Christmas Markets in UK- where is a good one?

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DH and I are planning to abandon our DC ( - 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

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

Lincoln has a great Christmas market on the first weekend of December, it's in and around the castle and there's lots to see. Gets busy though!

The Birmingham one is giant and is right by Grand Central and the Bullring (two big shopping centres). Easy to get to from London and plenty of hotels.

I came on to tell you it’s awful but I think that probably only applies if you’re a local and sick of having to detour to avoid the damn thing for six weeks every year!

www.christmasmarkets.com/individual-christmas-market/manchester-christmas-markets-2/

We went to Manchester for a weekend last year. Good trains from London and plenty of hotels and shopping. The markets are in different locations across the city but all walkable.

Manchester - though I'm not sure if it's finished by mid December. The market runs through the whole city with a huge amount of stalls outside the town hall. Then you've got all the city shops too, and train from Euston to Piccadilly then you can just walk everywhere.

Another vote for Manchester

Belfast Christmas Market is at the City Hall. In amongst all the shops and Victoria Square has all your usual shops there. Plenty of places to stay, train station to get you directly to and from the airport. It’s on until 22nd December this year.

I haven’t been for a while as it was a lot of the same stuff year after year and when the dcs came along it seemed too much hassle but me an dp always enjoys it on our own before they arrived.

Ooh Thanks

The Manchester one looks like its on til 22nd Dec

Birmingham is a lot closer to me though , I'll check on the trains and buses and hotels .

Excited

I would recommend Edinburgh market - beautiful and festive, with lots to see and do in the old town. Or, Newcastle Market: a great outdoor market, LOADS of culture in the city centre and quayside, a big shopping centre (also in driving distance to the Metro Centre) and some amazing restaurants to sample. Both easily accessible by train with everything in walking distance xx

Typos, sorry.

It’s a bit different from the usual city centre style market but Padstow is wonderful every year.

www.padstowchristmasfestival.co.uk/

We did the Birmingham market quite a few times, stayed at the premier inn Waterloo St which is very central for trains, market & Bullring but in a quiet street overlooking a church.

I really recommend it.

Edinburgh

Norwich is having one this year - straight out of Stratford on the train? Nice city all the usual shops...

Lincoln was really disappointing. I wouldn't go again.

Manchester is huge and really samey as you go through and the stalls sell dreadful tat at vastly inflated prices.

Honestly? Save up and go to any nice german or Austrian city for a weekend!

Edinburgh is lovely at Christmas or for something closer to home I really like Winchester at Christmas time

Sorry, missed that you said no to Germany!

Bath is beautiful. The shops are all city centre with lots of independent shops. I live in Manchester so maybe I am biased away from Manchester markets as I see them every year.

Another saying Edinburgh. you can fly or get the train. There are a lot of shops on Princes Street, where the market is held, plus terrific public transport to the big out of town shopping centre.

Birmingham fits all your criteria. Perhaps not that scenic, but nonetheless less a good option as plenty else to see in the city and an amazing shopping centre. I have secured £6 rail tickets from London in previous years; if you can get cheap travel, then you could afford to splash out on the most luxurious hotel in the city - Brummies, where would you suggest?

I reckon Cardiff would tick your boxes.

York and Harrogate are great

Winchester is usually very good. It’s an hour out of Waterloo and walkable from the station.

Edinburgh. We go every year, we are a bit closer but it's just stunning.

I’ve been to a few UK ones
I find them over priced, too busy and full of tat compared to the European ones but if it’s UK only then I would suggest York or Manchester

I have done both Birmingham and Manchester and I'd say that the Manchester one is far superior. It also fits all your criteria - hotels, loads of high street stores and lots of independents too down the side streets. Market spread over a large area of the city centre. Well served by trains and trams.
Did Birmingham 2 years ago and it didn't have anywhere near the number of stalls in Manchester plus they were all selling the same things.
Did Liverpool last year too and thought that was very poor.