Christmas shopping

This beautiful city offers a quieter alternative to the UK’s busiest festive destinations, with a magnificent medieval cathedral, riverside walks and traditional pubs to warm up in.

Christmas markets might put Bath, York and Edinburgh high on your winter travel wish list, but Norwich has plenty to tempt anyone seeking a quieter staycation.

With its medieval landmarks, independent shops and welcoming pubs, the city combines festive atmosphere with opportunities to slow down and explore. Spend a day browsing for gifts, strolling beside the river or admiring the cathedral before settling in somewhere cosy.

Norwich is Britain’s only city located within a national park — one of its major draws.

Norwich was among the leading UK staycation destinations picked by specialists at StressFreeCarRental.com in 2024. The company’s CEO, John Charnock, said: “As the nights draw in and the temperatures plummet, it’s inevitable that many of us start to feel a little down at this time of year.

“The picturesque Broads National Park has miles and miles of footpaths for visitors to truly feel at one with nature and help to keep active. Norwich is a great city to connect with the outdoors and practice ecotherapy.”

Back in the city, Norwich Cathedral is a highlight for visitors drawn to its medieval architecture. Its appeal extends beyond the building itself, with Christmas services, concerts and a light show adding to the festive experience.

On TripAdvisor, one recent visitor to the cathedral said: “Visited early on a Friday morning as the Cathedral was being prepared for the weekend with Flower arrangers busy creating displays. We had a lovely chat with one of the volunteers.

“A lovely building made of Caen Stone. We visited the grave of brave Edith Cavell. There is small gift shop if you wish to purchase something. Beautiful grounds around the building.”

While another recent visitor added: “An outstanding cathedral. Well worth visiting. Entry fee is a suggested £5. Wonderful cloisters and some very interesting and historic graves and monuments. I would definitely go back as there is so much to see.”

For Christmas shopping, Norwich offers a mix of independent retailers and familiar high street names. Its bustling marketplace, shopping centres and Norwich Lanes provide plenty of places to hunt for gifts and keepsakes.

Rather than one huge Christmas market, the city has a collection of smaller festive events showcasing local creativity. There are also multiple Christmas markets and late-night shopping on Thursdays in the run-up to Christmas.

Seasonal lights and decorations brighten the streets, while historic venues including The Assembly House and The Maids Head Hotel add to the celebrations.

When it’s time for a break from browsing, the decorated Norwich Lanes make an inviting setting for a leisurely wander. Alternatively, head out from Norwich railway station for a walk beside the River Wensum.

Along the riverside, sights include Pull’s Ferry, Cow Tower and Norwich Cathedral, with pubs such as the Compleat Angler and The Red Lion offering somewhere to stop for a drink.

For a longer dose of history, try the city’s circular walking route, which follows the Wensum and crosses ancient bridges. Medieval city walls, the imposing castle and churches are among the landmarks to look out for.

Norwich’s oldest pub, The Adam and Eve, is conveniently placed along the route. And after a day spent exploring in the winter air, one of the city’s traditional pubs with a crackling fire could be just the place to finish.

The ex-HGV driver left the UK with his family to interrail and now works just 10 hours a week

A former “workaholic” ditched the UK with his family to interrail Europe – and is funding it by working just 10 hours a week selling solar panels on eBay. Lee Bodell, 47, hadn’t taken a sick day in eight years from his job working 50-hours a week as a HGV driver when the pandemic forced him to spend time off at home.

The dad-of-four said it completely changed his mindset and he quit his job and Lee and his partner Aimee Bedford, 39, sold their house and all their belongings in July 2026 and flew to Paris in September. Along with daughters Matilda-May, 10, and Mila, nine, they have since visited seven countries in just three weeks, spending £1,800 on 60-day continuous first-class train tickets that allow them to travel across the continent.

By November, when their tickets expire, they plan to visit as many European countries as possible before heading to Thailand to spend Christmas and New Year. In the future, they hope to settle somewhere abroad but plan to “see where life” takes them.

They are funding their travels through Lee’s remote job selling solar panels for mobile homes on eBay and his own website, which he spends just 10 hours a week doing, making between £500 and £1,000 a week. The family reckon they have spent around £6,000 in total so far, including the Interrail tickets, but once they fly to Southeast Asia, they plan to budget around £1,500 per month.

