UK Christmas break

[tigerbread20]

Every year since my eldest was born we take our kids to a different European city for a long weekend of Christmas markets, museums and walking around pretty towns and villages. Sadly this year we are unable to go abroad as I’ve recently had a premature DC3 and his health isn’t stable enough just yet.
Where could we go in the UK to try and recreate this tradition? We have already done Edinburgh or that would have been ideal!

I was just about to say Edinburgh. What about London?

York

Birmingham has a great Christmas market

Bath is lovely 😊

York
Winchester
Chester
London
Oxford

Bath Christmas markets are fantastic

@Cluckycluck Bath Christmas market cancelled this year. Google it . Lack of security staff due to Brexit, apparently!

York is lovely but reasonably priced family accommodation can be lacking in December.

I’m interested in this too! Does anyone know if Edinburgh Christmas market is happening this year? I can’t find any information so far…

Congratulations on your DC3 OP - I hope he is doing well.

@fretnot

www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/lifestyle/christmas/edinburgh-christmas-market-2021-start-date-location-rides-and-more-of-this-years-edinburgh-christmas-event-3403080?amp

@fretnot there's a thread in the Christmas topic about Edinburgh. I've booked to go this year.

I always think York looks lovely for Christmas, never been though. Winchester is lovely too, although smaller.

Id second Birmingham market - but stay in Warwick and visit by train, then visit Leamington Sunday market and Warwick Castle Christmas stuff

www.stayingcool.com/blog/birmingham-christmas-markets/
Birmingham market is on this year

www.warwick-castle.com/explore/events/christmas/

you don't have to pay to visit the market but do for the light show

www.cjseventswarwickshire.co.uk/events/71d1ac9808cfc9cd/

leamington market is far bigger and really lovely stalls, than Warwick but obviously without the back drop of the castle

Birmingham has a very pretty Christmas market. The stalls are all overpriced and selling the same —tat— stuff, but it’s very picturesque and the food available is always nice. Plus there are lots of things to do for families in Birmingham- Cadbury World, Sealife Centre, various theatres. There’s also a Winter Wonderland thing on at the NEC this year.

Thank you for the suggestions, given me some research to do whilst baby DS won’t sleep anywhere but on me!

Cardiff, their market has lots of independent craft stalls. On year I bought a crochet ribbon necklace which always gets compliments when I wear it.

Where have you already visited OP?

We went to the Newcastle Christmas Market a few years ago and enjoyed our visit. We've been to York at Christmas a few times and there has always been groups on the train going to Manchester but never been myself.

@shouldistop @WreckTangled thanks so much for the news of Edinburgh - I’m also provisionally booked and was wondering whether it would go ahead. Hooray! I’ll check out the other thread too.

www.visitwinchester.co.uk/event/winchester-cathedrals-christmas-market/

Winchester is apparently on.

It is a beautiful little city (it was capital of England centuries ago) and has a wonderful cathedral.

Bury St Edmunds has a big Christmas market, and it's a lovely town with some beautiful countryside around it.

You could go to a carol service in the Abbey while you're there, they have several short ones while the market is on. It is just one weekend and accommodation sells out fast.

I off to York last weekend in november. Can't wait.

I think the cheistmas market is on then too.

@ivykaty44

Id second Birmingham market - but stay in Warwick and visit by train, then visit Leamington Sunday market and Warwick Castle Christmas stuff

I second this. The Christmas market in Birmingham is a fair size, the stalls are tat but the food offerings are always good.

Warwick Castle is stunning at Christmas, and they usually do a breakfast with Santa event, there's also lodges on site to stay in which will be lit up and very Christmassy.

If you stay in Warwick you'll be close to Stratford too, there's always something lovely on around the river there.