Has anyone on Mumsnet ever been to a UK town or city Christmas Market and thought "that was great, so glad I went"?

[LindorDoubleChoc]

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Yes but it was about 15 years ago. It went downhill from there and by the last time I was there 10 years ago it had gone from being local artists and artisans, small scale producers, lots of European food specialists and a lovely atmosphere to cheap, mass produced tat sold at inflated prices, fried donuts and disappointment.

I like Winchester. It's more craft than Christmassy stuff but it's lovely and atmospheric after dark.

Leeds christmas market used to be good pre-covid when it was the german christmas market. The gift stalls were good and the german beer hall usually had a house band on, so cosy and loads of fun. It changed though to more of a funfair/ ice rink with street food stalls and its not been the same since.

Winchester and Birmingham never let us down and we tend to go every year! But we are suckers for overpriced churros, which might have something to do with it 🙈

Winchester and York

Newcastle, 20 years ago. A novelty and some great stuff to be had.

Last week at York? Never again!

I'll also add that I went to a 'French Christmas market' in Leeds 20+ years ago and was charged £6 for 100g of pick and mix sweets. Stupid of me not to check the price, of course, but they never have prices displayed. They rely on you not asking, or asking the price then feeling obliged to buy.

Bath - it’s crowded but still lovely

Most are a waste of time & money. So, no.

My poor daughter and boyfriend flew to London timed to experience Winter Wonderland . Huge overpriced disappointment coupled with freezing cold weather meant that Xmas experiences are avoided at all costs in this family.

York, shambles. Bloody lovely.

Shrewsbury indoor market - not a Christmas market but wonderful at Christmas. Far better than Birmingham just in atmosphere

Does it depend what you're looking for? For the atmosphere, yes absolutely. For the shopping they're a bit hit or miss.

We've been caught by those French ones before. £10 for a small piece of cheese that you can buy for half that in Sainsburys.

I bought a nice bowl at the Edinburgh one a few years ago. It was then possible to just get in from any entrance to Princes Street Gardens. I wanted to go and see if they had something similar there last year, but they blocked it all off and made it so that you had to walk all the way around to a specific entrance and then slowly fight your way through the crowds, and I wasn't inclined to waste my time on that.

Yes.

I came to say Winchester too! Though many years ago now. Best I've ever been to - have regretted others!

Manchester used to be amazing but I haven’t been for 15 years or more. Bath was pretty good last time I went, about 2-3 years ago… Birmingham was just gluhwein and bratwurst and tat, Oxford is always a bit sad…

I live fairly near to Manchester so it's not a big effort to go to the various markets. Therefore, my risk/reward ratio is low.

I always enjoy the one beer and hot dog I have with DH as part of an annual Christmas Manchester drinks trip.

I wouldn't go out of my way to spend all day there but I think we all know what to expect before we go, up to the individual if it's worth it!

Only when I was on maternity leave and went into our local town at 3pm for the Christmas light turning on / market thing they do every year. It was really nice mid afternoon. By 5.30pm it is heaving and you can barely move.

Winchester I'm sure is also lovely at 3pm on a Wednesday but it's not much fun at the weekend. And it's always freezing and the queue for hot chocolate is about 3 miles long.

I like Winter Wonderland- we go for the 10am opening, DS goes on some rides and we get a hot chocolate/mulled wine then go home. He adores rides and it works out cheaper than all of us going to a theme park. Also no guilt at leaving after two hours whereas a theme park I feel like we need to be there all day to get value.

Also got an amazing sequinned batman Christmas tree decoration for DH there that was a perfect stocking gift.

i went to Bath with two friends 2 years ago. We had a great time, enjoyed it and I think it was a nice one.

Really like Winchester.

Edinburgh just over a decade ago. London ten years ago. It was in one of the big parks but I've no idea which!

No!

London Winter Wonderland is a one and done. You have to go to see what it's all about, but you don't want to go again. I going to go to the Southbank market then walk though the christmassy bits of London when I visit in a few weeks.

Winchester is lovely. Go when the food market is also on. I think being in a cathedral makes it even Christmassier.

Bath is pretty at the best of times but at Christmas even more so. It is packed though. Try to be over 6 foot tall when you go.