Lee, a former HGV driver from Birkenhead, Merseyside, says: “What first triggered it off was during Covid, I was placed on furlough and was off work for 10 weeks. I was always a workaholic and never missed a day off work in eight years being sick and I was constantly doing overtime.

“Spending 10 weeks at home with the family completely changed my mind set on life and I thought ‘I want to do this full-time’. I started thinking about ideas and online businesses and stuff like that.

“I’ve built it up over the past few years. It’s mostly buying and selling on eBay and Amazon and I have my own Shopify store. It should give us enough income to keep us travelling and even settle down somewhere in the future.”

In May 2025, the couple decided to see if running Lee’s business abroad was possible and hired out a villa in Cyprus for 10 days to “test the waters”. On their return home, they put their four-bed home up for sale, and it sold in July 2026 for £330,000, leaving them with £140,000 in equity.

Mum Aimee, who used to work as a family support worker at a primary school prior to their travels, says: “We set a couple of grand aside from the house sale and Lee’s wages top that up, with some savings as well. The money that was made from selling our belongings and cars has gone towards the trip.

“We’ve invested the rest of the house money and hope to earn off that as well. We were spending with a mortgage, bills, days out, running the house and cars with four children around £3,000 to £4,000 a month.

“Obviously we’ve been travelling for one month and to get set up it’s 100% cheaper to be doing what we’re doing at the moment. We knew it would be more expensive in Europe and at the end of it when we get to Southeast Asia we will easily be living on £2,000 per month all in.”

Jetting off to Paris in September, the family have since visited the Netherlands, Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Belgium and Italy. “We’d reached the point where we really felt like we just existing rather than living,” Aimee says.

“We had jobs and the kids were attending school all day long and we were lucky if we had two hours with them at the end of the day. We wanted more time to experience life together. We came away with three suitcases”.

Daughters Matilda-May and Mila have been de-registered from school and despite being “initially sad” to leave behind family and friends, are settling into life on the move. “I think we’re deliberately choosing to give them these experiences, and I think we want them to learn through travel rather than just recreating school at the kitchen table if you like,” Aimee says.

“They do enjoy learning but we’re not shoving it in their faces as it’s very early days. I think personally I’d be ok with them not attending school for at least two years.

“But that can change and we’re led by them. If they want to learn more and there are other subjects they are interested in, we will make it happen, but that will be online.

“We’re not planning on sending them to international schools. It’s definitely sparked curiosity and they’re forever asking questions so as long as that continues, we’ll be happy.”

Despite not having a set budget, the family choose to stay outside of tourist hotspots and city centres and instead travel in to see the sights, keeping costs low. “We don’t keep tabs on our spending but also equally we will go shopping for food,” Aimee says.

“We’ve been staying at a Eurocamp in Italy and have been shopping at Lidl. We’re very clear about it not being a holiday as well. We do have to make decisions about money like not eating out every night.

“It’s about being mindful and the things we want to splurge on are experiences. Travelling on a gondola in Venice cost a fortune but we’ll eat in for two days because of that. We’re living life and taking the hit.”

The couple’s eldest two children Billy, 18, and Lyla, 17, chose to stay at home with family but have flown out with Aimee’s sister Katie, 37, to celebrate Aimee’s 39th birthday in Italy. They hope to eventually settle outside the UK, but are not sure where that will be yet.

“We’ll see where life takes us,” Aimee says. “The beauty of being able to travel is we might find somewhere and it might be our forever home.”

Sharing their decision to ditch the UK online, they want to “inspire” other families to make the leap. You can follow Aimee and Lee on TikTok @the.bodells and Instagram @the_bodells.

A weekend in Europe might seem like an expensive option in the run up to Christmas, but these festive weekend breaks could be cheaper than the train fare to another UK city and offer unforgettable Christmas market experiences

While the UK has some great Christmas markets, the ones found in Europe tend to be bigger and more traditional. If you’re dreaming of drinking mulled wine and wandering around wooden chalets to buy gifts, you don’t need to drain your bank account to enjoy a festive weekend away.

Here are some Christmas market breaks coming in at around £100 per person. Prices are correct at the time of going to press, but can change, especially air fares which are likely to become more expensive as the Christmas dates book up.

