The Nottingham Christmas Market opens on Thursday 12 November 2026 in Old Market Square, as part of Nottingham Winter Wonderland. Alongside the wooden market stalls you get an ice rink, an observation wheel, a toboggan slide, an Ice Bar and two Alpine-style bars, which makes it feel more like a winter funfair than a quiet craft market. Walking around is free, and you only pay for the rides and bars. Below are the 2026 dates and hours, what’s on the square, what to eat, how to get there and where to leave your bags.
Nottingham Christmas Market 2026: Key Facts
| Dates | Thursday 12 November – Thursday 31 December 2026 (market stalls listed until 24 December) |
| Market hours, November | Sunday to Thursday 10:00–18:00; Friday and Saturday 10:00–20:00 |
| Market hours, December | Sunday to Thursday 10:00–20:30; Friday and Saturday 10:00–21:00 |
| Christmas Day | Closed |
| Location | Old Market Square, Nottingham NG1 2DT |
| Entry | Free; the ice rink, wheel, Ice Bar and other attractions need tickets |
| Nearest stop | Old Market Square tram stop |
The hours above are the market hours published on the official Winter Wonderland website. The rink and bars keep longer hours than the stalls, and times on Christmas Eve, Boxing Day and New Year’s Eve are shorter, so check the site before you go.
What’s On at Winter Wonderland
- The ice rink and Sky Skate. Sessions run from late morning until about 10pm on most days, and you book a time slot online.
- The Observation Wheel, which stays open until 10pm or 11pm most evenings and gives you a view over the Council House and the lit-up square.
- The Ice Bar, a bar kept below freezing where the walls and glasses are made of ice. Entry is by timed ticket.
- Sur La Piste and Altitude, two ski-lodge style bars where you can book a table for a group.
- A toboggan slide and live entertainment around the square.
Where the Nottingham Christmas Market Is
Everything sits in Old Market Square, the big open square in front of the Council House in the city centre. The stalls line the square around the rink and the wheel, so you can do the whole thing on foot in an hour if you’re only browsing. The main shopping streets, including Long Row, Bridlesmith Gate and the Victoria Centre, are a few minutes away.
Food and Drink
The food stalls cover the usual Christmas market favourites: mulled wine, hot chocolate, bratwurst, roast pork rolls, churros and other sweet snacks. The Alpine bars serve drinks and food at the tables, which is the easier option if you’re in a group or want to sit down out of the cold. If you want a proper meal, the streets around the square have plenty of pubs and restaurants.
Getting to the Nottingham Christmas Market
| From | How |
|---|---|
| Nottingham station | About a 10 to 15 minute walk north to Old Market Square, or the NET tram from Station Street to Old Market Square |
| Victoria bus station | About 10 minutes’ walk south through the city centre |
| By train | Direct trains from London St Pancras, Birmingham, Sheffield, Leicester and Derby |
| By car | Use a tram Park & Ride site or a city-centre car park; the square itself is pedestrianised |
Tips for Visiting
- Book ice skating, the wheel and the Ice Bar online before you go. Weekend slots and the last two weeks before Christmas sell out.
- Go on a weekday afternoon for the stalls if you don’t like crowds. Friday and Saturday evenings are the busiest.
- Bring gloves for the rink and wear layers. It’s an outdoor square and gets cold after dark.
- Leave suitcases and big bags elsewhere. Rinks and bars have limited space for luggage.
Luggage Storage in Nottingham
If you’re visiting the Nottingham Christmas Market on a day trip or before checking in, you don’t want a case with you on the ice or in the Ice Bar. Radical Storage has luggage storage near Nottingham station and around Old Market Square, so you can drop your bags on arrival and pick them up before you head home.
Booking takes a minute online, and cancellation is free. Every bag is protected up to €10,000, and travellers rate the service 4.8/5. Radical Storage has more than 16.5K locations in over 2.3K cities, so you can use it again at your next stop.
Nottingham Christmas Market FAQ
Nottingham Winter Wonderland opens on Thursday 12 November 2026 in Old Market Square and runs until 31 December. The market stalls are listed until 24 December, and everything is closed on Christmas Day.
In November the stalls open 10am to 6pm Sunday to Thursday and 10am to 8pm on Friday and Saturday. In December they stay open until 8:30pm Sunday to Thursday and 9pm on Friday and Saturday.
Yes. Walking around the square and the stalls is free. The ice rink, observation wheel, Ice Bar and some other attractions need tickets, which you can book online.
Yes. The ice rink and Sky Skate run every day of the event, with sessions until about 10pm on most days. Book a slot in advance for weekends.
Walk north for 10 to 15 minutes, or take the NET tram from Station Street to the Old Market Square stop.
Radical Storage has luggage storage near Nottingham station and around Old Market Square. Book online, drop your bags and collect them later. Each bag is protected up to €10,000.