CHRISTMAS markets are the epitome of festive cheer, offering mulled wine, handmade crafts and twinkling lights.
Many in Europe are famed for their beauty and cosiness – but you don’t need to catch a flight to find a picture-postcard market.
Magical Christmas markets can be found in the UK[/caption]
Britain has no shortage of gorgeous market towns and bustling city centres that transform themselves into with yuletide fairs, so we’ve picked out some of the prettiest ones to help you find that Christmas magic close to home.
It’s worth considering staying overnight if you want to extend your visit – or fall comfortably into a Bratwurst-induced food coma – at an affordable local hotel.
And with some places offering bargain stays, your reasons to visit just doubled.
Christmas markets are the epitome of festive cheer[/caption]
Blenheim Palace
Dates: November 14, 2025 – January 3, 2026
Stays: Travelodge Oxford Peartree from £37 per night
Celebrated for its beauty and widely dubbed ‘Britain’s Greatest Palace’, Blenheim Palace makes for one of the country’ s prettiest market locations at Christmas.
The Great Court of the stately home transforms into a wonderland where you can sip on a spiced wine or munch toasted marshmallows in the shadow of the lavish building.
The Illuminated Light Trail at Blenheim Palace lights up the gardens[/caption]
Magic can be also be found strolling through the Illuminated Light Trail which lights up the grounds.
Complete with the Great Skate ice rink and glimpses of Father Christmas hidden in the gardens, the palace is perfect for a family-friendly market trip.
Enjoy seasonal treats from food stalls[/caption]
The Eden Project
Dates: 19 – 20 November, 2025
Stays: Premier Inn St. Austell from £50
Cornwall‘s Eden Project is one of the UK’s most unique Christmas markets.
The attraction, which boasts an the largest indoor rainforest in the world, swaps wintry charm for dazzling light displays and indoor activities without losing its festive feeling.
The Eden project has a market and light show included in the ticket[/caption]
Shopping for stocking fillers and meeting Santa are still experiences at the heart of the market, all while surrounded by a botanical paradise.
A variety of delicious food and drink is available at the market stalls, and the ticket also includes exclusive access to the Med Terrace restaurant.
Edinburgh
Dates: November 15, 2025 – January 4, 2026
Stays: Premier Inn Edinburgh East from £64 per night
There are 70 stands at Edinburgh’s Christmas market[/caption]
The Scottish capital has a packed cultural calendar all year round, and winter is no different.
Edinburgh‘s Christmas and Hogmanay celebrations feature a bunch of attractions and events including the renowned East Princes Street market.
Not only is it home to around 70 stands selling seasonal food and drink, but it features the LNER Big Wheel (a ferris wheel standing at 46m), an ice rink and the thrilling Starflyer ride that lets you soar above the city’s Gothic skyline.
The Castle of Light show also returns to Edinburgh Castle, illuminating the world-famous sight for market-goers to admire.
It’s hard to get more enchanting than Christmas in the city that inspired the Harry Potter books.
What’s more, if you visit between December 6 and 8, you can catch a separate winter arts market that opens for one weekend only and is ideal for ticking off your Christmas shopping.
Bath
Dates: Nov 27 – December 14, 2025
Stays: Travelodge Bath Central from £90 per night
Bath is a UNESCO World Heritage site[/caption]
Bath is a city bursting with history and stunning architecture that already feels like stepping into a Jane Austen novel.
It is the only entire city in the UK to be named a UNESCO World Heritage site, with its Roman baths long being the main attraction.
In the run-up to Christmas, the cobbled streets around the baths transform with more than 170 chalet-style stalls selling gourmet treats, craft ale and handmade gifts.
You can also expect the sound of a local choir as you wander around next to the lit-up Bath Abbey.
This year also promises to be extra special as the market will celebrate its 25th anniversary.
Stratford-upon-Avon’s market has a Victorian carousel[/caption]
Stratford-upon-Avon
Dates: November 29 – 30 and December 6 – 7, 2025
Stays: Travelodge Stratford-upon-Avon from £133
Stratford-upon-Avon – dotted with delightful Tudor buildings and alive with the spirit of its most famous resident, William Shakespeare – also gets festive in the run-up to the holidays.
The 200-stall market has a Victorian theme, with an authentic carousel and traders who even dress up to make you feel like you’ve travelled back in time.
The market feels like you’ve travelled back in time[/caption]
Fans rave about this free and little-known Christmas fair, with one visitor saying: “We go to it every year, and it’s brilliant.”
Live bands, carol singers and stilt walkers roam through its lanes while stands offer local produce and hot chocolate.
There are only two weekends to catch this market, so be sure to make the most of it.
