Christmas markets 2017 – from Manchester and Bath to Edinburgh and York, the best of the UK

THERE’S nothing quite like a Christmas market to get you in a festive mood.

Here we round up some of the best markets around the country this year, offering hand-crafted gifts, German bratwurst, local cheeses, mulled wine and more. You might even bump into Santa...

LONDON

Winter Wonderland

Location: Hyde Park.

Nearest stations: Bond Street, Green Park and Hyde Park Corner.

Opening dates: November 17 - January 1.

What’s on? Ice skating, Magical Ice Kingdom, Cinderella On Ice, Zippos Christmas Circus, Bar Hutte karaoke bar, Cirque Beserk, Sooty Christmas Show, Santa Land and fairground rides.

There’s also live music, food and drinks.

Winterville

Location: Clapham Common.

Nearest stations: Clapham Common, Clapham South, Clapham Junction (overground).

Opening dates: November 23 - January 1.

What’s on? Clapham Common's first ever ice rink, Backyard Cinema pop-up, Plonk Golf crazy golf, Roller Disco, and Santa's Workshop.

Shows include Cirque du Cabaret, Mexican Wrestling and the family friendly Mini & The Snow Dragon.

Wintertime

Location: On the River Thames, between the Southbank Centre and London Eye.

Nearest stations: London Waterloo, London Waterloo East, Enbankment and Charing Cross (across the river).

Opening dates: November 10 - December 30.

What’s on? Wooden chalets filled with festive food, drinks, gifts and treats.This year, there will also be a Finnish rooftop sauna.

SOUTH

Bath

Location: Bath Abbey Churchyard.

Nearest stations: Bath Spa.

Opening dates: November 23 - December 10.

What’s on? Award-winning market selling everything from mulled wine to local cheeses, handmade toys, jewellery and crafted candles.

Exeter

Location: Exeter Cathedral Green.

Nearest stations: Exeter Central.

Opening dates: November 16 - December 17.

What’s on? Victorian Christmas market with hog roasts, stalls and bars.

Oxford

Location: Broad Street, in the heart of the city centre.

Nearest stations: Oxford.

Opening dates: December 7 - 17.

What’s on? Carol singers, brass bands and craft stalls.

Rochester

Location: Rochester Castle Gardens.

Nearest stations: Rochester.

Opening dates: Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, November 25 - December 10.

What’s on? Barvarian village, craft fair, live music and the Dickensian Christmas Festival on December 2-3.

Winchester

Location: Winchester Cathedral.

Nearest stations: Winchester.

Opening dates: November 20 - December 22,

What’s on? Stunning open air ice rink and chalets inspired by German Christmas markets.

MIDLANDS

Birmingham

Location: Victoria Square and New Street.

Nearest stations: Birmingham New Street, Birmingham Moor Street and Birmingham Snow Hill.

Opening dates: November 16 - December 24.

What’s on? This is the largest Christmas market outside of Germany and Austria, and was established thanks to a 50-year partnership with Frankfurt.

Classic food including pretzels and bratwursts (hot dogs), live music in Victoria Square and 120 stalls.

There is a separate Birmingham Christmas Craft Market nearby in Centenary Square.

Nottingham

Location: Old Market Square, in front of the City Hall.

Nearest stations: Nottingham.

Opening dates: Until November 17 - December 31.

What’s on? Winter Wonderland with ice skating, bar, live music and Victorian Christmas market.

YORKSHIRE

Leeds

Location: Millennium Square.

Nearest stations: Leeds City.

Opening dates: November 10 - December 24.

What’s on? Traditional Christkindelmarkt with wooden stalls, a carousel and chalet stalls.

A little piece of Germany in the north – visit the Alp Chalet  Bavarian eatery for a bite to eat.

York

Location: Parliament Street.

Nearest stations: York.

Opening dates: November 16 - December 22.

What’s on? Shop at St Nicholas Fair, wrap up to visit the ice trail, and get your skates on for the Winter Wonderland ice rink.

NORTH-EAST

Newcastle

Location: Grey’s Monument.

Nearest stations: Manors and Newcastle.

Opening dates: December 11 - 17.

What’s on? Get a taste of Europe, followed by something closer to home.

NORTH-WEST

Chester

Location: Town Hall Square.

Nearest stations: Chester and Bache.

Opening dates: November 16 - December 20.

What’s on? Stalls, tasty food and warming drinks – all set against the backdrop of an enormous 40ft Christmas tree.

Manchester

Location: Albert Square.

Nearest stations: Manchester Oxford Road and Manchester Piccadilly.

Opening dates: November 10 - December 20.

What’s on? Spread right across the city centre, some 300 traders offer food, drink and delicately crafted Yuletide gifts.

WALES

Cardiff

Location: Pedestrian streets of St John Street and surrounding areas.

Nearest stations: Cardiff Central and Cardiff Queen Street.

Opening dates: November 9 - December 23.

What’s on? Shopping, Winter Wonderland and ice rink, Santa’s grotto and ice kingdom.

Chimney sweeps and roller skating baubles also put on a display last year.

SCOTLAND

Edinburgh

Location: Princes St Gardens.

Nearest stations: Edinburgh Waverley.

Opening dates:  November 18 - January 6.

What’s on? Big wheel, carousel, elves’ workshop, Christmas tree maze, 24 doors of advent, Santa’s grotto, oval ice rink around the Melville Monument and shopping.

No winter in the Scottish capital is complete without a visit to Edinburgh’s New Year Hogmany.

Glasgow

Location: St Enoch Square.

Nearest stations: Glasgow Central.

Opening dates: November 9 - December 22.

What’s on? Gastronomic food, drink, craft stalls, a large Ferris wheel, carousel and Glasgow on Ice skating ring.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Belfast

Location: City Hall Gardens.

Nearest stations: East Bridge Street.

Opening dates: November 18 - December 23.

What’s on? A bustling continental village with stalls encompassing Germany, Spain, France, Italy – and a real Irish welcome.

You can even sample alligator or kangaroo, drink strawberry flavoured beer in the Irish bar, or get a picture inside the giant snow globe.