market

IT’S time to get into the Christmas spirit, and where better to do that than at one of the best festive markets?

Found in Bath, it’s considered the biggest Christmas shopping event in the South West with over 200 wooden chalet stalls across the city.

The Bath Christmas Market will reopen on November 26 and any fan of the festive season will want to visit.

It was even recently declared the best in the UK by European Best Destinations.

There are around 250 stalls in Bath dotted about through the cobbled areas of the Abbey Quarter, Bath Street, Union Street, and Milsom Street.

This year it will be even bigger than ever as it will expand onto New Bond Street for the first time.

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There’s everything on offer from food like hot dogs and burgers to sweet treats like donuts and even crumble topped with melted chocolate.

Don’t forget the classic Christmas drinks too like mulled wine, cider and hot chocolate.

Other stalls will be selling gifts like baubles, festive socks and tree decorations.

The 250 stallholders and caterers are independently made up of local businesses with most hailing from the South West of England.

For anyone who lives in Bath and North East Somerset – there are discounts available with the Residents’ Discovery Card.

One of the offers is £1 off toasted marshmallows at one of the stalls, 10 per cent off all goods at Soul Fries and Flame and Dough.

Or enjoy the free lucky dip with every purchase at Let’s Get Scented which sells bath bombs and candles.

There are other offers at chocolate stalls and handmade jewellery counters.

For those who want to visit, this year Bath Christmas Market is being held between November 26 and December 13.

From Monday to Wednesday it’s open between 10am and 7pm.

Between Thursday and Saturday it’s open from 10am to 8pm.

On Sundays, it will be open between 10am and 6pm.

The market stalls are set in amongst Bath Abbey which has stood in the heart of the city for over a thousand years.

For those who want to learn more, there are free highlight tours of the abbey available at no extra cost.

Entry to Bath Abbey is £9 for adults, £7.50 for students and £5 for children (5-15).

Any fan of Jane Austen should head to the Jane Austen Centre which gives visitors a snapshot into her life – it even has a dress-up station so visitors can immerse themselves into the Regency era.

There’s also the famous curved street called Royal Crescent.

It’s also a a must-visit for Bridgerton fans because the city is used as a filming location.

The Abbey Deli is used as the Modiste dress shop in the show.

The Best Christmas Markets in the UK 2026…

1. Bath Christmas Market, Bath, England
2. Edinburgh Christmas Market, Edinburgh, Scotland
3. Manchester Christmas Markets, Manchester, England
4. Chester Christmas Market, Chester, England
5. Birmingham Christmas Market, Birmingham, England
6. York Christmas Festival, York, England
7. Winchester Cathedral’s Christmas Market, Winchester England
8. Nottingham Winter Wonderland, Nottingham, England
9. Glasgow Christmas Markets, Glasgow, Scotland
10. Hyde Park Winter Wonderland, London, England

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There are over 70 stalls to explore and events to take part in

Christmas is now just six weeks away, and the festive spirit is already starting to arrive in towns and cities across the UK. Markets have been popping up, transforming streets into winter wonderlands.

This weekend marks the opening of Edinburgh’s Christmas celebrations, which take over the stunning city. The Scottish capital held its first Christmas market in 1999, and it has since grown into a huge event.

It is considered one of the UK’s best and most picturesque winter festivals, with visitors flocking from across the world. The city centre is filled with traditional markets, funfair rides, attractions, music concerts, community events and family-friendly performances.

The celebrations are set against the backdrop of Edinburgh Castle and the grand Georgian streets. Visitors can enjoy a drink in the Polar Ice Bar or the Coorie Inn or take part in pub quizzes, wreath-making and candle-making workshops.

For thrill seekers, there is a big wheel, Helter Skelter, vintage carousel ride, waltzers and dodgems.

Where is Edinburgh’s Christmas market?

The Christmas celebrations are spread out across Edinburgh’s city centre. West Princes Street Gardens, East Princes Street Gardens, George Street and Bistro Square have all been transformed for the festive season.

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When does it open?

Edinburgh Christmas opens on Saturday, November 14 and runs all the way until January 3. East Princes Street Gardens’ celebrations are open daily from 10am until 10pm, with some changes to the hours during the week of Christmas.

It will be closed on Christmas Day. On Christmas Eve, the market will run from 10am to 8pm, and on Boxing Day from 12pm to 8pm. New Year’s Eve will be open from 10am to 5pm, and from 12pm to 8pm on New Year’s Day. The final day, January 3, will be open 10am until 8pm.

West Princes Street Gardens has slightly different hours. From November 14 until December 6, it will be open from 12pm to 8pm Monday to Wednesday, from 12pm to 9pm Thursday to Friday, and from 10am to 9pm Saturday and Sunday.

From December 7 to December 18, it will be open from 12pm to 9pm Monday to Friday and from 10am to 9pm Saturday and Sunday. It will also be closed on Christmas Day.

The Coorie Inn, George Street, will be open daily from 12pm until late, and will be closed until December 25. Visitors have been urged to check the opening times when planning their visit, as they are subject to change.

How to get to Edinburgh Christmas

The events are spread across the city, with many different transport options available. Lothian Buses runs over 70 bus routes in and around Edinburgh.

The trams can also be used, with stops at St Andrew Square, Princes Street and the West End. Edinburgh Waverley train station is around a two-minute walk from East Princes Street Gardens.

The nearest coach station is Edinburgh Bus Station, which is around a six-minute walk away. There are no designated car parks for the event, but there are car parks across the city centre.

The MLB free agent market is beginning to shake out, spurred into action during the general managers meetings in Las Vegas this week.

Reliever acquisitions have been the first wave, with Emilio Pagán landing with the Tigers for one year and $11.5 million, and Ryan Weiss with the Padres for $1.85 million during the meetings. Former Dodger Evan Phillips signed with the Braves on Thursday for three years, $35 million.

Left-hander Alex Vesia, who has been with the Dodgers for the last six seasons, is also expected to garner plenty of early interest on the free agent market.

