How does Rest Less make money
We make money through advertising and commission from affiliate links, which enable us to offer Rest Less as a free service to our users. The content on this page may use affiliate links, which track traffic from our website to a third party provider and enable us to receive a commission or payment from any traffic we refer.
* Affiliate links on this page have an * next to them. We place enormous importance on our editorial independence and the integrity of our content which means that we will never change how we write about something as a result of an affiliate link.
From the scents of mulled wine and mince pies to the sounds of classic seasonal songs, Christmas markets are great for providing some festive cheer.
The countdown to Christmas has well and truly begun, and if you love this time of year, you might be looking forward to checking out one of the UK’s many festive markets.
Even for those not yet feeling the Yuletide spirit, visiting a Christmas market can be a wonderful way to start feeling festive. And if you don’t celebrate Christmas, they can still offer an entertaining and enriching experience, some good food and comforting hot drinks, and a range of artisan stalls.
But, with so many Christmas markets throughout the UK, which ones are worth a visit? To help, we’ve put together this list of eight of the best Christmas markets in the UK for 2025.
1. Birmingham's Frankfurt Christmas Market
These days, you don’t have to travel to Germany to enjoy the delights of a traditional German market; you can just pop to Birmingham.
The internationally renowned Birmingham Frankfurt Christmas Market is the biggest German-style market outside Germany and Austria — and it’s a wonderfully authentic affair.
In Victoria Square and New Street, you can browse twinkling stalls, look at festive produce and personalised gifts, and listen to the live music and carol singers that will hopefully bring even more festive cheer. If you’re a fan of traditional wooden Christmas decorations and toys, this is one of the best places in the country to pick some up.
And of course, one of the main draws of this Christmas market is the food and drink. You can thaw the winter chill by sipping on glühwein (mulled wine) – or keep things refreshing by enjoying a weissbier (wheat beer). If you’re hungry, you can feast on all manner of traditional German treats, from bratwurst and pretzels to schnitzels and stollen.
This year, you can visit Birmingham’s Frankfurt Christmas Market from now until 24th December.
2. Cardiff Christmas Market and Winter Wonderland
The Cardiff Christmas Market has been running for over three decades, and this is a festive fair that’s nothing short of magical. There are 70 wooden stalls wrapped in icy-blue fairy lights, showcasing over 200 businesses’ products – with a strong focus on arts and crafts and original handmade produce, and an emphasis on supporting local businesses.
If you’re looking to pick up gifts and stocking fillers, you can’t go wrong. At Hills Street, Trinity Street, St John Street, and Working Street (which are all in the city centre), you can browse all manner of textiles, glassware, jewellery, scented candles, wooden sculptures, unique toys, bath salts, leather bags…the list goes on!
There’s plenty of festive food to try while you’re here, too – and whether you’re looking to buy some sweet treats as Christmas gifts or just want to sample the delights of the day, you’ll be spoilt for choice. You can sip fruit wine and flavoured rum, treat yourself to brownies and cupcakes, nibble handmade Welsh cheese, feast on hot roasted nuts, and try countless different sauces and pickles.
If you enjoy ice skating, you might like to visit the ice rink at Cardiff’s Winter Wonderland, which is set within Cardiff Castle’s beautiful grounds. Visitors can also go on a magical ice walk along a crafted trail.
Plus, at the Wonderland’s second location, City Hall Lawn, you can enjoy a family funfair, ice bar, ski lodge bar, and lots more festive food and drink.
This year, Cardiff Christmas Market is open now until 23rd December.
If you enjoy ice skating, then you might want to visit the ice rink at Cardiff’s Winter Wonderland, which is set within Cardiff Castle’s beautiful grounds. Visitors can also go on a magical 150m ice walk along a crafted trail.
Plus, at the Wonderland’s second location, City Hall Lawn, you can enjoy a family funfair, ice bar, ski lodge bar, and lots more festive food and drink.
This year, Cardiff Christmas Market is running between 14th November and 23rd December.
