The new route gives Brits the chance to visit two Christmas markets this historic city which run from November to January and boast free entry, featuring classic winter scenes of chalets, Christmas trees, and an open-air ice rink
The first flight comes after Ryanair unveiled its newly expanded winter schedule last month, with 22 new routes from UK airports(Image: Peter Byrne/PA Wire)
Ryanair has announced a brand new route in time for cheap getaways this winter and this Christmas.
The budget airline has revealed its new winter 2026 route from Manchester to Warsaw Modlin in Poland. Ryanair bosses shared yesterday (October 27) how the first of the Manchester-Warsaw Modlin flights took of this week.
Ryanair says it will operate six weekly flights on this “exciting new winter 2026 route, providing UK customers with even more choice at Europe’s lowest fares”. Ryanair’s full winter 2026 schedule is available to book now via the Ryanair app and website in time for cheap winter and Christmas breaks.
The new route gives Brits the chance to enjoy Warsaw’s two Christmas markets, including the huge Jarmark Warszawski at Plac Defilad, by the Palace of Culture and Science, and the traditional, historic market in the Old Town along the city walls.
Both markets run from November to January and boast free entry, featuring classic winter scenes of chalets, Christmas trees, and an open-air ice rink.
The first flight comes after Ryanair unveiled its newly expanded winter schedule last month, with 22 new routes from UK airports with Birmingham, Edinburgh, Liverpool, and London airports benefiting the most. Ryanair also announced that it was adding nineteenth-based aircraft at Manchester Airport this winter, helping it to run one extra route from the North West hub.
Ryanair is increasing its flight frequencies on another 26 routes from Manchester, including holiday hotspots like Malaga, Palma de Mallorca and Madrid, as well as city break destinations like Barcelona, Belfast, Venice, Porto, Prague and Krakow.
Eye-catching flights among the list included the new winter sunshine route from Birmingham to Marrakech, which regularly enjoys mild winter temperatures. The bulk of the other routes are to northern and western European destinations where more festive pleasures are on the itinerary.
The new route announcement followed the boss of Ryanair warning that air fares would “no doubt” rise next year for summer holidaymakers amid the surging price of oil and the Iran war.
Earlier this month, oil prices rose above 100 dollars a barrel for the first time since July after the latest round of strikes in the conflict.
Ryanair’s Director of Communications, Jade Kirwan, said: “ It was great to see the first flight of our new winter 2026 route from Manchester to Warsaw Modlin take off this week, bringing the first of many happy Ryanair passengers on their winter 2026 getaways.
“Our Manchester to Warsaw Modlin route will operate six times per week, offering our UK customers even more choice at the lowest fares in Europe. Ryanair’s full winter 2026 schedule is available to book now on the Ryanair app/website.”
This lesser known traditional Christmas market has been crowned the world’s best Christmas market for 2026 with up to 180 stalls
The market is one the cheapest(Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
With Christmas fast approaching, a trip to a traditional Christmas market abroad tops many people’s festive wish lists, and there’s one that truly stands out from the rest.
Plenty of people choose a weekend break to soak up the seasonal atmosphere, and this particular destination has just ranked highly in new research carried out by Christmas Tree World, which assessed various markets based on key criteria.
They examined Google searches, December hotel costs, admission charges, number of stalls and access to public transport to ultimately crown the world’s finest Christmas markets for 2026.
Their findings revealed that Nottingham’s Winter Wonderland is ideal for budget-conscious travellers, Dresden’s Striezelmarkt is perfect for families, and Winter Wonders in Brussels serves up the most affordable mulled wine.
Yet, there could only be one overall champion, and that honour went to the hidden treasure that is Christkindlesmarkt in Nuremberg, Germany.
If any location could stake a convincing claim to wearing the crown as the ultimate Christmas market destination, it would be Nuremberg.
It’s nestled within a picturesque and historic city and provides the ideal traditional escape with reasonable prices, accommodation and excellent value for money.
It achieved an impressive 8.2/10 in the study, as a market that has been running for 398 years and still attracts huge crowds today.
