Christmas Markets

Sorry, I know it's only October, I deserve to be shot.

Anyone ever been to any of the UK or European markets?

I'm thinking Lille, easily reached by train, don't particularly want to fly.

On the other hand Lincoln or Leeds are both meant to be good ones.

Re: Christmas Markets

I know my son is going to Krakow Christmas Market in Poland at the beginning of December with 5 of his friends..
I reckon any would be good just to get the feel of Christmas, i always see that Lincoln Market has a good one every year

Re: Christmas Markets

Being a mere male who only goes shopping if there's something I want I just wonder what you can buy at a Christmas market that you can't buy in the shops in your home town.

Re: Christmas Markets

Very expensive Christmas tat !

Re: Christmas Markets

I went to Bath C M and it was not that good . So I took a walk up to the Royal Crescent and that made it worth the 4 hr journey there ..
Im looking at Worcester C M, a coach company I usually go with have a day trip there , if there's other interesting sites to see i might go ..

Alan .. Some times there are German and other European Stalls and you get to see their products , home made sweet and hand knitted fashions and other hand crafted Gifts .
That's what makes them interesting ..

Re: Christmas Markets

It's hard to find a traditional Christmas market now, but Rochester do a nice job as people dressed in Dickensian characters are part of it giving it that olde past times atmosphere.

List of Christmas Markets below for 2015

http://www.christmasmarkets.com/UK.html

Re: Christmas Markets

Hi
Lille is ace for Christmas Markets, the crepes are fantastic and you can buy things that you cannot buy in the UK.

Cheap to get to, I drive, combine it with a booze and tobacco run, booze in Calais, tobacco in Aidenkirk, the whole thing pays for itself.

Bruges also has a good one, only an hour drive from Calais, and the mulled wine is the best.

Re: Christmas Markets

Ive been to Muster in Germany and it was lovely, the town with its black and white buidlings and covered walkways reminded me of England..

The handmade candles and decorations are lovely and for the men folk large tankards of beer and sausages a foot long should keep them busy!

Re: Christmas Markets

Hamburg is the place to go. A huge market in the city centre and smaller ones in many of the suburbs. Frankfurt's is large but has a boring range of tat. Mainz is better but very crowded.
Although I poo-pooed it initially, Rudesheim on Rhine is a lovely little town with a nice market, loads of restaurants, bars etc..
I've been told that Cologne's market is very good.
Avoid Munich.

Re: Christmas Markets

Initially they look really exciting and fun, all lit up and all, but the truth is, there are only about four stalls selling different stuff. All the rest are exactly the same as each other.