Christmas markets 2025: where to shop and where to stay
Our top 10 Christmas markets for 2025
To get in the Christmas spirit, can you ever really get better than a Christmas market? Traditional log cabins, festooned in decorations, a range of artisan gifts and unique products to buy, surrounded by the sights and smells of delicious seasonal treats, all with well-known Christmas songs and carols playing in the background.
As the festive season draws near, we've put together our top 10 choice of Christmas markets, and also the best campsites to stay at nearby, for a pre-Christmas break to remember.
Claire Tupholme Content Editor: Travel/Campsites
Claire Tupholme Content Editor: Travel/Campsites
15 November – 4 January
Edinburgh's Winter Festival
World-renowned, Edinburgh's Winter Festival brings the city's streets to life over the festive period, with traditional Christmas market stalls, an ice rink, and fairground rides. The festival incorporates the famous Hogmanay celebrations from 29 December until 1 January with a torchlight procession, live music and spactacular fireworks. New Year's Day features 'Sprogmanay', a family fun afternoon of music, arts, and crafts for all ages.
Stay at:
Mortonhall Caravan & Camping Park
Open all year, and just four miles from Edinburgh city centre, Mortonhall is perfect for exploring Edinburgh's Christmas events. A bus service from outside the campsite makes getting into the city super-convenient, too!
1 November – 24 December
Birmingham's Frankfurt Christmas Market
Billed as the largest authentic German Christmas market outside of Germany or Austria, Birmingham's Frankfurt Christmas Market fills the city's Victoria Square and New Street. The market stalls offer a range of tempting food and drink (such as pretzels, schnitzels, bratwurst, hot chocolate and Glühwein), plus traditional gifts and festive decorations. There's also the opportunity to enjoy fairground rides and to go ice skating!
Stay at:
Love2Stay
Love2Stay is set on the outskirts of Shrewsbury in Shropshire and open all year. It's a 50-minute drive to Birmingham from here (you can also hop on a train), but this quality campsite makes the perfect choice for a luxurious Christmas treat.
14 November – 1 January
Hyde Park Winter Wonderland
Six weeks of festive fun in England's capital city. Hyde Park fills up with festive fun, including thrilling rides, immersive attractions and exciting shows. Visit the ice kingdom, complete with ice bar, or head to watch the circus. There's also an abundance of traditional market stalls selling a range of gifts and festive-inspired treats, plus lots of tempting food and drink.
Stay at:
Lee Valley Camping & Caravan Park
This open-all-year campsite sits in the beautiful Lee Valley Regional Park, which offers activities such as golf, cycling and walking, yet you're under an hour away from London. There are easy public transport links to the city nearby, too.
13 November – 21 December
York Christmas Festival
The Christmas market at York is an award-winner, with alpine chalets lining the city's Parliament Street and St Sampson’s Square. Over 80% of the traders come from Yorkshire, so it's a great way to sample the best of the region. There will be an array of local crafts, delicious treats and artisan products to buy – either for Christmas gifts or as a treat for yourself.
Stay at:
Allerton Caravan Park
Open until 4 January, Allerton Caravan Park is nestled in the Yorkshire countryside, just off the A1, for easy access. The campsite is 40 minutes from York and only 15 minutes from Harrogate, where there is also a Christmas market from 5-14 December.
21 November – 31 December
Christmas at Belton House
The historic Belton Estate is transformed into a winter wonderland in the run-up to Christmas. Explore the grounds which will feature an illuminated light trail, with twinkling lights and immersive seasonal sounds. But there's more than this! Visit the festive fairground, indulge in delicious treats, and warm up with mulled wine or hot chocolate. Also, keep a lookout for a glimpse of Father Christmas along the way!
Stay at:
Low Farm Park
Low Farm Park is open all year and situated in the picturesque conservation village of Folkingham, rich in history. There is a local pub nearby and Belton House is a 20-minute drive.
27 November – 14 December
Bath Christmas Market
2025 celebrates 25 years of Bath's Christmas market. The historic buildings of this UNESCO World Heritage city are stunning all year round but in the festive season the city centre is transformed into a winter wonderland with sparkling lights, traditional wooden chalets, and the seasonal scents of the delicious food and drink on offer. Wander the cobbled streets and see the historic landmarks, all while getting in the festive spirit.
Stay at:
Bath Chew Valley Caravan Park
Open all year, and for adults only, Bath Chew Valley is 30 minutes from Bath city centre. The campsite has just 45 pitches, set in landscaped gardens. There is a hire car available and a bus service is nearby.
