Best Christmas markets in the UK!

[sopeas]

Hi all 🤶🏻

Does anyone have fab suggestions for a Christmassy long weekend (Christmas markets, lovely little towns etc- not London, that’s where we live and Winter Wonderland is so commercial- we are looking for something as genuinely christmassy as possible) getaway within the uk? Was hoping to take DP and myself away to Germany for a Christmas market getaway this year but we are unable to due to his job commitments and my passport needing renewed and apparently that can take up to ten weeks 😬 so I think it’s on the cards for next year instead!

ideas and recommendations and any tips very very welcome please ❤️

I like York at Christmas. The market isn't huge but it's just such a lovely city.

Winchester Christmas Market is nice, albeit quite small I believe compared to major ones like London/Birmingham etc. It's a lovely city though and they have nice lights and people singing/busking on the high street in December.

www.lightuptrails.com/events/light-up-hillier-gardens this is about 25 minutes away by bus or car and is a beautiful setting.

I will report back about Chester Christmas Market -we go in a couple of weeks-we were supposed to be going pre-covid and this is the third attempt...

www.winchester-cathedral.org.uk/event/christmas-market/
There is also a light display inside the cathedral (link on the same website further down)

Lincoln's used to be very good, lots of craftspeople and not just bratwurst, football stadium prints and hugely overpriced olives. May have changed in the past few years though, I'd be interested to hear if someone has been recently and can confirm if it's still more craft than tat.

Chester's isn't great - small, and the same you get in every city at every one of these pop-up markets with chalet-style stalls. The advantage of it being small is that you only get one overpriced olive stall instead of feeling like you have deja vu as you pass the 8th.

I've heard good things about the Chatsworth Xmas market. I've never been to it, but have been to Chatsworth a lot and would say it's worth it even without a market. Lots of very lovely towns to visit in the Peak District too, so may be worth the journey.

York is lovely at Christmas.

I hate the Manchester Xmas market - it's about the least festive experience I've had.

Chars worth is gorgeous and the house is dressed for Christmas too. Very festive but you haven’t got long as they only last a few weeks. Nearby Haddon Hall is meant to be very sweet too.

@LubaLuca oh well-we had to use the hotel as we couldn't get a refund.
Was originally booked to go to Chester races just as first lockdown hit and we now just need to use it.
I like overpriced olives and Christmas so I am going to go with low expectations and hope to be pleasantly surprised!
I have also looked at Chatworth-looks beautiful but this year is getting crowded already

I live in Manchester and hate the Manchester markets
They sell the same overpriced tat every year and the stalls are repeated so very repetitive
They are too busy for me though I did have a mulled wine yesterday as it was quiet

Birmingham Christmas market is lovely - right in the centre so you have all the shops around it too

I came on to say Winchester. You can also park and ride which is what everyone seems to do.

Worcester's is lovely, it's only on over one (long) weekend though

Jumping on to ask if Liverpool, Manchester, Chester or Birmingham would be better for lights and general atmosphere? We want to go for a wander, to look at lights and get some food from one or 2 of the traders, but we aren't going for the shopping really.

Edinburgh. The market is in Princes St gardens, so v accessible on foot from Waverley station or by tram or bus from the airport. Edinburgh is stunningly beautiful, and the Castle has a light show this year too. There are hundreds of excellent restaurants and tons to see and do.

I did not enjoy Winchester when I visited, it was totally rammed and not fun at all.

I live in Edinburgh and I couldn't recommend the market at all. The last few years - pre covid - it was just so busy that it felt really rammed in and not at all enjoyable.

Chester itself is lovely, so you'll have a great time no doubt about it. It's not renowned for its Christmas market that's all.

Cardiff, not as big as some but it's full of local stalls rather than the mass produced stuff from the "German" markets.

Liverpool is nice, the market has moved to St George's Hall Gardens right opposite Lime Street Station. It is the usual offering of stalls with a couple of local independent stalls as well. The city centre is near by with more lights and liverpool one is all lit up and looks very festive. I prefer it to Manchester as it feels less crowded. There are lights down by the water front as well which is nice to have a drink by.

I went to Winchester christmas Market last year, and while it was lovely, it was tiny and I wouldn't go on an overnight trip to do it unless I was combining with something else.

If you have a whole weekend, I'd be tempted to fly to Munich to be honest - utterly incredible, and beats every UK Christmas market I've ever been to.

Posters have mentioned York - yes, absolutely lovely at Christmas, although not really a Christmas market. Birmingham has a big one, but it isn't anywhere as nice a city and is totally rammed (plus seems much tackler than the other Christmas markets somehow).

Sorry above in reply to @Sidking

I wouldn’t bother with Chester just for the markets. I’m disappointed every year! Takes about 15 mins max.

Fab sounds perfect! I think we were leaning towards Liverpool, my parents have stayed in the city a few times and always say how beautiful it is!

Would not recommend Winchester, hardly any atmosphere, rammed and overpriced

Place marking

Another one here that doesn't enjoy Winchester! The cathedral is lovely but everywhere is just so busy. I couldn't wait to get out of there last time.