Christmas markets are the busiest part of the British events calendar outside summer, and they are festivals in every sense: temporary, seasonal, built around food, drink, craft and music, and gone again within weeks. They also solve the problem of what to do between October and April, when the camping season is firmly over.
When the season runs
Most UK Christmas markets open in mid to late November and close somewhere between the week before Christmas and Christmas Eve. A smaller number run into the new year. Winter light trails at gardens, estates and zoos follow a similar pattern, and craft fairs run right through from October.
The quietest times are weekday mornings. The busiest are the final two weekends before Christmas, when some city centre markets become genuinely difficult to move around.
The main types
- Large city markets. Birmingham's Frankfurt Christmas Market is among the biggest of its kind outside Germany and Austria. Manchester, Edinburgh, Nottingham, Cardiff, Leeds and Belfast all run substantial city centre markets with stalls, food and drink.
- Historic market towns and cathedral cities. Bath, Winchester, York, Lincoln and Chester are the classics, where the setting does much of the work. These are the ones worth travelling for and the ones that get busiest.
- Cathedral and abbey fairs, often indoors and craft-focused, usually over a single long weekend.
- Country estate and garden events, combining a market with a light trail, which are the most family-friendly option.
- Village and church hall fairs, which are free, small, charitable and frequently the best value day out of the lot.
Getting it right
- Go on a weekday or go early. Saturday afternoon in December in a cathedral city is the worst possible version of the experience.
- Use the train. City centre parking in December is expensive, full, and a long way from the market.
- Book accommodation months ahead for the famous ones. Hotel prices in Bath and York move sharply for market weekends.
- Take cash as well as a card. Small craft stalls and charity fairs are often cash-friendly and signal in a crowded city centre is unreliable.
- Dress for standing still outdoors. This is the thing people get wrong. You will be stationary in the cold for hours, which is colder than walking.
- Check the mug deposit. Most markets charge a refundable deposit on mulled wine mugs. Keep the mug or get the money back.
- Dogs are usually fine at outdoor markets on a lead, but not in indoor halls.
Beyond the markets
The winter calendar also carries light trails, carol concerts, pantomimes, ice rinks, New Year street events and a full programme of indoor music weekenders and film festivals. Hogmanay in Edinburgh is the largest organised New Year event in the country and sells out a long way in advance.
Frequently asked questions
When do UK Christmas markets open?
Most open in mid to late November and close in the week before Christmas, with a few running into the new year.
Which is the biggest Christmas market in the UK?
Birmingham's Frankfurt Christmas Market is generally regarded as the largest authentic German market in the country, with Manchester and Edinburgh also running very large city centre events.
Are UK Christmas markets free to enter?
City centre markets are almost always free. Ticketed events are usually light trails, estate events and indoor fairs.
What is the best time to visit to avoid crowds?
Weekday mornings, and any time before the final two weekends ahead of Christmas.
