02:30, 14 Nov 2025<\/p>\n
![\"Christmas](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/0_GettyImages-692021715.jpg\")
Manchester Christmas market has been overshadowed by another north-east city(Image: Getty Images)<\/p>\n
It’s that time of year again when we think about a day out to our nearby Christmas<\/a> market to browse the wooden cabins adorned with Yuletide gifts with a warming cup of spiced mulled wine. But those thinking about heading into Manchester for their festive fix might want to rethink their plans, as another north-east Christmas market has been ranked higher.<\/p>\n Every year, Which?<\/a> ranks the top Christmas markets in the UK, noting their size, variety of stalls, seasonal treats and drinks on offer, and whether they offer free entry. For the research, it selected its top eight cities from the cities that scored highest in its Best UK Cities survey, which garnered responses from over 4,000 visitors.<\/p>\n Unfortunately, the Manchester Christmas market, which boasts more than 200 stalls across nine locations in the city, failed to make the list. Instead, it was Liverpool that was dubbed as one of the best Christmas markets in the UK this year.<\/p>\n Not only this, but the scousers also took home the crown as the top big city in the UK, according to Which? members. It accumulated a glowing five stars for its cultural sights, with additional praise for its food and drink options, accommodation, and value for money.<\/p>\n Liverpool’s Christmas market, which runs from 15 November to 24 December 24, is set against the dramatic backdrop of a fairy-lit St George’s Hall, with its stalls taking the shape of gingerbread houses and grottos. However, visitors say “It\u2019s not such a nostalgic affair: less choral music, artisan crafts and mince pies; more 80\u2019s Christmas pop, fairground rides and down-to-earth menus \u2013 like roast ham baps and mac and cheese.”<\/p>\n Despite this, it still ranked among the top eight best Christmas markets in the UK. Chester Christmas market also made an appearance on the Which? list, having expanded this year with 80 stalls, offering handcrafted candles, upcycled cutlery, artisan liqueurs and more.<\/p>\n Regardless of its ranking, Manchester’s Christmas market will grace the city from 7 November to 22 December, marking its 27th year. Charming wooden chalets offering a range of seasonal treats, handmade gifts, crafts and more will be spread across nine locations to help bring the festive spirit.<\/p>\n The nine locations are; Albert Square, St Ann’s Square, King Street, Exchange Street, New Cathedral Street, Exchange Square, Corn Exchange and Cathedral Gardens, Market Street<\/a>, and Piccadilly Gardens<\/a>. In addition, there will be the ice rink in Cathedral Gardens, the magical Christmas Parade on 7 December and the festive wheel in Albert Square, for a fun-packed day out, despite missing out on the Which? list for this year.<\/p>\n The other Christmas markets on the list<\/p>\n Durham:<\/strong> A “quiet yet peaceful affair”, Durham\u2019s Christmas market is made up of around 30 stalls that spill out of the Market Hall and into the surrounding flagstone streets, with locally made hot sauce, reworked vintage clothing, sweet treats, and handmade decorations. There’s also a crafts and gifts marquee, with over 120 more stalls to browse, which you have to pay to enter. You could walk off those festive treats by climbing Durham Cathedral\u2019s 325 steps.Winchester: <\/strong>Set on the grounds of the breathtaking Winchester Cathedral, the ancient city\u2019s Christmas market features charming wooden chalets filled with gift inspiration, from silk scarves, wooden toys, pet portraits, and handmade homeware, all to the sound of local choirs and musicians as you shop. Seasonal goodies like artisan cheese, a classic hog roast and handmade scotch eggs add an extra touch of indulgence. You can also shop in Winchester\u2019s independent shops, and a visit to the cathedral itself is a must.Liverpool:<\/strong> The city\u2019s Christmas market is set against the dramatic backdrop of a fairy-lit St George’s Hall, with its stalls taking the shapes of gingerbread houses and grottos. But visitors say “It\u2019s not such a nostalgic affair: less choral music, artisan crafts and mince pies; more 80\u2019s Christmas pop, fairground rides and down-to-earth menus \u2013 like roast ham baps and mac and cheese.” Liverpool is a large and historic city, so there are plenty of sites to see beyond the market, such as the museums at Albert Dock, the Walker Art Gallery, and the city’s two cathedrals.Edinburgh: <\/strong>As one of the most beautiful cities in the UK, the Christmas market only adds to its allure with wooden chalets selling all the usual Yuletide gifts and cosy stocking fillers on East Princes Street. There is also a min-funfair with a helter-skelter, a swing carousel that nearly grazes the Gothic Scott Monument, and a big wheel that offers a view of Edinburgh’s hulking medieval castle and ancient hill – Arthur’s Seat. Afterwards, stroll around the winter gardens, take to the ice on skates or explore the New Town for more shopping in the city that has one of the UK’s most famous New Year\u2019s Eve (Hogmanay) celebrations.York: <\/strong>Known as St Nicholas Fair, York’s Christmas Festival has been a festive staple for over 30 years and is an ideal spot for gift hunting. Dozens of alpine chalets adorned with twinkling lights sparkle in Parliament Street and St Sampson’s Square, where you can find art prints and Christmas decorations. Their \u201cgreat attention to detail when it comes to accessibility\u201d has been noted by Which? with \u201cinitiatives to help those with limited mobility, and designated quiet shopping times from 10am to 12pm for those who prefer a music-free experience\u201d. Beyond the festival, the city\u2019s rich history offers plenty more to discover, including the majestic York Minster and the Shambles, a medieval lane lined with half-timbered houses, independent shops and a market.Belfast:<\/strong> Returning for its 21st year, the Christmas market can be found in the grounds of Belfast\u2019s City Hall, and it’s set to be a hit with foodies. Flavours from across the globe and region will be on offer, featuring the famed ostrich, wild boar, and crocodile burgers, as well as classic sausages and beer, alongside an international selection of speciality cheeses. With over 100 traders, there\u2019s plenty to explore, with a funfair for kids. Further food awaits at St George\u2019s market for a taste of modern Belfast, which is bustling with local food producers on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, or head to Cathedral Square for bars, restaurants and galleries.<\/p>\n Do you have a travel story to share? Email webtravel@reachplc.com<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Manchester Christmas market, with more than 200 stalls, has been outshone this year by another north-east city ranking…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":568938,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8813],"tags":[748,144780,393,4884,2465,146045,16,15],"class_list":{"0":"post-568937","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-manchester","8":"tag-britain","9":"tag-christmas-markets","10":"tag-england","11":"tag-great-britain","12":"tag-manchester","13":"tag-manchester-christmas-markets","14":"tag-uk","15":"tag-united-kingdom"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/115545795179418723","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/568937","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=568937"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/568937\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/568938"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=568937"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=568937"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=568937"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"Liverpool](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/0_GettyImages-1223159602.jpg\")
Liverpool Christmas market has been listed as one of the best to visit this year(Image: Getty Images)<\/p>\n![\"Manchester](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/1_GettyImages-841163038.jpg\")
Manchester Christmas market will decorate the city from 7 November to 22 December(Image: Getty Images)<\/p>\n