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Thanks to its fascinating history and delightful setting, it represents the quintessential traditional German Christmas market many people fantasise about, and with its enormous range of stalls, it certainly delivers. It’s thought to feature around 180 stalls, offering glühwein, bratwurst and the market’s own distinctive Zwetschgenmännle, which are small and adorable decorative figures traditionally crafted using dried prunes.
After paying a visit, one traveller left a review, writing: “The Nuremberg Christmas Market is absolutely magical. The atmosphere is festive and authentic, with beautiful lights, traditional wooden stalls, and a wonderful holiday spirit.
“There is a great variety of local food, mulled wine, and handmade crafts. It can be busy, but it’s well organised and definitely worth the visit. A must-see Christmas market in Germany.”
Another shared their experience, saying: “Visited here after seeing multiple reviews, stating that Newberg market is one of the best in Germany and it truly lived up to the expectation.
“The number of stalls, different handicrafts, and gift items – and obviously the gluhwein was one of the experiences. There are multiple parking spots around the market and easily reachable by train and bus.”
In comparison to other markets throughout Europe and beyond, a December hotel stay costs an average of £144 per night, making it considerably more affordable than other destinations. Most significantly, admission to the market is entirely free, and mulled wine comes at a relatively modest price.
The market runs from Friday 27 November until Thursday 24 December this year, situated in the heart of Hauptmarkt, Nuremberg.
CHRISTMAS will soon be upon us, so it’s time to get those festive dates lined up in your calendar.
You don’t need to shell out a fortune for lifetime memories though – we’ve rounded up plenty of activities full of festive cheer that won’t break the bank. From free ice skating to festive illuminations – here are the top memory-making days out for you and your family…
Hyde Park Winter Wonderland – the UK’s largest open-air ice rink is built around Hyde Park’s Victoria bandstandCredit: Alamy
Ice skating
Nothing says winter and Christmas quite like a festive ice skating rink.
Blackpool has a synthetic ice rink that stretches 20m long and is FREE to use, including free skate hire – all you have to do is show up and hand over your shoes for some boots.
Meanwhile, Caerphilly On Ice at Caerphilly Castle is selling early bird skate tickets from just £9.
Hyde Park Winter Wonderland – the UK’s largest open-air ice rink is built around Hyde Park’s Victoria bandstand and has tickets from £9.35 for kids and £12.95 for adults, off-peak.
Stockeld Park in North Yorkshire has a festive ice rink set within its adventure park from November to February, with tickets from £14.
Boxpark Liverpool is bringing back its popular ice rink, with adult tickets from £10 and kids tickets from £8.
Dalkeith Country park has a Winterfest Skating Rink, with £11 tickets for adults and £9 tickets for children.
Aviemore Ice Rink at Macdonald Highland Resort has adult ice skating tickets for £14 and kids tickets for £12.
Ice Skate Birmingham at Centenary Square has early bird adult tickets from £9.50 and kids from £8.50, rising to £14 for adults in peak times and £12 for kids.
Bath on Ice has tickets from £16.50 for adults and £14 for kids, with an outdoor rink beneath the Christmas lights in Royal Victoria Park.
Yorkshire’s Winter Wonderland – York’s original and largest open-air ice rink – returns for its 21st year, with adults tickets from £18.09 and kids from £16.99.
Skate Manchester in the city’s Cathedral Gardens has adult tickets from £16.80 and kids tickets from £15.40.
Winter lights festival in Canary Wharf London England, Christmas lights and New year celebrationCredit: Alamy
Light trails
Light trails such as RHS Glow Light Trails at Wisley cost as little as £7.50 per adult and £6 per child when booked for an off peak session in advance.
RHS Bridgewater’s celebration of light in Salford runs from 26 November to 30 December new Super Off Peak tickets starting at £9.25 for adults or £6 for RHS members, and £5.50 for kids.
Gulliver’s Theme Parks has their annual Land Of Lights running from October 24 to January 30, with early bird tickets from £12.50 for both adults and kids.
The Bay of Lights Illumination Trail returns from 28 November 2026 to 3 January 2027, with its biggest and brightest trail yet, on Torquay’s seafront.
The Winter light Trail through Trentham Gardens at Trentham Estate near Stoke On Trent is very affordable, with adult tickets from £17 and kids tickets from £12.50.
Lightwaves Salford is running from 23 November to 13 December 2026 and is free to enter, with illuminated artworks along a 2km trail around MediaCity and Salford Quays.
