Classy Christmas Markets U.K

Years ago Castle Combe, a lovely town in a pretty area, had a nice Christmas Market. No knowledge of this year, may be worth an internet look?

I like a nice 'Town Hall Charity Christmas Market'.
Heaps of local chutney, jam and scrummy bakes as well as local crafts and cards.
Somewhere to sit with a cup of tea, a mince pie and a gossip!
Not always 'classy' but very very enjoyable. Can't wait now

I would avoid Leeds Christmas Market. DH and I went a couple of years ago and thought it very poor, nothing but mulled wine and German sausage stalls.
It's not a market, but DH and I go to the Country Living Christmas Fair every year at Harrogate. We are going this year, at the beginning of December.

Portmerion has many genuine hand made local food and craft stalls the added bonus is you get to go round the village if you choose to at a price less than the usual entrance fee

Sara1954

We have done the Bath one a couple of times, never again, you can’t move, you can’t see any of the stalls, it’s just a crush of bodies.
Bath is our go to city for shopping, but we never go while the markets are on any more.

I agree with this, we used to live in Bath and the pavements around the stalls were so busy that you couldn't move. The market has stretched to cover so much of the city centre now that you can't even get into the normal shops.
It's a bit quieter in the evenings, if you can find out the later shopping hours.

I’m another who would recommend Winchester

Haven't seen the Kingston-on-Thames one mentioned - anyone been there?

Bath and Cardiff, they're close enough to go to both. Neither of these are the identikit "German" markets full of tat. Cardiff especially is mainly local crafts.

Floradora9

Edinburgh was rated the top one is one survey

I was always a tad disappointed with the Edinburgh one.

Ailidh

I found Leeds Christmas Market surprisingly good - far less tacky that some "traditional German markets" I'd travelled abroad to visit.

I used to enjoy the Leeds one - the Christkindelmarkt - too. The same stallholders came year after year from Germany, and it was kept fairly small. Sadly it didn’t start up again after the pandemic, and though it’s on this year, it’s going to be in a different format, organised by an events company, and scattered round the city instead of being in one spot. So fingers crossed it’ll be as good.

Edinburgh was rated the top one is one survey

Nannytopsy

Any in Kent?

Canterbury, but it's quite small.

Last year we went to Bath and came home with Covid. It's extensive and very busy. I saw recommendations for Cardiff on Mumsnet so we are going there this year.

Thank You everyone xx
Lots of suggestions to look into 🙂🩷🧡💜

I would avoid the Manchester one. I used to work in that area and its really tacky with a lot of watery beer and overpriced tat. It was right next to where I usually went for my taxi home and I resented having to join a queue of randoms. So I used to wait a few dozen yards away where the taxis pulled in and flag one down there. Got a few dirty looks from the randoms hahaha

Yes Lincoln market is no more, sodapop, that’s why I said “when they did it”.

sodapop

I went to the Thursford Christmas show for many years. From small beginnings it has become a wonderful event well worth a visit.

We took my late MIL and her eyes were out on stalks the whole time. She could not believe that such a massive show could take place in a tiny village without even a shop. She loved it.

I went to the Thursford Christmas show for many years. From small beginnings it has become a wonderful event well worth a visit.

sodapop

I thought the Lincoln Christmas Market had been cancelled.
Holkham Hall is to be recommended as Primrose said.

They did a programme about Holkham Hall Christmas fair last year and all the months of preparation involved. They say it gets better each year. I have never been but my friend lives on the Holkham estate so I might see if she wants to go.

There is also the Thursford Spectacular just a few miles away which is the biggest Christmas event in Europe. People say it’s better than any London show and haS a cast of hundreds.

I thought the Lincoln Christmas Market had been cancelled.
Holkham Hall is to be recommended as Primrose said.

Lovely Welsh food one at Aberglasney . November I think

I’d say Chester or Chatsworth.

We enjoyed York- we stay just outside York and use our bus passes. Winchester was good too. It felt really Christmassy being in the grounds of the cathedral.

Nannytopsy

Any in Kent?

There are nice ones in Rochester and Tenterden. Others in Folkestone, Faversham and Tonbridge but wouldn't recommend the Tonbridge one which was overpriced and tacky!

I was just reading that the Christmas Fair at Holkham Hall in Norfolk is one of the best in the Country.

I’ve been to the markets in Edinburgh, Manchester, Nottingham, York (and Lincoln when they did it), but found them to be quite “samey” and very busy.

For the York one, we stayed overnight, so we’re able to go when it first opened (before the day trippers arrived) and later in the evening when the day trippers had left, which made it more pleasant to get around and see things properly.

The Beverley one sounds nice Siope.