Would love to go to a Christmas Market...any recommendations?

[TimeForCake]

It's been on my to do list for years and this year Dh and I would really like to do it. Uk (would love Europe, but will have to wait for that!) but not really sure where to go, thinking maybe Oxford?? But all recommendations gratefully received. Ideally not more than 2.5 hours from London as will probably only ask grandparents to babysit for one night.
Any ideas??

I can recommend Birmingham's.

Was going to suggest Manchester. It's just over 2.5 hours on a good train, but not if you're driving. Lots of lovely food, drink, ornament, trinket type stalls. And the liqueur coffees are lovely when they get a bit heavy-handed with the booze

Bury st edmunds has a lovely one, we go every year, its 3 days 25th-27th november really wonderful, food, drink, sweets, huge carosel, lovely gift stalls, wood craft, kids stuff, clothes its just lovely and has a beautiful atmosphere, its near the cathedral too and they have lots on aswell, the live natity etc

*nativity ofc

Another vote for Birmingham!

Yep, another vote for Birmingham, it's really lovely

Bath is lovely, train station in the city centre and you could visit the Spa too

Bath is ok, in fact very nice. I live about 40 mins from Bath and given the choice (time allowing) I would travel 2 hours to Birmingham's.

Would never have thought of Birmingham, so thanks! Will look into Bath, Manchester and Bury St Edmunds too.

Like the sound of all of these so far!

Lincoln and Bath are both really nice

The Lincoln one is set around the cathedral and castle grounds Bath reminded me of lots of holiday beach huts along the roads! with fairy lights!

Totnes!! about 2.5 hours by train, and a very lovely and original Christmas market the three Tuesday evenings before Christmas, with live music and really amazing crafts and street foods (bigger than Bath, believe it or not!)...... I think you can google it.
If you were here overnight you could also go to Dartmouth and the beach for hot chocolate.... all very romantic, and some amazing places to stay (Dartington Hall has lovely rooms which would be cheap on a weekday)....... worth a look for a very original christmas market!

We did Winchester last year and it was lovely, beautiful stalls all set out around the cathedral with an ice rink.

Gosh - that Totnes one sounds divine. Love Totnes but am too poor and probably not Bohemian enough to pass the residency test. [Slight diversion: What is a rich Bohemian called?]

I went to Bath last year for a pre-Christmas break and it was fab including Xmas market.

Birmingham again! We happened upon it last year by accident (was attending the good food show in the NEC and had an evening to kill) and this year we are going back to the Christmas Fair and not bothering with the good food show!
It's good enough to make us drive up from Plymouth to go to it :)

YY to Birmingham from me too!

DH and I went last year and made a short break of it - I hope it's as good this year.

Is there decent parking for the Birmingham markets? Would cost us £110 to go by train which is a bit much.

Have you thought about winter wonderland in Hyde Park? We went when ds was 18 months old and it was really quite crowded to be taking a pushchair, but it was really pretty. Lots of rides and stalls. Quite expensive though.

Last year we went to Bruges for the Christmas market... oh it was sooo beautiful, really cold and snowy. Soooo Christmassy.

A few years before that we went to Vienna for the Christmas market (that was pre children though so there was rather more Gluwhein drinking than shopping) and that was magical too.

I might have to persuade dh that we need to go to winter wonderland this year :o

we are going to Birminghams this year to get in the festive mood!

lissie I'm going to birmingham too this year.

Did bath last year and wasn't overly impressed with the market but it was still a lovely day trip iyswim

Birmingham would be my first choice.
Bath one is lovely - but gets very crowded.

Would love to know if there is decent reasonably priced car parking in Birmingham as we are going for 2 nights/3 days in November and would prefer to drive (so we can buy lots of goodies)

Gramercy we are skint and we live in Totnes!! We have lots of skint friends too..... its just a lovely place to be skint (beach is free)....... everyone should move here, seriously.....

When you talk about the Birmingham one, do you mean the NEC one? If so, is it not a bit functional rather than christmassy (not sure I'm explaining myself there!)

Now I am starting to feel Christmassy! Thanks everyone for all your ideas. There's lots to google now before I finally decide.

greengoose you make that sound so lovely!

headfairy I have been to Bruges and loved it, though it wasn't at Christmas. That is definitely on my list for future years!

Birmingham is obviously something special as so many of you have mentioned it. Any other advice about where to stay etc would be great if anyone has any particular recommendations.

Salzburg for when you do go to Europe. It is beautiful and I dream about it in my skint, non travelling, baby bogged down state :)