The best Christmas markets UK cities put on in 2026 start in early November, weeks before most of Europe, and some run into January. This guide lists 14 of them with the dates confirmed in our city guides, from the big markets in Manchester, Birmingham and Edinburgh to cathedral towns like Winchester and Salisbury.
Each city links to our full guide with hours, transport and food tips. Where an organiser has not confirmed 2026 dates, we say “expected”.
Best Christmas markets UK 2026: dates at a glance
| City | Main location | 2026 dates |
|---|---|---|
| London (Southbank) | Queen’s Walk | 2 Nov 2026 – 4 Jan 2027 |
| Birmingham | Victoria Square and New Street | Expected 5 Nov – 24 Dec |
| Manchester | 10 city centre sites | 6 Nov – 22 Dec (two sites to 3 Jan 2027) |
| Bristol | Broadmead | 6 Nov – 23 Dec |
| York | St Nicholas Fair, Parliament Street | 12 Nov – 21 Dec |
| Nottingham | Old Market Square | 12 Nov – 31 Dec (stalls to 24 Dec) |
| Oxford | Broad Street | Victorian market 12 – 15 Nov |
| Edinburgh | Princes Street Gardens | 14 Nov 2026 – 3 Jan 2027 |
| Aberdeen | Broad Street | Expected mid-Nov – late Dec |
| London (Hyde Park) | Winter Wonderland | 19 Nov 2026 – 3 Jan 2027 |
| Leeds | City Square | 19 Nov – 23 Dec |
| Winchester | Cathedral Close | 20 Nov – 22 Dec |
| Salisbury | Guildhall Square | 20 Nov – 31 Dec |
| Liverpool | St George’s Plateau | 21 Nov 2026 – 3 Jan 2027 |
| Bath | Around Bath Abbey | 26 Nov – 13 Dec |
Entry is free at every market here except Hyde Park Winter Wonderland, which needs a timed booking with free off-peak slots.
The best UK Christmas markets in big cities
Manchester
More than 210 stalls spread over 10 sites in the city centre from 6 November to 22 December 2026, and Albert Square and Cathedral Gardens stay open until 3 January 2027. New for 2026 are a market on Lincoln Square and a pop-up pub in Albert Square. Read our Manchester guide.
Birmingham
The Frankfurt Christmas Market is expected from 5 November to 24 December 2026 on Victoria Square and New Street, with German food and drink. The big wheel and ice rink on Centenary Square run until 3 January 2027. See our Birmingham guide.
Liverpool
The main market on St George’s Plateau runs with the Skate St George’s ice rink from 21 November 2026 to 3 January 2027, and Pier Head hosts a covered rink and rides. Read our Liverpool guide.
Leeds, Nottingham and Bristol
Leeds runs its market on City Square from 19 November to 23 December 2026, with Alpine-style bars (our Leeds guide). Nottingham’s Winter Wonderland on Old Market Square opens on 12 November, with market stalls until 24 December and the rest to 31 December (our Nottingham guide). Bristol’s market in Broadmead, next to Cabot Circus, runs from 6 November to 23 December, with food stalls open until 22:00 (our Bristol guide).
London’s Christmas markets
Hyde Park Winter Wonderland runs from 19 November 2026 to 3 January 2027 (closed on Christmas Day) with rides, shows and stalls, and the Southbank Centre Winter Market lines the river from 2 November to 4 January. Our London market guide covers these and the smaller ones.
Historic towns and cathedral markets
York
The St Nicholas Fair runs from 12 November to 21 December 2026 on Parliament Street, close to the Shambles and York Minster. Read our York guide.
Bath
Bath’s market fills the streets around the Abbey and the Roman Baths from 26 November to 13 December 2026. It is short and busy, so go on a weekday and book a hotel early. See our Bath guide.
Winchester and Salisbury
Winchester puts more than 120 chalets in the Cathedral Close from 20 November to 22 December 2026 (our Winchester guide). Salisbury’s Christmas on the Square opens on the same day and runs to 31 December, daily 11:00 to 22:00, with huts until 24 December (our Salisbury guide).
Oxford
The Victorian Christmas Market fills Broad Street for four days, 12 to 15 November 2026. A longer Christmas on Broad Street market is expected from late November to 31 December. Read our Oxford guide.
Scotland: Edinburgh and Aberdeen
Edinburgh’s market and rides in Princes Street Gardens run from 14 November 2026 to 3 January 2027, usually 10:00 to 22:00, below the castle and steps from Waverley station (our Edinburgh guide). Aberdeen’s Christmas village on Broad Street is expected from mid-November to late December; in 2025 it ran from 13 November to 31 December (our Aberdeen guide).
Tips for visiting the best Christmas markets in the UK
- Go between 26 November and 13 December if you want every market on this list open, Bath included.
- Visit on a weekday. Saturdays in Manchester, York and Bath are packed from lunchtime.
- Book train tickets in advance and check for weekend engineering works.
- Bring a waterproof layer. The markets stay open in the rain.
- Several markets close on 25 and 26 December, so check before planning a Boxing Day visit.
VisitBritain has more seasonal events, and our list of festive weekend breaks suggests UK and European trips.
Luggage storage near the markets
A day trip to a Christmas market often starts with a suitcase and ends with bags of shopping. Radical Storage lets you leave both at a local shop or hotel near the station or city centre, then collect them on your way home. The network has 16.5K+ locations in 2.3K+ cities, every bag is protected up to €10,000, cancellation is free and the service is rated 4.8/5.
FAQ: best Christmas markets UK
The Southbank Centre Winter Market opens on 2 November 2026, Manchester and Bristol on 6 November and Birmingham is expected from 5 November. Most other big markets open between 12 and 21 November.
Manchester has the most sites, with more than 210 stalls across 10 locations. Birmingham’s Frankfurt Christmas Market and Hyde Park Winter Wonderland are also very large.
Edinburgh, Liverpool and Hyde Park Winter Wonderland run to 3 January 2027, Southbank to 4 January, and Manchester’s Albert Square and Cathedral Gardens to 3 January.
Yes, if you can go on a weekday. It runs only from 26 November to 13 December 2026, so weekends get very busy.
Yes, all the markets in this guide are free to enter. Hyde Park Winter Wonderland requires a timed ticket, with free off-peak slots.
Book luggage storage with Radical Storage near the station or city centre. Bags are protected up to €10,000 and cancellation is free.