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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No. They seem so corporate these days, like every Glühwein stall is run by the same company who own Wetherspoon's.

Harrogate Christmas Market. It was great with a young child as nicely contained and I bought quite a lot of gifts (which was a first!)

Manchester Markets … I’ll go during the day time on a weekday as it’s not overwhelmingly busy.

I went to one in Milton Keynes shopping centre about 20 years ago, and that was all right, but I tend to avoid Christmas themed events due to the terrifyingly overwhelming pong scent of cinnamon that pervades the very air for miles around.

I live in York, but white like the Christmas market this year. A fairly high proportion of the traders are local businesses, and the food stalls are pretty good, again with a lot of local businesses.

With that in mind, you could bypass the market altogether and just wander through the Samb lol especially market s and neighbouring streets to buy things from the shops and markets stalls with a lot less crowding.

I don't like Christmas markets anywhere. Generally over priced shit.

Edinburgh, York, but both many years ago. Don't fancy them much these days.

Me too, a pie and a crumble - perfect night out 🥰

The York one is good. Otherwise I avoid Christmas light trails and Halloween pumpkin trails etc like the plague, all overpriced commercial crap full of arguing families who are only there for an insta picture under the themed archway.

I went to the Edinburgh once after spending the whole day in bed with a hangover. I thought the atmosphere was lovely. And I got a potato on a stick!

I live in Worcester and we have a 3 day Victorian Christmas market. If timed right it can be lovely (after commuters go home but before the evening crowds come in), outside that time it's just pushing through crowds. The Christmas tree festival is on at the cathedral over the 3 days which is always lovely too.

Lincoln Market used to be absolutely great. I can't believe it's not been mentioned yet. I haven't been for about a decade though and I think it's not on this year so I must be missing something 😂

Have you been this year? Went to York six days ago. Ended up getting the train home after two hours.

Yep, Bath, about twenty years ago now. I had the best brownie ever from one of the stalls. And I've had a lot of brownies.

We live near Winchester markets and have friends near Manchester markets. Both are ok but I’m not bothered at all to be honest. Manchester have more variety and are better, Winchester nicer setting. Both over priced and too busy.

We have similar markets. They're hugely popular. I don't enjoy them anymore because theyre full of businesses selling overpriced stuff claiming to be artisan, or bought from Chinese websites & sold at 10x markup. And so crowded!

Even our local farmers market is only about 20% farmers. I go to buy honey once in a while & that's it!!

Yes, in Leeds. About 15 years ago though. It had lots of lovely craft type stalls and I bought a really beautiful hand carved, hand painted wooden cat for a mere tenner. Lots of fantastic food stalls, funfair rides, all beautifully lit up, stalls and huts all well laid out and then a huge tent serving christmassy drinks with the best German oompa band playing in the centre. Everyone wrapped up in warm winter clothing and silly christmas jumpers. The atmosphere was so fun, friendly jolly crowds all involving each other, lots of laughing and singing - I went home very merry!

Then I moved down south and have been frequently disappointed by the very lacklustre xmas markets down here. And charging ludicrous amounts of money for the shittest tat & god awful food (by simply adding in 'artisinal', or 'curated' or 'handpicked' or some other wanky terminology) and rude people barging each other about... it's killed it for me. I can't be bothered with these markets anymore. There's no joy in them whatsoever now.

No…

Lincoln CM used to be amazing.

The council cancelled it a few years ago because, apparently, it had become "too popular" and they were concerned about health and safety with so many people crowding in to an enclosed area.

My daughter liked Exeter but is a student and probably pissed.

I went to York around 10 years ago for the Xmas market and loved it! They had some sort of ice festival running alongside it and the streets were full of beautiful ice sculptures.

I live quite close to Nottingham, so tend to have a wander around that one most years. The ice rink is quite impressive.

Lincoln got too busy and apparently the insurance is too expensive now so it’s cancelled.

Yes, I agree with this too, I still like it but the town gets incredibly crowded and it has lost some of it's atmosphere without the rink, which was best in the days before they put a roof on it. Park and ride or bus are the only way and we never go till about 5 when it does get quieter. In fact walk to the park and ride is easier than getting the bus.

I suppose it's all relative to how many years you've seen the same old things. I got the train from Newcastle last weekend. York Market was the usual overpriced cheeses, pies, alcohol and multiple brownie and fudge stalls that everyone has coughed over.

There was one lovely stall that sold local honey and beeswax candles, though.

I went last year the stalls were quite good , it was nice weather and my friend and I booked lunch at an Italian restaurant then shopped in the Shambles area.
So all in all it was a good day out. If we had just gone for the market experience we might have felt differently.
Going to repeat the experience this year at Stratford on Avon.

I think a lot are like this. You have to be selective.
Leeds is just a load of street food stalls and bars. It isn't really a Christmas market now. Newcastle is disappointing these days as well.

Sheffield might be OK. It has been good in the past.

A local stately home and a farm near me have them, and they are local producers only.

That's not exactly how I'd describe it.