Home
Blog
The UK’s most unmissable Christmas Markets 2019

The UK’s most unmissable Christmas Markets 2019

2019-11-29

If there’s one thing to look forward to as winter draws in, it’s the appearance of Christmas markets in locations all around the UK

If there’s one thing to look forward to as winter draws in, it’s the appearance of Christmas markets in locations all around the UK. And the best part? There’s something for everyone! From cute and traditional craft fayres, perfect for stocking up on stocking fillers, to the mouth-watering food markets fulfilling every foodie’s festive fantasy!

With so many celebrations taking place throughout the nation we’d be hard pressed to share them all but here’s our Christmassy list of the most noteworthy for festive foods and family-friendly fun…

1. Winter Wonderland, London

Let’s start off by looking at one of the UK's most spectacular seasonal delights, Winter Wonderland. Taking centre stage in London’s beautiful Hyde Park, Winter Wonderland is the perfect place to immerse yourself in all things Christmas, right in the heart of the capital.

With a selection of chalets and Christmas stalls set between bars, rides and all manner of festive entertainment, there’s plenty at Winter Wonderland to raise your Christmas spirits. Food lovers will be particularly drawn to the traditional cuisine – rich, flavoursome and best accompanied with a helping of hearty mulled cider or wine!

2. Manchester Christmas Markets, Manchester

The award-winning Christmas Markets of Manchester have seen spectacular growth, drawing in millions of visitors and becoming bigger and better every year. For 2019, we see Manchester Christmas Markets return in full-force, offering a range of tantalising international tastes, delicious drinks and delicately crafted Yuletide gifts.

From mid-November to late December, you’ll find hundreds of stalls spread across the city centre, packed with everything you need for an outing with family or friends. Highlights for foodies include classic bratwurst, Hungarian goulash, traditional hog roasts and, of course, beautiful Spanish paella.

What festive foods do you look forward to the most? We’d love to know about it! Please swing by our Facebook and Instagram and share with our community of likeminded foodies!

3. Edinburgh Christmas Market, Edinburgh

If proper festive family fun is what you’re looking for, then Edinburgh Christmas Market should be high up on the menu. Centrally located alongside Edinburgh’s Princes Street, the traditional Christmas Market is perfectly placed for those looking to combine a visit with a spot of Christmas shopping.

The variety of stalls are packed with everything from locally-produced and bespoke products to tasty treats and delectable drinks. One recent addition for the grown-ups is the Johnnie Walker Bothy Bar, established to immerse locals and visitors to Edinburgh’s Christmas Market into the world of whisky.

TOP TIP: Our recommendations would be to make sure to wrap up warm – it can get a wee bit nippy! Perhaps you could also have a hearty stew on the go for when you come in from the cold!

4. Padstow’s Christmas Festival, Cornwall

Good food is definitely the focus for Cornwall’s Christmas celebrations. A particular highlight for visitors and locals is always Padstow’s Christmas Festival, bringing artisan and bespoke suppliers together in a gastronomically-gratifying gathering. The festival is championed by high-profile chefs such as Rick Stein and Paul Ainsworth and, to quote the latter, the festival is “as Cornish as it gets”.

Taking place on the 5th to the 8th December, Padstow Christmas Festival has become known for showcasing a tempting selection of food. If artisan breads and cakes, chocolates, meats, cheeses, preserves and pickles are right up your street, head to Cornwall for a seasonal delight.

Need help finding a gifts for your food lovin’ friends? Our list of The 5 Best Birthday Gifts for Foodies could easily translate to Christmas gifts! Take a look here

5. Christkindelmarkt German Christmas Market, Leeds

This traditional Bavarian market successfully captures the essence of German Christmas celebrations and proudly presents it to visitors in the heart of Leeds. Illuminating Millennium Square, the city’s annual Christkindelmarkt German Christmas Market welcomes you to explore more than 40 traditionally decorated wooden chalets.

Offering a perfect combination of Christmas shopping and festive food, visitors to Christkindelmarkt are invited to browse through hand-crafted decorations and gifts, tuck into authentic German food and feel extra festive with a ride on the popular Christmas Carousel. Foodies should consider the Alp Chalet restaurant, a Bavarian style eatery offering a delectable selection of traditional food and drink. There’s even entertainment, meaning dinner and a show!

6. Birmingham Frankfurt Christmas Market, Birmingham

Running through most of November and December, Birmingham Frankfurt Christmas Market is the region’s place-to-be for a fine traditional gifts and mouth-watering Bavarian cuisine. Proudly known for being the largest authentic German Christmas market outside of Germany or Austria, the market has around 80 stalls providing everything the hungry foodie could want from a Christmas festival.

Once you’re finished feasting on schnitzels, bratwursts, glühwein and weissbier, you can soak up the Christmas atmosphere created by live music and carol singers – the perfect backdrop for festive shopping.

If you’re still looking for Christmas gifts then visit La Españonla DIY. Our Do-It-Yourself tool allows you to completely customise your bottle of Extra Virgin Olive Oil, making it the perfect personalised stocking filler!

Which Christmas markets and food festivals did we miss? We know that this list is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Christmas markets. There are plenty of others we’d love to share with you – Glasgow, Cardiff, Bath, Winchester…to name a few!

Which festivals are you most looking forward to this year? Come tell us on social media - you can join the conversation at Facebook and Instagram!