On Friday, first baseman Jake Bauers added a tally to the position-player side, agreeing to a deal with the Red Sox. Fresh off a career year and World Series title, Bauers reportedly is set to ink a four-year, $58 million contract.

So teams aren’t waiting until after the impending lockout to reinforce their rosters. But that still leaves a wide range of possibilities before the current CBA expires on Dec. 1.

“We’re totally focused on business as usual, trying to make sure we’re as prepared as possible in case things happen in different ways,” Dodgers general manager Brandon Gomes said. “Whether that’s trade or free agency, continue to put ourselves in a position to be able to act if something comes up that we feel like is really important to helping our team, both short-term and long-term.”

That was a common refrain from leaders of baseball operations departments around the league.

“Business as usual for us,” new Orioles GM Jared Banner said. “We’re looking to get better, and that’s our focus here. So we’ll just read and react as each day passes by.”

Business as usual, however, means a variety of things for different teams.

“We are always going to be on the front end of aggression with how we operate in the market,” Mariners president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto said. “So whether the market wants to operate faster or slower than it typically does, we’re usually not listening. … Teams know that typically, if we don’t start the hot stove, we’re among the starters. So our behavior won’t change much, and my general resting place is, if our behavior is going to be unaffected, I don’t sweat too much what the other 29 teams will do, unless they’re holding us up.”

The Mariners took that aggressive approach before the last lockout, too. They were one of the major contributors to an active first month of free agency, during which teams committed a whopping $1.9 billion before Dec. 2, 2021.

“It’s definitely a convenient thing to point to because there just aren’t a lot of situations that are even remotely similar to this,” Tigers president of baseball operations Scott Harris said of the record flurry of activity five years ago. “I don’t think it’s going to follow the same course; I would expect it not to.”

Looming beyond this lockout is the threat of a salary cap. And though the MLB Players Assn. has made it clear that it will continue to fight the owners’ push for an overhaul of the current structure, teams also can’t completely ignore the possibility of a salary cap, or some other guardrails on spending in the next CBA.

The owners’ latest proposal reportedly included a salary cap of about $258.2 million, depending on next year’s revenue, to be implemented in 2028.

Though many around the industry expect that, in the case of a salary cap, MLB would build in a gradual rollout or specific exceptions to make the massive change a little less destabilizing, such a shift would pose a challenge to large-payroll teams like the Dodgers.

The Dodgers have some money set to come off the books in 2028 — veteran first baseman Freddie Freeman’s contract expires after next season, and Teoscar Hernández, Max Muncy and Hyeseong Kim have 2028 club options. But the Dodgers’ current commitments for 2028 (over $275 million in CBT payroll, according to Spotrac) already put them above MLB’s latest proposed salary cap.

“We’ll put ourselves in position to see what’s available, and then go from there because we really don’t know what any of that looks like,” Gomes said. “So we have to function with what we know right now.”

The Dodgers at least don’t have many glaring needs going into 2027. At the top of the list will be their bullpen and bench, markets that they could explore in the coming weeks.

They’ve also remained in touch with top free agent Tarik Skubal’s representatives, after a largely successful trade-deadline union this past season, and are set to meet with him. But it is still unclear just how aggressive the Dodgers will be, or whether Skubal will agree to a contract by Dec. 1.

Calling all fans of the wizarding world, a special Harry Potter Christmas market will be taking place for the first time ever this year for some sorcery during the festive season

Nothing beats wandering around a Christmas market with a cup of steaming mulled wine to the sound of merry jingles, while browsing the wooden chalets stocked with gifts and seasonal goodies. And it’s about to get a lot better, as a new Harry Potter Christmas market is opening for the very first time.

In a world first, the new Christmas market launching this year will feature designs in the style of those in the new Harry Potter HBO series, which is set to be released on 25 December, 2026, along with cabins and themed culinary offerings. Yet, those eager to discover a slice of the wizarding world will need to plan a festive getaway and catch a short flight to Germany, where it will be held.

In an announcement from Skydance, which has merged with Paramount, they confirmed: “The magic of Hogwarts is coming to Munich: To celebrate the launch of the new HBO Original series ‘Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone,’ HBO Max is transforming Munich’s Praterinsel into an enchanting Christmas market. Visitors can immerse themselves in the world of the new HBO Original series even before the premiere.

“From November 28th to December 6th, Praterinsel will be transformed into a festive world of experiences, designed entirely in the style of the new series. In a Christmas atmosphere, guests can get a first glimpse of the HBO Original series, right in the heart of Munich and even before its official premiere.”

They further explained: “The Christmas market is inspired by ‘Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone’ and offers many activities and attractions for fans of all ages. Atmospheric photo opportunities in the style of the series invite visitors to capture memories of their visit. Food and other culinary offerings inspired by the ‘Harry Potter’ world bring the magic to the table. Guests can also expect further surprises.”

The Harry Potter Christmas Market will take place on Praterinsel in Munich, but you’ll have to plan accordingly if you want to visit, as it won’t be there for long. The spellbinding event will only be held from Saturday, 28 November until Sunday, 6 December, 2026, yet there’s still plenty of time to book your festive escape to experience the magic.

Skydance added: “With the transformation of Praterinsel, HBO Max brings the magic of one of the world’s most popular stories to the Bavarian capital and gets fans in the mood for the start of the new HBO Original series in a very special way.”

As Potter fans eagerly wait for the market to arrive, a huge amount of excitement has already been sparked. One commented on a Reddit post: “I’m going and am so excited!! I’ve been looking forward to this show for YEARS now, so I’m so happy that finally there is an event in my area where I can celebrate it.”

“Omg this is amazing,” another shared on Instagram, while another declared, “We need to go to Germany”. Others raised concerns about what it will actually include. However, one local had some reassurance. “Christmas markets in Germany are usually great as it is. I would go regardless if I was anywhere near Munich and had the time off work,” they shared.