3. York Christmas Market
If you’ve always loved the idea of an old-fashioned Dickensian Christmas – where the smell of roast chestnuts drifts along the air, and lights glow on cobbled streets – York Christmas Market, or St Nicholas’ Fair, is probably right up your alley. York’s historic streets are always photogenic, but when they’re lit up at Christmas, they’re even more gorgeous.
Decorated and illuminated alpine-style chalets line York’s Parliament Street and St Sampson’s Square, making it look like a festive fairyland – and you can sample delicious treats, pick up unique stocking fillers, and sip mulled wine as you browse. Plus, children will love the Nutcrackers Around the World Trail, which features 10 sculptures, each designed by a child from York.
York Christmas market is especially good for foodies: at the Shambles Food Court, you can treat yourself to all kinds of delicious grub – from Thai dishes and burritos to more traditional festive fare. And, if you have a sweet tooth, be sure to sample the toffee vodka, gooey brownies, and rich fudge on offer.
If you’re looking to buy some foodie gifts, you can pick up excellent local produce at the Made in Yorkshire Yuletide Village. And, if you can’t attend in person, you can attend York’s Virtual Christmas Market and shop from the comfort of your home.
This year, the York Christmas Market is open now until 21st December.
4. Manchester Christmas Markets
With 10 markets spread out over the city, you’re never too far from the Christmas spirit in Manchester – not to mention mouthwatering food and drink.
The Manchester Christmas Markets bring together over 200 stalls for one festive fiesta. Though St Ann’s Square is the oldest market site, each one is worth a visit – particularly Piccadilly Gardens with its four-metre high Christmas windmill.
There will be yuletide bars serving up locally brewed ales, sparkling festoon lights, a stage with live music and DJs, and – should it rain – plenty of covered seating. The food here has a distinctly international flavour, and you can enjoy Greek gyros, Dutch frites, and German bratwurst – and if you have a sweet tooth, you can try warm cookie dough puddings!
After you’ve explored Piccadilly Gardens, you can wander up King Street to the stalls at Exchange Square and Cathedral Gardens, and then check out the markets at Market Street and the Corn Exchange. So whatever type of gifts you’re looking to pick up, you’re guaranteed plenty of variety.
There’s also lots of family-friendly entertainment and the highly popular Christmas Parade returns on Sunday 7th December.
This year, the Manchester Christmas Markets run every day from now until 22nd December, with Taste of Christmas on Albert Square and the stalls at Cathedral Gardens remaining until 4th January.
5. Hyde Park Winter Wonderland, London
You can’t write a list of the best Christmas markets without mentioning this next one. As the country’s capital, London isn’t a city that does things by halves – and the sheer size of Hyde Park Winter Wonderland proves it.
Everything here is scaled up: you can skate on the UK’s largest outdoor ice-skating rink and admire London’s iconic skyline from the 70-metre Giant Wheel – the world’s tallest transportable wheel.
If you’re looking to pick up some unique gifts or traditional Christmas decorations, you’re sure to find some goodies in the Bavarian-style wooden chalet stalls, which are beautifully illuminated. And, if you get peckish, there are all kinds of culinary delights to feast on.
Once you’ve done your shopping, you can stroll through the Magical Ice Kingdom, where you can admire over 500 tonnes of glistening ice sculptures.
That’s not all, though. There’s also a circus, ice sculpting workshops, an ice slide, and live music. If you’re visiting with kids, there’s a Santa’s grotto, children’s singalongs, and plenty of fairground rides that’ll get hearts thumping!
With so many stalls, activities, rides, and food and drink options, you could easily spend all day here and not get bored.
This year, you can visit Hyde Park Winter Wonderland from now until 1st January.
6. Edinburgh Christmas Market
Another city that pulls out all the stops for Christmas is Edinburgh – it’s not known as the city of festivals for nothing!
One of the great things about Edinburgh Christmas Market is that the festive cheer lasts into January thanks to the Hogmanay celebrations – so if you’re looking to carry on the party after Christmas has been and gone, you might like to think about heading to Edinburgh.
