Christmas Markets

Birmingham does a great German market. Nice for a pint of lager outdoors in the freezing cold too.

The German market in Birmingham is fab, the only issue is that when it first opens and then as it gets nearer to Christmas it can be quite busy. The food and drink on offer is divine and there are some lovely handcrafted gifts to buy - it's massive!

https://www.birmingham.gov.uk/frankfurtchristmasmarket.bcc

Manchester - it's huge. Has a central focal point of a German beer keller, complete with bratwurst. Loads of food stalls from all round Europe and lots of crafty stuff. Main point is in Albert Square and then there are stalls down several of the streets off Albert Square.

Hyde Park

Bath

Grassington

Thanks, I'll have a look at those.

My Mum and I went to Worcester Christmas Market a couple of years ago which we really enjoyed.

The leeds one sounds like the manchester one on a smaller scale. lots of glugwein and bratwurst. ?

i daren't go this year, in case i buy any more wooden tree ornaments. i think our tree would keel over with the weight

Www.bathchristmasmarket.co.uk

www.winchesterchristmasmarket.co.uk

Here's a link to the manchester one - looks like it has got bigger for this year.

https://www.manchester.gov.uk/site/scripts/documents_info.php?documentID=1654

York

I love Manchester's too

Oooh...more to look at. Thank you.

Another vote for the German Market in Birmingham - we make an annual pilgrimage every year for mulled wine, garlic bread and chocolate dipped strawberries. Last year we bought an awful lot of our presents there too - there's always something new on offer.

I love the Birmingham German Market. Be warned it gets packed at lunchtimes though.

Oh am looking forward to Chrismas now. Must go and have a Christmas "fix" round Notcutts! They've probably got all their trees and decs out by now!

The York xmas market was fantastic when i went last year.Also if you're that way the designer outlet at the park and ride is fantastic,well worth a visit

I find that the mancheter one is far more impressive than those in prague, vienna, etc.

Birmingham has the feel of a proper German Christmas market, so it definitely has my top vote.

I went to the Hyde Park one last year and it was lovely, but a lot smaller. Still, if you're in/around London, it's worth a visit.

I avoid the York (made up) St Nicholas' Fair like the plague, far far too busy and in the past I never saw anything particularly unique that would justify the scrum to get anywhere near any of the stalls. At least it isn't a "continental" christmas market.

Can you tell I don't like them?! Still, tourists are the life-blood of the city - as my H reminds me everytime I moan about it being busy when I want to shop!

Oh really? We usually go to Germany, went to Munich last year and it was brilliant, but we might consider Manchester this time since so many of you recommend it!

If you've been to the big German Xmas markets (Cologne, Stuttgart, Nuremberg etc.) I doubt very much that the Manchester one will impress you. I find other european Xmas markets are nowhere near as good as the German ones, so if you've experienced Prague, Vienna or Salzburg, Manchester or Birmingham may seem just as good, and probably are.

Thanks Tinsie! Yes, we have done long weekends to the top 5 markets in Germany the last 5 years and it is always amazing! ?

We were thinking about going to Dortmund this year, but dont know if it might be an idea to stay in the UK this time since we have not even considered it before.

Has anyone been to Koblenz (Germany) or Vienna Xmas markets? What did you think of them? Would you recommend them?

The Birmingham one describes itself as the biggest German Christmas market outside of Germany. We go every year. If you don't want crowds, go on a Sunday morning. If you want lively atmosphere, go on a Friday night. Last year they also had a big ice skating rink near the market. Not sure if it's there this year as I haven't been in yet.

My friend from Germany loves the Frankfurt market in Birmingham so it must be good. We're going tomorrow morning - hopefully not too early for sausage & hot chocolate (with baileys).

We went to the Birmingham one on Thursday evening. It was nice - but no ice rink that I saw ?

Maybe I'm a curmudgeon, but I didn't think it was that great. Huge, yes, but so many of the stalls were selling the same things that there wasn't actually much variety. Good cake and mulled wine though.

Last year it was the other side of the library near Symphony Hall.

You're right about the repitition in the stalls.

I went to the Vienna ones a few years ago and they were really good - I'd definitely recommend them. My brother was living out there at the time so I went to visit and went to several markets whilst we were there. The nicest one (from what I can remember) was near Schonbrun.