The UK Christmas markets with the most to eat in 2026 are Leeds, Manchester, Birmingham’s Frankfurt Christmas Market, Belfast and London’s Southbank, and nearly all of the big ones are open by 20 November. Below are 10 markets with their 2026 opening and closing dates, where to find them and what to eat and drink, taken from each market’s own website or its city’s official listings.
All dates, hours and prices were checked on 12 November 2026. Food line-ups change during the season, so treat named stalls as a guide rather than a promise.
When do the UK Christmas markets open in 2026?
Birmingham opened first this year, on Thursday 5 November, with Manchester following on Friday 6 November. Cardiff opens on 12 November, Edinburgh and Belfast on 14 November, and Bath is one of the later starters on 26 November.
Most close before Christmas. Birmingham runs to Christmas Eve, while Edinburgh, Hyde Park Winter Wonderland, the Southbank and two of Manchester’s sites carry on into January 2027.
| Market | City | 2026 dates | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southbank Centre Winter Market | London | 2 November 2026 to 4 January 2027 | Sweet treats by the river |
| Birmingham Frankfurt Christmas Market | Birmingham | 5 November to 24 December | German classics |
| Manchester Christmas Markets | Manchester | 6 November to 22 December (two sites to 3 January 2027) | Choice across 10 sites |
| Cardiff Christmas Market | Cardiff | 12 November to 23 December | Welsh makers and producers |
| Edinburgh’s Christmas | Edinburgh | 14 November 2026 to 3 January 2027 | A market in the city’s gardens |
| Belfast Christmas Market | Belfast | 14 November to 22 December | An international food court |
| Leeds Christmas Market | Leeds | 19 November to 23 December | Named local street food |
| Hyde Park Winter Wonderland | London | 19 November 2026 to 3 January 2027 | Food plus rides |
| Winchester Cathedral Christmas Market | Winchester | 20 November to 22 December | A smaller, gift-led day out |
| Bath Christmas Market | Bath | 26 November to 13 December | A short run in a historic city |
Which UK Christmas markets have the best food?
These are the markets that have published the most about their food and drink for 2026, starting with the most detailed.
Leeds Christmas Market
Dates: 19 November to 23 December 2026. Where: City Square, plus Millennium Square and Victoria Gardens.
Leeds has named more of its food traders than any other market here. Leeds Christmas Market lists Little Bao Boy for steamed bao and salt and pepper spice bags, The Cut & Craft for steak, Farsley Fire & Smoke for barbecue and Street Kings Bratwurst, with Italian food from Stuzzi and La Grassa.
For something sweet there are Crumble Pots, serving fruit crumble with custard, hot churros, brownies from The Savvy Baker and cakes from Beth Bakes Cakes. Drinks come from House of Trembling Madness for craft beer, Storymaker Mead and Gander Coffee, while the Bavarian-style cabins on Millennium Square and Victoria Gardens serve currywurst and glühwein.
Manchester Christmas Markets
Dates: Friday 6 November to Tuesday 22 December 2026, with Albert Square and Cathedral Gardens open until Sunday 3 January 2027. Where: 10 city centre sites, including Albert Square, Cathedral Gardens, King Street, St Ann’s Square, Exchange Square and, new for 2026, Lincoln Square.
Manchester Christmas Markets has more than 200 stalls, and Visit Manchester lists mulled wine, hot chocolate, bratwurst and churros among the staples, alongside roasted meats, international street food and festive sweet treats.
Manchester’s Finest reports a new pop-up pub in Albert Square this year and more than a dozen stalls and food trucks at Lincoln Square. If you would rather sit down for a proper meal afterwards, our pick of the best restaurants in Manchester is a good place to start.
Birmingham Frankfurt Christmas Market
Dates: Thursday 5 November to Thursday 24 December 2026. Where: Victoria Square and New Street.
The Birmingham Frankfurt Christmas Market is the one for German classics. The organiser’s own site points to pretzels, bratwurst and roasted almonds, with mulled wine, wheat beer and hot chocolate to drink, and JustPark’s 2026 guide adds schnitzel and glühwein.
Drinks are served in mugs and glasses that carry a deposit, which you can reclaim at any drinks stall. JustPark lists opening hours of 11am to 9pm Monday to Thursday, 11am to 9.30pm on Fridays, 10am to 9.30pm on Saturdays and 10am to 9pm on Sundays.
Belfast Christmas Market
Dates: Saturday 14 November (from 12 noon) to Tuesday 22 December 2026, closing at 6pm on the final day. Where: the grounds of Belfast City Hall.
Belfast Christmas Market centres on an outdoor festive food court, which the council describes as offering international cuisine, gourmet street food and warm seasonal treats. The Irish Road Trip’s 2026 guide mentions ostrich, wild boar and crocodile burgers, crêpes and pancakes, and a beer tent that gets busy.
