Christmas Markets
In the UK or Overseas, what Christmas Markets are you planning on visiting or would recommend and why?
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Edinburgh is the nearest to a German market in the UK. We found Birmingham too busy (dangerously so), Manchester is good, Leeds not worth the effort unless you live nearby. The Dickensian Fayre in Grassington is good too. Best continental market visited is Cologne, Prague very good, Aachen is good too, this year visiting Bruges and next year Wolfgangsee. And given my wife is from Germany I accept I may be biased!
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We prefer Christmas markets that have truly special crafts at their core, and have found a really nice one in Hexham. Lots of local foods, drinks, handmade gifts, that are decently priced. It’s not very large, but the quality of what’s there is excellent, and includes stalls inside the Abbey. A very nice day out. We used Durham Grange site as a base first time, it wasn’t far to drive up.
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We have a damn good butcher and an artisan baker in town, fresh fish from local boats, easy access to Waitrose and M&S Foods, and delivery vans from all the other supermarkets cruising the lanes. Do I need go to a market?
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I liked the market in Delft which I visited whilst staying at The Hague.
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We've visited Cologne a few times, there are markets in 7 areas. Also Munster and Aachen, both good markets. Some of the smaller towns we've visited include Hameln (Pied Piper), Soest and Erlangen, near Nurnberg. Nurnberg itself also has a good Xmas market.
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Soest, lived there for 3 years.
At this time of year they have the Dom fest on, always a good day/night out. This is closely followed by the Christmas market (Weihnachtsmarket)
Bremen used to be a good one to go to and I have heard Colmar is good too.
Edinburgh for us is the nearest and best.
Would like some suggestions for England though so will be following this.
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Lincoln is absolutely huge. They operate a one way system to keep pedestrians flowing it’s so busy, so you either buy or you don’t, not easy to nip back for bargains.
We did Skipton Xmas Market last year, very good, although there’s a degree of tat in with the good stuff, MH parking is easy, up in Bailey car park. We saw lots of stressed out dogs there, way too busy for most pets. We gave ours a good walk, and they had a snooze in MH while we hunted for bargains!
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Moreton in Marsh has a really nice Christmas Market, which includes the Christmas Lights switch on in the evening. We went for the day last year, but this year we have treated ourselves to a weekend stay at the Moreton site.
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We used to book Bolton Abbey Site, sadly it cannot happen this year.
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We will start our "Christmas Markets tour this year at the market in Gloucester, which we have enjoyed greatly in the past. We like to go to Germany for the Christmas markets each year. We visit old favourites and new (to us) markets. This year we are planning to visit the markets at Aachen, probably our favourite market. Here we have had some fabulous white gluwein and Aachener Printen, a type of Lebkuchen. Then on to Monschau and Koln / Cologne both of which we like for different reasons. Monschau is a lovely little town in a beautiful setting whilst the many markets in Koln offer great variety and interest in and around this great city. From there we intend to visit Marburg, which we have previously visited but never for the Christmas market. We are then going to the "fairy tale town" of Alsfeld, then on to Ladenburg which we visited last year along with Heidelburg. From here we'll visit Weinheim. On the way back we're going to Bernkastel-Kues, which was beautiful in the snow last year. Finally we are going to Brugge before returning home.
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Why wasn't the Christmas market in Birmingham not in the magazine guide???
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That is quite an itinerary Wanderbirds. Never been to a Christmas Market "over there" and probably never will. Stayed at the Knaresborough Club site last year and went to the one held in Harogate. Enjoyed the Club site but found the market disappointing.
One of my sons used to live and work in Germany and told me the Birmingham one was every bit as good as those he had visited in Germany so what with this and a lack of love for crowded markets, there isn't much incentive to travel over there or to make a real effort to travel to those held in the UK.
peedee
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Plymouth Christmas market opens up again at the end of November. Last year I could have bought an ersatz cuckoo clock, a small carved wooden reindeer and some imported Chinese lavender bags if I had needed them.
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Hello Peedee,
We can highly recommend the wide variety of markets in Germany. Though Christmas markets can be a bit "samey", the quality of food and gluwein varies greatly as does the ambience and variety of "artisan" products on the stalls. . Our daughters, who have both been to quite a few markets in Germany rate both Manchester and Birmingham. The worst we have visited in England was Canterbury. Love the place but it's !?*!!
Though it sounds a lot we don't need to travel far each day except Bernkastel-Kues, to Brugge which is about 250 miles. we move every couple of days for between 25 and 150 miles.
I do not acknowledge that Christmas exists until Advent and "bar-humbug" my way through October and November but there is something very special about of a Christmas market whilst standing in the snow, gluwein and reibekuchen in hand, in a beautiful German town surrounded by happy people, whilst listening to a choir or local band.
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Wanderbirds said: "there is something very special about of a Christmas market whilst standing in the snow, gluwein and reibekuchen in hand, in a beautiful German town surrounded by happy people, whilst listening to a choir or local band"
Yes, I agree that somehow the markets in Germany, and the one in Brugge, seem to have more atmosphere. It's even better when the local school comes along and sing carols, they really sing their hearts out and sometimes that brings a lump to your throat (but then I'm a real softie).
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Chatsworth Christmas market could be interesting this year, as they've put the parking fees up to £10 weekdays and £20 on weekends
It's already kicked off on a number of sites as I don't think people are keen on parting with 20 quid for the privilege of spending more of their money 😂
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"there is something very special about of a Christmas market whilst standing in the snow, gluwein and reibekuchen in hand, in a beautiful German town surrounded by happy people, whilst listening to a choir or local band"
I agree, while living in Germany for 20 years I think we just took them for granted. We went to many over the years which always got us in the mood for Christmas. I seem to remember that the one in Bremen was pretty good back then.
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We have just booked onto Chester Fairoaks mid December for 4 nights to visit the Christmas market at Chester and we want to walk the City walls
Brian & Jo
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I may be telling you something you already know, but in case I'm not: the site at "Chester" is actually quite a long way from Chester. It's nearer to the Cheshire Oaks shopping centre. It's just that I noticed you are in a MH, so just want to make you aware, if you're not already. We once went there to meet friends, and then realised it was quite a way from Chester. Also, the immediate area around the site didn't appear to have many footpaths/cyclepaths. We marked it for future use as a site where transport is essential.
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We have just come back from Chester Fair Oaks and there are regular buses from the Cheshire Oaks Shopping Centre to Chester which is a mile walk from the campsite. It is certainly true that the first half of the route from the site does not have a footpath so obviously care must be exercised. The site information room has details of local taxis which I think I would be inclined to use after dark.
David
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Par for the course there ValDa, maximum extraction of cash is the rule at Chatsworth. You pay to park, you pay to go in the house, you pay to see extra rooms in the house, you pay to go in the garden, you pay to visit the farm, etc, etc.....
It used to be cheaper to enter a horse in one of the classes at the Game Fair, and get a box pass than it was to park up and enjoy all the stalls! Or a classic car........
Haddon Hall is a much more interesting place.
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Yes thanks we have been to Chester Fairoaks many times and as has been said the buses run from the retail outlet regularly into Chester.If we wanted to back that up then we would just tow the car with us
But thank you for your comments and concern ,much appreciated.
Brian & Jo
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We go to Bruges at the end of the month so will feedback our thoughts. Make sure of the dates for any market visit planned and don't just 'assume' it will be up and running because it is close to Christmas. Friends of ours booked to go to Bruges a couple of years ago assuming the market would be open, arrived a week too soon.....
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Don’t bother in the U.K.
