Manchester Christmas Markets

[Mom2teens2tweens]

I am hoping to fly to Manchester in December and want a small break to include a bit of shopping, some Christmas markets and atmosphere.

I'd like to have the simplest way to get from the airport to accomodation in an area that would be near a good shopping area as well as markets.

Can you give me some advice please as I have never been and do not know the layout of the city.

Also any tips or ideas that are Christmas friendly or " must do" would be appreciated.

Thank you

No expert on this but realised that you didn't have any answers. I do know you can get the train from Manchester airport straight into the city centre as a relative did it last xmas. Probably be best to stay in central Manchester so that you can walk everywhere, if hotels there are too expensive there is a travel lodge type place within walking distance not far from the Bridgewater Hall. Perhaps this will bump the thread and someone more knowledgeable will come along😀

You might also find cheaper accommodation in Salford quays which is on the tram route into town

they often have ice skating in town which is also nice and christmassy

have a look at things like Chester zoo or Dunham Massey as they have evening lantern parades which would be nice too and worth an uber or schlep.

is there a particular reason for Manchester- it’s a masssive city and lots of people go tho the markets to drink.

there might be more romantic options like Edinburgh?

Last time we did Manchester it was very crowded and a lot of the stalls were selling the same cheese/meets. The beer was incredibly expensive, but good.

Last year my DS who lives in Manchester said it was even worse

Edinburgh market is not romantic, its absolutely rammed and you get herded like cattle through it.

I wouldn’t bother, it’s hellishly crowded and just selling the same stuff over and over. You can barely stop to look at anything as the crowds pushing you along

To try and recreate a Christmas market in my back garden. | Mumsnet

Just dropping this here from classics - really wouldn't bother with Manchester- it gets worse every year - drunk/high people everywhere (even more than usual) Where are you coming from? there are better markets in the UK and Europe.

They’re horribly crowded, selling overpriced drinks and tat, and the atmosphere is awful. Hold on tight to your bag, phone and purse if you really want to go. Instead I would book at some nice restaurants and have your festive fix that way.

I live in Manchester and avoid the city centre completely in December because of the crowds and traffic.

If you want to do Dunham lights look at booking tickets now I think. It isn't cheap and it is a treck from the city centre. It's good but I think it's over priced tbh.

The markets themselves get very very busy. It's not much fun so I've not been for a few years now (since they closed the square by the town hall which used to host a lot of it).

The ice skating is good and we've still done that but we avoid the markets.

I live in Manchester and never take my kids to the markets. They are basically full of pissed off their heads people. It’s pretty much just food and drink and very hammered adults. It’s so busy you can’t move.
I haven’t bothered going the last couple of years in fact I actively avoid town in December.

I think your going to be disappointed we call it sheds full of shit
you can get tram or train from airport direct to Piccadilly
Salford quay area cheaper if you look at travel lodge avoid sport city one

There are various markets at different locations across the city centre- they usually release a map of areas.

There will almost certainly be main hubs on St Anne's square and Piccadilly Gardens.

Where are you coming from and is it with the kids as pp have asked?

It is busy, but you can still get some atmosphere, although they are expensive.

I would stay in the Northern Quarter, or Ancoats which will have you very well located for everything.

Dunham Massey is a trek on public transport, Heaton Park (20 minute tram ride) are doing a lights event this year, so I'd go there and there's some lovely places to eat in Prestwich first.

Also, get the train from Manchester Airport, not the tram, it's much quicker!

We went to Manchester for a long Christmas weekend a couple of years ago. We saw The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe at Salford Keys and that was pretty magical, went on some lovely winter hikes and visited a couple of country home type places.

The markets were packed, samey and expensive. We saw some very drunk people fighting and there was a lot of antisocial, drugs and alcohol fueled behaviours.

The Christmas Markets were the low point. The rest of it was great.

I’m going to buck the trend and say I quite like going to the Christmas markets, though probably not on a weekend. Yeah, they are full of tut but I like wandering around the city and eating and drinking. You can either get the train from the airport to Oxford Road, which is near St Peter’s Square or to Piccadilly for hotels, St Peter’s Square is probably nicer, both areas are fine for the centre. I quite like Motel One in either place for cheaper accommodation or if you’ve got a bit more money to spend I’d stay in Wilde apartments in St Peter’s Square, the same company has a Staycity hotel near Piccadilly too. But also there’s loads of hotels between those two places which aren’t too far from either station and close to town.

I am travelling from Dublin with teen girls who would like to just see the lights, take in a few shops and maybe do a show.

We usually only browse through the stalls and don't buy the tat! It's just for the feels!

We won't have a car so have to commute on public transport - and I don't want to spend a day on transport either.

I have been to Dublin, Cork, Galway, Edinburgh, London and Birmingham so decided Manchester would be a change and the flights are pocket friendly!

Mid week would be better as less crowded and would suggest hotels such as the Yotel on deansgate or "the Alan" is nice.

The lion the witch and the wardrobe is on at the lowry
Im seeing Robin hood at the opera house thats the panto this year...Jason manford AGAIN 🙄

Yes train from airport to picadilly then tram can get you around the centre and out to the lowry if needed

Corn exchange for lunch and over to selfridges for shopping... great fun 😊

Train or tram from the airport (train will be quicker). I'd stay in Central Manchester, we do the markets earlier in the day (lunch) to taste the food and avoid the crowds. There's usually ice skating etc and a fun atmosphere.

Agree with the Alan for accommodation- sometimes has deals, likewise whitworth Locke is nice

if the kids like alternative culture then afflecks palace will be a treat for a browse

other things - if you aren’t full of sausage then hip hop chip shop is fab, pizza in rudy’s and plenty of nice places in northern quarter for teen friendly food

hotels in the city centre are silly prices in December. If you are staying in the city centre then a premier inn would see you right

if you are seeing the markets then go early and finish early before they start getting packed later in the afternoon

i'd suggest the tram from the airport and back as the airport trains can be packed and are often cancelled, leading to the over crowding

as PP have said Salford Quays for a show and Heaton park for the lights are a great call and are both on the tram lines. There’s even a premier inn next to Heaton park if the city centre ones are pricey

mid week is a must or it will be very busy. I nearly had a full blown panic attack when getting crushed with no way out at the market in front of the town hall

Ahhh I think it'll be great, weekend or not. We have a huge Sephora now if it gets too much 🤣