Best Christmas Markets in the UK 2026: Dates and Where to Park
Your guide to the best UK Christmas markets for 2026, with dates and parking for each.
Christmas Markets UK 2026: Round-Up of the Best UK Christmas Markets
Book your Christmas Markets parking before it's too late.
Christmas market season is short, the crowds are huge and city-centre car parks fill up fast on every weekend from November onwards.
Whether you're after mulled wine beneath Edinburgh Castle, a lap of Manchester's ten market sites or a stroll around Winchester Cathedral's chalets, the best move you'll make is the one before you set off: booking your parking.
Here are the best Christmas markets in the UK for 2026, when they open and how to park near each one.
Christmas markets 2026 at a glance:
Birmingham Christmas Market: 5 November to 24 December 2026
Manchester Christmas Markets: 6 November to 22 December 2026, with Albert Square and Cathedral Gardens open until 3 January 2027
Glasgow Christmas Market: St Enoch Square from 6 November, Glasgow Green from 20 November 2026 to 3 January 2027, and George Square from late November
Nottingham Christmas Market: 12 November to 31 December 2026
York Christmas Market: 12 November to 21 December 2026, closed on Tuesdays
Exeter Christmas Market: 13 November to 13 December 2026
Edinburgh Christmas Market: 14 November 2026 to 3 January 2027
Belfast Christmas Market: 14 November to 22 December 2026
Chester Christmas Market: 18 November to 22 December 2026
Leeds Christmas Market: 19 November to 23 December 2026
Winchester Christmas Market: 20 November to 22 December 2026
Liverpool Christmas Market: 21 November 2026 to 3 January 2027
Bath Christmas Market: 26 November to 13 December 2026
Stratford-upon-Avon Christmas Market: 28 to 29 November and 5 to 6 December 2026
Book Christmas Market Parking
With JustPark, you can find parking near the UK's best Christmas markets in a few taps and head off knowing exactly where you're going.
Reserve your space before you leave home and skip the slow crawl around full city-centre car parks on a busy Saturday.
Choose from private driveways and off-street spaces close to the stalls, at a range of price points to suit your budget.
Extend your stay through the app if one more mulled wine turns into a full evening out.
Book with flexibility, with free cancellation up to 24 hours before your booking starts if your plans change.
The Best Christmas Markets in the UK for 2026
Edinburgh Christmas Market 2026
Book Edinburgh Christmas Market parking and arrive ready to enjoy the lights rather than circling New Town streets.
Edinburgh's Christmas runs from 14 November 2026 to 3 January 2027, closing only on Christmas Day. The main market sits in East Princes Street Gardens beneath the Scott Monument, with around 70 stalls selling handmade gifts, Scottish food and drink, plus the LNER Big Wheel for views over the castle and Old Town. Entry is free, though rides and skating need separate tickets. The final weekend before Christmas, 19 and 20 December, is expected to be the busiest.
Manchester Christmas Markets 2026
Book Manchester Christmas Markets parking and plan your route between the squares before you arrive.
The Manchester Christmas Markets run from 6 November to 22 December 2026, with more than 210 stalls spread across ten city-centre locations, including a brand-new site at Lincoln Square and a redesigned St Ann's Square. Albert Square and Cathedral Gardens stay open until 3 January 2027, with the ice rink at Cathedral Gardens and the 50-metre Ferris wheel also returning. The Manchester Christmas Parade takes place on Sunday 6 December, so expect extra crowds that weekend.
York Christmas Market 2026
Reserve York Christmas Market parking so your day starts with the stalls, not the traffic.
York Christmas Market, also known as St Nicholas Fair, returns from Thursday 12 November to Monday 21 December 2026, filling Parliament Street and St Sampson's Square with alpine-style chalets just a short stroll from the Shambles and York Minster. New for 2026, the market opens Wednesday to Monday and closes every Tuesday for a weekly rest day, so plan your visit around that. The narrow medieval streets mean central parking is in short supply all season.
Winchester Christmas Market 2026
Find Winchester Christmas Market parking within walking distance of The Close and the High Street.
Winchester Cathedral Christmas Market runs for 33 days from Friday 20 November to Tuesday 22 December 2026, with 128 wooden chalets set within the historic Cathedral grounds. Entry to the market is free, and its reputation as one of the best Christmas markets in Europe draws visitors from across the south of England every weekend.
Bath Christmas Market 2026
Reserve Bath Christmas Market parking before the weekend slots go.
Bath Christmas Market returns from 26 November to 13 December 2026, making it one of the shortest runs on this list. The 2024 market welcomed an estimated 444,000 visitors, and with fewer days to fit everyone in, Bath's compact centre gets very busy, especially at weekends.
Birmingham Christmas Market 2026
Book Birmingham Christmas Market parking and walk straight into the bratwurst and Glühwein.
Billed as the largest authentic German Christmas market outside Germany and Austria, Birmingham's Frankfurt Christmas Market runs from 5 November to Christmas Eve 2026 in Victoria Square and along New Street. The Big Wheel and ice rink return to Centenary Square from 5 November to 3 January 2027, so there's plenty to fill an evening.
Chester Christmas Market 2026
Book Chester Christmas Market parking outside the restricted streets and stroll in.
Chester Christmas Market runs from Wednesday 18 November to Tuesday 22 December 2026, with around 80 traders filling Town Hall Square and Northgate Street around the city's Christmas tree, set against the Gothic Town Hall. In recent years, vehicle access around Town Hall Square has been restricted during market hours, so check your route before you travel.
Leeds Christmas Market 2026
Plan your Leeds Christmas Market parking with our dedicated Leeds guide.
