Christmas Markets in England 2026: Birmingham, Manchester, York, Bath, Winchester and More (Official Dates)

Do you need to fly to Germany for a proper Christmas market? Not at all! England has wooden chalets under cathedral towers, German beer halls in city squares and Yorkshire food stalls on medieval streets. Most of them are only a train ride away. But which Christmas markets in England are worth a weekend in 2026, and when do they open?

We live near Leighton Buzzard, so Birmingham, Oxford and St Albans are all easy trips for us. I haven't been to every market in this guide yet. So I've checked the official 2026 dates and opening hours on council, tourism board and organiser sites for you. I've also added a weekend idea for each region.

Dates and opening times checked on official sites in November 2026.

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Quick answer

• Longest season: Birmingham's Frankfurt Christmas Market, 5 November to 24 December 2026.
• Biggest: Manchester, with about 210 stalls across the city centre from 6 November 2026. Albert Square and Cathedral Gardens stay open until 3 January 2027.
• Prettiest settings: Winchester Cathedral (20 November to 22 December) and Bath (26 November to 13 December 2026).
• Most local: York, where over 80% of traders are from Yorkshire. It is closed on Tuesdays.
• Lincoln: the big Lincoln Christmas Market no longer runs.

Dates at a glance

Times can change, so check the official page before you travel.

Birmingham: the Frankfurt Christmas Market

Birmingham is twinned with Frankfurt, and its German-style market has the longest season in this guide. It runs from Thursday 5 November to Thursday 24 December 2026, from Victoria Square down New Street. On Remembrance Sunday (8 November) it opens later, at 1 pm. In 2026 there are no stalls on the stretch of New Street between the Apple store and Nando's, because of building works nearby.

Expect a German feel: Bratwurst, pretzels, mulled wine (Glühwein) and big beer stalls, plus wooden toys and decorations. It gets very busy on Friday and Saturday evenings, so go on a weekday afternoon if you can.

By train: Birmingham New Street has direct trains from London Euston. From our area, London Northwestern Railway trains also run from Leighton Buzzard and Milton Keynes. Please note that National Rail says there are no trains at New Street from 24 to 28 December 2026.

Manchester: the biggest market city

Manchester's Christmas markets open on Friday 6 November 2026 and run until Tuesday 22 December. Albert Square and Cathedral Gardens stay open until Sunday 3 January 2027. Visit Manchester says there are about 210 stalls across nine locations, and the full list of sites will come closer to the time. The 2026 opening hours weren't announced when I checked.

Weekend idea: spend Saturday at the markets, then take a train into the Peak District on Sunday. We walked Padley Gorge from Grindleford station, and it really feels like an enchanted forest. You'll find it in my Peak District walks guide, with Padley Gorge as a full walk.

Liverpool and Chester

Liverpool has a market around St George's Hall, right opposite Lime Street station, from 21 November 2026 to 3 January 2027. Visit Liverpool hadn't published opening hours when I checked. There is also an ice rink at St George's Hall, Skate St George's.

Chester has its Christmas market in the city centre from 18 November to 22 December 2026. Chester is a gorgeous place for a winter walk. You can follow the old city walls and the Rows, the two-level medieval shopping streets. Chester Zoo also runs its Lanterns and Light trail from 13 November 2026 to 3 January 2027.

Yorkshire: York and Leeds

York's market is the one I'd most like to see. The alpine chalets line Parliament Street and St Sampson's Square, just a few minutes from York Minster and the Shambles. You may see it called St Nicholas Fair in older guides.

• Dates: 12 November to 21 December 2026.
• Hours: 10:30 am to 7 pm, Wednesday to Monday. Closed on Tuesdays. On 21 December it closes at 5 pm.
• Local food: over 80% of the traders are from Yorkshire, so expect plenty of local food and crafts.
• Park and Ride: £4 for an adult, and up to three children travel free (as of 2026).

Leeds has its Christmas market on City Square from 19 November to 23 December 2026, with over 60 traders. The Ice Cube rink is on Millennium Square from 19 November to 31 December 2026.

Weekend idea: take the train from London King's Cross to York. Leeds is only a short train ride away, so you can easily see both. If you want to stretch your legs, the Yorkshire Dales are close, and I've written a guide to the Malham Cove circular. We haven't walked it yet, but it is high on our list.

Bath and Winchester: markets with a view

Bath Christmas Market runs from Thursday 26 November to Sunday 13 December 2026. It is a short season, so plan early. The chalets sit in the historic centre around Bath Abbey. Opening hours are 10 am to 7 pm Monday to Wednesday, 10 am to 8 pm Thursday to Saturday and 10 am to 6 pm on Sundays.

Bath is easy by train from London Paddington. After the market, you could warm up in the city's thermal spa, Thermae Bath Spa, which has a rooftop pool.

