Christmas Markets

Had a wonder around some of the ones in Manchester last year. Don’t know what’s Christmassy about them when vast majority are only selling street food. But it obviously brings the punters in.💷💷💷

A woman I used to work with was once going on about burger vans and like, and she said the thing she always wondered was where do they go to the toilet. And where do they wash their hands. It’s not something I’d ever thought about but now can’t help wondering about that myself.

Went to Stratford upon Avon last year. Advertised as a Victorian market it was very bad, like a cheap market as it did include a sheets, towels, duvets shop and vapes and lighters. Had a very tacky funfair with very loud modern music. It wasn't tip top hip hop by any means.

Unimpressed I was looking at the local press and someone had written in saying a world heritage site and this is what we get for our market at Christmas.

Anyway, trying Bath and Bristol this year

Birmingham has a great Xmas Market. I tend to go for the atmosphere more than the Xmas shopping. Prices always seem too high for what you get. But it’s full of sparkle and Xmas lights. It’s big too stretching up New Street to Chamberlain Square. 🤩🎄

The one in Southampton’s city centre used to be the typical flower-pot-men and funny glass ornament stalls, but it was taken over by a different company a few years back and now it’s almost entirely food stalls and a number of outdoor pub areas for people to get utterly wasted.

The Winchester Christmas market is far better for actual gifts though

After years of visiting Christmas markets, both here & abroad, I've largely given up as all those here which used to be good (especially Bath, which may still be), they all started to look the same, as others have mentioned, ie mostly stalls for hot food, drink & if not, boring old candles, fudge & weird wooden or woollen objects. After a disappointing visit to Canterbury last year (independent shops actually more rewarding & we enjoyed a carol service in the cathedral, so not a total failure) & from what I saw of the Oxford one on a day trip for a matinee, I've reluctantly concluded that the major markets (Birmingham, Manchester, London) are commercial travesties of the original European model; that on the other hand, the newer, smaller town-based ones (Canterbury, Oxford etc) aren't big enough & that the best bet is to find the few genuinely local and short-lived markets or fairs based in rural locations such as country houses or small local centres. So this year I'm trying Redbourn plus maybe one or two at EH/NT properties.

Bath was still great on my last visit some years ago but I've been at least 3 times now, plus a 4th when staying in Bristol for the market there, so I feel I've been there & done that; Winchester was also worthwhile & Southampton coming along, but again, I probably wouldn't return to either since there has to be something else to do as part of the trip. Not yet tried York, but wondering if that would be another let-down.

The church is promoting Tom of Finland?



(anyone not knowing who ToF is, Google at your own risk!)

My pal was in Helsinki for work the other week and bought me a lovely enamelled Moomin keyring. 

jek, TY for the reminder about the Scandinavian Christmas markets as I did visit them some years ago (I think via a suggestion in Time Out, in the days when there was still a print version) but had completely forgotten about them. I think I also visited an event at the Swedish church in central London. I don't however recall having to pay in foreign currency.

Remove the booze and replace with makeup and I’m totally with you

I definitely agree with this. I've been to various Christmas markets both within the UK & on the Continent and after a few I was completely bored by them.

I find all the UK ones generally sh*t and very commercialised and generic.

The ones in mainland Europe are generally far better. Definitely have a more authentic atmosphere. But even they often have the same stalls repeated.

I went to one in Prague in that square where the clock is many years ago and they had a nativity scene with live animals. A little donkey, a lamb, baby goats etc. it was adorable, apart from the pong.