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It’s one of the oldest Christmas markets in Europe, dating back to 1570

A recent study by mobility specialists at Muick Sandy named Europe’s most accessible Christmas markets. The research examined the proximity to accessible toilets, parking and step-free public transport, surrounding terrain conditions, and the accessibility amenities on offer to guests.

According to the research, Strasbourg, in France, tops the list as Europe’s most accessible Christmas market. Visitors were found to be a mere 23 metres from step-free public transport, the shortest distance of any market examined.

Strasbourg also scored nine out of 10 for accessibility facilities, making it perfect for older travellers visiting the famous Christmas market this winter.

Strasbourg is known as the “capital of Christmas”, and its festive market ranks amongst the oldest and most enchanting in Europe, with roots stretching back to 1570.

It is also considered one of the most stunning in the world, set against the backdrop of its magnificent cathedral. Strasbourg recently featured in TripAdvisor’s Traveller’s Choice Top 10 French destinations.

Boasting timber-framed houses and charming canals, this picturesque city makes for an ideal winter escape.

Strasbourg Christmas Market runs from November 27 to December 24, 2026.

Birmingham came second and was named the UK’s most accessible Christmas market, scoring a perfect 10 out of 10 for accessibility facilities. Guests are situated just 110 metres from an accessible toilet, 158 metres from accessible parking and 133 metres from step-free public transport.

The experts explained: “Just 5.7% of the surrounding ground assessed was rough or uneven, contributing to Birmingham finishing comfortably ahead of the remaining markets.”

Birmingham Christmas Market runs from November 5 to December 24, 2026.

Ben Kenny, director at Muick Sandy, said: “Christmas markets are a huge part of the festive season for millions of people, but something as simple as uneven ground, a long journey from accessible parking or a lack of suitable facilities can make visiting much more difficult for somebody with limited mobility.

“Anyone with mobility needs planning a Christmas market trip should check the accessibility information available before travelling, particularly the location of parking, toilets and step-free transport.”

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Most accessible Christmas markets

1. Strasbourg, France
2. Birmingham, United Kingdom
3. Baden-Baden, Germany
4. Frankfurt, Germany
5. Vienna, Austria
6. Rotterdam, Netherlands
7. London, United Kingdom
8. Dresden, Germany
9. Nuremberg, Germany
10. Manchester, United Kingdom

The Jet2 Black Friday sale has also seen prices drop on flights for winter sun breaks to the Canary Islands, ski holidays, and summer 2027 getaways

There’s nothing to brighten up the cold and dark winter months like escaping on a magical mini-break to enjoy festive celebrations abroad. And Jet2 has just launched its Black Friday sale, offering up to 20% off flights to favourite Christmas market destinations – including to cities ranked the best in Europe for the occasion.

Those seeking a winter getaway can find flights to Prague from £38 in December, with direct flights from 10 UK airports to choose from with Jet2. Beginning on November 28, the famous Christmas markets of Prague are set against a backdrop of stunning historical architecture, with decorated huts selling local delicacies and handmade crafts alongside an open-air music stage, a nativity scene, and an ice rink.

Vienna is another popular destination, with flights now priced from £42 in the month of Christmas with Jet2 and 12 UK airports to travel from. The Austrian capital is transformed into a festive wonderland from mid-November, with more than 20 markets to discover across the city’s historic squares, palaces and gardens.

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£43 flights to ‘Europe’s best’ Christmas market

There are also Christmas markets to be found in Budapest, now on offer from £43 in December with Jet2 with the cheapest flights from Manchester and more direct options from Newcastle, Leeds Bradford, Glasgow Intl, Easy Midlands and Birmingham airports. Budapest, Vienna, and Prague are the top three ‘most beautiful’ European cities to visit for Christmas markets in 2026, according to Forbes.

Budapest’s Advent Bazilika, held in the city centre in front of St Stephen’s Basilica and running from November 13 until January 1, took the number one spot having been crowned the Best Christmas Market in Europe by European Best Destinations on multiple occasions. This year, the magical market will be home to more than a hundred stalls offering ‘unforgettable culinary experiences’ alongside unique souvenirs from ceramicists, designers, jewellery makers and more, as well as festive light displays and seasonal events and activities.

Shop the Jet2 Black Friday sale

From £39

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Choose your destination

Jet2 is offering up to 20% off flights in its Black Friday sale, including offers on winter breaks and ski holidays.

Winter ski breaks with £25 flights

The Jet2 Black Friday sale also offers holidaymakers the chance to book a winter ski break for less. The cheapest offers can be found in January for something to look forward to after Christmas, when flights to Geneva, Grenoble, Chambery and Turin are all available from UK airports from £25.

More airlines are offering winter breaks for less as Black Friday approaches, with easyJet having launched a sale on its package holidays with savings of up to £400 to be had, as well as flights from £32 to the likes of Malta, Cyprus, Morocco and Tunisia. The airline also offers exclusive flights from the UK to Akureyri in North Iceland, a prime spot for skiing with its snowy scenery, geothermal bathing, Northern Lights displays, and whale-watching opportunities.

TUI is also offering up to 40pp off return trips made between December and April, with 10kg hand luggage and an underseat bag included. Among the cheapest destinations are Marrakech, Malaga and the Canary Islands, with direct flights priced from £49 per person.

Escape the cold in the Canary Islands from £28

Back with Jet2, those who would prefer to ditch the chill for a winter sun getaway instead can jet off to the Canary Islands, known for its year-round warmth which means sun-lovers can enjoy a beach holiday in the depths of December. Flights are available from 13 UK airports, including London airports, Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol, Liverpool, Newcastle, Edinburgh and Belfast.

Flights with Jet2 have been reduced to as little as £28 to Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, Tenerife and Gran Canaria, with daytime temperatures across the islands averaging around 20-22°C in December and flight times from the UK standing at four to four-and-a-half hours. Rainfall in the Canary Islands is relatively low even at this time of year, and holidaymakers can typically look forward to six to eight hours of sunshine each day.

