WARM hot chocolate, mulled wine and sugar-dusted doughnuts are just around the corner, as Brits prepare to descend on the nation’s best Christmas markets.
From Edinburgh’s whimsical, fairytale-like market perched just below the glittering castle, to Birmingham’s Bavarian beer hall and Manchester’s mega food haul, each city has something unique to offer.
Here, The Sun has revealed the UK’s best and most beloved Christmas markets, and when you can visit them.
Aberdeen Christmas Village, Aberdeen – 12th November 2026 to 3rd January 2027
Aberdeen’s city centre is set to welcome a whirlwind of festive cheer with clusters of artisan markets, tasty food stalls and an outdoor ice rink.
Located on Broad Street and Marischal Square, the Scottish city will also feature street entertainment, fireworks and traditional choir concerts.
This year marks its 12th year of Christmas markets.
Bath Christmas Market, Bath– 26th November 2026 to 13th December 2026
Wander through Bath’s historic city centre as it is transformed into a festive paradise filled with dinky chalets, decadent treats, and fun activities for all the family.
Set against the backdrop of Bath Abbey and the Roman Baths, the city welcomes more than 170 chalets selling artisan gifts and trinkets.
It has welcomed visitors from all over the world since 2001.
Belfast Christmas Market, Belfast – 14th November 2026 to 22nd December 2026
Established in 2004, Belfast is home to one of Northern Ireland’s most popular Christmas markets with over 100 stalls selling largely local produce.
Highlights include a stunning, vintage carousel, a giant helter-skelter and panoramic city views.
Birmingham Frankfurt Christmas Market, Birmingham – 5th November 2026 to 24th December 2026
Birmingham’s annual Christmas market has been lighting up the city since 2001 with its unique Frankfurt themed stalls and a merry Bavarian beer hall.
It is the largest authentic German Christmas market outside of Germany and Austria and has more than 200 stalls.
Visitors can tuck into a selection of traditional treats including sizzling bratwursts, frankfurters, schnitzels, warm buttery pretzels.
Blenheim Palace Christmas Market, Woodstock – 13th November 2026 to 22nd December 2026
Set against the UNESCO World Heritage backdrop of Sir John Vanbrugh’s 18th-century baroque architecture in Woodstock, it’s one of the most scenic Christmas markets in the UK.
Vendors typically sell high-end boutique goods such as handcrafted jewellery, and food is often locally sourced.
Blenheim Palace’s Christmas market is on the smaller side with around 80 stalls, and is returning for its 8th year.
Bristol Christmas Market, Bristol – 6th November 2026 to 23rd December 2026
Bristol will once again adorn its city centre with twinkling lights and the delicious aromas of Christmas treats.
Located in Broadmead within the Bristol Shopping Quarter, the market contains shops, food stalls and a popular Jäger Barn Bar with heated seating and live music.
The market, which is returning for its 19th year, also features a Ferris wheel, private ski gondolas and igloo pods.
Caerphilly Christmas Market, Caerphilly – 21 November
Nestled near Caerphilly Castle, the family friendly market has plenty to offer from food, craft, and gift stalls, street theatre, and activities galore.
The one day festival has been running for over 15 years and sells a range of delicious Welsh produce.
Canterbury Christmas Market, Canterbury – 12th November 2026 to 24th December 2026
Canterbury may have one of the oldest traditions of Christmas markets having previously hosted festive markets from the 14th to the 19th century.
After a 200- year hiatus, it was revived again in 2024, where each year it is now transformed into a medieval Christmas paradise with over 120 huts, featuring Kentish ales, gins, and festive treats.
Cardiff Christmas Market, Cardiff – 12th November 2026 to 23rd December 2026
This year, Cardiff will welcome over 200 rotating independent craft makers, handmade jewellery, ceramics, glasswork, seasonal food, and hot mulled wine.
It is one of the oldest Christmas markets in Wales with 31 years of history behind it.
Chatsworth House Christmas Market, Bakewell – 7th November 2026 to 13th December 2026
Each year, Chatsworth is filled with dozens of market stalls and food markets, with some sample favourites including Derbyshire hog roast, Cornish pasties, Yorkshire pudding wraps, and bratwurst.
Set in the gorgeous 17th century stately home, Chatsworth House has run for 25 years.
As well as tucking into festive food, visitors can also check in at the ski lift bar or double-decker bus bar where festive brews, slush cocktails, and Prosecco, are served.
Chester Christmas Market, Chester – 18th November 2026 to 22nd December 2026
Located next to Chester Cathedral, the 13 year old market will be returning this year for a fun-filled array of food markets and shops.
