It's the dreaded ' Christmas Market ' time !

[Rainbow321]

So I've been to a few ( UK only ) Christmas markets , and my opinion of them all is they are all crap !
The ones I've been to are York ( a few times over the years )
Chester , Harrogate , Edinburgh , Bath , & Lincoln & a few other towns local ones , all equal crap .
Are you with me on this or do you find them magical & wonderful and leaving you full of the Christmas spirit ?

What's dreaded about them? If you don't like them, don't go.

I haven't been to a U.K. one I've enjoyed. I had hoped the Edinburgh one would be good, but not been there yet. You don't really rate it, I wonder what others think?

I've been to a few in Europe that have been good, but more enjoyable (mulled wine, festive nibbles, watching kids ice skate, some good entertainment). Snow adds to the feeling course, but I find them enjoyable rather than magical!

What's dreaded about them? If you don't like them, don't go.

I haven't been to a U.K. one I've enjoyed. I had hoped the Edinburgh one would be good, but not been there yet. You don't really rate it, I wonder what others think?

I've been to a few in Europe that have been good, but more enjoyable (mulled wine, festive nibbles, watching kids ice skate, some good entertainment). Snow adds to the feeling course, but I find them enjoyable rather than magical!

They’re all incredibly popular these days and I agree that the crafts are no longer as good. More cheap tat and overpriced food. The original ones of Germany and Austria were great. They’ve also gone downhill from what I’ve heard, but perhaps I’m wrong. The good ones are exceedingly busy.

There's one not far from us. Shed after shed full of shit. It's mad popular though. Baffling really.

I hate them!

I used to find them magical and lots of fun but nowadays I avoid them like the plague.

They're massively overcrowded, you can't get near any stalls and when you can it's a lot of tat and the stalls repeat themselves after every 5 or so vendors.

There's some tik toks going round at the minute showing Manchester and the lanes between the little huts are just solid with people.

God only knows what it's like to park in central Manchester at the minute. The last time I went there at this time of year it took me an hour to drive up Deansgate, something that usually only takes a few minutes!

Pass, pass, pass.

In Bath the locals refer to the Christmas market as Fifty Sheds of Shite.

Went in Munich a few times 15, 20 years ago, absolutely lovely. No desire to go to any others, I hate the cold and stay indoors. Each to their own.

The Chatsworth one is worth going to if only for the beautiful setting. The stalls are not cheap tat but unfortunately they seem to be the same every year which is the downside and why I haven't been for a few years.
Oh and they sell mulled wine 🍷

Been to markets in Austria and Germany many years ago and they were lovely. The UK ones, Bath, Edinburgh etc are full of mass produced tat sold at artisan made prices and are ridiculously (and dangerously imo) busy. We got stuck in the Edinburgh one about 5 years ago and it took half an hour to escape 😁 - we couldn't move for the crush of people. Never been to one since.

Oh I hate them! I dread them because I live in a city with one of the most popular a ones in the U.K. and the centre is pretty much out of bounds the entire time. Traffic is awful and the train station has a new system put in place which adds time to my commute.

I did out of curiosity have a look one year and literally couldn’t move, people everywhere.

We went to our local one in the north east at the weekend, 75% of stalls were good/drink vendors. I think I'd enjoy it of an evening with boyfriend/friends, although so expensive, but my dc 12 & 11 were very underwhelmed!

Identikit tat. I don't think they are much better in Europe, they were maybe ten years ago.

Manchester Christmas markets are a different level of hell

Well as a Bath resident. We officially become Cardiff on sea starting next week for almost 3 weeks- looks pretty but it's a pain in the arse

I live in York, the Christmas market is shit, it's all crammed in one area, sells the same overpriced stuff year after year, cheese, pork pies, pork scratchings, candles, flavoured alcohol, viking horns, cutsey signs, Christmas tree decks, woolly hats.
The food stalls charge a fortune.
Walked past yesterday, a few chips with some slices of steak plonked on top £14!
£4 for a small hot chocolate!
People must like it though as it gets absolutely rammed.

Don't go then 🤷‍♀️

I would certainly say the quality/variety has gone down in recent years, certainly here in Bath, partly because it's a total pain in the arse if you are coming from EU - particularly ( but not only) if it involves food at all - I know this because we ship into Uk from goods manufactured inEU -

Whenever I’ve seen them they are just wooden huts all lit up but selling the usual crap from any old market but very overpriced.

This.

They make the city centre absolutely unbearable and too unpleasant to visit.

I pass the Edinburgh one on the way to and from work. It's rubbish, full of mass produced shite and absolutely packed.
There are some nice aspects to Edinburgh's Christmas but not that. Better going to the local craft markets like Cockenzie, Newbattle etc.

We’re going to one in a small town near us on Sunday, but only because we’ll be there anyway and the nearest country house one is £10 just for entry.

Thinking of going to the Cambridge one tomorrow. Anyone been? Is it any good?

Otherwise might just go to the shops instead.

I find it so sad that the stalls are often random crap rather than actual Christmas stuff. I would like to see:

Different types of proper gluwein/mulled wine/glögg.

Proper Christmas food but fully European from mince pies to Lebkuchan east to west to north to southern food.

Beautiful Christmas decorations, baubles, wreaths, bells, nativities, mistletoe, etc.

Candles, spices, fruits, chestnuts.

Lovely Christmas music abounding and twinkly lights.

I don't want:

Raw dog food stall that reek
Burger vans
Stalls that are just what is sold on the Sunday market I.e wolf scene fleeces and blankets.
Friendship bracelets
Charity stalls that do tombola style bric a brac (enough of them on the bloody high street)

Perhaps we should all identify where we live, find a central spot and organise a lovely Mumsnet one for next year!

I think they're great if you pick and choose which ones to go to. I'm going to a couple where the application process is strict and they only allow high quality makers.

I agree.

What on earth is the appeal of these markets? Overpriced rubbish, overpriced food and drink, they’re much too crowded, and lacking in a nice atmosphere. £6.50 for a hot chocolate!