Most of the UK’s Christmas markets stick around for the entire festive season. Some even keep the Yuletide magic alive into January. But one of Time Out’s favourite Christmas extravaganzas only pops up for one day each year – blink and you’ll miss it. We’re talking about the magnificent Beverley Festival of Christmas, which we’ve named it the third best Christmas market in the UK for 2025.
The festival has been running since 1995, established by local shop owner John Bird. For one day, and one day only, the whole town centre is engulfed in Christmas songs and scents, with more than 100 stalls lined up for all your gifting needs. If you want an intense hit of a Christmas market experience, this is your best bet. You’ll leave feeling like it was all some kind of festive fever dream.
Storm Darragh forced the festival to be cancelled in 2024, but it’s due to come back with a glittering bang next month. More than 50,000 people are expected to descend on Beverley for the occasion – East Riding of Yorkshire council reckons it’s the biggest single day Christmas event of its kind in the UK. Want to see for yourself? Here’s everything you need to know.
When is the Beverley Festival of Christmas 2025?
This year, the Beverley Festival of Christmas is happening on Sunday, December 14.
What are its opening times?
It’ll be open to explore from 10am until 4pm.
What are the main attractions?
The entire town will be transformed into a festive spectacle, with something worth seeing around every corner. Expect fairground rides, comedy acts, live brass bands, birds of prey displays, steam punks, Bernese mountain dogs and a whopping Victorian 120 stalls (with a grand prize for the best looking). You can warm up at the Nordic tipi bar, which will have a roaring fire and mulled wine, and catch Santa and his real-life reindeer leading a parade into the town centre at 10am.
It also marks the final day of Beverley Minster's annual Christmas Tree Festival, which features more than 150 fir trees decorated by local organisations (£5 entry).
How to get to Beverley Christmas makret
Visitors are encouraged to arrive by public transport, as several roads will be closed and car parking spaces will be limited.
There’ll be a free park and ride service running every 10-15 minutes from Beverley Racecourse into the town centre and buses travelling into Beverley from Hull, Driffield, Bridlington, Hornsea, Market Weighton, Pocklington and York. If you come by train, alight at Beverley train station, which is an easy five minute stroll into the centre.
Explore all the best Christmas markets across the UK here.
ICYMI: The vast, ‘triumphant’ festive fair that is officially the best Christmas market in the UK for 2025.
Plus: When the Coca-Cola Christmas truck will return for 2025.
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