Spirit of Christmas Fair
10:00–17:00
Olympia · London · From £23
Explore by market type
Christmas Markets
Celebrate the holidays with festive markets, seasonal treats, and gifts
Food Marketplace lists 58+ UK Christmas markets for 2026, from major city-centre destinations — Manchester, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Leeds and Newcastle — to smaller town markets and lights switch-on events. Browse the full grid below for dates, opening hours and festive food, or jump straight to 49+ Christmas market events and 12 city guides further down this page.
Book a guided Christmas tour
Explore with a local host. See the itinerary, inclusions and cancellation terms before booking.
EveningFoodie Christmas Tour
2.5 hours Fri 13 NovIncluded: 5 tastings · A local host for the whole tour (a local food and markets enthusiast, not a licensed Blue Badge guide)
£69/ personView dates & book
EveningLights & Markets by Night
2 hours Thu 19 NovIncluded: 1 hot drink · A local host for the whole tour (a local food and markets enthusiast, not a licensed Blue Badge guide)
£29/ personView dates & book
Half dayLondon Christmas Classics
4 hours Fri 20 NovIncluded: Winter Wonderland entry ticket, booked by us · 3 tastings
£65/ personView dates & book
UK Christmas Markets 2026: The Complete Guide
What's at a UK Christmas Market
Expect wooden chalet-style stalls selling mulled wine, roasted chestnuts, bratwurst and hot chocolate, alongside festive gifts, handmade crafts and seasonal decorations. Most UK Christmas markets are free to browse — you only pay for food, drink and anything you buy.
- UK market listings: check each page for announced dates and opening hours
- Upcoming UK events: lights switch-ons, craft fairs and weekend-only markets
- City guides: what's where at Manchester, Leeds, Newcastle and more
Why Browse on Food Marketplace
- Seasonal dates: countdowns where a run has been added; check the organiser before travelling
- Vendor & stall pages: see who's trading before you go
- Filters: "Open Now" and "Near Me" to find a market today
- One place for everything: markets, events and guides together
Find Your Nearest Christmas Market in the UK
Use the filters above to find UK Christmas markets that are open now or near your location, or jump straight to an event, a city guide, or the interactive map below.
UK Christmas Markets by City
Browse every food market — Christmas and otherwise — in a specific UK city.
Tips for Visiting a UK Christmas Market
Before you go
Double-check the market's 2026 dates and hours on its own page before travelling — some run for the full festive season, others for a single weekend. Most markets are free to enter, but larger attractions like ice rinks or Santa's grottos may need a separate ticket.
When you're there
Arrive early on weekends for the best selection and shortest queues — most stalls take card, but a little cash helps with smaller independent traders. Wrap up warm: UK Christmas markets are almost always outdoors.
Christmas Market Events in the UK for 2026
49 events
Christmas fairs, craft markets, lights switch-ons and weekend-only festive markets across the UK — separate from the standalone market listings above, and updated as new 2026 dates are confirmed.
November 2026
Birmingham Frankfurt Christmas Market 2026
Christmas market
Victoria Square and New Street · Birmingham · Free
Regent Street & St James's Christmas Lights Switch-on 2026
Christmas Lights Switch-on · 17:00–21:00
Regent Street · London · Free
Christmas in the Garden at Chatsworth 2026
Christmas Light Trail · 15:30
Chatsworth House · Bakewell · From £12
The Festival of Light at Longleat 2026
Christmas Light Trail
Longleat · Warminster
Christmas Winterfest Market 2026
Southern Maltings · Ware
School of Icing Notting Hill - CHRISTMAS MARKET 11:30-13:30
13:30
Biscuiteers · London
Marylebone Christmas Lights Switch-on 2026
Christmas Lights Switch-on · 15:00–20:00
Marylebone High Street · London
Old Spitalfields Market Christmas Lights Switch-on 2026
Christmas Lights Switch-on · 15:00
Old Spitalfields Market · London
Good Housekeeping Live with Country Living Christmas Market
Business Design Centre · London
