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Christmas Market
w:Durham Cathedral from w:Palace Green, with Palace Green Library to the right and Bishop Cosin's Almshouses and the Pemberton Rooms on the left

Durham / Christmas 2026

Durham Christmas Festival

Palace Green crafts and Market Place food reward a planned route.

4–6 December 2026 · Outdoor Market Place and Market Hall shopping are free. Craft & Producers’ Marquee £5 on the door or £4.50 online in advance; accompanying children 16 or under free. Friday carer-and-person-cared-for combined-ticket and student-ID offers: see organiser terms.

By The Off to the… team · Updated 24 October 2026

See the 2026 dates

Archive 2020. Photo: TSP / CC BY-SA 4.0

At a glance

2026 dates
4–6 December 2026
Opening hours
Craft & Producers’ Marquee: Friday/Saturday 9am–5.30pm; Sunday 9am–4.30pm. Outdoor Market Place: daily 9am–5pm.
Entry
Outdoor Market Place and Market Hall shopping are free. Craft & Producers’ Marquee £5 on the door or £4.50 online in advance; accompanying children 16 or under free. Friday carer-and-person-cared-for combined-ticket and student-ID offers: see organiser terms.
Rail / nearest useful station
Durham
Best time to go
Daylight first, then return for the lights (our planning suggestion)
Setting
Palace Green, Market Place and Durham Market Hall

Parking: See parking and park-and-ride

Dogs: Compare the published pet policies

Our verdict

Go if…

You want to combine a craft marquee with the city’s other market stops.

Skip if…

You need a flat route without hills or cobbles.

Best day to go

Start with the Craft & Producers’ Marquee, then leave time for the steep route down to Market Place.

Our top tip

If the climb to Palace Green is difficult, arrange the free wheelchair-accessible taxi from the bottom of Market Place; confirm the final return with the driver.

How we choose and check our guides

The market

Begin Durham with time on your side. The Christmas Festival links the city’s shopping streets with Palace Green, so it rewards a leisurely route rather than a dash between stalls. Browse the outdoor market in Market Place, call into the Market Hall and make your way uphill when you are ready for the Craft & Producers’ Marquee. The marquee has paid admission; leave enough time inside to look carefully at the work rather than rushing through with your coat still zipped to your chin.

This is a city-wide celebration organised by Durham University and Durham Markets Company, with local partners helping bring it together. The setting is a large part of the pleasure: the climb towards the cathedral changes the pace, while independent shops and indoor stops turn the walk into part of the outing. The programme includes family entertainment, and the organisers say the Children’s Lantern Parade takes place on Sunday 6 December. Check its separate reservation arrangements if that is the moment you hope to share.

Lunch is worth planning around Palace Green’s street-food stalls. The stalls range from Greek wraps and gyros to burgers, freshly stretched pizza and sweet crêpes. There is seating for a breather, so let everyone choose what appeals before settling down. If allergies or access requirements shape your day, ask specific questions in advance and check the menus again at the stall.

Durham’s beautiful older streets can mean cobbles, slopes and busy stretches. Build in a warm indoor pause and consult the festival’s access guidance before setting out. A free accessible taxi arrangement is described for visitors unable to walk uphill, with changes during the weekend that need checking. Finish with one last look at your favourite stalls, then leave a comfortable margin for the journey home.

More about the market ↗ · More about the market ↗ · More about the market ↗ · More about the market ↗ · More about the market ↗ · More about the market ↗

Eat and drink

Piggy Blinders

Piggy Blinders

Burgers, bacon butties and loaded hash browns.

2026 line-up2026 market listing ↗
Coffee Crew

Coffee Crew

Coffee and hot drinks for a pause between stalls.

2026 line-up2026 market listing ↗
Doughvine Desserts

Doughvine Desserts

Freshly made churros and funnel cakes.

2026 line-up2026 market listing ↗
Another One Bites The Dutch

Another One Bites The Dutch

Poffertjes, hot desserts, milkshakes and hot chocolate.

2026 line-up2026 market listing ↗
Chicken Ting

Chicken Ting

Fried chicken wings, dippers and burgers with house-made sauces.

2026 line-up2026 market listing ↗

Makers to look for

Where we’d stay

Old Elvet

A city base for combining the market route with an indoor evening meal.

The station and Flass Vale

Convenient for rail arrivals; allow for the walk down and back up.

The riverside

A change of pace from the market crowds, with an uphill walk to Palace Green.

See all stays in Durham ↗

We may earn a commission if you book through our links, at no extra cost to you. Affiliate disclosure.

Book early for weekends. The walking times are measured routes to Palace Green; give yourself a little longer for a relaxed stroll through the market.

Map

Find the market streets, arrival points, parking and places to stay. The map loads as you approach this section; mouse-wheel scrolling stays with the page.

Map waiting to load. The places list below works without it.

Market streetsRail & coachParking & park and ridePlaces to stayAccessible toilets

Choose Explore the map to pan and pinch to zoom; choose Finish exploring or press Escape to return to page scrolling. Pins show places, not the precise position of individual stalls.

Open in Google Maps ↗

All map places, as a list

Coordinates: OpenStreetMap contributors. Organiser toilet and access information. Temporary toilet locations use the named street/site as a navigation point; ask staff for the exact unit.

A perfect day

  1. 9am

    Start in Market Place

    Begin with the outdoor market and the permanent Market Hall businesses before the day becomes busier.