19 November – 22 December
Chester Christmas Market
Christmas in Chester is great for all the family. This historic city, with its Roman city walls, features a Christmas market with 80 traders, and live music on weekend evenings, set in the city's square and around the town hall. The hall also becomes Santa's grotto, complete with elves, and you can book to enjoy lunch with Father Christmas at the Crowne Plaza hotel on 14 December. Chester Zoo will also host an immersive light trail and illuminated lanterns event from 13 November until 3 January.
Stay at:
Manor Wood Country Caravan Park
Manor Wood is set among rolling Cheshire farmland with views of the Clwydian Hills nearby over the border in Wales. The campsite is open all year, and is located a 30-minute drive from Chester. A bus stop is half a mile away.
14 November – 4 January
Winter Wonderland Norwich
Taking place at the Norfolk Showground, a short distance from the city, Winter Wonderland Norwich is a feast of festive shopping, food and fun. There's a Christmas market with decorated wooden chalets, an ice rink, Santa's grotto, licensed bars (with heated igloos for hire), live music at weekends, and a host of fairground rides for all ages. The city centre itself will also feature a Christmas market and festive decorations.
Stay at:
Cobbleacre Park
Open until 19 December, Cobbleacre Park is a rural campsite with lots of wildlife and five fishing lakes. It's a 25-minute drive to the Norfolk Showground which has a park and ride next door if you also wanted to head into the city for some Christmas shopping.
20 November – 19 December
Exeter Cathedral Christmas Market
Could there be a more magical setting for a Christmas market than the stunning backdrop of Exeter Cathedral's dreamy spires? Artisan produce and gourmet treats will be for sale from twinkling wooden chalets, along with seasonal delicacies and warming mulled wine.
In addition, from 21 November until 28 December Exeter's Winter Wonderland returns to Northernhay Gardens, a short walk from the cathedral. There's more festive shopping to be done here, plus an ice rink, German-themed bar, funfair and grotto.
Stay at:
Cofton Holidays
In a picturesque valley near Dawlish Warren, Cofton Holidays is a family-friendly holiday park, open all year. On the campsite are swimming pools, a bar and restaurant, and fishing lakes. Cofton is a 30-minute drive from Exeter, and there is a bus stop outside the campsite.
13 November – 24 December
Sheffield Christmas Markets
Starting off from small beginnings with just a handful of traders, Sheffield's Christmas Markets now have over 60 log cabins showcasing the produce of independent traders, over 80% of which are based locally. For 2025 the market will cover the Fargate, Barker's Pool, Peace Gardens and the Moor areas of the city. There will be four alpine bars, a traditional German sausage grill, Yorkshire pudding wraps and churros, plus many other food and drink options.
Stay at:
Waleswood Caravan & Camping Park
Set within Rother Valley Country Park, with views of Sheffield and over to the Peak District, Waleswood is 20 minutes from central Sheffield and open all year.
Christmas Market FAQs
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What is a Christmas market?
Originating in Germany, over 600 years ago, a Christmas market is a seasonal event that features stalls (generally housed in log cabins) selling traditional gifts, local crafts, Christmas decorations, and German-inspired festive food and drink like bratwurst (a traditional German sausage) and Glühwein (mulled wine).
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What can I find at a Christmas market?
You will find a selection of traditional and handmade items and foodstuffs for sale. This can include Christmas gifts, decorations, toys, clothing and artwork. Food and drink can include chocolates, biscuits, churros, crêpes, mulled wine and hot chocolate, both to consume at the market or to take as gifts.
At larger markets or Christmas-themed events there may also be ice rinks, Ferris wheels, a Santa's grotto, or an illuminated light trail to follow.
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When are Christmas markets usually held?
Christmas markets tend to take place from mid-November until Christmas Eve. Where events also include a festive light trail, this may continue into early January.
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Do you need tickets for a Christmas market?
Not always, it really depends on each market and the size of the event. Smaller markets, and those with restricted numbers may sell tickets to prevent overcrowding. It is best to check the website of the market you are planning to attend in advance of your visit.
Some markets/Christmas themed-events have additional activites, such as ice rinks, a circus, fairground rides, etc, for which you may need to pre-book a timeslot, purchase a ticket, or pay extra.
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What should I bring to a Christmas market?
Most traders will accept card payments but it is a good idea to bring cash for smaller vendors, for deposits for Glühwein mugs, for the funfair rides and for the possibility that there may be a charge to use the public toilets.
Due to the time of year the markets take place, and that they are mostly outdoor events, it is advisable to wrap up warm, bring gloves, a waterproof coat or umbrella, and suitable outdoor footwear.
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Are dogs allowed at Christmas markets?
Most Christmas markets are held in city centres so dogs are allowed; it's best to check on the individual market's website to check the policy regarding dogs. It's worth bearing in mind that these events can be very busy with a lot of footfall, so smaller dogs may be better off being carried.
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