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From present ideas to party food, find all your Christmas inspiration here.

From present ideas to party food, find all your Christmas inspiration here.

Christmas

Christmas Markets

19 replies

WannaSplitAPineapple · 22/07/2013 13:30

I know its too early to be thinking about Christmas but I want to book a Christmas market trip and I'm hoping if I book early enough it won't be silly expensive. The only problem is I don't know where to go. Has anyone got any suggestions as to the best Christmas market?

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Floralnomad · 22/07/2013 16:49

We went to Copenhagen last year and were less than impressed but my sister went to St Petersburg and said that was pretty good .

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 22/07/2013 22:35

Oooh, watching this thread.

There was a thread last year about markets.
IIRC there's a good one in Birmingham (but I might be lying)

I quite fancy one of those bus tour ones where everything is booked and planned for you (in the local papers usually)

Do you want UK or abroad Pineapple?

50shadesofknackered · 22/07/2013 23:52

I went to birmingham market last year and I really didn't enjoy it very much. It was heaving, the stalls seemed to be full of tat and it was all so expensive. That makes me sound really miserable, sorry.

Floralnomad · 23/07/2013 00:16

50shades I think you've just summed up Christmas markets perfectly ! We were in Copenhagen on a city break not particularly for the Christmas market but TBH I think the Christmas market at Disneyland Paris is better than anything Copenhagen had to offer .

mmmmmchocolate · 23/07/2013 12:14

You couldn't even get around Birmingham market last year. I don't think I'll even bother going this christmas.

Lurking to see what others suggest...

ratbagcatbag · 23/07/2013 14:30

I've done Birmingham before, but did Lincoln last year,it was ace, they set it round all the historic streets so you meander past pubs, lovely shops, Christmas stalls and the cathedral. It was ace and I can't wait to do it this year. :)

starjules · 23/07/2013 19:37

I did Berlin a few years ago which was lovely and there are hundreds of them, but I did think they were expensive. I went to Birmingham last year too and it was pretty awful! going to try lincoln this year.

Not heard a bad report about prague so that may be my next european one.

MrsDoomsPatterson · 23/07/2013 19:40

Lincoln is too crowded, you're shoved in one direction, ten deep at the stalls. Urgh...

speedyboots · 23/07/2013 19:41

The markets in Cologne are amazing. Definitely the best European ones I have been to. There are about five different ones each with a different theme and the food and mulled wine is lovely.

MrsPnut · 23/07/2013 19:42

Lincoln is good if you are there at 10am on friday morning, you can get round and have a good look and be walking back to your car by the time the coach loads start arriving.

Don't even bother on saturday or sunday because it's carnage.

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 23/07/2013 21:39

We've been to a few at the South Bank in London and TBH although they are nice to walk round, there's nothing there I want to buy and transport home.

Similarly Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park.
Lots of traditional stalls but so busy I've no idea what they were selling (sausage and beer on loads of them )
I'll give WW a miss now- we queued for ages to get on a couple of rides and it was mobbed.

WannaSplitAPineapple · 23/07/2013 22:52

Thanks for all the replies. I think after talking to my friends who are going we are sticking with the UK this year. Looks like Lincoln is worth a look so I shall see what they say to that.

OP posts:

ratbagcatbag · 24/07/2013 07:12

Fair enough,I did lincolnmarket at 10am on Friday so maybe that's why it seemed nice. Winchester looked good on the website lastyeartoo. :)

IDismyname · 24/07/2013 07:15

Bath is pretty good, but you need to get your timings right! As someone upthread suggested, go very first thing, or leave it until after 6 when the coach loads have departed.

I've heard that Winchester is good, too.

Belugagrad · 24/07/2013 11:55

I second Bath, really enjoyed it- also Westonbirt aberitum does a
Nighttime walk thing, so magical and worth the drive.

Witt · 31/07/2013 11:26

We've been to Birmingham in the past and it was too crowded and all the stalls sold the same overpriced stuff. We've also been to Bath which is much nicer but also very very crowded (although I guess it might depend on the day you go). We did Winchester last year and it was ok, more original stalls but not many in total.

WholeLottaRosie · 05/08/2013 21:35

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IsaacCox · 13/08/2013 13:34

We go to the Manchester Christmas markets every year. We love it. Lovely food, mulled wine, nice things to buy etc. Can't wait to go again this year.

ShakeAndVac · 28/08/2013 00:02

The German Market in Leeds (Christkindelmarkt) is fantastic, and I love going there.
Genuine German stall holders who come over to the UK, and have a traditional fairground carousel, bratwurst sausages, gluhwein, and wooden tree decorations etc.
This article will help you get a good feel of what it's like! Can't wait until Christmas and I can go again now!
yorkshiretimes.co.uk/article/Festive-Spirit-At-Leeds-Christmas-Markets-Christkindelmarkt

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