UK Christmas markets - where to choose

[bellac11]

Looking at Bath, Winchester or York

Been to York in winter, absolutely fell in love, but its quite far away and v expensive

Winchester we love but never been there at Christmas

Cant actually remember going to Bath, let alone at Christmas

Winchester and Bath are much quicker and easier for us to get to, cheaper as we could drive.

Any other options to consider? And out of those 3, which are preferable?

I get the impression that all those Christmas markets are much of a muchness. I used to go to the one at Winchester when I lived nearby and it was lovely and would be possibly the least crowded of the three?

The Winchester market has got much worse in recent years in my opinion - it’s very busy and really overpriced for food / drink. There’s very little to actually buy anymore either. It may be that they’ve not actually recovered from Covid yet when they had to change it all, I don’t know.

Although this will always be my favourite Christmas Market 😊

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/mumsnet_classics/4091892-To-try-and-recreate-a-Christmas-market-in-my-back-garden?page=1

Well as well as the actual market itself, the feeling of the place as well. Is Winchester just nice and christmassy at christmas? Or is it a bit drab at all?

They’ve also got rid of the ice rink at Winchester which makes a difference I think

It’s fine at Christmas, I don’t find it massively Christmassy to be honest - but then I have to visit because of in laws so I can’t say how much that clouds my vision!

The Christmas lights on the High Street are pretty enough but I wouldn’t say the lights themselves are much better than any other similar sized town / city. It is pretty in spots because the high street has pretty buildings etc. and so the lights make it even prettier if that makes sense?

OMG that is too funny.

Bath isn't worth travelling to unless it's a shortish trip, only the normal overpriced tat for sale in the market but the city is nice. Parking is a bit of a nightmare, the park and ride is your best bet unless you know the back streets

Winchester is fine but you can do the whole place in an afternoon (I was bought up there so know it v well and visit parents often there). If you stayed one night it would be nice for a potter, drinks and dinner. There’s also more independent shops there than in the past which is nice for Christmas shopping (not cheap though obvs!)

Don't bother travelling to Bath specifically for the Christmas market, it's shite. We've been a few times as we are local to bath, and it's always disappointing.

Bath as a city to visit is definitely worth it though.

Chatsworth is excellent

We're looking to go somewhere for the weekend so we would be visting a place as well as the market itself if that makes sense

Ideally staying right in a city centre, a mile out at the most so walkable

Ive found a few places in Bath and Winchester where they have parking but not in York and its too far to drive to York

Wrong dates for us but looks amazing.

I think York might be nice this year - the council are spreading the stalls out over a wider area to stop it from being such a hideous crush, and there is supposed to be a much higher percentage of local traders. But that's only really of interest to people who will be heading in that direction anyway.

Visit Winchester each year as I'm local. It's definitely gone downhill and I would suggest only worthy of an hour visit at tops. Places like Kingston are better.

As someone mentioned, most of these markets are similar now. A few German sausage stalls, some gluewein and some hand made Christmas decorations. Maybe I'm just getting more grumpy in my old age ;) I would say that there are better markets than Winchester though. My favourite is in Krakow but, that's a bit more of a journey lol

I've not been but have seen The Larmer Tree are having one this year
https://www.larmertree.co.uk/upcoming-events

I have been to the Winchester one and wasn't all that impressed. A huge queue to get in, and out! Winchester itself was lovely.
I'd love to go to the Bath one but sounds like it might be the same as Winchester. Bath is such a beautiful place.

Winchester itself is lovely, but the Christmas market isn’t great - it is big, but last year it was all hideously expensive candles, blankets and other crafts rather than anything Christmassy.

Loved the science centre and cathedral though. And the city itself is really picturesque.

The ones I’ve been to in London are awful. Piles of overpriced tat and crap food.

Im going to be honest

I love all the overpriced unnecessary tat...

Im not mega keen on all the hot dog/gluwein/cake stall type things. I like 'stuff'. Particularly artisan. Particularly cheese....

Fair enough! You could go to any craft fair or boutique homeware store though, though if you just want a nice hand carved wooden salad bowl or some silver earrings. Greenwich market is on every single week and has a better selection, and there are plenty of monthly local craft fairs around here. Winchester just didn’t seem to have anything special that I couldn’t have bought round the corner from me at half the price.

I wanted to buy Christmas decorations or cards or something else Chrismassy. Didn’t need to be German-themed, just Christmas-themed.

Born and grew up in South London, Greenwich market nearly bankrupted me over the years until we moved away!!!