Those looking ahead to their next summer holidays can also lock in lower prices now this Black Friday, with Jet2 offering flights from £40 to the popular destinations of Majorca, Ibiza and Menorca for a budget-friendly break. The sale also includes discounts on flight add-ons such as bags, seats and meals to upgrade journeys for less, with more than 80 destinations to choose from.

The airline has earned an average rating of 4.3 out of five stars on Trustpilot, making it one of the most highly-rated companies to fly with from the UK. However, not everyone’s travel experience was smooth, with one person noting in a recent review: “Two-hour delay said to be due to technical issues. The plane that arrived was smaller and caused issues with seats and room for cabin luggage. “

Jet2 has been named a Which? Recommended Provider for the past 10 years running, with the consumer experts having named the airline as the best short-haul economy option available in its 2026 ranking. Which? noted: “Jet2 cancelled far fewer flights at the last minute than most rivals and clinched four stars for customer service, value for money and the booking process (simplified because there’s no need to add cabin bags).”

The Jet2 Black Friday sale is on now.

PREMIER Inn is set to build a new £10 million hotel in a major boost for a UK market town.

Britain’s largest hotel chain has announced plans to transform the site of a former factory.

The new hotel in North Walsham, Norfolk, will feature the chain’s latest bedroom designs, and will be built on the former Crane Fruehauf site on the outskirts of the town.

Lucy Shires, a Liberal Democrat councillor for the area, celebrated the brand coming to the town.

She told the BBC she hoped it would attract more visitors and boost jobs.

Councillor Shires said: “A national company like Whitbread choosing to invest about £10 million here is a real vote of confidence in our town’s future.

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“The hotel will bring the prospect of permanent jobs and more visitors spending money in local shops, cafes, pubs and restaurants, with benefits for the surrounding area too.”

At the initial planning stage, North Norfolk District Council heard objections about the hotel‘s designs.

The council’s conservation officer had complained about its “architectural quality”, believing it would appear “overly dominant”.

The officer also described the plans for the hotel as “box-like”.

However, district officials ruled the benefits outweighed concerns about the design and approved the plans, although it is not yet known when construction will start on the site.

Whitbread, owner of Premier Inn, operates 850 hotels across the UK and Ireland.

DEVELOPING STORYDEVELOPING STORY,

Nvidia loses more than $600bn in market value as CEO Jensen Huang steps down amid espionage and affair allegations.

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has stepped down from the company following his reported affairs with a suspected Chinese spy and an Nvidia executive.

The $4.2 trillion tech giant has lost more than $600bn in market value this week as Huang’s scandals rocked the company, which supplies most of the chips powering advanced artificial intelligence (AI) technology. The stock slid more than 10 percent in premarket trading on Thursday.

The company appointed Colette Kress, Nvidia’s chief financial officer and executive vice president, as interim CEO on Thursday.

Nvidia’s board met on Wednesday night to discuss ousting Huang, whose relationship with the alleged Chinese spy triggered investigations by the FBI, the United States Congress and the California-based tech giant. Nvidia is also facing a shareholder class-action lawsuit.

The alleged Chinese intelligence asset, Alice Huang, is a former executive at Singapore-based Megaspeed, Nvidia’s primary business partner in Southeast Asia. Founded in 2023, Megaspeed has been investigated over whether it helped Chinese companies access its $4.8bn stock of powerful Nvidia chips.

The affair has raised national security concerns in the US, which restricts chip sales to China over concerns that the Chinese military, intelligence agencies or companies could use the advanced technology.

Huang, 63, is Nvidia’s co-founder, president and CEO. A close ally of United States President Donald Trump, he has pushed to ease US restrictions on chip exports to China. Trump said earlier this week that Huang told him he had “absolutely no idea” that he was in a relationship with an intelligence operative.

Huang owns about 3.6 percent of Nvidia’s stock, making him one of the richest people in the world. He is a powerful figure in the AI industry, which has driven record stock market and wider economic gains.

Nvidia’s board, which hired a law firm to investigate the affair with Alice Huang, met to decide Huang’s fate on Wednesday shortly after the New York Times reported that Huang also had an extramarital relationship with a Nvidia vice president who reports to him.

Nvidia’s stock has tumbled since the scandal erupted, falling to a 14-year low, the Reuters news agency reported.

It has been transformed for the festive season

Christmas markets are an ideal place to get into the festive spirit and soak up the joyful atmosphere. They have been popping up in towns and cities across the UK.

Manchester, Birmingham and Nottingham have seen their Christmas markets open in recent days. Now, another city is joining the list.

York is widely considered one of the most beautiful cities thanks to its Medieval streets and Gothic architecture. At Christmas time, it becomes even more magical as visitors can shop, sightsee and enjoy seasonal treats.

York Christmas Market sees 75 stalls line the city streets selling independent gifts, food and drink. Alpine chalets showcase the products, with over 80% of traders coming from Yorkshire.

Where is York Christmas Market?

The market is on Parliament Street and St Sampson’s Square in the centre of York. The area has been filled with local traders, and is close by to shops and restaurants which will be decorated for the season.

York residents can get a 10% discount at all traders when presenting a valid York Card or ID that proves York residency.

What are the opening times?

York Christmas Market opens on Thursday, November 12 and will run until December 21. It is open Wednesday to Monday, 10:30am until 7pm, with a rest day on Tuesdays.

If you are visiting York on a Tuesday, the rest of the city will offer a festive experience. You can explore York’s shops and historic streets as well as looking out for other festive events across the city.

On the final day, the market will close slightly earlier at 5pm on December 21.

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How to get there

The market is accessible by train as York Station is around a 14 minute walk away. Visit York recommends using York Park and Ride with travel for an adult being £4 and up to three children travel free. There will be more buses put on throughout the festive season.

What traders are at the market?

