Best UK city for a Christmas break?

[GloGirl]

I am owed one night away this year - just me on my own. Ideally I am thinking I might go late November/December and visit somewhere that has nice Christmas markets etc. I live in the North West so not too near/not too far would be good. Bonus points if I can get off the train station and walk around shopping, soaking in some atmosphere and walk to a nice cheap hotel.

Any suggestions?

York. It's too far away for me but I'd love to go at Christmas time.

Edinburgh or York

Edinburgh would be lovely at that time of year - easy to walk around from train station and tonnes of hotels to choose from

Chester, small and compact within city walls so easy to orientate however large enough and with enough shops and cafes, restaurants and bars, to keep you going.

Echo York, we did Bath one year too but York was nicer.

I came on to say Edinburgh, Christmas markets were fantastic.

Might not be helpful to you but I am dying to do a Cathedrals Express Xmas trip one year, look them up, drool! Hope you have a good time wherever you go

I think Lincoln has one of the biggest xmas markets. Nice cathedral and castle as well.

Think I would like to visit Edinburgh with my DH so I might save that one. Chester sounds appealing thanks for all the ideas!

I came on to say York as well.
York Minster would be amazing lit up.
Bettys
Browns
The Shambles

And when I was last there, we found a gorgeous kitchenware shop (I spend many hours there coveting)

What a good idea! The Birmingham German markets are very popular!

I would book a rail ticket well in advance and go to London. There is just nowhere like it around Christmas and I have been to most of the major UK cities around Nov/Dec.

merry where do you go in London ? I'm looking for new places (I'm in Essex)

TBH , when I go to London , it always seems to rain and is full of miserable looking gits .....

We've been to Kew Gardens, Sadlers Wells, The Duck Tours, Hamleys, Winter Wonderland,Regent Street lights, Covent Gardens, South Bank ,Libertys,Selfridges, (probably more I cannot remember)

Years ago they did a VIP day (Very Important Pedestrian) where they closed Oxford Street to traffic. It was brilliant

Not Birmingham. The market is not v good and the city gets ridiculously packed and horrible. I like Birmingham but I hate it when the Christmas market is there.

I'd like to go somewhere small and pretty - maybe Winchester or Harrogate or Lincoln - but I don't know if they have Christmas markets.

Lincoln Christmas Market is wonderful. The train station is right in the centre of town and it's about a 20 minute walk to the area around the cathedral where the market is held (mostly up pedestrian-ised 'Steep Hill' though!). I would recommend the Lincoln Hotel which is right next to the cathedral.

York is beautiful at Christmas, we go for the xmas market every year.

Shrewsbury. It's lovely at Christmas, but don't tell anyone as it doesn't get unpleasantly crowded with wannabe WAGS like Chester does. Lots of lovely independent shops and very pretty.

Boris shuts Regent Street for all sorts of things, inc xmas I think.

If I was in the NW and only had 1 night away, I'd probably go to York too. There's a Premier Inn on the outskirts next to a park and ride, which would be cheaper.