With the festive season just around the corner, Christmas markets are popping up in cities across the UK. Christmas markets in the UK are an unforgettable event! With tantalizing treats, unique crafts, and the warmth and joy that characterizes the Christmas season, Christmas markets are the ideal place to be during the Christmas period! You can pick up unique gifts for friends and family at these markets and enjoy a wide range of delicious snacks, twinkling lights, and live entertainment. Today, I’ve compiled a list of the 15 best Christmas markets UK to make it easier to experience the 2024 Christmas season.
15 Best Christmas Markets UK
1. Hyde Park Winter Wonderland
📆Opening date: 21 November 2024 – 5 January 202
📍Location: Hyde Park, London
🎟Tickets: free booking at off-peak times, £5-£7.50 at all other times
Hyde Park Winter Wonderland returns on 21st November. It is one of London’s largest and most iconic Christmas markets, with the UK’s largest outdoor ice rink, an ice bar, a huge range of festive food stalls, a German beer tent, even a karaoke hut for hire, and, of course, the essential rides! Winter Wonderland can enter at off-peak times, but advance booking is required. Standard tickets start at £5, and peak-time tickets start at £7.50. When you book £25 worth of attractions, food, drink, rides, or games, your entry ticket will be free no matter when you want to go.
2. Southbank Centre Winter Market
📆Opening date: 1 November 2024 – 5 January 2025
📍Location: Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, London SE1 8XX
🎟Tickets: Free
The annual Christmas Market on Queen’s Road in the South Bank center starts in early November and is one of the liveliest Christmas markets in London. The market is usually located on the banks of the River Thames and offers a colorful experience for visitors and residents alike! With a variety of pop-up bars and street food stalls, you can sample delicious food and drink from different cuisines and cultures, such as truffle burgers, duck tacos, Thai street food, Lebanese-Mediterranean cuisine, mulled wine, hot chocolate, etc. You can also shop for jewelry and decorations handmade by local artisans and creatives and take in views of the London Eye and Big Ben across the river!
3. Edinburgh Christmas Market
📆Opening date: 15 November 2024 – 4 January 2025
📍Location: Edinburgh city centre (East and West Princes Street Gardens, George Street, St Andrew Square)
🎟Tickets: Free
Edinburgh’s Christmas Market 2024 will run for 50 days and will be home to a host of celebrations, markets, performances, and more, bringing the city to life at the most beautiful time of the year. As one of the best Christmas markets UK, there will be over 70 stalls in different areas of the city selling a wide range of handmade festive decorations, gifts, and crafts from local artisans; East Princes Street Gardens features rides such as a giant Ferris wheel and West Princes Street Gardens is a family fun zone, plus there will be live carol singing, musical performances and more, George Street boasts the spectacular Edinburgh Christmas Ice Skating Rink, and Britain’s largest illuminated Christmas Tree Maze will return. Strolling through the winding streets of Edinburgh, visitors can also experience a range of fun Christmas activities.
4. St Nicholas Fair
📆Opening date: 14 November – 22 December 2024
📍Location: York City Centre (Parliament Street and St Sampson’s Square)
🎟Tickets: Free
As usual, visitors can look forward to the York Festive Wonderland and the Scandinavian-style cottages lining Parliament Stree and Sampson’s Square, all decorated with twinkling lights and piled high with toys and presents. Soak up York’s medieval charm over Christmas, including spectacular architecture, cobbled streets, York Ministerial Street, Butcher’s Row, and the Jorvik Viking Centre. With the smell of spiced mulled wine and delicious food in the air at St Nicholas Fair, it’s also the place where Christmas in York is the best place to open up this season. There’s also a fantastic range of Christmas events on offer, including the famous Christmas Market on the city’s famous Butcher’s Row, where there are over 200 stalls selling crafts, food, drink, and festive gifts, as well as traditional entertainment and children’s rides for all the family.