Alnwick Garden light trail in Northumberland runs from 20 November to 3 January and has off-peak tickets from £18.15 for adults and £11 for kids.
For a rainproof option, try Noel – a Christmas light show at Liverpool Cathedral from 27 November to 5 December, priced from £10.50 for adults and £8.50 for kids.
The Bristol Light Festival will return for its seventh edition from 18 February to 27 February 2027. It is free to attend, with no booking or ticket required.
The ‘Burning the Clocks’ parade of lanterns moves through Brighton in East Sussex as part of celebration of the Winter Solstice.Credit: Alamy
Lantern parades
For the ultimate wholesome activity, why not take part in a local lantern trail with the kids.
For example, Burning the Clocks in Brighton will return this year with thousands of people making paper lanterns and carrying them through the city before burning them on the beach.
This years theme will be ‘Magicada’ which represents a symbolic rest followed by a noisy awakening – though a date for when it will take place is yet to be revealed.
In Devon, Totnes launches its late night Christmas shopping nights on December 8 with a free Carnival Lantern Parade through the town.
There will be handcrafted lanterns with live music and street performers alongside 70 stalls and 125 independent shops remaining open into the night.
In South London, a light procession takes place through Maritime Greenwich on November 18, ahead of the annual Christmas lights switch-on that evening.
Winchester Cathedral Lantern Parade takes place on 23 November, with participants carrying recycled or homemade lanterns through the city streets – the theme this year is ‘Angel’s Message.’
Leamington Lantern Parade in Leamington Spa takes place on December 6, with participants carrying homemade lanterns to a backdrop of stilt walkers and carol singers.
Corn Exchange’s Festival of Light in Newbury town centre takes place on December 13, with lantern-making workshops available to the public in the run-up.
People eating and drinking at Birmingham’s German MarketCredit: Alamy
Christmas markets
The UK is home to some fabulous Christmas markets and most are free to visit.
Most towns have their own, and here are some of the biggest, oldest and quirkiest around the country.
Manchester’s Christmas Marketsfeature 200 wooden chalets across ten city centre locations, with a fairground and a huge Ferris wheel, craft stalls, a pop-up pub and an undercover ice skating rink.
Edinburgh’s Christmas market in Princes Street Gardens are easily some of the prettiest, with wooden chalets, fairground rides and a Ferris Wheel alongside a background of Edinburgh Castle.
York’s St Nicholas Fair looks like something from a Hallmark Christmas movie, with plenty of local traders selling local produce and crafts in wooden chalets.
Birmingham’s Frankfurt Christmas Market was named one of the best in Europe in 2024 – is the largest authentic German Christmas market outside of Austria and Germany, with traditional arts and crafts plus German food and drink.
Oxford Victorian Christmas Market takes place from November 12 – 15, with costumed traders and Victorian-style street performers, alongside 50 stalls selling decorations, food and drink.
Portmeirion Welsh Christmas Market runs from 4-6 December in Portmeirion Village, Gwynedd, North Wales, featuring 120 stalls and live performances around along the village’s unique streets.
Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park has a load of tickets for just £1 this yearCredit: Getty
The attraction returns to London’s Hyde Park on November 19 and will run until January 3, 2027.
Yes, there are plenty of activities and food stands that cost a fortune, but there are also ways to keep costs down and have a fantastic day out.
This year there are tonnes of £1 entry tickets, which are typically for weekday sessions.
Free activities once you’re inside include:
Visiting Santa’s Grotto in Santa Land is free and comes with a small gift.
Free live music at the Market Square and the Explorer’s Rest.
There’s a free Elves’ Workshop too, with interactive experiences and games for little visitors to enjoy.
Christmas day out at the National Railway Museum
In York, you can visit the National Railway Museum for free and its upcoming Christmas event is also free.
Free Christmas activities include writing a letter to Father Christmas, exploring winter science activities and designing a 2027 calendar.
You can upgrade your experience to meet Father Christmas aboard the Guard’s compartment on a train for £15 per child.
The event runs from December 2 to 23 and each child will get a small gift as well as a hot chocolate.
