‘Tis (nearly) the season! It may only be October, but mince pies are starting to line the shelves, novelty jumpers are beginning to fill up retail rails and dates are officially being set for Christmas countdown celebrations. For your fill of steaming glögg and traditional Christmas stalls, you may be considering a trip to a market in Germany, Austria or Belgium – but hold your horses. This year, you’ll find one of Europe’s best Christmas markets in the UK.
Ahead of festive season, we’ve unveiled a list of our favourite Christmas markets on the continent. The Nuremberg Christkindlesmarkt, one of the oldest and most famous festive markets in the world was our number one for 2025, but second place went to somewhere slightly more surprising. Time Out’s second best place for Christmas markets this year is... Manchester. Stick with us.
While it may not be as well known for its festivities as the likes of Stasbourg, Krakow or Vienna, we said: ‘This city comes alive at Christmas, just not in the same “in your face” way as some of the others in Europe.’
Its main market on Albert Square has been notably absent for the past five Christmasses, but will make a triumphant return on Friday, November 7. After being closed since 2019 for work on Manchester Town Hall, two thirds of the square will fill with festivities, with huge 50ft ferris wheel at the centre.
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More than 200 ski chalet style huts will line Albert Square and the rest of the city centre for the occasion, selling bratwursts, Yorkshire pud wraps, steaming hot strudels, gluhwein and sweet treats aplenty. As ever, you’ll find a glistening ice skating rink at Cathedral Gardens.
The grand council-run Christmas market isn’t Manchester’s only one worth visiting, though. There’s also the Stockport Festive Huts (especially great for proper foodies), Winterfest at MediaCity and Goth-Mas if you want Christmas spirit with a spooky twist. See our full guide to Manchester’s Christmas markets here.
Explore the best Christmas markets to visit in Europe here.
And discover the best Christmas markets across the UK here.
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