5. Manchester Christmas Markets
📆Opening date: 8 November – 22 December 2024
📍Location: Manchester City Centre (King Street West, St Ann’s Square, Exchange Street, New Cathedral Street, etc)
🎟Tickets: free entry to the Christmas Market, adult tickets for the ice rink from £14
One of Christmas’s most unmissable events is the atmospheric Manchester Christmas Market. From 8 November to 22 December 2024, Manchester city center will be transformed into a festive haven for the 26th Manchester Christmas Market. This year’s Christmas Market is more significant than ever, with 240 iconic wooden ski chalet stalls spread across nine locations in the city center, offering handmade gifts, beautiful crafts, and a variety of delicious food, attracting locals and visitors alike. Piccadilly’s Winter Garden has been extended this year to include more space and stalls. Two gorgeous festive marquees are decorated with twinkling lights, providing more shelter for Christmas shoppers and comfort in the cold weather.
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6. Bath Christmas Market
📆Opening date: 28 November – 15 December 2024
📍Location: streets around Bath Abbey
🎟Tickets: Free
From 28 November – 15 December, the 2024/25 Bath Christmas Market is returning! As one of the most prestigious Christmas markets in the UK, and indeed Europe, deeply rooted in Georgian culture, the Bath Christmas Market attracts tens of thousands of visitors annually. With over 170 huts dotted around the streets of Bath this season, visitors can purchase festive items such as exquisite woolly hats, spiced rum, beautiful Christmas decorations, fine jewelry, and warming mulled wine, and don’t miss out on the street entertainment provided by classical bands and local choirs.
7. Frankfurt Christmas Market
📆Opening date: 1 November – 24 December 2024
📍Location: Victoria Square and New Street
🎟Tickets: Free
The Birmingham Christmas Market has been around for over 20 years, and every winter, the Birmingham city center comes alive with the arrival of the Christmas Market! Birmingham’s Christmas Market is the largest German Frankfurt-style Christmas Market outside of Germany and Austria and offers delicious food and drink and a wide range of goodies. The 2024 Frankfurt Christmas Market has over 180 stalls offering a wide variety of goods and treats, plus there may be magic, clown theatre, bands singing, and more on the performance stage in Victoria Square.
8. Bristol Christmas Markets
📆Opening date: 1 November – 23 December 2024
📍Location: Broadmead, Bristol BS1 3EA
🎟Tickets: Free
Bristol Christmas Market 2024 has over forty unique stalls selling all sorts of beautiful Christmas crafts such as hand-knitted scarves, hats, and more, offering an abundance of varied treats from bratwursts, crepes, Guinness and much more – even the air smells sweet! The Ferris wheel and the miniature train are a must, especially if you go for a great view at night. A highlight of the market is the Jäger Barn Bar, a cozy spot for mulled wine and warm drinks, with live music creating a. Visitors can also enjoy a private experience in a gondola, seating up to six people, for an intimate winter escape. Families, the Christmas Express train ride, and the Candy Factory Escape Room add extra excitement for kids and adults alike, making this a joyful event for all ages.
9. Christmas in Covent Garden
📆Open date: 11 November – 23 December
📍Location: Covent Garden Market, London, WC2E 7QH
🎟Tickets: Free
The Covent Garden Christmas Market is a must-visit when spending Christmas in London! Covent Garden’s giant 55-foot-tall Christmas tree, decorated with 30,000 LED lights, is one of the best places to hit at Christmas in London. The total number of lights on the Square is a mind-boggling 260,000, and when these LED beams are lit on 12 November, they will illuminate the entire Square throughout the festive season, with the switching on of the lights marking the start of the seven-week Living Christmas event. There will be flash shops, family-friendly experiences, great performances, and, of course, lots of warming mulled wine and Christmas treats to help us enjoy the festive buzz in the cold. Santa’s sleigh will also be back, with reindeer bringing it to the Square for a perfect photo opportunity, before heading to ‘Festive Thursday’ for live entertainment and evening shopping.