From your traditional Santa Grottos to storytelling sessions with Mrs Claus check out the National Trust sites nearest to you to find out what’s onCredit: Getty
National Trust Santa Visits
The National Trust is an excellent location for the annual family festive day out.
The buildings are already beautiful and look great spruced up with some decorations, they often have winter trails through the large gardens and many of them feature their own Santa’s grotto.
When booking an activity, you actually get a lot of festive fun for the price of your ticket.
For example, Father Christmas at the Farm, at Tatton Park in Cheshire, features a nativity scene, live music, festive entertainers, a grotto, make-your-own reindeer food and a Christmas pop-up cafe. Adult tickets are £12.50 and kids tickets are £14. Runs from November 21 to December 24.
Father Christmas at Sunnycroft in Telford, Shropshire lets visitors step into the world of The Wind in the Willows with a 20-minute journey through the homes of Mole, Ratty, Badger and Mr Toad, that ends with a visit to Father Christmas.
One child and one accompanying adult costs £25. Runs from December 4-13.
Storytelling with Santa at Kingston Lacy in Wimborne Minster, Dorset, lets kids enjoy a story read by by Father Christmas, plus a gift and a photo opportunity. Tickets cost £15.50 per child and includes one accompanying adult. November 28 – December 23.
Visit Father Christmas at Gibside Stables in Gateshead lets visitors join playful forest elf Happy Holly Berry and Father Christmas for a festive story, then receive a small gift and a photo opportunity. Kids tickets tickets cost £18 and the adult is included in the price. Runs from November 29 to December 23.
Find out more about the National Trust Santa visits here.
It is also worth keeping your eye out for the Coca-Cola Christmas truck datesCredit: Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola Christmas Truck
The Coca-Cola Christmas Truck tours each festive season, offering free drinks, festive photo opportunities and interactive games.
Admission is free and you don’t need to buy tickets or book in advance.
Coca-Cola usually reveals the tour schedule around mid-November, featuring around 15 stops across the UK.
The stops usually run from around midday to 8pm, between late November and Christmas.
Day Out With The Kids has their own trucktracker, which they’ll update when the 2026 dates come through.
Christmas light switch-ons and parades
Across the UK there are also a number of Christmas light switch-ons and parades that don’t cost a penny to watch.
For example, you could head to Carnaby Street’s Christmas lights switch-on in central London, which will take place on November 4, with the theme ‘Press Play on Christmas’ and neon lights inspired by 1990s nostalgia.
Neighbouring Covent Garden has its Christmas lights switch-on on November 12, featuring more than 300,000 lights and free festive entertainment around the piazza.
Also in the area is Regent Street’s Festive Spirits switch-on on November 5, with a traffic-free event, family entertainment and in-store experiences.
Darlington Town Centre Christmas switch-on takes place on November 15, hosted by radio DJs and starring pantomime characters, plus a fireworks display after the switch-on.
Rochdale Town Hall hosts Ignite Fire Festival – with a magical trail of fire, lights and sound from November 20-22 that ends with the town’s Christmas light switch-on.
Preston’s Christmas Lights Switch-On returns to the Flag Market on November 21, with East 17 headlining an evening of live music, entertainment, magic, football, pantomime and plenty of festive fun.
The Blackpool Illuminations Switch-On took place on September 4 and the lights will run nightly until january 3 – six miles of illuminations along the Promenade from Starr Gate to Red Bank Road.
And we have 10,000 FREE tickets up for grabs for Sun Club members, so you can enjoy the 150 rides and attractions inside.
The tickets, on a first come, first service basis, even include entry Magical Ice Kingdom presents Neverland in Partnership with Great Ormond Street Hospital Charity – a world made up of500 tonnes of ice and snow.
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But how should you spend your time there?
Here’s a full rundown of what you MUST see from free things to do, to all of the new additions for 2026.
Last year, the attraction launched a free Santa’s Grotto experience, which is the largest free grotto in London.
Visitors will head on a journey through the new Elves’ Workshop and visit Mrs Claus before meeting the big man himself.
Of course, you can browse the German-style Christmas markets for free too, where there are dozens of chalets selling handmade crafts, ornaments, food and gifts.
In the Bavarian Village, make sure to head to The Bavarian Village Hall where there are often live bands, acoustic performers and Oktoberfest-style singalongs.
