Christmas Markets in the U.K.- are they all cr@p?

Usedtobeblonde we were in Nottingham for New Year before Covid and the market was still on in the town centre.

I got a few Christmas decorations, I thought it was well organised with authentic stalls, I didn’t notice any plastic tat.

My friend says the same about boot sales.

Most of the sellers are market traders, selling cheapish packs of scourers and things.

Christmas markets have been taken over by people wanting to make money. I’ve been to UK markets and also a couple of German ones. The German ones have a lovely atmosphere but absolutely nothing I would ever buy. If possible I do my Christmas shopping in a smart and comfortable department store where I can take my time, keep warm and dry and stop for coffee and a rest! I’m not keen on craft items and have plenty of decorations already.

Too crowded for me to want to cross over the road and jump on a train into Manchester City centre. Shuffling around shoulder to shoulder no longer appeals to me - not even on the promise of a mulled wine!

Covid is still circling why put ourselves at risk? Admittedly I have to be more careful as himself attends Christie’s.

Add in the ever present, albeit hopefully low risk of a terrorist attack in a major city centre where large crowds have gathered (thinking Ariadne Grande concert goers in Manchester here) it’s a big ‘no thanks’ from me.

Kate1949

The one here in Birmingham was lovely when it first started. It's far too big now. Someone said it's the biggest outside Germany but I don't know how true that is. It's very expensive and always packed. People come to it by the coach load. We avoid town while it's on.

I agree with you Kate1949 this year we are going to give the Sutton Coldfield one a try and avoid Birmingham, although Brindley place are holding an artisan market on the 4th which we may go to.

Before Covid my GD and I went for a weekend to Nottingham in December.
The Christmas market was on in the market square a few minutes walk from where we were staying.
We went on the Friday evening and I loved it.
The market square itself was a skating rink , so lovely to watch, a huge snow slide on one of the side streets, and hot cider and Baileys hot chocolate in a replica of a huge Swiss chalet, seating all covered with fur throws.
We shared with other couples and it was so friendly, live music with changing vocalists in a glass booth overlooking it all.
We didn’t bother with the stalls apart from a cheese maker selling local cheeses and chutney which I did buy.
It was a delightful experience which I can’t repeat as I can no longer get around but I am sure I would now be disappointed as it has become enhanced by memory.

Just once to Manchester, wouldn’t bother again as it was so very crowded.

Is good for small independent traders but am not a happy shopper at the best of times and Xmas markets seem to be the very worst formula for me, crowds of people, usually no toilets, and the only food available is fried bratwursts or similar.
So am afraid is a bit of a bah humbug from me.

What a lovely idea, escaped. We were up to our necks in snow yesterday, but it's all disappeared and it's a sunny day here now. But storm Bert is on the way apparently..so we'll see what that brings. But if next week is ok I really will try to get there.

The first Christmas market I went to at Chatsworth was lovely with many unique and not too expensive stalls. The atmosphere was very good, as was the range of different items on offer. But the last time I went, the atmosphere was totally different; it felt like you were being herded round as quickly as possible. Although their was still a good range on offer, the prices were eye watering and, with the cost of car parking at £20, just too expensive for us.

I've visited Christmas markets in Prague and Berlin and still have the beautifully unique handmade items I bought there and have never seen anything like them at a UK Christmas market. Of all the UK Christmas markets, the one I'd avoid at all costs is Manchester.

keepingquiet

Grandmadinosaur

We go to the market at Chatsworth house. It’s really a lovely day out in a marvellous setting. No tat or smelly burger stalls there. We look forward to it every year.

I went once. You had to take out a small bank loan to afford anything.

The first one I ever went to was in Birmingham. I got so excited and went around buying all sorts of stuff, which when I got home and saw in the cold light of day, was indeed just mass produced tat made to illicit money from gullible people.

The best one I attended was in a small mountain village in Austria- I still have the mug my gluhwein was served in. It was snowy and they only served food.

Please don't call them Christmas markets either- they are Advent markets and are still called such in many parts of Europe.

Yes some things can be pricy at Chatsworthbut I think most Christmas markets are the same. Also we find the foods are of a good quality and often you find more individual goods on sale.

Except at the moment I'm snowed in. That's why GN is entertaining me!

henetha

I used to go to the Exeter one and always enjoyed it. But I've not been for a couple of years now. Perhaps I will make the effort next week, if the snow stays away.

Do come henetha. I'll meet you there!

I used to go to the Exeter one and always enjoyed it. But I've not been for a couple of years now. Perhaps I will make the effort next week, if the snow stays away.

The one here in Birmingham was lovely when it first started. It's far too big now. Someone said it's the biggest outside Germany but I don't know how true that is. It's very expensive and always packed. People come to it by the coach load. We avoid town while it's on.

Good thinking!

MissAdventure

They're worth their weight in gold, Allira

I could open a stall at a Christmas market 🤔

They're worth their weight in gold, Allira

The first one I ever went to was at NT Blicking Hall in Norfolk. It was a small entrance fee, all outside in heated marquees and there were some very nice homemade gifts. The next year they pushed the price right up and it was totally overcrowded and cheap tat was included. Stollen cakes were then about £1.50 in Lidl. A woman had bought loads of them, left them in the poly wrapper but also wrapped a piece of red gingham material and was Trying to sell them for £10!!

I have been to the York one and hated it, far too busy, crowds 6 deep, couldn’t see anything and glad to get away from the driving rain. The Ely Cathedral one is quite nice but after 3 visits it is all the same so wouldn’t want to go again. Went to Bury St Edmunds once and that was pretty good.

MissAdventure

I always used to enjoy the atmosphere, they're just like a craft fayre, as I see it.

Something in a wonky pot, tied up with string, looks so great, until you get it home.

I've a boxful of things like that, collected over the years, made by DC and DGC!

I always used to enjoy the atmosphere, they're just like a craft fayre, as I see it.

Something in a wonky pot, tied up with string, looks so great, until you get it home.

Casdon

I always think Christmas fairs are better than the markets, because there are always more handmade items on offer, often by local makers. I can recommend Aberglasney Gardens fair, which is just one weekend but is wonderful, with choirs, gorgeous gardens, and lots of Welsh food, drink and crafts on offer.

Just checked and there is an entrance fee of £14.50 before you think of buying anything.

It's called a Winter Fair too.

I havent been to the Bath one for years but did buy my Russian dolls from there the last time I went.
Perhaps that was in the days before the markets got filled with tat.
Mulled cider too!

We are going to the Burleigh one next Friday as it was pretty good last year if freezing cold as its in the open and on a hill.

There’s always a very busy and festive-looking one right outside the town centre church. On my way in last Saturday evening for a concert I treated myself to a mulled wine, which did seem a bit ££ at £5.90, but at least it was reasonably good. Lots of food stalls, lots of people eating and drinking. I didn’t look at any of the non food/drink stalls, but TBH it did all look very Christmassy and jolly. .

I like a Christmas Markets see a few, but most years at the end of Nov, we go back to see family in Edinburgh. The Christmas Market in Princes St is always on, it was always fun to visit. Over the last few years this market has got smaller, especially since Covid it's significantly more expensive with a poor select of stalls, plus so busy, with people not really buying much.
They now have off shoot areas off the Street that have smaller little markets that are much better.
This year off to Berlin for a long weekend and see what those are like.