  2. Late morning

    Climb to the crafts

    Make your way to Palace Green and take your time inside the ticketed Craft & Producers’ Marquee. Use the accessible taxi arrangements if the climb is difficult.

  3. Lunch

    Find your Palace Green favourite

    Try a Greek wrap from Acropolis, a burger from Piggy Blinders or something sweet from Crêpe Expectations. Ask about ingredients, then settle into the seating area.

  4. Afternoon

    Make room for a cathedral pause

    Give yourself a sheltered break and check the day’s cathedral programme before deciding how to spend the next hour.

  5. Before leaving

    Return to a favourite maker

    Collect your final gifts without rushing: the marquee closes 5.30pm Friday/Saturday and 4.30pm Sunday. Check the last Park & Ride bus and your dated rail return.

On Instagram

A little festive inspiration from organisers, makers and visitors. Tap any tile to load all 4 Instagram posts on this page. Instagram may receive your IP address and set cookies; read the privacy note. Until then, nothing loads from Instagram.

@xmasdurham

Picket Fence returns for 2026. The organiser illustrates this announcement with a photograph from 2025.

Open this post on Instagram ↗

@xmasdurham

North Chocolates returns for 2026. The organiser illustrates this announcement with a photograph from 2025.

Open this post on Instagram ↗

@xmasdurham

Lampshades, cushions and homewares from Kilday & Co in the organiser’s 2026 trader introduction.

Open this post on Instagram ↗

@xmasdurham

Hand-painted ceramics and artwork from Jenny Blue Art in the organiser’s 2026 trader introduction.

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Practical information

Getting there and back

The festival recommends public transport and Durham Park & Ride. Its travel page lists Belmont, Howlands and Sniperley sites; check the special festival arrangements and your final bus back before parking. Central streets including Saddler Street, Elvet Bridge and Framwellgate Bridge close during festival hours. Coach parties must preregister and pay in advance. The Cathedral bus does not run during the festival; see the accessible taxi arrangements if the climb is difficult.

Compare Christmas market trips by train from five UK cities

Parking and park-and-ride

Use Belmont or Sniperley park and ride for the festival, or Prince Bishops Place for a central car park with accessible bays.

Park-and-ride

  • Council sites are Belmont, Sniperley and Howlands Farm. Belmont and Sniperley operate Monday–Sunday; Howlands Farm’s published regular operation is Monday–Saturday. Official park-and-ride source · checked 24 October 2026.

City-centre car parks

Pre-booking

  • Prince Bishops Place describes ANPR and payment at a pay station. A reserved-space pre-booking service is not stated in the information checked for the named car parks in the checked official material. Official pre-booking source · checked 24 October 2026.

Blue Badge parking

  • Council on-street pay-and-display bays are free without a time restriction for Blue Badge holders. Council off-street parks charge but give a 30-minute grace period after the paid session. Prince Bishops Place has accessible bays on level 1. Official blue badge parking source · checked 24 October 2026.

Christmas services and changes

  • The festival organiser states Belmont and Sniperley park-and-ride sites open 7am–7pm on Sunday 6 December 2026. Do not carry Howlands into that Sunday statement. Official christmas services and changes source · checked 24 October 2026.
On the day

Give Durham a whole day. Browse Market Place, take the climb to Palace Green at your own pace and use a street-food lunch and a sheltered pause to break up the shopping. For Sunday’s lantern parade, check the separate reservation and timing arrangements before shaping your day around it.

Before and after

Check the official programme, weather forecast and your dated journey before leaving. Bring a warm waterproof layer and ask individual traders about ingredients before buying food.

Accessibility

Durham’s route includes steep streets and cobbles. The organiser describes a free wheelchair-accessible taxi from the bottom of Market Place for visitors unable to reach Palace Green on foot. Check the travel page for changes to the Saturday drop-off and confirm the final return taxi with its driver. Contact the festival team about your individual requirements and confirm arrangements before setting out.

Frequently asked questions

Questions before you go

When is Durham Christmas market in 2026?

4–6 December 2026

Official market information →

What are the opening hours?

Craft & Producers’ Marquee: Friday/Saturday 9am–5.30pm; Sunday 9am–4.30pm. Outdoor Market Place: daily 9am–5pm.

Check the organiser’s hours →

Do I need an entry ticket?

Outdoor Market Place and Market Hall shopping are free. Craft & Producers’ Marquee £5 on the door or £4.50 online in advance; accompanying children 16 or under free. Friday carer-and-person-cared-for combined-ticket and student-ID offers: see organiser terms.

Official entry information →

How can I arrive by train?

Durham

Check the full guide and sources

Can I bring my dog?

Check the organiser’s current pet-dog rules before travelling. Assistance-dog arrangements are separate; use the accessibility guide for the published information.

Check the full guide and sources →

What access information should I check?

Durham’s route includes steep streets and cobbles. The organiser describes a free wheelchair-accessible taxi from the bottom of Market Place for visitors unable to reach Palace Green on foot. Check the travel page for changes to the Saturday drop-off and confirm the final return taxi with its driver. Contact the festival team about your individual requirements and confirm arrangements before setting out.

Check the full guide and sources

Official links

Keep exploring

More market trips

Back to the full market calendar

How it compares: see our top 15 UK Christmas markets.

More market trips in this region

Christmas markets in north of england