Cardiff Christmas Market 2026
Christmas market
St John Street, Working Street, Hills Street and Trinity Street · Cardiff
Oxford Victorian Christmas Market 2026
Christmas Market · 10:00–19:00
Broad Street, Oxford · Oxford
Cardiff Victorian Christmas Market 2026
Christmas Market · 10:00–19:00
Queen Street, Cardiff · Cardiff
Christmas at Kew 2026
Christmas Light Trail · 16:20–22:00
Kew Gardens · London · From £25.50
Christmas at Blenheim Palace 2026
Christmas Light Trail · 10:00–20:00
Blenheim Palace · Woodstock
Edinburgh's Christmas Markets 2026
Christmas market
Edinburgh city centre / Princes Street Gardens · Edinburgh
Stratford-upon-Avon Christmas Lights Switch-on 2026
Christmas Lights Switch-on · 10:00–19:00
Stratford-upon-Avon Town Centre · Stratford-upon-Avon
Hertfordshire Christmas Shopping Fair
Hertfordshire County Show · St Albans
Leadenhall Christmas Craft Market
Leadenhall Market · London
Christmas Market
11:00–16:00
The Royal Toby Hotel · Rochdale
Leadenhall Market Christmas Lights Switch-on 2026
Christmas Lights Switch-on · 18:00
Leadenhall Market · London
Christmas at Dunham Massey 2026
Christmas Light Trail
Dunham Massey (National Trust) · Altrincham
Weald & Downland Christmas Market 2026
Christmas market · 10:00–16:00
Weald & Downland Living Museum · Chichester · From £10
Stourbridge Christmas Lights Switch-on 2026
Christmas Lights Switch-on · 10:00–17:00
Stourbridge Town Centre · Stourbridge
BENN Hall Christmas Fair
11:00–14:00
The Benn Hall · Rugby
Chelsea Winter Village & Illuminations 2026
Christmas market · 16:30
Royal Hospital Chelsea · London · Free
Bath Christmas Market 2026
Christmas market
Bath city centre near Bath Abbey · Bath · Free
Glow Wild at Wakehurst 2026
Christmas Light Trail · 16:00
Kew Wakehurst · Haywards Heath
Eat & Drink Festival - Christmas London
Olympia · London
West Dean Christmas Market 2026
Christmas market
West Dean House & Gardens · Chichester
Stratford-upon-Avon Christmas Markets 2026
Selected dates: Saturday, 28 November 2026 · 12:00–20:00; Sunday, 29 November 2026 · 10:00–17:00; Saturday, 5 December 2026 · 12:00–20:00; Sunday, 6 December 2026 · 10:00–17:00
Christmas Market · 10:00–20:00
Stratford-upon-Avon Town Centre · Stratford-upon-Avon
Burford Christmas Market 2026| Food, Gifts & Artisan Makers
10:00–15:30
Warwick Hall · Burford
Christmas Artisan Makers Fayre Dulwich Village
11:00–16:00
St Barnabas Parish Hall · London
The Small Pet Christmas Market
10:00–16:00
Novotel London Stansted Airport · Stansted
December 2026
Exclusively Highlands Christmas Markets
Crossbasket Castle, Hotel & Restaurant, an SLH Hotel · Glasgow
Worcester Victorian Christmas Fayre 2026
Christmas market
Worcester city centre · Worcester · Free
Lincoln Cathedral Christmas Market 2026
Christmas market
Lincoln Cathedral · Lincoln
Durham Christmas Festival 2026
Christmas market · 09:00–18:00
Palace Green & Durham Market Place · Durham
Hampton Court Palace Festive Fayre 2026
Selected dates: Fri, 4 Dec 2026 – Sun, 6 Dec 2026; Fri, 11 Dec 2026 – Sun, 13 Dec 2026
Christmas market · 10:00–17:00
Hampton Court Palace · London
Loch Lomond Shores Christmas Festival
Loch Lomond Shores · Alexandria
Swansea stadium indoor Christmas market
10:30–15:30
Swansea.com Stadium · Swansea
Christmas Market
14:30–18:00
Croxley Green Library · Rickmansworth
Chigwell Christmas market
11:00–16:00
Chigwell Hall · Chigwell
Sutton Coldfield Christmas Market 2026
Christmas Market · 10:00–19:00
The Parade, Sutton Coldfield · Sutton Coldfield
Wolverhampton Christmas Shopping Market 2026
Christmas Market · 10:00–17:00
Dudley Street, Wolverhampton · Wolverhampton
Plant Power Events UK Christmas Market
11:00–15:00
Egglescliffe Community Centre · Stockton-on-Tees
Crafty Fox Christmas Market Weekend - King's Cross — Crafty Fox Market
The Crossing · London
JB's Christmas Craft Fair
11:00–15:00
Mardyke Community Centre · Rainham
The Pineapple Christmas Market
11:00–17:00
The Pineapple · London
UK Christmas Market Guides & Blogs
12 guides
Best Christmas Markets in Europe 2026: London, UK & City Breaks
Christmas Markets · 11 min
London Christmas Tours 2026: Which Guided Tour Should You Book?