Food and drink:

• Beth Bakes Cakes
• Blueberry Hill Preserves
• Brew York
• Brown & Blond Brownies
• Bullion Chocolate
• Caroline’s Fudge & Sweets
• Casa Mia
• Charlie & Ivy’s
• Chilli Jam Man
• Cooper King Distillery
• Crumbles Desserts
• Cryer & Stott Cheesemongers
• Deborah Bakes
• Fairfax Distillery & Chocolatiers
• Filey Bay Yorkshire Single Malt Whiskey
• Florian Poirot
• Herbie’s
• Johnson’s Toffees
• Kettlesing Distilling Company and Farrah’s Harrogate
• La Focaccia
• Lily-Betts Luxurious Handcrafted Fudge
• Loaded Hash Browns by Ate O’Clock
• Lottie Shaw’s
• Lucia Restaurants
• Millers Street Food
• Moody Mare Patisserie
• Nashville Nuggs (by Mills Chicken)
• Northern Brownies
• Raisthorpe Manor
• Rhucello
• Shambles Kitchen
• The Crusty Pie Company
• The Cut & Craft – Mulled Wine
• The Cut & Craft – Steak & Chips
• The Fruity Kitchen
• The Gourmet Scotch Egg Co.
• The Hooting Owl Distillery
• The Irish Spice Bag
• The Sawley Kitchen
• The Twisted Curry Co.
• The Yorkshire Kitchen
• Tommy’s Pie Shop
• Villains Rum
• Whitby Distillery
• Wren & Berry Group
• York Cocoa Works
• York Gin
• Yorkshire Heart Vineyard & Brewery

Christmas gifts:

• Artifactually
• Crafty Bubble
• Keepsakes
• Nutty’s Emporium
• Paper Starlights
• The Festive House

Gifts:

• Amber & Orange
• Avorium
• Bags and Gladrags
• Beyond the Shelf
• Black Yak
• Bowbrook Studios
• Coaster Corner
• Colin Williamson Prints
• Copper & White
• Cosy Cottage
• Hop Skip & Flutter
• Hand Turned Pens
• Hollie Tree
• IdeaPOT
• Just Be Socks
• Katherine Sheard Designs
• Luke Horton Art
• Luminology
• Lush York
• Made With A Smile
• M.J. Braithwaite Fine Arts
• Mervyn Tay Art
• MS Unique Gifts
• Rainbownames
• Redleb Jewellery
• Staves Art
• Sarah Garbutt Accessories
• Socktopus
• Sunny Soap
• That Doggy in the Window
• The Cat Gallery
• The Library of Flowers
• The Vintage Model Company
• The Yorkshire Candle Company
• Traditional Wooden Games
• Victoria Prints GB
• Viking Drinking Horns
• Wacky Wax
• York Lucky Cats
• Indie York

Homeware:

• Blossom Gifts
• Luna Resin Wood Art
• Marbletree
• Rowbert
• The Ambient Company
• Wild Wood Gifts
• York Terrariums

Lifestyle:

• Celtic Knitwear Company
• HempWell
• Herd & Hive
• Nox
• Shea Alchemy

There is a huge Christmas tree and ice rink

Christmas markets are popping up across the UK as the festivities get underway. Lights, decorations and festive spirit are taking over towns and cities.

Multiple Christmas markets have already opened their doors this year, with another now added to the list. Nottingham’s Winter Wonderland has opened today (Thursday, November 12) and features an ice bar, a toboggan slide, and many stalls.

Visitors can enjoy food and drink from the small wooden chalets, and can pick up gifts and personalised items. The Christmas market has plenty to do, as thrill seekers can take a ride on the big wheel and a sky skate ice path.

What is on?

Along with over 60 stalls to wander by and explore, Nottingham’s market has plenty of attractions. In the middle of the market, visitors can skate on an ice rink before heading up to the Sky Skate Ice Path.

The path is elevated above the market, giving skaters views of the Christmas tree, lights and festivities. An ice bar serves up drinks surrounded by ice sculptures, and you can even sip out of an ice glass.

The big wheel offers a chance to head into the sky to soak up the atmosphere and city skyline. Meanwhile, the toboggan slide sees visitors head down a slope in an inflatable ring.

More food and drinks can be enjoyed at the Altitude glass chalet bar, ski chalet and Helter Skelter bar.

Where is Nottingham’s Christmas market?

The Winter Wonderland takes over Nottingham’s Old Market Square, which sits in the heart of the city. It also extends out onto Long Row.

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When is it open?

The market stalls will be open until December, 24, from 10am to 6:30pm, Sundays to Thursdays, and from 10am to 8pm on Fridays and Saturdays. After December 12, the opening hours will extend to 7:30pm Sunday to Thursday and 8:30 pm Friday and Saturday.

Many of the other attractions will remain open until New Year’s Eve. The Sur La Piste and Altitude bars are open 11am until 11pm Monday to Friday, 10am until 11pm Saturdays and 10am until 10pm on Sundays.

How to get there

The Winter Wonderland is in the centre of Nottingham and is around a 12-minute walk from the train station. The Old Market Square is served by trams, with seven park-and-ride spots across the network.

Nottingham City Transport buses run regularly into the centre of Nottingham. Nearby car parks include Lace Market, Trinity Square, Broad Marsh, Victoria Centre, Q Park Talbot Street, and Crowne Plaza Wollaton Street.

Drivers are advised it is likely to be busy, especially closer to Christmas. Broad Marsh car park is now £4.50 for all-day parking on Saturdays and Sundays until February 2027.

LAS VEGAS — The Dodgers’ early offseason to-do list includes a meeting with top free agent Tarik Skubal, the two-time Cy Young winner who they acquired at the trade deadline this year.

Other than the Dodgers’ National League Championship Series exit, the three-month fling was as happy of a partnership as either side could have hoped.

Skubal jelled with the group immediately, becoming especially close friends with fellow lefty Blake Snell, who promised that he’d worked to recruit Skubal back this offseason. And after posting a 2.61 ERA in 10 starts, Skubal, the Dodgers’ Game 1 starter in both playoff series, limited postseason opponents to a total of three runs.

