11 of the best Christmas markets in the UK

22.11.2023 - 09:53 / nationalgeographic.com / Belle Epoque

The best Christmas markets seem to turn back time, transforming areas of cities into timeless wonderlands. In the UK, you’ll find no shortage of opportunities to savour the comforts of the season, with artisanal, themed and traditional Christmas markets popping up across the country from November onwards.

7-10 December
Cheeses from Lanreath, chocolates from Kernow, preserves from Coverack: this Cornish food festival is the ideal place to pick up supplies for your Christmas store cupboard. Explore the craft stalls in the attached market — home to everything from traditional woollen throws to ceramics — before wandering down to the quayside for the closing fireworks display. Plus, Rick Stein, Angela Hartnett and José Pizarro have all taken to the Chef’s Theatre stage in past years to share their festive cookery tips. Entry to the market is free, though you’ll need a ticket for the cookery demonstrations.

18 November-22 December
When all the trees are bare, the gardens around Belfast City Hall still burst with colour. Beneath the building’s shimmering neoclassical facade stand rows of wooden chalets adorned with fairy lights. Toast a marshmallow, sample gooey cheeses or test your mettle on the helter skelter — you’re never too old, after all. If you’re in town on 9 December, head down to Waterfront Hall for a performance of Handel’s Messiah by the Ulster Orchestra and Belfast Philharmonic Choir. Hungry for more? Refresh with a festive afternoon tea at the Titanic Hotel Belfast. Slots are available throughout December.

18 November-24 December
All illuminated carousels and cosy wooden stalls, Liverpool’s annual Christmas market imbues the city with a certain Belle Époque charm. Wandering around St Georgie’s Plateau and William Brown Street, you’ll find all the usual gifts and treats alongside an array of themed bars, not to mention a giant Ferris wheel and the much-loved Karaoke Ski Lifts for those in the mood to belt out a Christmas favourite. Carry on the party with a seasonal dinner at Paul Askew’s Michelin-starred restaurant, The Art School, or wander over to Liverpool Philharmonic Hall, where a full orchestra will be providing a live soundtrack to the Christmas classic It’s a Wonderful Life on 23-24 December.

9-10 December
The Christmas market in Edinburgh is one of the best in Europe. If you’re looking to escape the crowds, however, leave the city centre behind and head for Jupiter Artland, an award-winning sculpture garden set across 100 acres of meadows and woodland on the Bonnington House estate. Between 9 and 10 December, this undulating landscape plays host to an artisan market brimming with homeware, decorations, cards, mulled wine and more. Be sure to meet Jupiter’s Festive Donkeys and book a