Britain's best Christmas markets
Christmas is once again on its merry way, and Britain's festive markets will soon be opening their doors. Here are some of the best options for mulled wine, traditional wooden toys, ice rinks and much more.
Bath
November 22 to December 9
Over 180 light-strewn stalls will line the streets of Bath this year around the iconic Roman Baths and the Abbey. Nearly everything on sale is either sourced or made locally. Ceramics, glasswear, clothes, personalised presents, toys and homeware are among the items you'll find here – as well as plenty of food and drink.
When you've done enough shopping, head for the ice rink and glow-in-the-dark crazy golf course at nearby Royal Victoria Park (bathonice.com; Nov 16, 2018 to Jan 6, 2019), take a tour of the Roman Baths, or catch this year's pantomime of Peter Pan at the Theatre Royal (Dec 13 to Jan 13). You can also head out on the Christmas Tree Carol Trail (Nov 20 to Jan 1) to spot the ten uniquely-decorated trees and guess the musical theme of each.
bathchristmasmarket.co.uk; visitbath.co.uk
London
November to January (various dates)
Visitors can take their pick from several markets throughout London this festive period, from the traditional Nordic-inspired Southbank Centre Winter Market at Royal Festival Hall Riverside (Nov 9 to Dec 27), to the festive extravagance of Hyde Park Winter Wonderland (Nov 22 to Jan 6), with its giant observation wheel, ice rink, circus shows and ice bar alongside the Christmas market. The pop-up town of Winterville will take over part of Clapham Common from Nov 15 to Dec 23. Billed as London's 'alternative' winter festival, Winterville offers a Street Feast food area, big wheel, fairground, circus, backyard cinema, crazy golf and a roller disco.
Edinburgh
November 17 to January 5
Edinburgh has a host of festive activities taking place well into the New Year. Visitors can choose from the Christmas market in East Princes Street Gardens which has a big wheel and Star Flyer chair ride (Nov 17 to Jan 5), the Johnnie Walker Bothy Bar serving up whisky cocktails and hot toddies (Nov 17 to Jan 5), and Silent Light, the ultimate silent disco beneath over 60,000 lights synchronised to music (Nov 19 to Jan 1).
Birmingham
November 15 to December 23
Frankfurt Christmas Market in Birmingham is one of the largest German markets held outside of Germany and Austria. Visitors can soak up the village atmosphere in Victoria Square while enjoying a range of native fare, including pretzels, schnitzels, bratwursts, roasted almonds, glühwein and weissbeer. This year, Birmingham Cathedral (St Philips) will also host an outdoor market, with the highlight for children being the chance to visit Father Christmas (Nov 15 to Dec 22).
Belfast
November 17 to December 22
Belfast's City Hall gardens are transformed into a village setting for its Christmas market. Visitors can wander around its stalls, sampling festive treats from Belgian chocolates and French tarts to various cheeses and German sausages. As well as authentic continental food, you'll find clothing, arts, crafts and decorations from across Europe as well as a vintage carousel, helter skelter and Santa's Grotto.
Manchester
November 9 to December 23
Manchester hosts several markets throughout the city, incluidng a European market in Albert Square, a German-style market at St Ann's Square and French-themed stalls at King Street. You'll find boutiques and some great food outlets at Exchange Square, and arts and crafts at Brazennose Street with a globally-sourced selection of jewellery, leather goods and speciality foods. There are fairground rides in Cathedral Gardens and more stalls in New Cathedral Street and Market Street. The food this year promises to be a highlight with everything from gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches to hot filled Yorkshire pudding wraps, Dutch frites, espresso martinis, mulled gin and shimmering gold prosecco on offer.
Glasgow
November 9 to December 23
The Glasgow Christmas Market continues at St Enoch Square, with an international array of goods on offer. Visitors can sample Bavarian beers and mulled wine as well as local crispy duck rotisserie, a hog roast and French crepes. The Christmas market at George Square (November 25 to December 31) features craft gifts, live entertaiment and funfair rides.