Hours are 10am to 8pm Monday to Wednesday and 10am to 10pm Thursday to Saturday, with the bars staying open an hour later, and 12 noon to 6pm on Sundays. The same guide says an alcohol-free mulled wine is usually available, and if you are skipping the booze this year our alcohol-free festive cocktail recipes work at home too.
Southbank Centre Winter Market
Dates: 2 November 2026 to 4 January 2027, closed on 25 and 31 December. Where: the Queen’s Walk on London’s South Bank, beneath Hungerford Bridge.
The Southbank Centre Winter Market is open daily from 11am to 10pm, with craft traders closing at 9pm. The South Bank listing names Dutch pancakes, churros and cookies, with mulled wine, hot cider and hot chocolate to drink.
It is easy to pair with other festive plans in central London, such as the Alpine terrace and Nutcracker bar now open at Sky Garden.
Edinburgh’s Christmas
Dates: 14 November 2026 to 3 January 2027. Where: East Princes Street Gardens, with a family funfair in West Princes Street Gardens.
Edinburgh’s Christmas runs well into January. Its traditional market has around 70 stalls, is free to enter and mixes local and international food and drink, and the funfair next door has festive food and drink stalls of its own.
The organisers have not published a stall by stall food list, so go hungry and browse. If you are making a weekend of it, our 24-hour guide to Edinburgh covers the rest of the city.
Hyde Park Winter Wonderland
Dates: Thursday 19 November 2026 to Sunday 3 January 2027, every day except Christmas Day. Where: Hyde Park, London.
Hyde Park Winter Wonderland is more festival than market, with bars, street food traders and sit-down dining alongside its rides and attractions. Entry must be booked in advance for a one-hour slot, with standard tickets at £5.50 and peak tickets at £8.25, booking fees included.
Spend £25 in one online transaction on rides, attractions or food and drink meal deals and entry is free. The site also says off-peak slots are free to enter, although you still need to book a ticket.
Cardiff Christmas Market
Dates: Thursday 12 November to Wednesday 23 December 2026. Where: St John Street, Working Street, Hills Street and Trinity Street in the city centre.
Cardiff Christmas Market leans towards Welsh makers, and Visit Wales notes a variety of seasonal food and alcohol producers among the stalls. Trading hours are 10am to 6pm Monday to Saturday and 10am to 5pm on Sundays, with a late night until 7pm every Thursday in December.
Winchester Cathedral Christmas Market
Dates: Friday 20 November to Tuesday 22 December 2026. Where: Winchester Cathedral.
The Winchester Cathedral Christmas Market is more gift-focused than the city markets, but the cathedral promises artisan food and festive treats, from traditional Christmas fare to more global delights. Its own advice is simple: “Don’t forget a mulled wine to cap off the day!”
It opens from 10am to 8pm on Fridays and Saturdays and from 10am to 6pm Sunday to Thursday.
Bath Christmas Market
Dates: Thursday 26 November to Sunday 13 December 2026. Where: the centre of Bath.
Bath Christmas Market has the shortest run here at just over two weeks. Its stallholder listings include Hettie Hen, pictured with a basket of scotch eggs, and Henny and Joe’s, with bottles of chai syrup, useful if you are buying food gifts rather than eating on the spot.
Many visitors arrive by rail, and our guide to getting to Bath Christmas Market by train covers the routes and when to go.
Which Christmas markets stay open after Christmas?
If you cannot get away before 25 December, four of the ten run into the new year. Edinburgh’s Christmas, Hyde Park Winter Wonderland and Manchester’s Albert Square and Cathedral Gardens sites all close on 3 January 2027, and the Southbank Centre Winter Market closes on 4 January 2027.
Everything else closes between 13 December, when Bath finishes, and Christmas Eve, when Birmingham packs up.
Do you need a ticket for a Christmas market?
Of the markets on this list, only Hyde Park Winter Wonderland asks you to book an entry slot in advance. Edinburgh’s traditional market is free to enter, and the other market websites we checked do not mention entry tickets.
What should you eat at a Christmas market?
Going by this year’s listings, the safe bets are bratwurst in Birmingham, Manchester and Leeds, churros in Manchester, Leeds and on the Southbank, and mulled wine almost everywhere. For something less expected, look for spice bags and crumble pots in Leeds or the burgers at Belfast’s food court.
We have looked before at the most-searched Christmas market delicacies and at which markets were cheapest for a round of drinks in 2024. Prices will have moved since then, so check the boards before you order.
How do you avoid the queues?
Weekday daytimes are usually calmer than evenings and weekends, so go early in the day if you can. The markets that run into January also give you an option after Christmas.
Check opening hours on the day before you travel, as markets can change times for events, bad weather and bank holidays. Every date and price in this guide was checked against the market’s own website or its official city listing on 12 November 2026.