This ancient city is the perfect setting for a Christmas market, and Edinburgh Castle makes the ideal backdrop for the bustling markets that spread around the town centre.
German-style wooden stalls line East Princes Street Gardens, and you can buy all kinds of gifts here, from arts and crafts to foodie treats and traditional Christmas decorations. There’s also a Santa’s grotto, an ice rink, and rides – including the Starflyer and a neon-coloured Big Wheel.
If you’re visiting in the lead-up to the New Year, you’re in for a real treat. Hogmanay celebrations take over Princes Street, and from the lively group sing-alongs of Auld Lang Syne to the torchlight procession, this is an experience you won’t forget in a hurry!
This year, the Edinburgh Christmas Market is open now until 4th January.
7. Belfast Christmas Market
Set against the backdrop of one of Belfast’s most beautiful and iconic buildings, the City Hall, the Belfast Christmas Market brings plenty of seasonal joy to the Northern Irish capital. The City Hall is an attraction in its own right, with ornate sculptures dotted around the grounds.
The wooden stalls offer a wide range of artisan treats and products – but this is a Christmas market with a distinctly international flavour. At the outdoor food court, you can sample cuisines from around the world, including continental cheeses, glühwein, and Italian chocolates. There’s even a stall selling exotic meats like ostrich, wild boar, and crocodile burgers!
But there are plenty of local traders, too – and the Northern Irish spirit is everywhere. If you get chilly, you can warm yourself up in Lavery’s traditional Irish bar, where you can sip local beer and enjoy live music.
If you’re visiting with children, they’ll love the vintage carousel and helter-skelter, as well as meeting Santa in his grotto.
The Belfast Christmas Market is open from now until December 22nd.
8. Winchester Cathedral Christmas Market
If you’d like to enjoy over 1,000 years of history while exploring a festive fair, then Winchester Cathedral Christmas Market might be for you.
Situated in the shadow of Winchester’s celebrated cathedral, cocooned by sparkling lights and cosy wooden chalets, this German-inspired Christmas market is regularly voted one of Europe’s best – and for good reason.
Attracting visitors from all over the world, the Winchester Christmas market not only has one of the most beautiful and dramatic settings going, but it also sells a whole range of unique gifts that you won’t find anywhere else. Although it has a German theme, local businesses are strongly represented, and you can pick up all kinds of handmade decorations and festive gifts.
If you get hungry, there are lots of tasty treats you can try, from Punjabi samosas and British cheeses to the obligatory piping-hot mince pies and mulled wine.
Meanwhile, keep an ear out for the soothing sounds of the Cathedral’s internationally acclaimed Choir during their Advent and Christmas services.
This year, you can visit the Winchester Cathedral Christmas Market from now until 22nd December.
Final thoughts…
Whether you love Christmas markets yourself or are planning to go with friends, family, or grandkids, it’s easy to get swept away with seasonal excitement once you’re there.
From the comforting smells of mince pies and mulled wine to the thousands of sparkling lights, Christmas markets are a great way to get into the festive spirit and start looking forward to Christmas.
Along the way, you can sample a dizzying array of sweet and savoury treats from around the world – and if you happen to pick up some unique gifts while you’re there, all the better!
Of course, we couldn’t mention all the amazing Christmas markets on this list. But with plenty scattered across the UK, you’re sure to find something suitably festive – from Bath and Bristol to Dundee and Dublin.
Do you enjoy going to Christmas markets? Or do you have other suggestions for the best Christmas markets in the UK? We’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.
* Links with an * by them are affiliate links which help Rest Less stay free to use as they can result in a payment or benefit to us. You can read more on how we make money here.
Start your new chapter abroad with this free retirement guide
With Your Overseas Home, you will receive honest guidance, expert advice and a helping hand every step of the way.
Download the free guide to find out how to cut everyday living costs, get tax, pension and visa checklists, and discover top tips from the expat community.
Join the discussion
Read our full commenting terms and guidelines