Cardiff
November 15 to December 23
There's a great range of artwork on sale at this market in the centre of Cardiff – from collage and photographic prints to posters and cards. Other stalls sell children's toys and outfits, glassware and ceramics, knitwear, jewellery and much more. Beyond the market there's a funfair and ice rink at Winter Wonderland (Nov 15 to Jan 6) as well as Santa's Grotto in the atmospheric setting of Cardiff Castle (Nov 22 to Dec 22).
Exeter
November 15 to December 16
Devon's cathedral city hosts its Christmas market on the historic grounds of Cathedral Green. Locals showcase a variety of hand-crafted gifts while the 'food village' is back by popular demand, selling everything from roast hog to baklava and Belgian chocolates to mulled apple gin.
Brighton
November 24 to December 9
Brighton, as usual, is doing things a little differently. Over three weekends in November and December (Nov 24-25, Dec 1-2 and Dec 8-9), local artists will open their homes, studios and workshops to sell a range of arts and crafts direct to Christmas shoppers in the Artists Open Houses scheme. Openings – at around 60 venues – will offer up paintings, prints, upcycled goods, knitwear, jewellery, sculpture and textiles while several artists will also hold workshops including drawing classes, craft activities and puppet shows.
Winchester
November 17 to December 20
The medieval city of Winchester has one of the largest Christmas markets in the south of England, with around 100 wooden chalets housed in Cathedral Close, alongside an open-air skating rink. Stalls sell a range of craft items, including Christmas decorations, jewellery, hats, belts, artwork and wooden toys and there's a German theme to the food and drink offerings. At the far end of the British Crafts Village, you'll find a charming nativity scene.
Cirencester
December 1, 15 and 16
This lovely Cotswolds town is full of Christmas activities and events, with the Sparkles Advent Festival and Market on December 1, when the festive lights are switched on, and a Christmas Market selling a range of food and gifts on December 15 and 16. Both will be held in the Market Place.
Nottingham
November 15 to December 31
Nottingham's gifts and crafts market is full of festive delights, from roasted chestnuts, cider and mulled wine to carol singing. The market is spread over Smithy Row, Albert Street and Lister Gate. Visitors can also enjoy Nottingham's Winter Wonderland on the Old Market Square, with winter-themed bars, a traditional carousel, children's rides, an ice rink and live music.
nottinghamwinterwonderland.co.uk
Leeds
November 9 to December 22
Christkindelmarkt, a German Christmas market set in the heart of Leeds at Millennium Square, offers over 40 stalls and delicacies including bratwurst sausages, goulash and schnitzels as well as carousel rides. There are free children's activities every Sunday morning, including face painting, balloon modelling, sing-alongs and creative arts and crafts. Look out for winter wonderland princesses and other costumed characters. The Ski Hutte bar in an alpine chalet-style setting aims to create an apres ski atmosphere, with music.
Portsmouth
November 30 to December 2
This year Portsmouth Historic Dockyard is celebrating one of the city's most famous sons. The Dickens Christmas Festival will see streets decked out for a Victorian Christmas with each zone themed around one of the author's famous novels. Alongside the traditional market, there will be characters including Miss Havisham, Fagin and Scrooge, a living snow globe and a gin and prosecco parlour.
Canterbury
November 16 to December 24
Visitors to Canterbury's small traditional market can enjoy the festive spirit in an intimate setting at Whitefriars Square. Its colourful cabins offer up everything you'd expect from a larger market – German mulled wine, Christmas music and hand-crafted gifts.
Historic houses and castles
(November and December)
A Christmas Gift Fair will be held in the grounds of atmospheric Leeds Castle this year, which has been decorated with cinnamon and orange wreaths, pine trees and sparkling lights. The market will open each weekend and feature live music, children's rides, a Victorian carousel and other fairground attractions (Nov 24-25, Dec 1-2, 8-9, 15-16).
The Country Homes and Interiors Christmas Fair will take place on the lawns in front of Stonor Park in Oxfordshire from Nov 22-25 – and the house itself wil be decked out in festive style.
A Christmas Fair and Fine Food Market will run at Burghley House in Lincolnshire from Dec 6-9 (for a full list of the 100 exhibitors, see burghley.co.uk/christmasfair2018).
Have we missed a corker? Leave your suggestions in the box below