Back by popular demand, customers can pick up collectable ceramic mugs featuring illustrations of the Town Hall and Eastgate Clock.
Covent Garden Winter Festival, London – 12th November 2026 to 3rd January 2027
This year, London’s Covent Garden will commence festivities on 3 November with a Christmas light switch on featuring a Theatre of Christmas theme and over 300,000 sparkling LED lights.
As well as being dressed to the nines in Christmas decorations, Covent Garden will also see magical daily snow flurries in its piazza from 4 December.
Dundee Christmas Market, Dundee – 27th November 2026 to 30th December 2026
Dundee’s city centre will play host to traditional market stalls, an alpine bar, fairground rides, food and drinks and daily evening light displays.
It will be an intimate, compact winter event, rather than a large-scale Christmas festival like other UK cities.
Durham Christmas Festival, Durham – 4th December 2026 to 6th December 2026
Featuring 200 stalls, Durham Christmas market will be open for two days at the beginning of December.
Located between Palace Green and the Cathedral, there will be live festive music, an abundance of tasty treats, and market stalls with gifts galore.
Edinburgh’s Christmas Market, Edinburgh – 14th November 2026 to 3rd January 2027
Edinburgh will host its famous Christmas market again this year. Along with huts, shops, and food, it will include the LNER Big Wheel, a giant observation wheel with enclosed pods offering panoramic city views.
There will also be an ice bar, an 80-meter-high spinning swing ride towering over the gardens, and an award-winning cabaret and circus show at Bristo Square.
However, this year will have one exception. After 30 years, Edinburgh’s Christmas market will not have its famous ice rink this year despite previously having been a main feature of the city’s market.
Exeter Cathedral Christmas Market (Exeter) – 13th November 2026 to 13th December 2026
Exeter Cathedral will become a festive hub come December as it is lined with over 100 decorated wooden chalets featuring local artisans, West Country produce, handcrafted gifts, and holiday decor.
It’s run for 13 years and welcomes around 600,000 guests each year.
Glasgow Christmas Fair, Glasgow – 6th November 2026 to 3rd January 2027
Glasgow is set to open in one of the earlier Christmas markets, which will include an ice rink with a Bavarian-style bar inside it, an observation wheel and a Very Merry Circus.
There will also be a huge screen playing festive favourites, food stalls, Santa’s grotto and several fun rides. The market has been a popular annual event since the 1990s.
Greenwich Market Christmas, London – 19th November 2026 to 24th December 2026
Greenwich will kick off its Christmas market this year with light switch on on 19 November. The event will feature a children’s lantern parade through the Old Royal Naval College and Cutty Sark Gardens.
Alongside food stalls, there will also be an outdoor ice rink at Queen’s House, a Santa’s grotto, and 10-foot Christmas tree spectacle.
Hyde Park Winter Wonderland, London – 19th November 2026 to 3rd January 2027
Winter Wonderland is London’s biggest and most famous Christmas fair and has been running for nearly two decades.
Year on year, Winter Wonderland has only grown bigger and more exciting with dozens of delicious food vendors and more than 150 funfair rides.
As well as hosting the UK’s largest open air ice rink, Winter Wonderland also features a Magical Ice Kingdom, a walk-through attraction made from over 500 tonnes of carved ice, featuring a -10°C temperature.
Kingston Christmas Market, Kingston upon Thames – 12th November 2026 to 3rd January 2027
Enjoy a European-style Christmas market with over 40 stalls, countless tasty food options, and plentiful mulled wine.
Kingston Christmas market has run for over a decade and offers an array of festive activities.
Leeds Christmas Market, Leeds – 19th November 2026 to 23rd December 2026
Leeds Christmas market will commence mid November and will take place across several parts of the city, including the centre, Millennium Square, Victoria Gardens and Cookridge Street.
Over 60 local traders will set up camp across the city, filling the streets with food stalls, live entertainment, and a winter bar.
A favourite at Leeds Christmas market is THOR’S Highland Lodge & Folie Après Ski Bar, a cosy, alpine-themed space with themed drinks.
Lincoln Cathedral Christmas Market, Lincoln – 3rd December 2026 to 5th December 2026
Lincoln was once home to one of the nation’s most popular Christmas markets, but was recently scrapped due to overcrowding concerns.
However, this year, the city’s nearly 1000-year-old cathedral will hold a small ticketed Christmas fair to commemorate the festive period.
Although smaller, it will include a selection of food and gift stalls.
Liverpool Christmas Market, Liverpool – 21st November 2026 to 3rd January 2027
Liverpool’s Christmas market will see a new outdoor ice rink this year, among it’s many festive affairs.