10. Cardiff Christmas Markets
📆Opening date: 14 November – 23 December
Location: St John Street, Working Street, Hills Street and Trinity Street
🎟Tickets: Entry is free!
Starting on 1 4 November, the Cardiff Christmas Market 2024 will offer a festive experience full of traditional Welsh charm. Spread throughout Cardiff’s city centre, the market features handmade goodies from bespoke jewellery and ceramics to unique wooden gifts made by local artisans. Food stalls offer everything from classic Welsh cakes and Glamorgan sausages to mulled wine and hot cider, ensuring visitors enjoy seasonal delights with a local flavour. In addition, the Winter Wonderland at nearby Cardiff Castle features an ice rink, rides and the popular Sur la Piste ski-lodge bar, ideal for enjoying a hot chocolate after festive shopping.
11. Glasgow Christmas Market
📆Opening date: 9 November – 5 January 2024
📍Location: Glasgow City Centre
🎟Tickets: Free
The Christmas spirit is about to fill the streets of Glasgow! Approved by the Glasgow City Council, the Christmas Markets and Playgrounds will open in grand style in George Square and St Enoch Square, respectively, which are some of the most beautiful Christmas Markets in the United Kingdom. Christmas is officially back this year, with Glasgow’s Winter Carnival kicking off with the opening of St Enoch Square’s Market and Fairground on 9 November, while George Square’s Christmas Land will be transformed into a place of festive fun on 23 November! and a bar area, as well as a distinctive snow globe for photo opportunities. With a capacity of 2,000 to ensure everyone can enjoy the festive atmosphere safely and orderly, George Square’s Christmas Wonderland will be sparkling on 23 November. It will remain open until 5 January, with 19 retail and food stalls, rides, an ice skating rink, a bar, and a snow globe photo booth, with a maximum capacity of 4,000 people.
12. Leeds Christmas Market
📆Opening date: 22 November – 22 December 2024
📍Location: City Square and Millennium Square
🎟Tickets: Free
Visit Leeds Christmas Market, consistently recognized as the best Christmas market in the UK, full of energy and creativity. 2024/25 Christmas Market has moved its stalls to City Square and Millennium Square and the city centre will be transformed into a winter wonderland for Christmas. With twinkling lights and music, the market offers some of the best views and music in Leeds over the Christmas period and is full of traditional festive snacks, from hog roasts to toasties, plus hot chocolate, cold beers, mulled wine and much more. With craft stalls from all over the world, there is festive warmth and joy around every corner.
13. Newcastle Christmas Market
📆Opening date: 16 November – 22 December 2024
📍Location: Grey’s Monument, Grainger Street, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
🎟Tickets: Free
The 2024 Newcastle Christmas Market is one of Newcastle’s highlights of the Christmas season and is open from 16 November to 22 December. Newcastle City Council has announced that this year’s Christmas Market will be even bigger than last year’s. The bustling festive market spans several central locations, including Grey’s Monument, Grey Street, Granger Street, and Old Eldon Square. This year’s festive celebrations will have something for everyone, with a new Christmas Village in Old Eldon Square offering family-friendly activities such as a Santa’s Story Tent, Elf Workshops, and a Rock ‘n’ Roll Reindeer Stage. On Monument and Grey Streets, the bustling market stalls are back, offering a variety of unique gifts and seasonal treats, such as the Christmas winter essential – mulled wine.
14. Liverpool Christmas Markets
📆Opening date: 16 November – 24 December 2024
📍Location: St George’s Plateau, outside St George’s Hall
🎟Tickets: Free
The Liverpool Christmas Markets, said to be one of the best in the UK, returns to St George’s Quarter on 16 November. Thousands of handmade goods are lined up in neat and orderly rows, waiting for you; whether you want to buy Christmas decorations or pick out a unique gift for someone else, this is the place to be. For foodies, don’t miss out on the fun and excitement of the Christmas season – grab a glass of bubbly and search for some of the most popular snacks on offer! You can also enjoy live entertainment, rides and a giant ferris wheel for all ages.