Winchester Cathedral Christmas Market runs for 33 days, from Friday 20 November to Tuesday 22 December 2026. The cathedral says it attracts over 110,000 visitors a year, and the traders are handpicked, with a focus on quality, local and sustainable gifts. It is open 10 am to 6 pm Sunday to Thursday, and until 8 pm on Fridays and Saturdays. Winchester is about an hour from London Waterloo by train.

Near us: Oxford, St Albans, Bedford and Milton Keynes

Oxford Christmas Market is on Broad Street from 21 November to 31 December 2026, and it is closed on Christmas Day. Stalls open 10 am to 6 pm Sunday to Wednesday and 10 am to 8 pm Thursday to Saturday. The bars, food and entertainment stay open later, until 10 pm from Tuesday to Saturday. On Christmas Eve the market closes at 5:30 pm. If you have a car, combine it with the Brill windmill circular walk in Buckinghamshire. We had a lovely peaceful walk around the windmill.

St Albans has its Christmas Cracker street event on Sunday 22 November 2026, from noon to 6 pm in the city centre. A funfair usually takes over Chequer Street. St Albans City station is on the Thameslink line from Bedford and London.

Bedford and Milton Keynes: I couldn't find official 2026 dates for their Christmas markets or light switch-ons yet. Check the Bedford Borough Council and Love Bedford websites, and the Milton Keynes centre websites, closer to the time.

Closer to home, Ivinghoe Beacon is one of our favourite local walks, in any season. Find more ideas in my walks in Bedfordshire and the Chilterns guide.

What happened to Lincoln Christmas Market?

Lincoln used to have one of the biggest Christmas markets in the country. However, it no longer runs. City of Lincoln Council said safety advice ruled out running it in its old form. Motions to bring it back were voted down in November 2023 and December 2024. In 2026 the council lists a Christmas lights switch-on on 26 November, but no Christmas market.

What to eat, drink and buy

• Glühwein: German mulled wine. Birmingham and Manchester have plenty of German-style stalls.
• Bratwurst and Bratkartoffeln: grilled sausage and fried potatoes.
• Yorkshire produce: in York, most traders are local, so look for Yorkshire food and drink.
• Mince pies and roasted chestnuts: the British classics.
• Kürtőskalács: the Hungarian chimney cake, if you spot one. As a Hungarian, I always recommend it!

For gifts, the cathedral markets in Winchester and Bath are the best places for handmade crafts, ceramics and local food. I couldn't find any official mug deposit prices for 2026. Bring a reusable cup if you have one and ask the stall.

Practical tips

Getting there by train

Every market in this guide is close to a city centre station, so you really don't need a car. Book advance tickets early for the cheapest fares, especially for Saturdays in December. National Rail says there are no trains on Christmas Day 2026, and most train companies don't run on Boxing Day. Northampton also has engineering works from 27 to 31 December, which affects our line.

Best time to visit

Go on a weekday if you can. Saturdays in late November and December are the busiest days everywhere. Evenings look prettiest with the lights, but early afternoon is calmer with kids.

Cash, toilets, pushchairs and dogs

• Payment: most stalls take cards now, but carry some cash too.
• Toilets: markets rarely have their own, so use shopping centres, cafés or the station.
• Pushchairs: narrow rows get very crowded in the evenings. Go early, or use a baby carrier.
• Dogs: crowds, noise and dropped food can be stressful for dogs, so I would leave them at home on busy days.

If you take a little one in the pushchair, a cosy footmuff really helps on cold evenings. We use the Out n About one on our Nipper.

A weekend budget

Entry to all of these markets is free. So your costs are mainly the train, a hotel and food. My rough estimate for food and drink at the stalls is £20 to £30 per person per day. Then add a treat or two, like an ice rink or a spa session. Booking trains and hotels early makes the biggest difference.

Want something further afield? My Christmas market breaks by train guide covers Bruges, Cologne and Strasbourg. For the capital, see London Christmas markets 2026.

FAQ

Which is the best Christmas market in England?

For a big German-style market, go to Birmingham or Manchester. For a beautiful setting, I'd choose Winchester Cathedral or Bath. For local food, York is hard to beat.

When does the Birmingham Christmas market open in 2026?

Birmingham's Frankfurt Christmas Market opens on Thursday 5 November 2026 and runs until Thursday 24 December.

Is Lincoln Christmas Market on in 2026?

No. The big Lincoln Christmas Market no longer runs. The city has a Christmas lights switch-on on 26 November 2026 instead.

Is York Christmas Market open every day?

No. It is closed on Tuesdays as a weekly rest day. It is open 10:30 am to 7 pm the rest of the week, from 12 November to 21 December 2026.

Which market will you visit this year? Let me know in the comments!