Christmas markets

Are you planning to check out one of England’s Christmas markets this year? They are certainly growing in popularity. I for one am going to check at least one out this year. They're cropping up everywhere, so you are bound to find one near you. Here are some ideas to get you started.

WINTER WONDERLAND – HYDE PARK
1 Decemberr 2007 to 6 January 2008
London

This Christmas, Hyde Park will transform in a 24.000m2 Winter Wonderland site that will feature London’s greatest outdoor ice rink, a 50m giant observation wheel, thousands of Christmas lights, an authentic German Christmas Market, numerous cafes, bars, carol concerts and magnificent views of Hyde Park itself. The Christmas Market will be open on Mondays to Fridays from 11 am – 8pm and on Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays from 10 am – 8pm and is decorated with a spectacular Christmas tree, traditional music and numerous wooden huts filled with original handicrafts.

A VICTORIAN FESTIVAL OF CHRISTMAS
Friday 30 November to Sunday 2 December 2007, 10am-6pm
Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, Portsmouth

Experience a traditional Victorian Christmas, with snow, carol singing, and Father Christmas at the Portsmouth Historic Dockyard. Take a walk through a European style-shopping village with its traditional French Market. There will be a large cast of colourful Victorian characters including Queen Victoria, Scrooge and Mr.Bumble so you can get a good feel for the ghosts of Christmas past. Tickets costs £10 for adults and £8 for children and seniors and £33 for a family ticket (two adults, three children). The tickets will allow you entry to all entertainment on site plus the surrounding historic ships and museums. For more info visit www.historicdockyard.co.uk

BATH CHRISTMAS MARKET
Thursday 29 November to Sunday 9 November 2007
Sundays’ 11 a.m-6 p.m. / Mon, Tues, Wed 10 a.m-7 p.m. / Thu, Fri, Sat 10 a.m-9 p.m.
Bath

All around the world Christmas Markets are loved by everyone, with the little wooden chalets selling all sorts of goodies, from stocking fillers to that something extra special. Coupled with the magical atmosphere created by the unique fragrances of hot mulled wine and pine needles, this traditional Christmas market provides a great place to meet up with friends and family. With the famous Bath Abbey and Roman Baths providing an amazing backdrop to this event, you will know that the festive season has really arrived. For more info visit www.bathchristmasmarket.co.uk

FRANKFURT CHRISTMAS MARKET
15 November to 23 December 2007 open from 10.00am to 9.00pm daily
Birmingham

The popular Frankfurt Christmas Market in Victoria Square and New Street will make a welcome return to the city centre. The Frankfurt Christmas Market is the largest of its kind outside of Germany and Austria with over 90 stalls selling a wide range of unusual and handmade crafts and authentic hot food and drinks including Bratwurst, roasted chestnuts and Glühwein. Click here for more info

LINCOLN CHRISTMAS MARKET
Thursday 6 December to Sunday 9 December 2007
Thursday 4pm-9:30pm, Friday and Saturday 10am-9:30pm, Sunday 10am-7pm
Entry to market is free
Lincoln

Experience one of Europe's largest Christmas Markets. Stall holders wear traditional Victorian costumes, and dress their stalls beautifully in an attempt to win the coveted Best Stall prize. There are almost 350 stalls, set in the grounds of the Castle and the Lawn, around the Cathedral, in Castle Hill and along Westgate. This Christmas Market is a fabulous event to get people into the festive mood. Visitors can buy anything from gifts for friends and family and sample local, national and international produce. Banish the Scrooge in you and get the whole family in the festive spirit this Christmas at the Lincoln Christmas market. For more info visit www.lincoln.gov.uk

NORTH SHIELDS VICTORIAN CHRISTMAS MARKET
8 to 9 December 2007
North Shields

Each year North Shields’s Victorian Northumberland Square is transformed into a winter market and is the largest Victorian Christmas market in the north of England. With over 100 stalls selling traditional food, crafts and gifts whilst seasonal music and the warming smell of mulled wine drift over the square in the winter air. Many of the jolly stallholders dress in period costume and members of the local Chamber of Trade mingle with shoppers in their Victorian finery. For more info visit www.victorianmarket.co.uk

