6 Christmas Markets to Visit in England

Christmas traditions run deep in “Merry Old England,” so it’s not surprising Christmas markets are popular events in several English cities and towns. Some take their themes from the German Christkindlmarkt, but many are home-grown traditions. Family travelers can find them wherever they travel in England in December; these are a few favorites.

For its charm and incomparable setting in a picture-perfect Georgian city, Bath Christmas Market is a star. It fills the city center with sparkling lights, caroling choirs, outdoor skating, a Victorian carousel, and fragrances of roasting chestnuts and spices. Sidewalk cabins sell handmade gifts, locally produced foods and holiday decorations.

In contrast to the English air of Bath, Lincoln Christmas Market seems straight out of Germany. Its authenticity is no accident, as the market originated from a 1982 exchange trip by city councilors to Lincoln’s German twin city, Neustadt an der Weinstraße. So enchanted by the Christkindlmarkt, they brought the idea home. Now with more than 300 cabins, the German flavor carries on, with oom-pah bands and glühwein mingling with plum puddings and mince pies, in a setting of streets lined by medieval timber buildings.

Birmingham’s Frankfurt Christmas Market also takes its inspiration from traditional German markets, so you’ll find lebkuchen, marzipan, and vendors selling German bratwurst and traditional English treats. All of these markets focus on works of local artisans and small food producers.

In Manchester, 300 chalets and stalls form a trail of nine separate markets, connected by a free hop-on-hop-off shuttle bus. Kids will be enchanted by the Christmas Lights Trail, with lots of glitter and giant baubles they can walk through.

Christmas markets spring up all over London, with Covent Garden Market packed even more than usual, and neighborhood market halls taking on a festive air. For kids, though, the magic is on the South Bank, where the Thames riverbank is strung with lights, and the colorful cabins of Winter Market are filled with food, warm drinks and gifts. For a more intimate atmosphere, leave the city for nearby Kingston upon Thames, where cabins line the lanes with food and handmade gifts, and live music fills the air.