The best UK Xmas markets to drive to

There are so many things to enjoy during the Christmas period. The exchanging of presents, seeing distant family, the casual jaunts around your favourite local festive market.

We’re quite partial to the latter. There’s a lot to love about a Christmas market, from seasonal sweet treats and drinks, to the quaint stalls featuring decorations and gifts.

To truly make your Christmas magical this year, we advise prioritising getting out there and attending as many markets as you can. Here, we’ll cover exactly how to do it with our compilation of the best UK Christmas markets.

The best Xmas market road trip

We’ll start our journey in London, working our way throughout the nation towards Scotland and ticking off the most picturesque routes and markets on the way.

London: Winter Wonderland, Hyde Park

While there are other winter wonderland celebrations around the UK, the celebration held in Hyde Park is perhaps the most well-known and anticipated.

Winter Wonderland happens to be one of the biggest Christmas celebrations in the nation, and combined with London’s excellent transport links, it makes a great starting location for your UK Christmas market road trip.

While you’re there, be sure to check out the ice skating rink. The queue might be off-putting for some, but the wait is well worth it.

Bath: Bath Christmas Market

Approximately 113 miles Westbound lives Bath’s Christmas Market. Found central to many of the more established shopping facilities, this market sits squarely within the Roman Baths situated in Abbey, Bath.

The ancient surroundings make this Christmas market one of the most picturesque in the UK. This, combined with a potential scenic route through the country lanes of the North Wessex Downs makes your journey filled with Instagrammable moments.

Although Bath Christmas market isn’t as grand as Hyde Park, the quaint vibe and pleasant journey are certain to pique your interest.

Birmingham: Frankfurt Christmas Market

Heading North now, and we’d be remiss not to mention the absolute experience that is the Frankfurt Christmas market in Birmingham. If you’re a fan of Germanic Christmas traditions, great food and drink, and a lively atmosphere, this Christmas market will not disappoint.

This market is an entertaining stop, but also a practical one. Birmingham sits roughly in the middle of the UK, making it a logical place to plan your next break. Remember, while enjoyment is important, so is planning.

It’ll take you roughly two hours to travel from Bath to Birmingham’s Frankfurt Christmas market (101 miles). That journey can be taken throughout the Cotswolds to make it even more pleasant.

York: St. Nicholas Fair

Fans of historic preservation will love this next stop. York is a bit of a hot spot in the UK for history, its streets practically brimming with Roman roots.

This is the quintessential Christmas market for a small-medium-sized city. There are plenty of market stalls to choose from, serving up hot and cold food, and good connections to transport links around York make getting around the rest of the city a breeze.

As a further bonus, this bustling Christmas fair can be reached with a quick trip through the ever-so-beautiful Peak District.

Edinburgh: Edinburgh Christmas Market

As another highly regarded, well-renowned UK Christmas market, we’ve selected Edinburgh as a final stop on your road trip to end on an extremely high note.

Taking over most of Edinburgh’s city centre, this market has everything you’d expect. Fun rides, incredible food, and a lively atmosphere – it’s the ultimate British Christmas market experience.

The market arrives every year and takes over with bright lights, food stalls, and entertainment well into the evening. Combining this with the journey through the A68 toward Northumberland’s National Park, you and your loved ones will certainly be in for a treat.

Motoring finance from the experts

Nothing beats a Christmas road trip. But, to get you there, you need a reliable car.

Just remember, cars are for life, not just for Christmas!

For more help on motoring finance, check out our related articles on the MotoNovo blog.