The atmosphere of the park in general is brilliant as well, with twinkling festive light installations, giant illuminated Christmas trees and themed areas.
Stepping into Bar Ice is as close as you will most likely get to experiencing an igloo.
The chilly cocktail lounge is kept at -10C and made entirely of giant blocks of carved ice.
Everything – I mean everything including the tables and chairs – is made out of ice.
And when you grab a drink, that will even be served in a glass made out of ice.
When you enter, staff will give you a coat and gloves to keep you warm too.
Inside, there are also a number of ice sculptures and neon lights illuminating the icy mythical creatures.
Each session lasts 20 minutes and includes one drink per person.
Tickets cost between £17 and £20 per person.
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Best family activity
Magical Ice Kingdom presents Neverland, in Partnership with Great Ormond Street Hospital Charity is great for families and allows visitors to literally chill out.
Kept at -10C, this magical kingdom is made entirely out of ice and is a walk-though indoor exhibition.
This year the theme is the very exciting ‘Neverland’.
For the first time ever, visitors will step through the Jolly Roger and into a Magical Ice Kingdom inspired by the Neverland, with Peter Pan and Wendy.
All the sculptures inside will be hand-carved by ice sculptors from 500 tonnes of ice.
Many of the ice features are interactive too, making it the ideal place to snap some photos of the family.
You can explore the exhibition at your own pace, but I’d recommend no more than 30 minutes.
My visit last year I spent about half an hour in the exhibition before getting a little too chilly and heading back outside.
Last year, Jingle Bell Bistro also launched and it is a great food spot.
Not as busy as the other food areas, the Jingle Bell Bistro is designed to be more child-friendly with options including simple burgers and chicken nuggets.
Adults can get food from here as well, but don’t expect fussy food with all the bells and whistles – more comfort food that pleases everyone.
You can even get Buddy the Elf’s famous spaghetti for £8.50. Prices vary, including £8 per child-sized pasta dish or £12 for an adult portion.
How to save your cash
There’s a whole host of new pre-bookable packages too for this year.
There’s the Explorer Pass for example, which includes the Real Ice Slide, Haunted Mansion, Snow Jet, Pirate Ship and Après Ski Party Funhouse.
It also includes free entry to the event.
There’s also Ride & Game Credit pass, which allows you to buy credit for the rides and attractions online in advance.
You can select from £20, £30 or £50 of pre-paid credit.
Of course, this year there are more £1 tickets than ever before as well.
Ig you want to save your money on entry make sure to book online in advance for an off-peak entry time.
Hyde Park Winter Wonderland will run between November 19, 2026 and January 3, 2027.
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How to get your free tickets to Winter Wonderland
To claim your tickets, follow the steps below:
Step 1: Join thesun.co.uk/club for just £1.99 a month or £12 for the first year, then £19.99 thereafter.
Step 2: Go to the Offers Hub and select the Winter Wonderland page. You do not need to collect Sun Savers codes.
Step 3: Your unique booking code will appear on this page. Redeeming a code does not guarantee tickets. Click the ‘Copy’ button and then hit ‘Book’. You will be directed to the Winter Wonderland website.
Step 4: Select your preferred date and time, then choose ‘The Sun Winter Wonderland Entry & Magical Ice Kingdom Offer’. Two tickets will be added automatically to your basket.
Step 5: Continue to checkout to complete your booking. You must book your tickets by Sunday, November 1.
Our tickets are available for visits between Thursday, November 19 to Sunday, December 6.
18+ UK only (exc. NI, IoM & CI). Sun Savers multiple code collect 10/10/26-14/10/26 or digital subscription required. Online access required. 5,000 pairs of tickets available (7,000 off-peak, 2,000 standard & 1,000 peak) on a first come, first served basis. Subject to availability, daily allocation limits apply. Tickets available between 19/11/26 – 06/12/26. 2 tickets per person only. Non-transferable and non-refundable. T&Cs apply, see sunsavers.co.uk or club.thesun.co.uk/sun-club. New customer offer: £1.99 per month or £12 for the first year, then £19.99 thereafter unless you cancel at least 7 days before your next billing date. Full T&Cs apply, visit thesun.co.uk/terms-and-conditions.
