Christmas Market UK

Christmas Markets in the UK by CoachHire.com

24/11/2015

If you are not able to visit the gorgeous German Christmas Markets, there is always the gorgeous UK! Learn more about UK’s Christmas traditions and try some of the best Christmas food. We recommend 3 major destinations for this special time of the year: London, Manchester and Edinburgh.

London:

Hyde Park (W2 2UH) – called a Winter Wonderland for a reason, as you will feel like in a fairy tale with all the fairground rides, giant wheel, circus, Christmas stalls with delicious German food like sausages - Bratwurst and traditional drinks – Glühwein (mulled wine). For the little ones there is a Santa's grotto and of course, for everybody, an ice rink! If you prefer to stay on solid ground there are many themed bars. If simply skating on ice isn't enough for you, you should definitely visit Ice Bar! Everything is made from ice. And we mean everything, glasses, seats and tables. Luckily, at the entry you get a super warm coat to make sure you won’t freeze. Moreover, if you're skating, remember that while there's no minimum age for skaters, under-12s must be with someone 16 or over. The smallest skates for hire are children's size 9 and adult skates go up to size 13. You can use your own skates as long as they're not speed skates.

Costs: Free entry. Tickets for ice skating, the Magical Ice Kingdom, Zippos Circus, the Giant Wheel and Bar Ice could be booked in advance.

Opening Time: 20th November 2015 to 3rd January 2016. Closed on December 25^th.

Tips: check out VisitLondon.com for more tips

Southbank Centre (SE1 8XX) – If you really want to visit German Christmas Markets, which we wrote about last week, but you just can’t go, visit Southbank Centre in London which is themed in German style! We know that it won’t be as exotic as actual Germany, but it is much closer. In the Southbank Winter Festival all the traditional wooden chalets are serving typical German products like mulled wine and gingerbread, and also German arts and crafts! At the Winter Festival, you will experience loads of music, theatre and comedy for all ages. For instance, cabaret show La Soirée which brings together burlesque and circus side-show entertainment, Slava's Snowshow in the Royal Festival Hall or the Philharmonic Orchestra's evening of Christmas classics. On Saturday December 12 and Sunday 13 they will be raising funds for charitable causes including a charity shop fashion show, a dance marathon and an auction. The Choir with No Name will lead a big Christmas sing-along on Friday 11th December.

Costs: Free entry.

Opening Time: Friday 4th December 2015 - Monday 4th January 2016. 

Victoria Park (E9 7DD) – Winterville in Victoria Park in east London will definitely surprise you this year with plenty of attractions! You can expect classic Christmas season favourites, like an ice rink, a Santa's Grotto, a fairground, Christmas stalls with food and craft beer bars and pubs serving real ales, mulled wine, cider and hot chocolate. Backyard Cinema will host an enchanted forest named The Winter Night Garden, which you can access only via a secret tunnel. It will showcase classic films such as Love Actually, The Muppet Christmas Carol and Elf. There are even more attractions including the Spiegeltent, with a Snow White pantomime, Cirque du Cabaret and Indeedy Musical Bingo. What is more, this year you can even play crazy golf!

Costs: Free entry. Tickets for the circus, ice skating, crazy golf and other selected events can be booked in advance.

Opening Time: Thursday 26th November to Wednesday 23rd December. From Nov 26th to Dec 20th, Winterville will be open:

From Dec 21-23, Winterville will be open from 11am-10pm.

Manchester:

Manchester’s Christmas Markets are spread across the city centre, and are all located within roughly a quarter of a mile of each other and accessible to all. This year they offer plenty of international food, drinks and delicately crafted Yuletide gifts. With more than 300 beautifully festooned stalls and chalets spread across the city centre, the Christmas Markets are free. The markets can be found at the following locations: Albert Square, Brazennose Street, King Street, St. Ann's Square, Exchange Street, Market Street, New Cathedral Street, Exchange Square, Corn Exchange, Cathedral Gardens.

Get into the atmosphere and follow the market trail as it leads you through the city centre, tempting you with gifts, crafts, jewellery, clothes and toys. European and local producers offer everything from fine amber jewellery, handcrafted leather bags and top-quality bonsai trees to handmade Belgian kitchenware, framed photo prints and French soaps. You can find anything in there!

If you plan to visit Manchester, you definitely have to try the food and drink! Manchester’s Christmas Markets are famous for traditional bratwurst, but don't forget to try some Hungarian goulash, Spanish paella or a good old-fashioned hog roast. Plenty of vegetarian options will be on offer, and for those with a sweet tooth the choices are even more mouth-watering!

To avoid the crowds we recommend you visit Christmas Markets on weekdays.

Costs: Free entry.

Opening Time: Saturday 14th November and Monday 21st December. Albert Square is open 10am to 9pm daily. Other sites: 10am to 7.30pm (8pm in December). Bars open until 9pm on all sites.

Edinburgh:

Every year, Princes Street Gardens is the venue for a traditional German Christmas Market. The historic castle and colourful lighting of the Edinburgh carousel, makes the view even more charming. About 25 stalls are imported from Germany to recreate the atmosphere of it's European counterpart. The Old Town will get doused in a little Christmas spirit with the launch of the Virgin Money Street of Light on St Andrew's Day. This architectural installation is made up of 60,000+ lights, stretching along the Royal Mile. Susan Boyle, the Britain's Got Talent finalist is taking part in the City's Light Night celebrations on Sun 22 Nov and will turn on the Christmas lights! What's more, the oval ice rink will be back in St Andrew's Square, along with the Big Wheel, the Star Flyer and loads of artistic performances and plays. Younger kids will love Santa Land in Princes Street Gardens, a festive fairground with six fun rides and a children’s market full of gifts and toys.

Costs: Free entry.

Opening Time: Fri 20th November 2015 to Mon 4th January 2016. Markets are open from 10am - 10pm every day. On Friday 20th November the markets open at 5pm.

While German Christmas Markets are mostly all about delicious food, the UK's Markets are more about fun! Ice rinks, giant wheels, fairgrounds and themed bars you would never have thought existed! If you plan to visit any of  these great cities gather your friends and family and share a minibus or even a coach to get you there quickly and safely! We can offer standard minibuses for short journeys and an executive coaches with 50 seats for more luxurious feel. 

Don't miss out! Christmas Markets in the UK have already started!