To help you get into the holiday spirit, we’ve drawn up a shortlist of the five best Christmas markets in the UK for 2024. These markets have something for the entire family – rides for the kids, quaint shops and indulgent food stalls. Our top 5 UK Christmas markets for 2024 are:
- Manchester Christmas Market
- Birmingham Frankfurt Christmas Market
- Bath Christmas Market
- York Christmas Market
- Winter Wonderland
Read on to find out what festive treats await at these great UK Christmas markets and how to get there by train. Avoid the nightmare of city-centre parking and travel by rail!
1. Manchester Christmas Market
Manchester will have Christmas Markets popping up throughout the city centre during the festive period. A whopping 200 wooden chalets selling food, drink and gifts will be spread across nine locations. There'll be food stalls, bars and a giant illuminated Santa Claus watching over proceedings.
Visit Cathedral Gardens market for funfair rides, an ice rink, and entertainment (including kids' shows) every week from Thursday to Sunday! Next, head to King Street for a gin bar stocked with over 100 varieties. Then wander on to Piccadilly Gardens, where you’ll find festive bars offering up locally brewed ales and a stage with live music and DJs.
Opening dates: 8th November – 22nd December 2024
Getting there: Manchester’s main station, Manchester Piccadilly, is around 10 minutes away on foot from Piccadilly Gardens. If you don’t fancy the walk, hop on the Metrolink tram (Blue, Purple or Yellow line) for one stop and get off at Piccadilly Gardens. The fast train from London Euston takes just over two hours to reach Manchester Piccadilly.
2. Birmingham Frankfurt Christmas Market
As you might have guessed from the name, the Birmingham Frankfurt Christmas Market brings German-inspired festivities to the Midlands. In fact, Birmingham is twinned with Frankfurt, so the market welcomes several authentic German stalls. It’s the largest authentic Christmas market outside of Austria and Germany—not to be missed!
The stalls this year will stretch from Victoria Square along New Street in central Birmingham. Have a browse through the huge range of artisanal gifts on offer: hand-carved toys, Christmas decorations, soaps and candles. Or, indulge in traditional German bratwurst, beer and pretzels. Victoria Square will play host to a live music programme throughout the season on its bandstand.
Opening dates: 1st November – 24th December 2024
Getting there: Birmingham New Street station is a stone’s throw from the German Market, just five minutes on foot. The fast train from London Euston to New Street takes 1h 22m. The slower trains from Marylebone arrive at Birmingham Moor Street, which is a 12-minute walk from the Market.
3. Bath Christmas Market
Bath’s Christmas Market more than captures the festive spirit. Over 170 stalls will open in the middle of town, centred around Abbey Churchyard and the Roman Baths. Bath Street, Abbeygate Street, York Street and Union Street will all be lined with pretty wooden chalets. The market has proved so popular in recent years that it was extended to include even more food options on Milsom Street – including raclette-covered jacked potatoes (yum!), roasted chestnuts and crumbles. The market focuses on companies from Bath and the South West, so you’ll be supporting home-grown produce from small businesses.
There's loads to do at Bath Christmas Market besides stuff yourself silly with food. The Bath on Ice skating rink returns to Royal Victoria Park, as does an 18-hole glow-in-the-dark mini-golf course! You can also catch a pantomime performance at the Theatre Royal or visit Santa’s Grotto at Milsom Place.
Opening dates: 28th November – 15th December 2024
Getting there: Hop on a train to Bath Spa, the city’s main railway station. The Christmas market is just an eight-minute walk away. Trains from London Paddington take around an hour and a half to reach Bath Spa, while from Bristol Temple Meads it’s a mere 15-minute journey. As you might have guessed, we’re quite big on trains, so we get rather excited by the fact that you can also travel to the Bath Christmas Market on a vintage steam locomotive!
4. York Christmas Market
If you think York is pretty, wait until you see it in the winter time! York Christmas Market welcomed over one million visitors last year and returns this winter to bring some festive cheer to York’s quaint medieval streets. The main attraction will be on Parliament Street and St Sampson Square, where most chalets selling artisanal gifts and food will be located. However, there are events taking place all over the city: think candlelit concerts in the city's old churches, carolling in the streets and and warm nights in the theatre watching the seasonal panto.
And we can’t help but mention another heritage train experience, the Santa Specials, run by North Yorkshire Moors Railway and available on set dates from 30th November to 24th December. This steam train journey begins at Pickering Station in North Yorkshire, where you’ll board a classic NYMR steam train. During the journey, the little ones will meet Santa and even receive some exclusive gifts.
Opening dates: 14th November – 22nd December 2024
Getting there: York station is the city’s principal railway station and LNER's super-fast Azuma train from London Kings Cross can get you there in under two hours. Once you arrive, the Christmas market is a just 13-minute walk from the station. Walk through the Memorial Gardens and cross the River Ouse on Station Road.
5. Winter Wonderland, London
The final market, but by no means least, is none other than Hyde Park's Winter Wonderland. Jam-packed with attractions, live entertainment, a traditional Christmas market filled with gifts, decorations and food stalls and ice-skating, Winter Wonderland has it all. Families can pay a visit to Santa Land, with festive rides the kids will love and of course Santa himself at home in his grotto.
For those that want to make a night of it, be sure to visit the Bavarian Village, with plenty of bars, outdoor seating, restaurants and of course, the Bavarian Hall where you can dance to live music all night long.
Opening dates: 21st November 2024 – 5th January 2025
Getting there: The nearest national rail stations to Hyde Park are Paddington, Victoria, and Marylebone. If you're taking the tube, aim for either Marble Arch (Central Line), or Hyde Park Corner (Piccadilly Line).