Leeds Christmas Market has a new look for 2026, running at City Square and Victoria Gardens from 19 November to 23 December. Ice Cube at Christmas returns to Millennium Square from 19 November to 31 December, with a covered ice rink, the Big Wheel and a 30-metre Starflyer.
Nottingham Christmas Market 2026
Find Nottingham Christmas Market parking and enjoy a relaxed walk into the square.
Nottingham Christmas Market is part of Winter Wonderland in Old Market Square, which runs from Thursday 12 November to Thursday 31 December 2026, closing on Christmas Day. Alongside the festive stalls, there's an ice rink, the Sky Skate ice path above the market, an observation wheel and the Ice Bar. Entry is free, with tickets needed for the attractions.
Liverpool Christmas Market 2026
Reserve Liverpool Christmas Market parking so you can take in both sites in one trip.
Liverpool Christmas Market has a new look for 2026. Skate St George's takes over St George's Plateau, directly opposite Lime Street Station, from 21 November 2026 to 3 January 2027, combining an outdoor ice rink with a Christmas market of local traders, a rooftop bar and a Big Wheel. Down on the waterfront, Liverpool Christmas Wonderland at Pier Head adds a covered ice rink and rides.
Belfast Christmas Market 2026
Find Belfast Christmas Market parking close to Donegall Square.
Belfast Christmas Market runs from Saturday 14 November to Tuesday 22 December 2026, wrapping around the grounds of City Hall with around 100 chalets serving food from across the world, plus fairground rides and Santa's grotto. Opening day shares the site with the city's Christmas lights switch-on, so expect it to be the busiest day of the run.
Exeter Christmas Market 2026
Book Exeter Christmas Market parking within easy walking distance of Cathedral Green.
Exeter Cathedral Christmas Market returns to Cathedral Green from 10am on Friday 13 November to 5pm on Sunday 13 December 2026. Known as Devon's biggest Christmas market, it has featured more than a hundred festive chalets in recent years, with West Country produce, handmade gifts and street food beneath the Cathedral's medieval towers.
Stratford-upon-Avon Christmas Market 2026
Reserve Stratford-upon-Avon Christmas Market parking and avoid the road closures on market weekends.
Stratford-upon-Avon Christmas Market takes over the historic town centre across two weekends, 28 to 29 November and 5 to 6 December 2026. With more than 200 stalls spread through Shakespeare's hometown, it's one of the biggest Christmas markets in the Midlands. Last year, Waterside and Bridge Street were fully closed during market weekends, so plan your route in advance.
Glasgow Christmas Market 2026
Read our Glasgow Christmas Market parking guide for the best places to park.
Glasgow Christmas Market spreads across three city-centre sites in 2026. The Christmas markets return to St Enoch Square from 6 November, and Glasgow Green Winter Wonderland runs from 20 November 2026 to 3 January 2027. George Square, newly reopened after its multi-million-pound makeover, also hosts a new Good Times Christmas Village from late November.
Tips for Driving to a Christmas Market This Winter
Book your parking before you set off, because weekend demand around every major market peaks from mid-November through to the final Saturday before Christmas.
Visit midweek if you can, when the stalls are quieter and spaces near the market are easier to come by.
Arrive early or stay late to dodge the mid-afternoon rush when day-trippers and shoppers overlap.
Check road closures and parade dates, such as the Manchester Christmas Parade on 6 December and Stratford-upon-Avon's market weekends, which can affect routes into the town or city centre.
Save your space in the app so you can find your way back after dark without second-guessing which street you left the car on.
Christmas Markets UK FAQs
Where are there Christmas markets near me?
There are major Christmas markets across England, Scotland and Northern Ireland, from Edinburgh and Belfast to Exeter and Winchester. Use the list above to find the one closest to you, then search for it on JustPark to see bookable parking nearby.
Where should I park for Manchester Christmas Markets?
With ten market sites spread across the city centre, it's best to book a JustPark space within walking distance of the squares you want to visit most. Booking ahead is especially worthwhile on weekends and on parade day, Sunday 6 December.
Where should I park for Winchester Christmas Market?
Winchester's city centre is compact and gets busy on market weekends, so reserve a JustPark space within walking distance of the Cathedral before you travel rather than looking for a space on arrival.
Where is the best place to park for York Christmas Market?
York's historic centre has limited parking, so the best option is to reserve a space in advance with JustPark close to Parliament Street and St Sampson's Square, then walk the rest of the way through the old city.
Where is the best Christmas market in the UK?
Edinburgh, Manchester, York, Winchester and Bath are among the most popular Christmas markets in the UK, each drawing visitors from across the country. Birmingham is billed as the largest authentic German Christmas market outside Germany and Austria, while Manchester spreads more than 210 stalls across ten sites.
When do Christmas markets start in the UK?
The first big Christmas markets open in early November. In 2026, Birmingham opens on 5 November and Manchester on 6 November, followed by Nottingham and York on 12 November, Exeter on 13 November, and Edinburgh and Belfast on 14 November. Most others, including Chester, Leeds, Winchester, Liverpool, Bath and Stratford-upon-Avon, open in the second half of November.
Live Near a Christmas Market? Rent Out Your Driveway This Winter
Christmas markets bring hundreds of thousands of visitors into city centres every November and December, and plenty of them are looking for somewhere to park.
If you have a driveway or off-street space near one of these markets, rent out your driveway with JustPark and earn extra income over the festive season. It's free to list, you choose when your space is available, and the first £1,000 you earn each year from renting out your space is tax-free under the property allowance. You can also use scheduled pricing to charge more on the busiest market weekends.
Enjoy the Christmas Markets Without the Parking Stress
Whichever Christmas market you're heading to this year, booking ahead means less time hunting for a space and more time enjoying the stalls, the lights and the mulled wine.
Reserve your parking with JustPark today and make 2026 your most relaxed Christmas market trip yet.