15. Belfast Christmas Market
📆Opening date: 16 November – 22 December 2024
📍Location: Belfast City Hall
🎟Tickets: Free
As the setting for Game of Thrones, Belfast is famous for its annual Christmas Market, one of the best Christmas markets UK. The 2024 Belfast Christmas Market opens on 16 November and runs until 22 December in the city centre on the Belfast City Hall Grounds. The market is renowned for its European flavour and international cuisine and attracts stallholders and visitors worldwide. The market’s speciality stalls include French roasted chestnuts, German sausages, Belgian waffles, and Spanish hot chocolate and beef stew. In addition to this, the market also features local Irish crafts, delicate accessories and speciality gifts, making it a great place to shop for Christmas presents. The Belfast Christmas Market also features amusement rides such as a carousel and Ferris wheel, providing a fun Christmas experience for children and families.
Tips for 2024 British Christmas Market
1. Book your accommodation in advance: Christmas markets in popular cities such as London and Edinburgh are usually overcrowded, so it’s best to book your accommodation online to avoid peak times and ad hoc price increases during the festive season.
2. Book tickets in advance: Although most of the Christmas markets do not require tickets to enter, you need to book tickets in advance for the entertainment facilities inside the markets.
3. Plan your transport routes: Traffic around the Christmas markets is congested, and many event areas are pedestrianised. Public transport or walking tours are much more convenient, especially in big city markets such as London’s Winter Wonderland or Manchester’s Christmas Markets.
4. Wear warm and comfortable clothing: During the Christmas period, it is cold and rainy in the UK, and Christmas markets are mostly outdoors, so it is important to wear waterproof, warm clothing and comfortable shoes.
5. Prepare payment methods in advance: many stalls may only accept cash, so try to have change on hand, but more and more markets are supporting mobile payments, so find out how to pay at the market to make your shopping easier.
Conclusion
These are the recommendations for the best Christmas markets UK 2024; whether it’s in London’s bustling winter wonderland or Edinburgh’s romantic historic neighbourhoods, the Christmas markets in the UK 2024 bring the magic of the festive season to every corner. From traditional crafts and food to unique entertainment and family experiences, each market is full of a festive atmosphere and is the perfect place to enjoy the Christmas spirit. Whether you’re looking for that special gift or want to spend time with friends and family in a cosy festive atmosphere, the UK’s Christmas markets will keep you warm and cheerful this winter.
FAQ
Which is the best UK Christmas market?
Every Christmas market in the UK is the best Christmas market of all time, all with their own unique character. Here are the Best 10 Christmas Markets in the UK 2024.
- Hyde Park Winter Wonderland
- Southbank Centre Winter Market
- Edinburgh Christmas Market
- St Nicholas Fair
- Manchester Christmas Markets6
- Bath Christmas Market
- Frankfurt Christmas Market
- Bristol Christmas Market
- Christmas in Covent Garden
- Cardiff Christmas Market
Which UK city has the biggest Christmas market?
The largest Christmas market in the UK is the Manchester Christmas Market. Spread across eight areas with over 300 stalls offering festive food, unique gifts and more, Manchester Christmas Market is the UK’s largest Christmas market in 2024!
When does the 2024 British Christmas market open?
The 2024 British Christmas market starts in early November and is introduced in January 2025, lasting over 50 days. The start and end times of Christmas markets vary from city to city.
Where is the oldest Christmas market in the UK?
The oldest Christmas market in the UK is the Lincoln Christmas Market, held in the historic city of Lincoln. It began in 1982 and is inspired by traditional German Christmas markets, particularly those in Lincoln’s twin town of Neustadt in Germany. 2024 Lincoln Christmas Market has announced its permanent cancellation, mainly due to its popularity, leading to severe overcrowding and raising safety concerns.
