The smell of warming mulled wine and gingerbread and the sounds of carols by candlelight – a Christmas market is just the thing to get you in the festive spirit. Here’s our top picks at home and abroad

 

UK

Birmingham Frankfurt Christmas Market

17 November – 29 December 2016

The largest German market held outside of Germany and Austria finds its UK home in Birmingham’s Victoria Square. With over 120 stalls, expect a wide range of German products including gluhwine (mulled wine), wheat beers and plenty of hearty food. There’s also a Christmas Craft Fair that stretches in Centenary Square, for all your handmade gifts and crafts. germanchristmasmarketbirmingham.com

 

Exeter

19^th November – 18 December 2016.

Exeter Cathedral is the atmospheric backdrop for the town’s annual Christmas market and this year it will be bigger and better than ever before thanks to an extension. Christmas gifts, warming food and drink and plenty of twinkling lights and carol singing make this market a firm favourite for locals and visitors alike. visitexeter.com

 

Edinburgh European Christmas Market

19^th November 2016 – 7 January 2017

Add a touch of sparkle to a trip to Edinburgh with the annual European Christmas Market held in East Princes St Gardens. In the heart of the city, the market gives visitors a fantastic festive shopping experience full of traditional crafts, gifts and stalls brimming with gastronomic delights. edinburghschristmas.com

 

Manchester

10 November – 20 December 2016

Spread out across Manchester’s city centre, over 300 traders will be offering visitors a wide range of gifts, food and drink and festive ideas at this year’s Christmas market. From the French market on King Street to the Arts and Crafts Market on Exchange Street, the city will be buzzing with people and the sounds and smells of the season. visitmanchester.com

 

South Bank Centre Winter Market

11 November 2016 – 8 January 2017

Forget the brash lights and rides of Hyde Park’s Winter Wonderland and instead head to London’s South Bank for a much cosier, authentic market at the South Bank Centre. Here you’ll find pretty wooden chalets full of festive food, drink, gifts and plenty of cheer. Enjoy a warming glass of mulled wine, some roasted chestnuts and take in the beauty of London’s Christmas lights. southbankcentre.co.uk

 

Europe

Vienna Christmas Market, Austria

12 November -24 December 2016-10-05

Get into the spirit of the season with the spectacular Viennese Christmas Market. Held in front of the beautiful City Hall, stalls full of traditional Austrian festive gifts, food and drink line the pavements. Inside the building an area for children is the perfect addition with Christmas crafts and baking to keep them amused. A magical yuletide event for the whole family. Christkindlmarkt.at

 

Lille Christmas Market

18 November – 30 December

Gourmands will love Lille’s Christmas Market and the best thing about it is you can pop on the Eurostar from London and be there in 80 minutes! Located on Place Rihour, around 80 wooden chalets are jammed packed with festive gifts and decorations. But most come here for the food stalls offering regional specialities all washed down with some mulled wine. Yum. en.lilletourism.com

 

Nuremburg Christmas Market, Germany

November 25 – December 24 2016

The Germans certainly know how to do a Christmas Market. This one in Nuremburg is a perennial favourite with locals and visitors who flock here each festive season. Don’t miss the traditional Nuremberg gingerbread (lebkuchen), which has been baked in the city for more than 600 years. Other must dos include the children’s market with a traditional carousel, Santa to visit and plenty of wooden toys and gifts to buy and the horse and cart ride around the market. christkindlesmarkt.de

 

Cologne Christmas Markets, Germany

November 21 – December 23 2106

With different themed markets throughout the city, there’s bound to be something that takes your fancy. The larger markets are found in downtown Cologne with stalls near the cathedral gathered around a beautifully decorated Christmas tree with a stage for music and entertainment. There’s also an ice skating rink on Heumarkt, Angel Market on Neumarkt and St Nick’s village on Rudolfplatz for family-friendly stalls and activities. One of our favourites is the market in Stadtgarten where the pretty garden surroundings add to the Christmas charm. cologne-tourism.com

 

Stockholm Christmas Market, Sweden

November 23- December 23 2016

If you’ve done the German markets, head to Stockholm’s beautiful Old Town for a traditional Swedish festive treat. Stortorget Square is decked out in fairy lights twinkling over the wooden chalet-style stalls selling Swedish sweets and local cuisine including smoked sausages, reindeer and elkmeat and lots of glogg (mulled wine). Amongst the food stalls are decorative handicrafts and gifts – perfect for Christmas present shopping. visitstockholm.com

 

Share with us your favourite Christmas markets! We’d love to hear your thoughts

Love, Katie