The Oxford Christmas Market takes over Broad Street, between Balliol College, the Sheldonian Theatre and the Bodleian, every winter. In 2026 the season starts early with the Oxford Victorian Christmas Market from Thursday 12 to Sunday 15 November, and the main Christmas on Broad Street market follows from Saturday 21 November until 31 December. Below you’ll find what’s confirmed, what to expect, what to eat, how to get there and where to leave your bags.
Oxford Christmas Market 2026: Key Facts
| Victorian Christmas Market | Thursday 12 – Sunday 15 November 2026, Broad Street |
| Victorian market hours | Thursday to Saturday 10:00–19:00; Sunday 10:00–17:00 |
| Christmas on Broad Street | 21 November – 31 December 2026 (closed 25 December) |
| Broad Street hours | Stalls Sun–Wed 10:00–18:00, Thu–Sat 10:00–20:00; bar and food until 20:00 Sun–Mon, 22:00 Tue–Sat; closes 17:30 on 24 December |
| Location | Broad Street, Oxford OX1 3AG, city centre |
| Entry | Free |
| Nearest station | Oxford, about 15 minutes’ walk |
At the time of writing, Oxford City Council hasn’t published the 2026 dates for the main Broad Street market. Last year it ran daily from 22 November to 31 December, and some listing sites already give 21 November to 31 December 2026. Check the council’s Christmas in Oxford page before you book a trip.
What’s at the Market on Broad Street
In 2025 the council’s operator, Keston Events, filled Broad Street with gift and craft stalls, festive street food, an Alpine Lodge bar, a carousel and a Ferris wheel, plus live music and community performances. The 2026 market again mixes stalls with a bar, food and entertainment.
The Victorian Christmas Market in mid-November is smaller, with around 50 stalls and traders in Victorian costume. It’s free and good for early present shopping before the December crowds.
Food and Drink
Expect the classics: mulled wine and cider, hot chocolate, roasted chestnuts, sausages and other street food, plus fudge and mince pies. The Alpine-style bar gives you somewhere to sit with a drink. For a proper meal or something to take home, the Covered Market off the High Street is five minutes away and has a late-night Christmas shopping evening in late November.
Getting to the Oxford Christmas Market
| From | How |
|---|---|
| Oxford station | Walk east along Park End Street and George Street to Broad Street, about 15 minutes |
| Gloucester Green coach station | About five minutes’ walk |
| By train | Direct trains from London Paddington and London Marylebone, Birmingham and Reading |
| By coach | Oxford Tube and X90 coaches from London stop in the city centre |
| By car | Use one of the Park & Ride sites; parking in the centre is limited and expensive |
Tips for Visiting
- Visit on a weekday afternoon if you want room to browse. Weekends in December are busy, especially with day-trippers from London.
- Stay for dusk, when the lights come on along Broad Street and Cornmarket.
- Combine the market with the Radcliffe Camera, the Bodleian courtyard and the Covered Market, all within a few minutes’ walk.
- Wear waterproof shoes. Oxford in December is usually cold and damp.
Luggage Storage in Oxford
A lot of people visit the Oxford Christmas Market on a day trip or before checking in, and Broad Street gets crowded on weekends. Radical Storage has luggage storage near Oxford station and around the city centre, so you can leave your bags when you arrive and pick them up on the way back to your train or coach.
Booking online takes a minute 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 on the rest of your trip too.
Oxford Christmas Market FAQ
The Oxford Victorian Christmas Market runs on Broad Street from 12 to 15 November 2026. The main Christmas on Broad Street market runs from 21 November to 31 December 2026, every day except Christmas Day.
On Broad Street in the city centre, next to Balliol College, the Sheldonian Theatre and the Bodleian Library.
Yes. Both the Victorian market and Christmas on Broad Street are free to enter. You pay for rides, food and drinks.
No. In 2026 the stalls open 10:00–18:00 from Sunday to Wednesday and 10:00–20:00 from Thursday to Saturday. The bar, food and entertainment area stays open until 20:00 on Sundays and Mondays and until 22:00 from Tuesday to Saturday. Everything closes at 17:30 on 24 December, and the market is shut on Christmas Day.
Walk east along Park End Street and George Street to Broad Street. It takes about 15 minutes.
Radical Storage has luggage storage near Oxford station and in the city centre, close to Broad Street. Book online, drop your bags and collect them later. Each bag is protected up to €10,000.