Christmas Markets

[incandescentglow]

hellooo

does anyone have any christmas market recommendations for this year? i would love to go on a weekend break anywhere in the UK to visit a really nice one with my sister, ive only ever really been to the London ones but would love to hear which ones are worth visiting for a couple of days

I tend to enjoy the smaller ones - look for one off events at local country houses/gardens etc if you're after genuine high quality handmade or whimsical Christmas decor, cards, wrap etc. The food selections also always great, rarely cheap granted but l lovely independent bakeries, genuine local produce and so on.

All the dedicated ones I've been to and the city based ones that are in situ every late oct- xmas seem to mostly be selling mass produced tat and overpriced food you could largely get anywhere all uear around or that I'd not want in the first place but admittedly do liven up the high street and provide a nice atmosphere when walking through.

I went to the one at Chatsworth House the other year and it was lovely - definitely would do it again, especially as you can combine it with a visit to the house and gardens and a short break in the Peak District if you choose. Haven’t really enjoyed any other UK one.

Don’t do Bath is my advice. So busy you cant move and the train station gets stupidly busy too

I think they are all the same. I've been to the Bath one and it was ok but very expensive.

The Birmingham one is expensive and very busy. It also gets packed with drinkers from about 4pm.

I don't think I've got the patience to go to one anymore

We're going to Gent, we've given up on UK ones. I want atmosphere, nice chocolates, strong beer, something other than novelty British cheeses and olives @ £67 a piece.

I used to enjoy my local one at Bury St Edmunds but it's not revived since the covid closures :(

Oh nobody goes to UK Christmas fairs any more. They're far too busy.

😆

Rouen in France is a great one, its huge. I consumed rather a lot of Mulled Cider with a shot of Calvados last time I went!

Bath is nice enough if you can go on a midweek morning. Then you can potter round and see everything.

If you go at the weekend you will have to wait 20 minutes to look in every shed.

I am going to the Worcester Victorian market this December 1-3.
Staying over the weekend.

Bath is a good one (mainly locally made stuff) but I would second the advice about going midweek if you can. It's not too busy on midweek mornings and evenings, and there are plenty of other lovely things to do in the afternoons.