There are few things that foster festive spirit like a Christmas market. They’ve got all the best things about this time of year in one place. Unique artisanal gifts? Check. Steaming mugs of mulled wine? Check. Cheesy Christmas tunes, ice rinks and quality time with loved ones? Check, check and check.
Now, Which? has given its verdict on which UK Christmas markets are the very best for this festive season. The consumer group has chosen nine markets from the cities that made it onto its recent lists of the best large, medium-sized and small cities in the UK. These are places that already have fantastic food offerings and cultural landmarks, according to a Which? survey of 4,000 people – and pop-up markets only make things more magical come Christmastime.
At the top of the list of Which?’s best Yuletide markets is Bath Christmas Market. With more than 200 stalls, Which? editors say that it has a ‘pretty staggering selection of goods’ from local jams and knitwear to handcrafted wooden furniture and indie fragrances. It’s free and open from November 28 until December 15. Which? recommends that you make a day of it and skate off the stollen at the nearby ice rink in Royal Victoria Park.
Chester Christmas Market is next on the roundup. It’s much smaller with just 70 stalls, making it perfect for a more ‘peaceful festive day out’. You can stop by and check out its stock of scented candles, upcycled cutlery, artisan liqueurs and more from November 15 until December 22.
In third place is Durham’s Christmas Market, which runs for just three days from December 6. It’s a ‘quiet yet lovely affair’ with the classic street food and mulled wine stalls as well as a crafts and gifts marquee that charges £4.50 for entry. See below for the best of the rest.
These cities have the best Christmas markets in the country, according to Which?
- Bath
- Chester
- Durham
- Winchester
- Wells
- Liverpool
- Edinburgh
- York
- Belfast
You can find Which?’s article and read it for yourself here.
Get into the festive spirit with Time Out
It’s time to go full-throttle for Christmas 2024. We’ve got our very own pick of the most magical Christmas markets in the UK (and when they begin), plus a bunch of other lists to help you get in the festive spirit. Take a look at the most beautiful Christmas light trails, best Christmas movies (Die Hard included), the most festive Christmas towns, the best places for gift-shopping and the best festive events and activities across the country.
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