Winchester or Canterbury Christmas market

[WhyWouldAnyone]

Hi,

Early, I know, but has anyone been to either or both of these markets and what did you think of them?

Thanks 😄

Canterbury is small-but there are a lot of small independent shops as well.

Thank you! I haven't been to Canterbury for many years, but I do remember it was a nice place to wander generally.

Canterbury. Winchester is smaller and not as cute. York is amazing

I live in Winchester, it’s RAMMED at Christmas, massive queues, and honestly just full of tat for sale really. I’d only bother if you’re going to make a day of it in Winchester, go for lunch, visit cathedral, maybe do the college tour? It’s a bit like Hogwarts!
Markets have a couple of bars, plenty of food outlets, a roasted nut stall, plus expensive shopping. No ice skating rink anymore.

have you considered Portsmouth historic dockyard market? I prefer that one.

Winchester is hideously busy. I would avoid.

I’m local to Winchester and you couldn’t pay me to go. I am assuming they are all equally similar. Expensive items. Expensive food. Mad one way system and rammed packed so not easy to navigate or browse. I would love to know if other markets are different though.

I do love York, but I didn't really want to travel that far!

Thanks for the feedback! May avoid Winchester then! Ill check out Portsmouth, thank you!

I’m also local to Winchester and unless I happen to be in Winchester early ish on a weekday to scoff some delicious but overpriced food I avoid it.

I went to Canterbury for the first time last autumn, so many lovely bits to wander around. I’d go there!

Another local to Winchester and a no from me too! Overpriced tat and stupidly crowded.

This . I wouldn’t do it as a standalone visit but Winchester is lovely so combined then yes

I like a wander round Winchester especially after dark (it is quiet for the last hour or so as well as first thing) but a lot of the stuff is very expensive and I suspect mass produced. Last year I did get some nice local foods there though (for gifts not eating) but you could probably get them at a farmers market. The city is nice generally but heaving at Christmas.

I live near Canterbury and tbh the Canterbury one is very small, they expanded it last year to a few stalls in cathedral grounds was still small and a bit disappointing if I'm honest. Unfortunately shopping in Canterbury has gone downhill and there are lots of empty shops, less small independent retailers and big gaps where 2 department stores-nasons and debenhams have closed.
There are too many vape shops and takeaway chains imo.
DD was at uni near Winchester and we went there, it was very busy but was a much bigger market and range of shops on high Street is also better than Canterbury. Winchester is a more affluent area plus perhaps not impacted by big out of town shopping centres like Bluewater or relative proximity to London.

Avoid Winchester, hideously busy

I think all of them are the same, overly busy, selling the same tat.

Not at the beginning and end of the day, it's lovely then