Christmas in Tivoli – Copenhagen – £96.50

Many Christmas markets are set in town squares, but Christmas in Tivoli takes over Copenhagen’s historic amusement park, turning it into a winter wonderland. Its beautifully decorated gardens are full of wooden stalls, often dusted with snow, and there are festive rides, freshly-baked Danish treats, and serious hygge vibes. Head to Christmas in Tivoli for its opening weekend, November 13, and you can take return flights from Bristol for £56 on Ryanair.

With just a two hour flight time it’s perfect for a weekend break, and you can return on Sunday to avoid taking extra annual leave. Generator Copenhagen is about a 15-minute walk away, or a quick metro ride, and has a lively bar, restaurant, and terrace. Stays start at £23.81 for a dorm. Another unique option, if you’d like a little more privacy, is the Urban Camper Hostel, which has indoor tents that come with twin or double beds and lockers. Prices start at £40.50 per person for the weekend based on two sharing. If you prefer a hotel, you can find stays from £82 for two nights with Kayak.

Spitalerstrasse Christmas Market – Hamburg – £99.34

If traditional Christmas markets are your thing you can’t go wrong with Spitalerstrasse in Hamburg, which is basically a blueprint for every festive city centre event in Europe. Wooden chalets line the streets, vendors sell gingerbread, bratwurst, and mugs of glühwein, and it’s all set amid a backdrop of glorious medieval buildings covered in twinkly lights.

Hamburg has fewer options for direct flights from the UK – only London and Manchester offer this route – but there are bargains to be found. For example, if you travel between November 20 and 22, a return from London-Stansted costs £48, and the 90 minute flight time makes it perfect for a weekend away.

Next to Hamburg’s central station is the Generator Hamburg has basic dorms from £25.67 a night. Other budget options in the centre include the unique CAB20, which offers inexpensive cabin-style rooms for £164 for two nights based on two sharing.

Plaza Mayor Christmas Market – Madrid – £84.50

Enjoy Christmas with a Spanish flair at the Plaza Mayor Christmas Market, which runs from late November to December 31. The Spanish capital’s stunning historic square is the perfect backdrop for more than 100 red stalls, lit by fairy lights, where you can buy handcrafted nativity figures, unique decorations, and gifts. Enjoy freshly roasted chestnuts, turrón nougat, or churros with proper hot chocolate.

The cool weather means December tends to be an inexpensive time to visit Madrid, and if you fly from Bristol on Friday December 4, coming back Sunday, you can pick up flights from £38. If you’d like to stay in the city centre, one option is the Capsule Inn Madrid where couples can share a double capsule for £93 for two nights. Although it’s an extremely cosy space so you’d need to ensure you don’t fight at the airport before arriving.

Campo Santo Stefano Christmas Market – Venice – £94.56

Venice’s Campo Santo Stefano Christmas market kicks off on November 17, so it’s perfect for an early festive break. Stick to November dates and you can avoid the tourist crowds, and browse a wide range of Italian and European Christmas foods, artisan gifts, and canals lined with lights.

You can book flights from November 27 to 29, departing London-Luton on Wizz Air from £43, while the Generator Venice , housed in a historic building on Giudecca Island, has beds from £25.78 a night on those dates. Giudecca Island is about a 20-minute walk to the Christmas market, taking you across Venice’s bridges, or you can take a boat and enjoy the festive canal views. Meanwhile on Skyscanner you can find hotels with stays from £92 for two nights over a December weekend.

RAW Christmas Market – Berlin – £109.94

Berlin’s RAW Christmas Market is a unique experience. Set in a former railway repair yard in the hip, alternative neighbourhood of Friedrichshain, it has a medieval theme giving it vaguely Ren Faire vibes. Taking place from November 12 to December 22, you can enjoy this creative market which includes a wooden Ferris wheel, street entertainment, and lots of artistic stalls.

You can fly with Ryanair from London-Stansted to Berlin on November 20 to 22 from £51, making it an ideal time to visit the city. Continue the cool arty theme with a stay at Generator Berlin Mitte , a design-led hotel that has dorms, sleeping pods, and private rooms, from £18.99 a night. A single pod is £29.47 a night, if you’re feeling brave and not claustrophobic, while a private twin ensuite room for the weekend costs £92.82 a night.

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