The UK’s Christmas markets, beautifully planned.

Aberdeen

Aberdeen pairs its Christmas Village with a separate local-makers market, giving a visit two different rhythms.

Edinburgh

Princes Street Gardens, festive rides and a capital-city break.

Glasgow

Two distinct venues, winter rides and a programme still growing.

Bath

A trail of chalets through Bath’s historic central streets.

Bristol

Make an afternoon of Bristol’s festive stalls, then follow the lights back to Broadmead for music and something delicious.

Cheltenham

Regency streets, wooden chalets and a December afternoon made for finding thoughtful gifts along the Promenade.

Exeter

Chalets on Cathedral Green, with a cathedral visit alongside.

Gloucester

Spend a winter weekend by the docks, with gift stalls, a good lunch and the water reflecting the afternoon lights.

Salisbury

A small cluster of festive chalets, a warming drink and a stroll towards the Cathedral Close: Salisbury is made for an easy Christmas day together.

Belfast

City Hall stalls, local makers and international food.

Derry~Londonderry

Derry~Londonderry’s Cathedral Quarter Christmas Market is back on Pump Street for 2–15 December 2026.

Birmingham

German-market flavours, a city-square stage and a classic festive circuit.

Lichfield

An annual Christmas fayre organised by Lichfield Chamber of Trade and Commerce, with outdoor streets and indoor gift stalls.

Lincoln

A new, ticketed cathedral market in the uphill quarter, with gifts and seasonal treats inside a remarkable historic setting.

Nottingham

Market shopping meets skating above Old Market Square.

Stratford-upon-Avon

Four market days across two carefully chosen weekends.

Worcester

Four days of gift stalls, choirs and Victorian characters in Worcester’s historic streets, with time to stop for hot food or drink.

Cambridge

Begin among the chalets on Parker’s Piece, then leave time for Cambridge’s market square and the separately dated Mill Road Winter Fair.

Canterbury

Three trails of colourful huts, a cathedral backdrop and something delicious around the next corner: give Canterbury a whole day and wander between its three market quarters.

London

Riverside chalets, a West End rink and Hyde Park attractions.

Norwich

A German-inspired Christmas market in Chapelfield Gardens, with local and regional makers, food, drinks and entertainment.

Oxford

Come for the Broad Street lights, stay for the music and a walk through Oxford’s beautiful centre. A warm drink and a little time to spare are the best companions.

Winchester

Wooden chalets tucked into the cathedral grounds.

Cardiff

Come for the handmade gifts; stay for the arcades, a warming drink and the pleasure of finding something with a story.

Swansea

Wooden chalets, a warming Alpine Bar and December artisan weekends in Swansea’s pedestrian shopping streets.

Chester

Handmade gifts, reusable mugs and a cathedral backdrop.

Durham

A three-day city festival linking the Craft & Producers’ Marquee on Palace Green with the outdoor market and independent businesses below.

Leeds

City Square traders, festive bars and the station next door.

Liverpool

A new rink, winter attractions and stalls on St George’s Plateau.

Manchester

Ten locations, new food stops and a whole city to explore.

Newcastle

NE1’s Christmas markets spread around Grey’s Monument and the neighbouring streets, with a separate Christmas Village at Old Eldon Square.

York

Yorkshire makers and a music-free morning shopping window.

Cologne

Step out of the station and Cologne’s Cathedral is already doing the scene-setting. Give Roncalliplatz a slow browse, make time for something delicious, then follow the old-town lanes towards another little world of lights.

Nuremberg

Red-and-white roofs, little gold angels and the smell of gingerbread make Nuremberg a Christmas classic. Come for a proper old-town weekend: a slow market browse, a warm lunch and a second visit when the square lights up.

Vienna

A glowing City Hall, chestnuts in a paper cone and a whole park of festive diversions: Vienna makes a wonderfully generous Christmas weekend.

Prague

Church spires, a magnificent tree and the smell of warm spices: build a Prague weekend around two squares and plenty of unhurried wandering.

Strasbourg

Follow Strasbourg’s decorated lanes from one Christmas square to the next, with time for a bag of bredle, a warm drink and the Grand Sapin after dark. Two nights give this lovely city room to unfold.

Bruges

Little squares, bright chalets and canals to wander between: Bruges is made for a Christmas weekend with chocolate stops and no great rush.

Berlin

A grand square, craft tents and a whole city of different markets: let Gendarmenmarkt anchor a Berlin Christmas weekend.

Dresden

Stollen, a great Christmas pyramid and the old city around you: make the Altmarkt the heart of a Dresden Advent break.

Copenhagen

Make room for both Tivoli’s Christmas lights and the city’s open squares, with gløgg and plenty of warm pauses between them.

Salzburg

A starry canopy, cathedral squares and a proper reason to pause over something warm: Salzburg makes a wonderfully compact Advent weekend.

Budapest

Two grand Pest squares, Hungarian crafts and warming treats: give Budapest an evening at the Basilica and another visit to Vörösmarty tér.

Kraków

A vast medieval square, wooden stalls and the Cloth Hall at its heart: settle into Kraków for a slow Polish Advent weekend.

Colmar

Half-timbered streets, small squares and a string of Christmas markets: Colmar rewards a gentle two-day wander through Alsace.