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Christmas

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Original poster

Christmas Markets in UK- where is a good one?

60 replies

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 26/08/2018 08:54

DH and I are planning to abandon our DC ( Xmas Shock - they will be 19 and 16.6 by Christmas so fair do) and go to a Christmas Market maybe mid Dec.

What I'm after though is :

Big city (we live in East London but we've been to the London ones over the years)
Some usual shops ( big shopping centre is ideal) to get some presents

Overnight stay (Travel Lodge type)

And .....if I can get out of driving , that's a bonus Xmas Grin

I know that Christmas Markets are in the towns and Big Shopping Centres are out of town .
If there was a trip that took us from London to the shops then had an overnight stay (or 2) and the markets the back home.
I don't really want to be stuck in traffic (I can do that at Lakeside) looking for a parking space. It would need to be a Fri/Sat/Sun

Not interested in Brussels or German markets btw .

So , any ideas ? TIA Xmas Grin

OP posts:
Asuna · 26/08/2018 09:38

Personally, I love the Manchester markets. Always a great atmosphere, really easy to get to from the train station, and plenty of regular shops and bars/restaurants around. I’ve been to Lincoln before and found it way too busy and chaotic. I remember our party all getting separated on the park and ride into the town because there were so many people crowing on to the buses. Rail links aren’t fantastic there compared to a bigger city. Shame because it’s a lovely place.

BabyMoonPie · 26/08/2018 09:41

The Manchester markets are great. There are plenty of shops in Manchester City centre but there is also the Trafford Centre close by for more shopping. Afflecks Palace in the city centre is also worth a look (quirky and alternative shops)

DuskyMoth · 26/08/2018 09:46

Newcastle is great. The Christmas market is there for about 6 weeks. Last year I walked past everyday, some of the food stalls looked (and smelt) delicious! The city has all the shops you could want and the famous Fenwick's window display is a nice Christmassy touch.

Urbanbeetler · 26/08/2018 09:51

Bath one is very pretty - little wooden cabins and lots of stuff you might actually want to buy. The Lincoln one is also in a very pretty part of town but harder to get to by train and tackier (fair rides and candy floss as much if not more than hand crafts and artisan foods). Bath wins in my book.

PaddyF0dder · 26/08/2018 09:58

Edinburgh Xmas market is excellent.

dementedma · 26/08/2018 10:17

I've stopped going to Edinburgh one which is nearby as it is overcrowded and very squashed. But if you have never visited Edinburgh it's probably worth it as part of a wider visit.

Trampire · 26/08/2018 10:24

I'm local to Bath and agree it's beautiful with great produce, however I've been put off going this year and the last few years have been so horrendously busy it's been unpleasant. So busy that you can't really see much.
They have the cabins around the Cathedral and just don't think it's a wide enough area. Parking impossible unless you arrive about 9am and we even had to queue for a long time to get home on the train.

EduCated · 26/08/2018 10:27

Birmingham is fab (if you’re not a local!)

Furrycushion · 26/08/2018 10:27

It's interesting how everyone is different. I thought Bath was awful and so crowded with dreadful tat. It's made me never want to go to another Christmas market again!

craftymum01 · 26/08/2018 10:28

York is not huge but the market is very sweet and it’s a beautiful place. We spent a day and a half there (with a 1yo so were a bit limited) and that was just enough to enjoy the market.

Stopyourhavering64 · 26/08/2018 10:28

Edinburgh...great atmosphere and there's a huge wheel in Princes street gardens so you get a fantastic view of the city

craftymum01 · 26/08/2018 10:29

I know you said UK only but seeing as you are in London and it’s only a train ride away, Paris is beautiful at Christmas

MynameisJune · 26/08/2018 10:37

Lincoln - busy and the stalls aren’t great. It’s our local one, we’ve been every year for 10 years and always come away disappointed.

Manchester - all the stalls are the same, it’s a huge market spread over different areas but the stalls in each area are the same/selling the same stuff. But there are lots of shops in the centre and there is the arndale centre and Trafford centre.

York - Tiny market would take maybe half a day at the very most. Beautiful city though.

Personally none of the markets I’ve been to over the years in the UK has ever competed to the ones in Europe. In the UK they all sell the same stuff at ridiculous prices and don’t even have decent food stalls.

Original poster
70isaLimitNotaTarget · 26/08/2018 12:35

I think I've narrowed it down to Manchester or Birmingham.

York and Edinburgh are lovely as cities though, bu I'm very shallow and just want 'shopping' shops and the Christmas Market.
Not sure how much I'd buy though, but its the atmosphere I fancy especially in the evening.
(So travel, shopping, drop things at the hotel and go to the markets )

DH is Xmas Hmm but I'll plan the trip and he'll tag along. (To carry the bags obvs)

OP posts:
Studyinghell · 26/08/2018 14:31

I love York Christmas market

SnuggyBuggy · 26/08/2018 14:36

We go to the Manchester one. If you want to eat breakfast or brunch out I would recommend Annie's Cafe which is off St Anne's Square

AdoraBell · 26/08/2018 14:38

I’ve Only ever been to Bath Christmas market, but I really like it. Would love to go to One in Germany.

blitzen · 26/08/2018 20:48

Edinburgh is great

Vulgarlady · 26/08/2018 21:33

Canterbury Christmas market is great, small but with a lot of the sellers are independent makers so are selling things you won’t see anywhere else. Beautiful city too and very Christmassy!

Quangot · 27/08/2018 06:30

The Bath one has all the stalls really close together, and this makes the crowds worse. I found it hard to even get near the stalls.

I like the Lincoln market, which is more spacious.

smartiecake · 27/08/2018 11:39

I'm a brummie and I would say the Birmingham one is not worth it for a weekend away. The stalls all sell the same thing and in the last couple of years it has been a lot smaller due to lots of big building works going on in the city centre which mean that a big part of the city is closed off where the market used to continue. It is just really on one main street. I would suggest Manchester.

MountDiogenes · 27/08/2018 11:44

Op, which London ones would you recommend?

MountDiogenes · 27/08/2018 11:50

The article is for last year but probably similar this year

Synecdoche · 27/08/2018 11:53

Another vote for Bath!