Any Christmas markets open Christmas day?

[Caramellatteplease]

Feeling the need to opt out of Christmas at home this year but still want to do something Christmassy. I was wondering if any of the Christmas markets were open actually on Christmas day. Local restaurants either aren't doing anything or are booked. I'm thinking of booking a cheap travel lodge and going somewhere. Any suggestions gratefully received. It's just me and my two teens

Large shops aren't allowed to open on Christmas Day, and there are restrictions on loading and unloading also. Have never seen or heard of an open market as a result.

Stay somewhere nice in a big city, get out and view the windows and Christmas lights?
Christmas Day swim or other charity event.
Volunteer at a soup kitchen as a family?

I've never heard of a market open on christmas day - I think seeing people at work when they want to be home would be the most unchristmassy thing!

Most of them close around the 22nd - 23rd (Birmingham, Winchester, etc).

Could you travel further afield for food?

There’ll be Christmas lights in a lot of places, like others have said, although from experience - walking around in what tends to be quite a quiet/deserted day can feel odd, if you’ve got things on your mind. It feels like everyone else is at home, rather than being a distraction.

Breaking news, they will be with their families and they will have earned it.

Sounds really miserable trailing around in search of 'Christmas' instead of creating it at home with your two teens tbh. Most people working Christmas day are only doing it under duress.

No, they finish a dew days beforehand so the organisers / stallholders get a break and because most will have finished Christmas shopping by then. Same with most other organised things.

Yes. In Prague. But I’ve never seen anything other than pubs, restaurants, and corner shops open in the UK on Xmas day. I guess your options are either to try and have fun at home or hop on a cheap coach!

I think booking a travel lodge or similar would be pretty depressing actually. Family members of ours have booked one just for a place to stay but intend on only going back there to sleep quite late at night. I think the hotel would be dead with no atmosphere, and only a skeleton staff (who would all probably prefer to be with their families.)

Maybe a nicer hotel with a restaurant and live music, visit from Santa etc would be better?

There will be no retail open apart from petrol garages and a few convenience stores. I’m assuming of course that you are in the UK?

I think your plan needs work

I'd pick somewhere beautiful where you can go for a lovely Christmas day walk and then have Christmas lunch in a pub.

Who do you think wants to sit out on a freezing market stall all day while no one comes because they’re all at home enjoying Christmas? 😂😂😂

My friend used to take his kid to the zoo at Christmas. They (or at least put local one) are open because they have to care for the animals anyway

I also know someone who gets chinese takeaway delivered Christmas Day 😂

Do your teens also want to opt out of Christmas?

What is it that you actually want to opt out of?

You want to opt out of Christmas but go to a Christmas Market on Christmas Day? I'm not really following the thinking there.

My friend used to take his kid to the zoo at Christmas. They (or at least put local one) are open because they have to care for the animals anyway

This sounds sweet; but double-check that yours is open first - Chester and London Zoo aren't open on Christmas Day.

Xmas markets end a a few days before Xmas. They are usually German etc so go back home for Christmas

Volunteer at your nearest homeless shelter or community centre providing Christmas lunch?

Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park is open on Christmas Eve and Boxing Day. There aren't any "Christmassy" activities other than church but there will at least be some things open on Christmas Day in London. I think Odeon cinemas are open, maybe they will be showing something Christmassy, there will be some restaurants and pubs open, the Christmas lights on Oxford Street will be on.

I’d hope the stallholders get to spend their Christmas at home. Most people aren’t interested in working in Xmas day.

We did Christmas in London, once. Stayed in a nice hotel. Did gifts in the room, had Baileys & chocolates while watching a Christmas movie.
Ate a full Christmas dinner on Christmas Eve in the hotel restaurant, so didn’t fancy it on the day. Found a pub while walking around the city & went in for burger & chips with pints. Lovely!
Also chanced upon a really cool Latin mass with full pomp & ceremony in a local church. Most unusual. Relaxed at the hotel for the evening & hit the Boxing Day sales (Selfridges!) the next morning (would never do that at home).
It made a nice alternative Christmas!

I honestly think most hotels / restaurants are booked up by now for Christmas. You could go abroad if you don’t want to be at home. Christmas markets will not be open they shut around the 22nd in Manchester. You could go for a long walk but Christmas Day is the one day most places are shut and rightly so .

Church is open.

I sincerely hope not. Hopefully they are all home.

@CrimbleCrumble1

Church is open.

So are the Synagogues as Christmas this year falls on a Saturday

If you want to opt out of Christmas why not volunteer somewhere? I really think every single place (retail and hospitality) should be closed Christmas Day so the hardworking staff can spend the time with their own families.

What has happened to make you want to opt out OP? Hope you are ok.

What about getting out to the seaside? Go for a long walk on the beach? Pub lunch and Boxing day swim?

Or the lake district?