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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not get the hype around the average UK Christmas market?

108 replies

Xenapo · 29/10/2022 06:54

So I'm not a scrooge and enjoy a family Christmas, although I do think the whole thing is ridiculously commercialised.

But I've been to the Manchester Christmas market a few times over the years and just don't get the hype.

It's very crowded, overpriced, lots of stores selling very similar things, never anywhere to sit and a lot of the stuff sold there just seems like pointless tat. A friend would suggest going then we'd spend ages queuing to pay extortionate prices for small bit of novelty food to eat standing up in the cold. Could never see the appeal myself and probably won't go this year.

I know there's other markets out there so maybe some are better examples in the UK that are worth a visit.

I imagine some of the original German ones must be quite spectacular and have a lot of interesting history behind them as they started them there many hundreds of years ago.

I looked up when most of the UK ones started and looks like 90s and 00s (they didn't have them when I was little) so I guess we've tried to import it here to different UK cities with varying degrees of success.

OP posts:
EcoCustard · 29/10/2022 06:58

I’ve been to a couple of different ones around the UK and they are all similar. Too busy, every other stall sells the same stuff. Haven’t bothered in recent years.

KangarooKenny · 29/10/2022 06:59

I agree that the Manchester markets are over priced tat. There was a lot of police around when I went, it felt quite tense.
‘My DH went to one in Germany and he said there were rats around the bars.

ivykaty44 · 29/10/2022 07:01

I would agree with Birmingham and Manchester being over hyped

but Leamington Spa has a lovely Christmas market with stalls selling great goods for presents, far superior to the city markets, I was surprised

WhatNoRaisins · 29/10/2022 07:02

They used to be better. I remember 10 years ago there seemed to be more variety and less plastic.

Original poster
Xenapo · 29/10/2022 07:09

ivykaty44 · 29/10/2022 07:01

I would agree with Birmingham and Manchester being over hyped

but Leamington Spa has a lovely Christmas market with stalls selling great goods for presents, far superior to the city markets, I was surprised

That's interesting about Leamington Spa, maybe smaller, non-city markets are the ones worth a visit. I guess everyone flocks to the big ones hence why they get too crowded.

OP posts:
Original poster
Xenapo · 29/10/2022 07:12

WhatNoRaisins · 29/10/2022 07:02

They used to be better. I remember 10 years ago there seemed to be more variety and less plastic.

Yes I remember the first time I went to the Manchester ones a decade ago I did enjoy it more at first then not sure what happened. Maybe novelty wore off.

Also I feel like a lot of people I know went for the Instagram photos rather than the actual experience but that's probably the case for a lot of things these days.

OP posts:
WhatNoRaisins · 29/10/2022 07:12

The crowding is awful. We'd always try and take annual leave and go in the week as it wasn't a nice experience on a Saturday.

Fireballxl5 · 29/10/2022 07:13

I was thinking of trying Chatsworth House Christmas market this year. It’s only in November I think though. And you have to book a parking space.

MaggieFS · 29/10/2022 07:16

YANBU.

But for some unknown reason, DH, who hates crowds and shopping, suggests that we go to one every year. Ridiculous.

lannistunut · 29/10/2022 07:16

Some are good, I like the atmosphere at our nearest one. Pretty much everything feels expensive - UK wages haven't really gone up since 2010!

WingBingo · 29/10/2022 07:16

There are some lovely ones with a great atmosphere, but they are the same every year

selling the same stuff and the same food. Gets boring eventually.

SpookyPanda · 29/10/2022 07:17

Yes the bigger ones have been all turned into an "experience" they used to be much nicer

user1471503652 · 29/10/2022 07:18

I liked the Lincoln Christmas Market last year, nice setting within the castle, cathedral etc and good selection of stalls with minimal plastic. There was actually not a great deal at all for kids, but I managed to get Christmas presents for all the adults.

I wouldn't bother with Bath, total disappointment unfortunately

MassiveSalad22 · 29/10/2022 07:18

YANBU at all, they are BLEAK.

mamacattiva · 29/10/2022 07:20

From my experience of the Birmingham christmas markets, it’s more about the socialising and atmosphere drinking than actually buying things. It’s a good night out, buzzing and lit up with pretty lights, albeit a bit cold.

Lovemylittlebear · 29/10/2022 07:21

We lived in Germany when I was a young teen and went to Frankfurt Christmas market every year. It was fantastic. Lovely atmosphere, music, wooden toys and jewellery to look at, traditional food and gluh wein. I haven’t been since I was 18. Tried a few of the UK ones and it all felt a bit crap. Like you said, over priced, cold and uncomfortable. Would love to a nice one with my children. If anyone has any recommendations.

mamacattiva · 29/10/2022 07:23

mamacattiva · 29/10/2022 07:20

From my experience of the Birmingham christmas markets, it’s more about the socialising and atmosphere drinking than actually buying things. It’s a good night out, buzzing and lit up with pretty lights, albeit a bit cold.

Plus ice skating and ferris wheel! What could go
wrong?!

anotherscroller · 29/10/2022 07:23

Yanbu!

Sceptre86 · 29/10/2022 07:26

It's been a while since we went to the Edinburgh one but I enjoyed it. I would say it was more about the experience although there were stands that sold handmade stuff such as soaps, jewellery, ornaments, purses etc. I don't think it is something I would do every year though.

PuttingDownRoots · 29/10/2022 07:30

We went to quite a few local (not tourist) ones in Germany when we lived there. Tried one in UK... not the same at all.

(We went to multiple ones as DD was im the school choir and they get booked as entertainment....)

MustBeThursday · 29/10/2022 07:32

I remember going to the Birmingham one every year in my teens when it was much smaller. It used to have a variety of food, a some nice gift type stalls etc. It gradually moved so it stretched much further through town but seemed to be just the same stalls repeated over and over and less quality. I've not been for a number of years now

WorriedMillie · 29/10/2022 07:32

The Bham one is very samey, year on year. I do tend to go for a wander, but earlier on in the day, when it’s less crazy busy. Only really buy food (candied nuts, garlic bread and cheese based beige things 🤣, as the stalls sell pretty much---- the same gifts etc each year
We much prefer the Worcester markets- far more crafty stuff, small businesses. It does get busy, as it’s only on for a few days, but again, we go a bit earlier, before the hoardes descend

PissedOffNeighbour22 · 29/10/2022 07:35

I used to go to the Lincoln one but haven't been for a few years now. It got gradually worse and just full of plastic overpriced tat. Lots of people who'd had too much to drink ruining it for people too.

I went to the Prague one a few years ago. Yes it was pretty and lots nicer than UK markets, but every stall sold the same mass produced, overpriced tat. I thought there'd be some handmade crafts etc, but no.

ClinkeyMonkey · 29/10/2022 07:39

The one in Belfast is very popular. My DC used to love it because there were lots of vendors selling sweets and always one selling fake Lego figures. In saying that, the novelty wears off very quickly after they have visited these stalls. My personal experience is crowds, queues and far too many hot food stalls. Nothing is going to induce me to eat paella from a wobbly paper plate with a plastic fork fashioned for a leprechaun, while being repeatedly elbowed in the back. That's just asking for trouble right there. I used to come home with some over priced ginger cordial or fudge, although I must admit it was where I discovered Melting Pot fudge, which really, really beautiful.

Applesandcarrots · 29/10/2022 07:40

Yanbu. Been to few, try to fly out to mainland now when I can