There are some fantastic Christmas markets in the UK and they are located in lots of the major town and cities so you will never have to travel far to find one close to you. Christmas markets often start around a month or so before the real Christmas festivities get underway but are a great way to get you into the spirit! At Christmas markets you can wrap up warm, eat festive foods and maybe even enjoy a mulled wine so here are 15 of the best Christmas Markets in UK.
1.Nottingham Winter Wonderland
Nottingham Winter Wonderland is held in the Old Market Square in the centre of the city and usually runs from the end of November until the start of January opening daily from 10am until 6pm. The unusual thing about the Nottingham Christmas market is that it includes an ice rink, it also has bars and a food hall and the usual array of market stalls and nativity themes.
2. Belfast Christmas and Continental Market
Located in the City Hall Gardens, Belfast Christmas and Continental Market runs from the middle of November until just prior to Christmas. You can be sure that you will receive a true Irish welcome at one of the many stalls or at the two bars where you can enjoy a Guinness or two.
Open from 10am-8pm Monday-Wednesday, 10am-10pm Thursday-Saturday and 1pm-6pm on Sundays.
3. Edinburgh European Christmas Market
The Edinburgh European Christmas Market has been held below the Mound for the past 20 years. It is a popular and traditional market that offers everything that you would expect from a Christmas market. The market runs from the end of November until the start of January.
4. Birmingham German Christmas Market
The Birmingham Christmas market starts with the city’s Christmas lights being switched on around the middle of November. Although it is predominantly a German market there are plenty of local treats available. The market takes up a huge part of Birmingham city centre and offers plenty of gifts and refreshments.
5. Hyde Park Winter Wonderland
As the name would suggest, the Christmas market is held in Hyde Park from the end of November until the start of January. Taking on almost the atmosphere of a circus, the market has an observation wheel, ice rink and frozen sculptures as well as shows from Zippos Circus.
6. Worcester Victorian Christmas Fayre
This Victorian market is held annually in the heart of Worcester city centre. Home to around 150 stalls that are manned by people in costume, the market is open for a long weekend at the end of November. The stalls are open the following hours: Thursday noon to 9pm, Friday 11am to 9pm, Saturday 10am to 8pm, and Sunday 11am to 5pm.
7. Leamington Spa Yuletide Fayre
The Leamington Spa Christmas market runs from the middle of November until just prior to Christmas but only on Sundays. It is open from 10am until 4pm and includes French and Italian foods plus a farmers’ market on the final day.
8. Warwick Victorian Christmas Evening
The market is held in the historic town centre for one day at the end of November to mark the turning on of the town’s Christmas lights.
9. Ludlow Medieval Christmas Fayre
Held on the last weekend in November, the Ludlow Medieval Christmas Fayre has, as you would expect, medieval knights, maidens, plenty of stalls and the all important beer tent in the wonderful surroundings of Ludlow Castle.
10. Cardiff Christmas Market
Located in the heart of Cardiff City Centre, the market runs from the middle of November until the weekend before Christmas. The market has a Welsh theme and usually around 120 local businesses attend selling quite literally everything that you could imagine.
11. Staffordshire Winter Wonderland
The Staffordshire market is help in Newcastle-under-Lyme from the middle of November until the start of January. There are the usual stalls, Santa’s Grotto, choirs and fireworks. Open from 10am until 10pm daily except Christmas Day and New Years Day.
12. Wrexham Victorian Christmas Market
Held on the 2nd Thursday in December, the Wrexham market has around 70 stalls assembled on Church Street and has a very Victorian theme both inside and outside of the church. The market is open from noon until 8pm.
13. Cheltenham Christmas Market
Held on the Promenade, the market is usually open for around 2 weeks from the start of December and has a number of local traders and an international influence with a heavy German flavour. The opening times are: Open 10am to 5pm Monday to Wednesday, 10am to 8pm Thursday to Saturday, 11am to 5pm Sundays.
14. Blenheim Palace Living Crafts for Christmas Fayre
Held at Blenheim Palace, on the third weekend in November, the market has around 150 British stalls selling high quality goods of various descriptions. The market is open from 10am until 5.30pm and has specialist food and drinks stalls.
15. Gloucester Quays
As the name would suggest, the market is held at Gloucester Quays on the third weekend in November and is a Victorian Market with plenty of traditional characters open from 10am until 7pm daily.