Christmas Markets · 5 min
London Christmas Lights 2026: The Best Walking Route (Free Map + Guided Option)
Christmas Markets · 5 min
Oxford vs Cambridge at Christmas 2026: Which Day Trip From London?
Christmas Markets · 2 min
What to Eat at London's Christmas Markets in 2026: A Food Lover's Guide
Christmas Markets · 6 min
UK Christmas Events Calendar 2026: Week-by-Week Guide to Markets, Lights & Festive Food
Christmas Markets · 4 min
Best Christmas Light Trails in the UK 2026 — and the Christmas Market to Pair With Each
Christmas Markets · 5 min
London Christmas Lights Switch-on Dates 2026: Where to Go and Where to Eat After
Christmas Markets · 3 min
Festive Good Food Show 2026: How to Plan a Birmingham Christmas Food Weekend
Christmas Markets · 3 min
Free Christmas Things to Do in the UK 2026: Markets, Lights Switch-ons & Festive Days Out
Christmas Markets · 3 min
7 Small-Town UK Christmas Markets & Lights Switch-ons for 2026
Christmas Markets · 5 min
Join the Festive Fun at Croxley Green Christmas Market 2026
Christmas Markets · 4 min
More Ways to Explore UK Christmas Markets 2026
Ultimate Guide to 58 UK Markets
Every confirmed 2026 date, city by city.
Small-Town Markets & Lights Switch-ons
7 shorter-run markets outside the big cities.
All UK Food Events
Festivals, markets and street food beyond Christmas.
Festival Markets
More seasonal and celebration-led UK markets.
Guided Christmas Tours
Skip the planning — a local host walks you round instead.
Christmas Market FAQs
When do UK Christmas markets open in 2026?
Most UK Christmas markets for 2026 open from early-to-mid November through to just before or after Christmas Day, and a handful of the longest-running ones — including Hyde Park Winter Wonderland, Edinburgh and Kingston — stay open into early January 2027. Exact 2026 opening dates vary by city; each market page on this site shows a live countdown once its date is confirmed.
How many Christmas markets are there in the UK?
We list 58+ UK Christmas markets on Food Marketplace, from major city-centre destinations like Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds, Newcastle and Edinburgh to smaller town markets and one-off lights switch-on events. Browse the full grid above, or see our Ultimate Guide to 58 UK Christmas Markets for 2026 for a complete city-by-city breakdown.
What can I buy or eat at a Christmas market?
Expect mulled wine, roasted chestnuts, bratwurst and hot chocolate alongside festive gifts, decorations, and handmade crafts from wooden chalet-style stalls. Many UK markets also add local street food and vegan/gluten-free options alongside the traditional German-market staples.
Are Christmas markets free to enter?
The vast majority are free to walk around — you only pay for food, drink, and anything you buy. A small number of larger festival-style markets or ticketed attractions (such as ice rinks or funfair rides within a market) charge separately at peak times.
Which UK cities have the biggest Christmas markets?
London (Hyde Park Winter Wonderland), Manchester, Birmingham (Frankfurt Christmas Market), Edinburgh and Leeds host some of the largest Christmas markets in the UK, often spanning multiple sites across the city centre and running for six weeks or more.
What is the longest-running UK Christmas market in 2026?
Several markets run from mid-to-late November all the way through to 3 January 2027, including Hyde Park Winter Wonderland, Edinburgh, Kingston-upon-Thames, Blackpool and Aberdeen's Christmas Village — see our Ultimate Guide for the full list of confirmed dates.
Are there Christmas markets that only run for a weekend?
Yes — alongside the big six-week city markets, plenty of UK towns run shorter festive markets and lights switch-on events lasting just a day or a weekend, such as Stratford-upon-Avon's lights switch-on and Sutton Coldfield's Christmas Market. These are listed as events on Food Marketplace rather than standalone market pages — see our small-town Christmas markets guide.
Do I need to book tickets for a UK Christmas market?
Most town and city-centre Christmas markets are open-access street events with no booking needed. Larger attractions inside some markets — ice rinks, big wheels, Santa's grottos — may need a separate paid ticket booked in advance, so check the specific market's page for details.
What is the best time of day to visit a Christmas market?
Weekday mornings and early afternoons are the quietest, best for browsing stalls without crowds. Evenings — especially Friday and Saturday from 4-5pm once the lights are on — are the most atmospheric but also the busiest, particularly in the run-up to Christmas.
Are UK Christmas markets dog- and family-friendly?
Most outdoor town-centre Christmas markets welcome dogs on a lead and are stroller/family-friendly, since they're just decorated public streets rather than ticketed enclosures. Larger fenced-off markets or those with fairground rides may have their own pet policy — check the individual market listing if in doubt.