If you’re looking for the best Christmas market to visit this month then the good news is Hoppa has done the research for you and worked out the cheapest place to get into the Christmas spirit.
The airport transfer specialists have been analysing dozens of European winter getaway destinations, looking at the average cost of accommodation, reading the Tripadvisor reviews and adding up the price of a pint.
And the European spot that is the most cheap and cheerful this Christmas is…Prague! I must say I have to agree with them as I was lucky enough to travel to the picturesque city of Prague two years ago in the run up to Christmas and it probably is the most Chrismassy place I’ve been to.
With its stunning buildings, cobblestone streets, and historic Old Town Square, Prague is a pretty great place to visit all year round – especially in December when the Christmas lights are twinkling and locals are chanting traditional Czech carols.
It has an iconic Gothic Church, a 20-Metre Christmas tree and is circled by dozens of wooden chalets selling everything from Trdelník (chimney cake) to Czech Marionettes (hand painted ornaments) and puppets.
And alongside a very good-looking Christmas market, you can expect to find a rather impressive 4,811 attractions to keep you amused. Scoring 7.5 out of 10, the average cost of a 3-star hotel in Prague is just £74 and the average cost of a pint is £2.17 according to secretldn.com
There are also some great restaurants where you can sit down and enjoy very reasonably priced food and drink while you people watch. You can expect to pay around 250-400 CZK (approx. £8 to £14) for a dinner with drinks, with street food being even cheaper.
And there’s so much choice – from classic dishes like Goulash, Svíčková (beef in cream sauce) or Vepřo knedlo zelo (pork, dumplings, sauerkraut) to mulled wine and roasted nuts.
In fact, the Christmas market is so picture-perfect, it’s been named the most photographed Christmas market in Europe, according to various media outlets and Prague City Tourism.
There’s still plenty of time to visit – the market runs annually from late November through early January, transforming the square into a fairy-tale scene dominated by the soaring Gothic towers of Týn Church and the Astronomical Clock.
One of the best things is that it might only be a two-hour flight from the UK but once your feet firmly land in the Old Town Square, you feel like you’ve stepped into the past. And you can get there for as little as £27 return (if you book it far enough in advance) leaving plenty leftover for a few £2 pints of Czech lager.
The 10 most affordable European winter getaway destinations:
Journalist Liv Clarke visited a joyful Christmas market in a UK town which she says matches any European-style winter wonderland – and has ‘the best’ hot chocolate
Magical Christmas market in UK town is ‘full of joy’ (Image: Liv Clarke)
Christmas Markets have been bustling for several weeks now and journalist Liv Clarke says she’s “certainly no Grinch” when they pop up, adding that she “relishes” them. Based in Manchester, Liv took a train to an exceptional festive wonderland recently – and she was left enchanted with the “different” kind of Christmas market.
Liv said she loves to “uncover something new each year” at Christmas markets and found herself “whizzing over to Yorkshire on the train on a frosty November morning”, to see how they celebrate Christmas across the border. Heading to Halifax, which hosts an annual Christmas Market each year in the grand Piece Hall, Liv, being a “proud Yorkshire lass” herself, was more than happy to head to the West Yorkshire town.
She said that “getting to these markets couldn’t be simpler” via a pretty train journey – and Liv described the “stunning Grade-I Georgian building” of the the Piece Hall which “boasts a massive 66,000sq ft open-courtyard” as being truly memorable.
She said: “I hopped on the train from Manchester Victoria to Halifax, which takes around 40 minutes, and the Piece Hall is roughly a five-minute stroll from the train station. My ticket set me back £12.59 for an open return which I booked on Trainline the day before, including Railcard discount.”
This works out just over £6 each way, she added, having booked ahead of travelling, which means you can sometimes find one-way tickets at low cost, reports the Manchester Evening News.
Liv said: “The train journey itself was picturesque, especially with a heavy frost adding a sparkle to the rugged landscape of the South Pennines. I passed through Rochdale, Todmoden and Hebden Bridge along the way, admiring the canals and mills which looked particularly striking in the bright sunshine.