CHRISTKINDELMARKT
16 November to 20 December 2007
Leeds

Experience a little piece of Germany in the heart of Leeds. Over 40 traders from the City of Frankfurt set up stall for the annual Christkindelmarkt on Millennium Square. There's a great range of gifts on offer and the market is an ideal place to take a break from the hustle and bustle of city centre shopping. Visitors can chase away the winter chills with a warming mug of Glühwein and a choice of German delicacies including Bratwurst, soups and roasted almonds.  Speciality foods feature throughout the market; visitors will find Stollen, Candied Fruits, Ginger Bread houses, Christmas cookies and candies and even a butchery selling smoked German sausages and meats. For more info visit www.leeds.gov.uk   

BRISTOL CHRISTMAS MARKET

This outdoor Christmas market at Cribbs Causeway features 21 small wooden chalets outside The Mall. A range of traditional German handicrafts, as well as mulled wine and food is on offer. Click here for more info

MANCHESTER CHRISTMAS MARKETS

The Manchester Christmas Markets incorporate a traditional German Market, a European Market and an Arts and Crafts Market. Located in St Ann's Square, Albert Square and Exchange Street, the stalls sell a variety of crafts and traditional Christmas gifts. Not to be missed are the hot chestnuts, marzipan stollen and Gluwein stall. Click here for more info

BURY ST. EDMUNDS CHRISTMAS FAYRE

With lots of colorful stalls from all over the UK, dozens of traders from mainland Europe, a varied collection of fairground attractions, some great on-stage entertainment and Bury's cosmopolitan town centre, it's a great day out. Extending from the historic Angel Hill and Athenaeum up to the town centre and into the Abbey Gardens, the Fayre also takes places in the Corn Exchange and is open until 7pm on November 30th, December 1st and 2nd. Click here for more info

BANKSIDE FROST FAIR   

From Friday 14th to Sunday 16th December 2007, the Bankside riverside between Southwark and Blackfriars Bridges will come alive as London’s largest free winter festival recreates the tradition of the medieval fairs held on the frozen river - with Husky dog sledding, a larger than ever winter market with over 70 stalls, a variety of music and entertainment, street theatre, adult and children’s participatory workshops, ice sculptures, a drinks marquee serving mulled wine and ale and festive food to keep you warm. Click here for more info

WINCHESTER CATHEDRAL CHRISTMAS MARKET 
Friday 30 November to Sunday 16 December 2007, 10 a.m-8.30 p.m

This market is located around the Cathedral and features 75-100 log chalet style stalls. The whole area is beautifully lit and the market will be accompanied by a programme of activities every evening outside and inside the Cathedral. Click here for more info

YORK CHRISTMAS MARKET
29 November to 2 December 2007

York offers a range of Christmas markets from mid-November right through till Christmas week. St Nicholas Fayre is York's biggest and most popular Christmas market. The market sells a mixture of arts and crafts, gifts and locally produced food and drink. York will also bring its first German Christmas Market to the city this year, selling traditional arts and crafts, along with seasonal food and drink.
Click here for more info

Do you have any suggestions? If so let us know and then click here to be in with a chance of winning a Luxury Champagne Virgin Balloon Flight for two

Comments

[Mel]

This year for the first time Norwich will be hosting a Christmas Market and entertainment. From 28th November until 8th December there will be over 80 stalls selling local crafts and continental food and drink. This will take place around The Forum and the outdoor ice skating rink, it should be very pretty and atmospheric. There will also be carol singers, Russian circus acts plus more. I cannot wait to see it all.

[gary taylor]

i went to the Frankfurt Market in Birmingham last year and loved every second of it. The wonderful gifts and craftsman ship of goods was well worth the money. There was nothing more exciting than seeing small wooden puppets and dolls to the lovely stones in the jewelry and gifts.

[Sue de Brabander]

I am planning to go to a Christmas Fayre at the National Trust's Tatton Hall in Cheshire with a couple of colleagues after work one evening(Dec 5th). By that time the lights will be twinkling in the trees outside and from the windows inside - deliciously Christmassy!

[Kim Burr]

I visited the Bath Christmas market after your email last year and I can honestly say that it was well worth the visit. There were lots of stalls with very original and high quality merchandise and even if you were not tempted (which would be impossible) there was a lovely christmassy atmosphere.
I would recommend it to everybody.
Unfortunately I will not be able to visit this year as I have moved some considerable distant away, but I have just read about Hyde Park which is not too far away, so I think I will give that a whirl.