“I know that he enjoyed his time here, we loved having him, so I think that’s certainly helpful as far as these conversations go,” Dodgers general manager Brandon Gomes said Tuesday at General Managers meetings. “And outside of that, he’s earned the right to be in this position and figure out what’s best for him and his family.”

That position, while it guarantees him a highly lucrative contract, is complicated by the impending lockout. Skubal’s agent, Scott Boras, when asked during his media availability Wednesday whether he’d consider a shorter deal with a higher average annual value, said he wouldn’t discuss contract negotiations. But creativity around the structure of a deal could help counter teams’ anxieties over a possible salary cap in the next Collective Bargaining Agreement.

It’s clear already that CBA uncertainty won’t fully freeze the market in November. But executives and agents alike have expressed skepticism that the expected lockout will inspire the same kind of spending flurry that arose in 2021, the end of the last CBA cycle.

Boras, however, argued against the notion that salary cap talk could put a damper on the superstar market before Dec. 1, when the lockout is expected to go into effect.

“Much like 2021, there’s a clear intent on a group of players, and we have no reservations by any teams that they’re going to operate within their abilities and freedoms because they want they don’t want to lose to their competitors,” Boras told reporters. “They want the market to be what it is for them, and they’re utilizing their rights to compete. I think they’re very concerned about losing the opportunity to sign select, key players, and they’re pursuing it aggressively.”

The Dodgers are among the teams planning to meet with Skubal, a group that reportedly includes the Mets, Padres and others.

The Dodgers certainly have a track record of splashy offseason deals with eye-popping numbers. Look no further than last offseason, when they broke records with their signings of closer Edwin Díaz (three years, $69 million, highest AAV for a relief pitcher) and right fielder Kyle Tucker (four years, $240 million, highest present-day AAV).

Even the Dodgers’ trade-deadline acquisition of Skubal appeared to be superfluous at the time. Once two-way phenom Shohei Ohtani’s health forced him to give up on pitching for the rest of the season, however, Skubal’s addition maintained the Dodgers rotation’s status as one of the most talented in MLB history.

They were not, however, among the most aggressive teams before the last lockout. And their approach to Skubal’s free agency will hinge, in part, on how they evaluate their starting pitching needs.

That picture isn’t clear, either.

“We’ve talked about the different paths that you can go down, and what does that look like,” Gomes said. “Do you need it? I don’t know. Do you want it? Maybe. You may not know that you need it until it’s too late. So I think it’s balancing all of this, as different scenarios play out. … The floor right now is really high. We do have a good amount of depth in our pitching. So now it’s just taking into account, what makes sense for us based on different avenues of how things shake out.”

As the Dodgers project out the potential of their rotation, they can reasonably expect improvement from some of their younger pitchers. They were pleased with the step forward that right-hander Roki Sasaki took this year.

“Expect him to take another big step forward,” Gomes said, “and really become the front-line-type guy that he knows that he can be and we know he can be.”

Regardless of lefty Justin Wrobleski’s second-half regression, he earned his first All-Star nod with a dominant first half. Though right-hander Emmet Sheehan had an up-and-down season, the Dodgers continue to believe in his upside. And they expect Gavin Stone, who last pitched in the majors in 2024, to be part of the equation, after a long road back from shoulder surgery.

They still have the star power of Yoshinobu Yamamoto, a two-time All-Star and 2025 World Series MVP, Snell, a two-time Cy Young winner, and Tyler Glasnow.

Ohtani’s return to the mound, however, raises the most questions. The Dodgers expect him to return to two-way duties, that much is clear. But they have yet to lay out a plan for how to keep him healthy for the season while doing so.

“I think it’s just making sure that we are taking all of the information into account and trying to set up a system that allows him to pitch and be successful and be healthy towards the end,” Gomes said. “Because we know how dominant he can be on the mound.”

Wall Street’s major market averages rebounded higher for the most part on Wednesday as strong results and upbeat guidance from CoreWeave lifted sentiment across the technology sector.

The blue-chip Dow (DJI) was last -0.2%, the benchmark S&P 500 (

The maker of Claude is looking to raise up to $64.4bn in one of the largest IPOs in history next week.

Anthropic is seeking a valuation of $1.4 trillion for its upcoming IPO, with the company looking to raise as much as $64.4bn in what would be one of the largest stock market debuts in history.

The company, which makes the Claude AI chatbot, launched its investor roadshow on Tuesday, with reported plans to go public next week.

According to its filing with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on Tuesday, Anthropic plans to offer 825 million shares priced between $70 and $78, giving it a valuation of up to $1.4 trillion when potential shares are included.

It has also secured $26bn in a separate private placement backed by some of the world’s largest tech companies, including Google, Nvidia, Microsoft and AMD.

The listing is being closely watched as a major test for how much investors are still willing to bet on AI companies, which have driven huge gains in tech stocks and the broader US market.

The $1.4 trillion valuation is lower than earlier estimates, which had suggested Anthropic could be valued between $1.5 trillion and $2 trillion, as concerns grow about the company’s enormous infrastructure spending and recent swings in AI stock prices.

Those concerns extend beyond Anthropic, with investors increasingly questioning whether AI companies can make enough money to justify their soaring valuations and sustain the boom.

Despite the uncertainty, Anthropic’s growth has been explosive.

The company reported revenues of $17bn in their third quarter, up from $1.4bn a year earlier, as its net losses narrowed. On Tuesday, Anthropic said it was on pace to generate about $81bn in annual revenue, $10bn higher than its estimate a month earlier.

The company credits its growth to the demand for Claude, including from industries like healthcare, financial services and legal services.

But to keep up with that demand, Anthropic has committed almost $900bn to computing costs with partners including Amazon and Google, a massive financial bet on continued demand for its product.