The festival will light up in its usual U-formation around St George’s Square, and will see food vendors, gift traders, and fairgrounds rides.
Manchester Christmas Markets, Manchester – 6th November 2026 to 22nd December 2026
First launched in 1998, Manchester is the UK’s biggest Christmas market and this year will host a whopping 210 stalls in total.
Albert Square will be where most of the city’s festivities will be, including its 50-metre high Ferris wheel.
There will also be a pop-up ‘pub’ for the festive season as well as a giant Santa, a vintage Helter Skelter and a huge tree installation and life-sized selfie sleigh.
Newcastle Christmas Market, Newcastle upon Tyne – 19th November 2026 to 23rd December 2026
Newcastle is home to an even older Christmas market, having started with just a handful of stalls in 1982.
This year’s festivities will see the return of many family favourites, including Moosenwirt bar, the North Pole igloos, the Rockin’ Reindeer stage, Festive Flix and Santa’s Stories
Norwich Christmas Market & Tunnel of Light, Norwich – 12th November 2026 to 3rd January 2027
The Christkindl market is a newer event in Norwich, and this year will see 10-ays of German-inspired market stalls making it the first traditional city-centre Christmas market of its kind.
Nottingham Winter Wonderland, Nottingham – 11th November 2026 to 31st December 2026
Nottingham Winter Wonderland has been running for 17 years, each year opening its city centre to an abundance of Christmas cheer.
Wooden craft and food stalls, an open-air ice rink, a Sky Skate ice path, an observation wheel, and alpine-themed bars, will all pile into Old Market Square to celebrate the festive season.
Oxford Christmas Market, Oxford – 21st November 2026 to 31st December 2026
This Christmas, the historic Broad Street in Oxford City Centre, will be transformed into a magical festive celebration.
Alongside ample opportunities to munch on tasty snacks and shop for Christmas presents, visitors will also be treated to a range of live street performances.
Plymouth Christmas Market, Plymouth – 26th November 2026 to 20th December 2026
Plymouth will host a German-inspired Christmas market this year with treats and decor galore.
New this year is Crafter’s Cove – a warm, atmospheric craft village featuring dozens of local artisans displaying handcrafted gifts, bespoke artwork, and unique creations.
Sheffield Christmas Market, Sheffield – 12th November 2026 to 26th December 2026
Visitors can tuck into German sausages, Yorkshire pudding wraps, raclette, churros, toasted marshmallows, and many more delicious snacks at Sheffield Christmas market.
Festivities in the city have taken place for 12 years and spread across the city. As well as the usual vendors, families can also ride the iconic Big Wheel, or meet Santa in his grotto.
Southbank Centre Winter Market, London – 2nd November 2026 to 3rd January
Southbank winter market will see the banks of the Thames turned into a frosty wonderland featuring alpine cabins, warm mugs of mulled wine and delicious Dutch pancakes among much more.
Visitors can amble through the many stalls and take in the festive atmosphere that has lit up the Southbank for the last 23 Christmases.
Swansea Christmas Market, Swansea – 29th November 2026 to 22nd December 2026
Festive chalets along Oxford Street and Portland Street will be offering unique gifts, tempting treats and beautiful decorations in Swansea this year.
The Welsh city has been hosting marvellous merry events for nearly three decades.
Trafalgar Square Christmas Market, London – 6th November 2026 to 3rd January 2027
A Christmas light switch on will be held at Trafalgar Square on 3 December, after which, passers-by can enjoy snacks from local alpine huts or shop for handmade gifts.
It will also feature a traditional Norwegian Christmas tree gifted to London by Norway, which they have been doing since 1947.
Winchester Cathedral Christmas Market, Winchester – 20th November 2026 to 22nd December 2026
Located at Winchester’s famous cathedral, this year’s Christmas market will be like many others around the UK – filled with aromatic cinnamon smells and packed with handcrafted gifts.
The city held its first Christmas market in 2006.
Winter by the River at London Bridge, London – 10th November 2026 to 3rd January 2027
Winter by the River lines the Thames path with wooden huts, all the way to Tower Bridge.
Visitors can stroll along the scenic path taking in the tantalising smells, gift stalls, and even pop into the heated rooftop bar for a cosy winter beverage.
York St Nicholas Fair, York – 12th November 2026 to 21st December 2026
Wander York’s historic streets and snickelways, browse independent shops and festive finds.
Alpine chalets will line Parliament Street and St Sampson’s Square, showcasing local crafts, artisan products, unique gifts and delicious seasonal treats.