Christmas Markets

StripedBoxers · 02-08-2016 2:59pm #1

Hey all,

Myself and a friend are considering heading to a Christmas Market in the UK in November, and I'm looking for suggestions on what ones are good and are worth going to.

Would appreciate any help with this as there is so much info online about the various markets that I'm not sure which ones would be better to go to.

Wasn't sure whether to post here or in the travel section so said I'd post here and if its unsuitable maybe a mod could move it to travel?

Thanks.

Polo_Mint · 02-08-2016 3:03pm

I went to the one in Hyde Park 2 years ago. It was great

Cienciano · 02-08-2016 3:06pm

I go to a Christmas market every year, only UK one I went to was Edinburgh which I can recommend. Great city to visit in winter time.

baby and crumble · 02-08-2016 3:21pm

We did a Christmas markets tour of the UK a few years ago. We went Birmingham-Bath-Cornwall- London.

Birmingham was MASSIVE, it's the biggest traditional market outside of Germany. It was good but after a while it's the same stuff just on different stalls.

Bath was lovely, much smaller but felt a lot nicer. Birmingham was like going to a big shopping centre, Bath was like a nice shopping street.

Cornwall was AMAZING, we stayed for a few days in Liskeard and went to local markets all around the local area. The town hosts a Christmas lights parade every year where locals make HUGE paper lanterns and light them up and parade them through the town. Then there was a massive fireworks display. The locals all thought we were bonkers, we just googled local Christmas fairs and turned up at them like stealth Irish weirdos.

We went to the market in Hyde park in London at the end of it all, and it was lovely.

StripedBoxers · 05-08-2016 9:41pm

Thanks so much everyone for your helpful and informative replies, really appreciate them.

Keep the suggestions coming as we'll go anywhere really, depending on cost, we don't want anything extortionate!

milli milli · 06-08-2016 12:03pm

I've never been to any UK markets but I've been to some in Europe. Would you consider Europe OP?
I've been to Prague at Christmastime - we arrived on St Nicholas Day (I think it's called) and it was all very magical with all the local tradition and customs.
I've also been to the markets in Strasbourg & Colmar. Those markets are held beside the old cathedrals and there's outdoor ice rinks too.
It was all very traditional with wooden huts and wasn't commercial when I was there anyway.

P.S. We managed to get the Prague trip for less than €200 - flew with Ryanair, stayed in small hotels - about 3 days & nights there.

Glitzgirl · 06-08-2016 5:48pm

milli milli wrote: »

I've never been to any UK markets but I've been to some in Europe. Would you consider Europe OP?
I've been to Prague at Christmastime .

oh ! Milli I was looking for someone who had been to the market in Prague. I'm going this year in December on a girls mini Christmas trip and can't wait !! Did u find you had the market done in one day or spent all 3 days there or any tips or advice you'd share

StripedBoxers · 06-08-2016 6:06pm

Europe is a no go for us unfortunately, it needs to be in the UK. Maybe Europe next year, we'll see.

Loughc · 09-08-2016 10:22am

Groupon have a deal this morning for European Christmas markets and flights starting from €89.

More detail on Groupon.ie as there's loads of different options, destinations and prices.

BetsyEllen · 09-08-2016 10:28am

Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park is a nice evening out and conveniently located, check their website for the opening dates though as I think it's quite late in November that it opens - I could be wrong though!

I went a couple of years ago. I didn't buy anything though apart from a pork roll (they had a hog roast) and a couple of glasses of mulled wine/cider and then just wandered around looking at everything.

I remember thinking the items for sale were very commercial and overpriced, a load of tat you could buy in any London gift shop or at Camden market so I wouldn't go for the shopping, more just the experience and Christmas feeling. I imagine most Christmas markets in the UK will be like this - I'm hoping to head to Germany this year for the 'real' experience.

baby and crumble · 09-08-2016 10:42am

I have gone to multiple European Christmas markets (Krakow, Berlin, Frankfurt, Cologne, Dusseldorf, the Uk trip above) and my partners also been to Vienna and really, it's for the experience. A lot of the stands in these cities are the same, but it's just wandering about in the cold with a hold chocolate or a schtizel or whatever it is is so lovely. I've really only bought a handful of things at the markets across the years. Now, they're things I love (especially our blown glass Christmas tree topper which was a pain to bring home safely in HAND LUGGAGE but we managed it!) but I don't go for the actual shopping- in some ways I think that's not the point of them!!!

BetsyEllen · 09-08-2016 10:58am

baby and crumble wrote: »

I have gone to multiple European Christmas markets (Krakow, Berlin, Frankfurt, Cologne, Dusseldorf, the Uk trip above) and my partners also been to Vienna and really, it's for the experience. A lot of the stands in these cities are the same, but it's just wandering about in the cold with a hold chocolate or a schtizel or whatever it is is so lovely. I've really only bought a handful of things at the markets across the years. Now, they're things I love (especially our blown glass Christmas tree topper which was a pain to bring home safely in HAND LUGGAGE but we managed it!) but I don't go for the actual shopping- in some ways I think that's not the point of them!!!

Definitely, the wandering about in the cold, all wrapped up and listening to the Christmas music etc is just lovely - a great way to get into the Christmas spirit!

Christmas Markets

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