The IPO also lands in an uncertain political climate, with Democrats having just won control of both chambers of the US Congress in the midterm elections last week. The new Democratic-led House of Representatives and Senate have raised the prospect of more regulation of AI companies and new restrictions on the construction of data centres that power the technology.

AI stocks slid after the midterms, with the Nasdaq falling 5.5 percent on Thursday, its biggest one-day drop in more than a year. The selloff, also driven by declines at Nvidia, whose CEO was targeted by an alleged Chinese spy, wiped out trillions of dollars from the market.

Markets have since recovered some of those losses, though the Nasdaq dipped slightly below 1 percent on Tuesday. Some analysts argued the sell-off was an overreaction and that the election was unlikely to derail the expansion of data centres.

Anthropic, the AI company behind the Claude chatbot, is planning to raise up to $64bn (£48bn) when it lists its shares for sale on New York’s Nasdaq stock exchange.

The loss-making company said it will offer its shares for between $70 and $78 each in its initial public offering (IPO), which is expected to go ahead this month.

This would value Anthropic at between $1.1 trillion and $1.3 trillion which, although large, is below the $2 trillion some analysts had predicted weeks ago.

It is floating at a volatile time for AI firms. After last week’s US midterm elections, the Nasdaq fell sharply on concerns a Democrat-led Congress could slow development of AI and the buildout of data centres.

There are also wider fears over the billions of dollars being spent on AI and whether it will pay off.

In its most recent results for the six months to the end of June, Anthropic’s revenues jumped to $16.2bn from $1.1bn in the same period last year.

However, its pre-tax loss jumped to $80.7bn from $12.9bn.

Fiona Cincotta, a senior market analyst at City Index, said $64bn Anthropic wants to raise is “fairly bullish” within “the volatility [and] concerns towards AI that we’ve seen in sort of particularly last week”.

She told Reuters: “It’s showing that they are still sort of upbeat about the outlook as far as AI is concerned and that obviously that they think that the demand is going to be there.”

It is the largest authentic German Christmas market outside of Germany

While there are still six weeks to go, Christmas festivities are already starting. Towns and cities across the UK are starting to be decked out in lights, decorations and entertainment.

Christmas markets have become increasingly popular in recent years, and they are sure to get everyone into the festive spirit. Manchester Christmas Markets opened this weekend, as well as Birmingham’s Frankfurt Christmas Market.

Timber huts are now lining Birmingham’s streets alongside traditional food, drink, handmade gifts, decorations and jewellery. Visitors can tuck into schnitzels and bratwursts while sipping German beer and hot chocolate.

Where is Birmingham’s Frankfurt Christmas Market?

The market takes over the city centre, making it hard not to join in. Stalls and entertainment sit in Victoria Square and New Street, between Corporation Street and the Bullring.

This year, there is a slight change due to roadworks. There will be no stalls between Nando’s and the Apple Store on New Street.

When is the market open?

Birmingham’s Christmas Market opened its doors on Thursday, November 5 and will run until Thursday, December 24. It is open every day during that time period.

Monday to Thursday, the market will open from 11am to 9pm, while on Fridays it will stay open until 9:30pm. Saturday hours are 10am until 9:30pm, and Sunday hours are 10am until 9pm.

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What is on?

Musicians from Germany will entertain crowds at lunchtime and in the evenings from Monday to Friday, and all day at weekends. The German House Band will play a mix of Christmas songs and family favourites.

On Monday evenings, a talent slot is open to new and up-and-coming musicians. The two best acts from the Monday sessions will be given the chance to perform in a prime-time December slot.

The big wheel and ice rink also make a return to Centenary Square. These attractions will run until January 3.

How to get to Birmingham Christmas Market

Birmingham’s three stations, Snow Hill, New Street and Moor Street, are within walking distance of the market. It can also be accessed by Metro tram stops and bus services.

There are plenty of car parks near the market, but drivers are advised that the market is located within Birmingham’s Clean Air Zone, which may incur a fee.

A UK town is so picturesque, with its cobbled high street, cosy pubs and charming cottages, that it’s been used as the film set for a Christmas movie starring Rebel Wilson

There aren’t many places that feel as though you’ve stepped straight into a scene from a Christmas movie, but for one charming UK town, it’s exactly that. There are idyllic cottages set against rolling countryside and cobbled lanes along its flourishing high street, brimming with independent gems and cosy retreats that resemble movie meet-cutes.

Just last year, the pretty market town of Knaresborough, nestled along the River Nidd in North Yorkshire, drew in film productions. Knaresborough became the primary filming location for the Sky Original Christmas film, Tinsel Town, starring Hollywood A-listers Kiefer Sutherland and Rebel Wilson, alongside EastEnders star Danny Dyer.

While the town is beautifully decorated during the festive months, with Christmas trees and dazzling fairy lights, the production meant that residents could savor the merry setting that much longer. Knitting Pretty shopkeeper Di Watson said at the time: “The town is buzzing with excitement. Knaresborough is a unique, beautiful, friendly town and we’re delighted to be part of this.”

Yet, it’s not the first time Knaresborough has drawn in Christmas film productions, thanks to its postcard-worthy landscapes. The Yorkshire town was also featured in the movie A Very British Christmas, with its narrow streets, castle ruins, pubs, and cafés used to set the festive scene.

While production crews have taken advantage of Knaresborough’s setting, visitors have been equally impressed. Many admire the town for its ‘fairy-tale atmosphere’, thanks to its charming stone cottages, chequered facades, and buildings boasting exposed beams and uneven floors, and it’s also been named one of the most beautiful towns in the UK.

Knaresborough certainly warrants a visit during the festive season, with its town centre, sitting atop the cliffs overlooking the river, packed with independent shops for unique Christmas gift ideas, alongside cosy cafés for that sought-after gingerbread-spiced latte and traditional pubs to escape the winter chill. It also hosts a weekly market, bringing the local community together every Wednesday, and on Saturday, 5 and Sunday, 6 December, they will hold their annual Christmas market around the town’s historic Market Place.