“Upon my arrival in Halifax, it was a mere short stroll to the Piece Hall, tucked away from the main thoroughfare. Entry is through one of four gates situated on each side of the square, and there’s something rather grand about stepping through the archway.
“The gate I chose boasted an exquisitely ornate design, adding to the enchantment of the experience. It was still early when I arrived, with many stallholders preparing for the day ahead, but I was already taken with the layout; compared to Manchester, it was refreshing to see the markets here confined to one area, providing a respite from the hustle and bustle of the main high street.”
While waiting for the markets to fully open, Liv took the opportunity to explore the Piece Hall itself, describing “dozens of shops” lining all four sides of the square.
She said: “Given its location on a slight incline, there are varying levels depending on which side you’re on, yet each open-air walkway affords stunning views of the square below.
“On the ground floor, you’ll discover a plethora of cafes and restaurants, many of which stay open late into the evening. I treated myself to a hot chocolate from The Bakery (£3.95), which ranks among the best I’ve ever tasted: rich, chocolatey and perfectly sweetened.”
The Piece Hall is home to shops selling a wide array of items, from handmade gifts to antiques – and while these independent shops operate year-round, “the markets provide a significant boost, with many market traders even supplying the permanent shops”, Liv reported.
Shelly Foster, who runs The Handmade Gift Shop, shared her recommendation for the best time to visit, telling Liv: “The markets are always full of joy, the best time is around 4.30pm, just before sunset when everything is glowing. The markets are open until 7pm on Fridays and Saturdays but the bars and restaurants stay open much later, often with live music creating a lovely atmosphere.”
Lou Harkness-Hudson, who operates Hudson Belle, a shop selling gifts and homeware, said: “It’s just the most unique, unusual place to come, it’s a fantastic building, an excellent community. The markets are a crucial time for us and really boost footfall, it doesn’t get any busier than this. They bring people here to shop and have a nice day out.”
Liv continued to explore, adding: “Back at ground level, the markets were open and shoppers started to wander around as the morning sun began to thaw us all out. There was a fantastic selection of stalls, with many naturally selling products from Yorkshire.
“From rum to cheese to chilli oil – if you can name it, they sell it. Then there were stalls selling hats, gloves and scarves, which I imagine were in high demand during my chilly visit, along with several traders offering the most beautiful decorations and trinkets you could imagine.
“Adding to the enchantment was a merry-go-round and a large Ferris wheel, although it was spinning a bit too quickly for my taste. Given that it was a swinging-seat style wheel, I opted to sit this one out. Nonetheless, it was pleasant to observe.”
In one corner of the square, a towering Christmas tree stood majestically, with a massive ‘Christmas’ sign displayed against the balustrades of the Piece Hall’s second floor behind it, creating an idyllic scene. Liv described.
Liv added: “It’s the setting of the Piece Hall that makes this place special – it genuinely feels like you’re in a European city, rather than in the north of England.
“Naturally, there are far fewer food stalls here than in Manchester, which I found quite appealing. No overwhelming choices here; instead, I easily settled on my early lunch: a Yorkshire Bratwurst from The Sausage Box.
“This was crafted with a locally sourced pork Bratwurst from ‘Lishman’s of Ilkley’, served in a brioche bun with sauerkraut, pickles, crispy onions, ketchup and mustard, all for £9. It was a sight to behold and almost seemed too good to be true.”
Upon taking a bite, Liv said it “lived up to its looks”. She described the sausage as “succulent with a hint of smokiness, the toppings combined to create a flavour explosion, and it was surprisingly easy to eat – no stringy bits of meat or tough bread causing a mess”.
Liv added: “It felt much more thrilling than the Bratwurst stalls we have here in Manchester.”
“Naturally, there’s a stall selling Yorkshire pudding wraps if that tickles your fancy. As a proud Yorkshire lass myself, I wouldn’t dare to sample a pudding made by anyone other than my own mum while in God’s Own County, so I gave that one a miss.
“Other stalls were serving up Indian street food and Paella, while the surrounding eateries included an Italian restaurant and a wine bar that looked rather inviting. After my Bratwurst, I fancied something sweet, so I made a beeline for the churros stall.
