens will be home to traditional chalet market stalls, a varied line-up of hot food, a Nordic-themed (fully heated) tipi bar, and live entertainment and DJ's. It'll also be the site of the 4-metre-high Manchester Windmill, signalling the start of the Christmas season by lighting up the sky with its twinkling lights.
St Anne's Square will be the site of several food stalls and a large undercover bar where Christmas shoppers can hide from the cold, keeping themselves merry with German beers.
Market Street will hold several stalls selling Christmas decorations, jewellery, clothing, alcohol and food for gifting.
King Street will be the place to go if it's food you're interested in. Counties including Greece, France, Italy and more will be represented among the diverse range of vendors.
New Cathedral Street, Exchange Square and The Corn Exchange will also be home to Christmas stalls selling everything from currywurst to Mancunian mulled wine.
For those who fancy some ice skating, Cathedral Gardens will be home to the ice rink this year. Take the kids for a fantastic day on the ice, and warm yourself up with some hot food from the nearby markets afterwards.
Southbank Centre Winter Market
Of course, London is a magical place at Christmas, even without a market – but the Southbank Centre Winter Market is a fantastic representation of all of London’s festive cheer, handily focused in one place.
With stalls, vendors, food, gifts and other merriment dotted along the iconic Thames, the Southbank Centre Winter Market is a must-visit if you’re from London or just visiting. Feel yourself transported into a festive paradise as you wander through twinkling lights, enjoying food and drink from the diverse selection of vendors under alpine-style chalets.
Psst! If you want to see London lit up in all its glory, why not try this London Christmas Lights Tour? This spectacular Tootbus will take you around London's all-too-iconic Christmas lights, whilst a knowledgeable tour guide will tell you enchanting tales about Christmas, both past and present.
Bath Christmas Market
Bath is well-known for its beautiful architecture and historical landmarks, so it’s the perfect setting for a Christmas market. From 24th November to 11th December, you can expect to find a magical winter wonderland awaiting you on the streets of Bath.
Bath Christmas Market is expected to have over 150 vendors, housed in – you guessed it – chalets, selling handmade crafts, jewellery, homeware and more. No trip to a Christmas market would be complete without a glass of mulled wine, and in Bath you’ll discover local food vendors filling the market will the unmistakable aromas of Christmas food and drink.
Birmingham’s Frankfurt Christmas Market
Birmingham Christmas Market is running from 3rd November to 23rd December, so you can get your Christmas shopping done right down to the wire. (Besides, would you rather be walking through festive stalls and twinkling lights, smelling the spices of mulled wine and feeling the Christmas spirit – or standing at the back of a ten-person-deep queue at Debenhams?)
Stalls will be located in Victoria Square and New Street, offering every Christmassy thing you could possibly think of. If you’re looking to sate your appetite for festive food, you’ll find pretzels, bratwursts, roasted almonds and more among the stalls to evoke the flavour of Christmas.
To accompany your festive fare, you can enjoy a glass of German beer or hot chocolate. You’ll feel warmed and happy from the inside out! Along with food and gifts, Birmingham residents can expect a live music programme in Victoria Square - the perfect December day out.
Exeter Cathedral Christmas Market
Exeter’s Christmas Market takes place on Cathedral Green, which is transformed into a classic Christmas fairy tale from 18th November – 18th December. The Cathedral Christmas Market will be home to several local and international vendors, selling crafts, seasonal good and drink, decorations and gifts. It’s a truly magical sight, and the best way to spend a day in Exeter this Christmas season.
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