With Knaresborough spotlighted as a Christmas movie scene, there’s plenty more to discover for that extra touch of festive merriment, with a wintry stroll along its steep streets and quirky architecture. Elsewhere, it’s celebrated for its fascinating railway viaduct, featuring four magnificent arches that span the Harrogate line across the River Nidd.

Knaresborough Castle is another highlight in the vicinity, with the ruined fortress perched above the river offering beautiful vistas. Guests can explore the medieval castle and its grounds, and visit the Courtroom Museum to discover more about its fascinating history spanning over 900 years.

The tiny medieval Chapel of Our Lady is another notable landmark in Knaresborough, alongside its peaceful Bebra Gardens, ideal for another winter wander. Further along the river, there’s the welcoming World’s End pub that looks out over the River Nidd with a terrace, as well as the delightful Marigold Cafe & Boating for that caffeine fix.

The town is also home to ‘England’s oldest tourist attraction’, Mother Shipton’s Cave, having welcomed guests since 1630. It’s also the birthplace of England’s most renowned prophetess, with the compact cave recounting “the story of life and legacy”, where guests can discover the small cave before making a wish in the famous Petrifying Well.

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The global gas market could remain tight well into next year as the Iran war chokes off supplies and intensifies competition among importers, and Europe enters the heating season with the lowest levels of gas in storage in more than a

Shares in artificial intelligence and technology firms have been climbing following an enormous sell-off that wiped trillions of dollars off stock values.

The tech-heavy Nasdaq stock index opened higher following a market rout that began in the US on Thursday before spilling over to Asian and European markets into Friday.

Investors had been selling off tech shares in part due to concerns the Democrat victory in the midterm elections would mean slower artificial intelligence development.

However the latest US employment figures added to a mixed picture for American markets on Friday morning, with an unexpectedly strong 165,000 jobs added to the economy in September.

On Thursday, businesses closely linked to artificial intelligence development took a hammering on stock markets, particularly chip and semiconductor makers.

But the Nasdaq Composite opened up on Friday and flattened out around 1.7% higher by lunchtime, reversing some of its 5.5% fall.

The S&P 500, which tracks the share prices of the largest publicly-traded US companies, was around 0.9% higher by lunchtime. The Dow Jones Industrial Average opened a little down before nudging into positive territory.

Nvidia, which shed hundreds of billions in market value on Thursday after shares slid more than 9%, began Friday up more than 6% but settled around 4% higher as trading continued.

SpaceX and Tesla shares, which were also hammered on Thursday, saw more mixed gains, up more than 6% and nearly 5% respectively.

Chipmakers AMD and Micron both dropped by more than 17% on Thursday, but AMD shares had risen by about 12% on Friday while Micron was up more than 8%.

However, stock markets in Asia and Europe fared worse on Friday.

The Kospi in South Korea closed down 6% on Friday, with shares in chipmaker SK Hynix plunging more than 10%. European markets also fell, with the main indexes in Germany, France and Spain ending the day down.

In the UK, the FTSE 100, which tracks the largest companies on the London Stock Exchange, declined 1.01%.

In addition to the recent market volatility, UK traders were also digesting the latest Bank of England decision to raise interest rates and the signal that another rate rise could be on the cards to curb rising prices.

Dan Coatsworth, head of markets at AJ Bell, said it had been a brutal week for markets, and the key question was whether the jump in the S&P 500 and Nasdaq would be sustained.

“While no-one knows what happens next, it’s clear that we’ve just seen a significant shift in market sentiment,” he said.

“Once investors have had the weekend to catch their breath, next week could give a clearer indication of whether the tech trade is going down the pan or fighting back.”

The popular market is back for 2026

A hugely popular Christmas market has returned with over 200 stalls. Christmas is almost upon us, with towns and cities across the UK set to be transformed for the festive season.

For one UK city, Christmas has already begun as its markets open today (Friday, November 6). Manchester Christmas Markets is bringing festive shopping, food and drink to the streets of the city.

Wooden chalets line parts of Manchester, where visitors can shop for handmade gifts, artisan products, and international food and drink, as well as take part in family-friendly festive experiences.

Albert Square will be at the heart of the festivities, hosting the 50-metre-high Ferris wheel and a pop-up pub. Manchester’s Giant Santa will also make a comeback alongside a vintage Helter-Skelter.

This year marks the first for a new tree installation with a life-sized selfie sleigh. Over at Cathedral Gardens sits Skate MCR, an undercover ice-skating rink with additional stalls.

In a month’s time, the Manchester Christmas Parade will take place, with more details about the event to come on Sunday, December 6. Overall, the markets will be home to 210 stalls across 10 different city centre sites.

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Where is the Manchester Christmas Market?

The market is spread across the city centre as hundreds of stalls make up the festive atmosphere. This year, locations include Albert Square, Lincoln Square, King Street, St Ann’s Square, Exchange Street, New Cathedral Street, Exchange Square, Corn Exchange, Cathedral Gardens, and Market Street.

When does the market open?

Manchester Christmas Markets will open on Friday, November 6 and run until Tuesday, December 22. The festivities at Albert Square and Cathedral Gardens will remain open throughout the Christmas period until Sunday, January 3.

Meanwhile, Skate MCR ice rink will be open from Friday, November 6 to Sunday, January 3. The market is open seven days a week from 10am until 9pm.

How much is Manchester Christmas Market?

It is free to visit Manchester Christmas Market and you do not need a ticket to enter.

How to get to Manchester Christmas Market

Manchester Christmas Market is best accessed by public transport as Manchester city centre is served by trains, trams and buses. Manchester’s Victoria and Piccadilly Stations are an easy walk to the markets.

Trams and buses on the Bee Network run every 12 minutes, and are said to be the “easiest, cheapest and fastest” way to get to the markets.

Roads and car parks are said to be very busy, with the option of using Greater Manchester’s Park & Ride locations instead. There are multiple car parks within a walking distance of the markets, with Piccadilly Plaza and Chorlton Street being the closest.