“I must confess, it took three attempts to get my hands on some churros, as twice I was informed that the machine was, quite literally, frozen. But as they say, third time’s the charm, and I finally secured my paper cup of golden churros, dusted with crunchy cinnamon sugar and sitting in a pool of chocolate sauce.”
The churros cost £8, with the sauce costing an extra £1, which “seemed reasonable given the generous portion size” which Liv “couldn’t even finish”.
She added: “While I’m not usually one for sweets, even I found these delightful, with the texture being spot-on and just the right amount of chewiness. The sauce was scrumptious and tasted like genuine chocolate rather than a synthetic substitute.”
Summing up the festive experience, Liv said that “everything about the markets was a joy: the location, the people, and the food” – and if she visits again she may even brave a spin on the Ferris wheel, but she’s “making no promises”.
Legoland in Windsor, Berkshire, has been transformed into an immersive Christmas experience, launching its very own Winter Wonderland complete with snow-covered trees and Father Christmas
Legoland in Windsor has launched its Winter Wonderland
As a child of the eighties, a Christmas treat was a trip to a questionable Santa’s grotto where fake Barbie dolls were the default gift. But these days, Christmas experiences are in bountiful supply – from light shows, and breakfasts with Santa to ice rinks, ice bars and Christmas markets.
The Santas in the grotto have upped their game and expectations are high when it comes to sharing the magic of Christmas. So which experience to choose? My son is four and Lego is currently his sun and moon so Legoland’s Winter Wonderland seemed like a safe bet.
This winter, the theme park in Windsor has been transformed into an immersive Christmas experience, with twinkly lights, a giant Duplo Christmas tree and a sprawling Christmas Kingdom. We did the Meet Father Christmas experience, which saw elves guide us from Legoland through a mysterious corridor to a snow-covered North Pole.
After navigating through a maze of snow-topped fir trees, we arrived at Santa’s hidden cabin where my son suddenly got stage fright and was too shy to talk. But Father Christmas was lovely and made jokes about my husband’s past on the naughty list. The gift was an impressive Legoland dragon soft toy that he’s slept with ever since.
The Lego City Deep Sea Dive Adventure was also a massive hit, with a submarine taking young explorers through an underwater world filled with stingrays and sharks. He got his first taste of life on the road at the Lego City Driving School and discovered a love for the faster rollercoasters such as Merlin’s Challenge and The Dragon which takes you through the castle before plunging through the treetops.
There are also loads of shows to choose from including the Elf Training Academy show, the Festival of Flurries and Nutcracker’s Marching Band. And for certain dates over Christmas and New Year, dogs are welcome too!
Dark fell just after 3.30pm and we stayed until close. Enjoying the rides under the moonlight was a magical and memorable experience.
The Winter Wonderland runs until January 4 with tickets from £32 per person at https://www.legoland.co.uk/explore/special-events/legoland-at-christmas. Dogs are permitted entry on December 14, 21 and 28 with a meet Father Christmas upgrade available from 5pm.
Meanwhile, LEGOLAND Deutschland in Germany has recently unveiled plans for a new theme park land based on J.K. Rowling’s beloved Harry Potter books, and fans will even be able to enjoy an overnight wizarding experience with themed accommodation.
Details of the brand new attraction are currently being kept strictly under wraps, with the park confirming it’ll be announcing further information in the next 12 months.
In a statement, Peter van Roden, EVP of Warner Bros. Discovery Global Experiences, said: “We are always looking for new ways for the millions of Harry Potter fans around the world to extend the magic and further connect with the iconic films. This new destination will allow fans to step into in the familiar LEGO Harry Potter aesthetic they have been constructing for years and physically experience the wizarding world like never before.”
While there are already Harry Potter-themed lands at some Universal resorts, as well as the Warner Bros. Studio Tour London, where fans can see where the movie was filmed, this is the first Wizarding World attraction for Lego.
And while many places, such as private rentals, offer unofficial wizard-themed accommodation based on the franchise, the park will offer the first official themed accommodation.
