Manchester Christmas Markets to get even BIGGER for 2024 festive return

It's now just a month until Manchester Christmas Markets return to the city centre - and council bosses have revealed what's new for 2024 including the main hub on Piccadilly Gardens expanding with more stalls and a new look. Organisers say to expect "more stalls and more space for visitors to tackle their Christmas shopping" as well as to soak up the sights and sounds of the season.

The markets will open daily for a six week seasonal take-over of the city centre from Friday, November 8 until Sunday 22 December. The way the dates fall this year mean the markets will run across seven weekends of festive fun for visitors and Christmas shoppers instead of the usual six.

Taking place in the city now for over a quarter of a century, with the city's very first festive market held in December 1998, Manchester's annual Christmas markets draw millions of visitors from across the UK.

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This year's markets will see over two hundred of the iconic wooden ski chalet market stalls across nine different locations throughout the city centre. New for this year is an expanded Winter Gardens at Piccadilly, with bosses announcing: "more space and stalls for visitors to enjoy".

There will be a new look to it all, as the temporary bar structures of recent years are now longer on the gardens. Instead, the council say to expect two festive marquees festooned with twinkling fairy lights, which will provide more of the all-important under-cover space for Christmas shoppers to get cosy if the weather turns cold.

Also new this year at the Winter Gardens is an expanded seasonal offer from next-door neighbours Piccadilly Street Food Market, with stalls there also staying open until 9 pm each night, serving up their unique flavours from around the world.

With the Winter Gardens at Piccadilly at the heart of this year's Christmas Markets, the markets will also see the transformation of Market Street which will also boast more stalls this year.

The other locations are at Cathedral Gardens, Exchange Street, New Cathedral Street, St Ann's Square, Exchange Square, The Corn Exchange, and King Street.

Councillor Pat Karney, Christmas spokesperson for Manchester City Council, said: "Manchester Christmas Markets are by a million miles the very best in the world and the phenomenal number of festive visitors we get each year flocking into the city centre specially to visit them one hundred per cent proves this.

"2024 looks set to be Manchester's best-ever Christmas yet ,and with an extra weekend this year to really make the most of our legendary Christmas Markets, I can already smell the cinnamon and churros, and just can't wait!"

Here's the full lowdown on each of Manchester's nine Christmas market locations this year and what to expect, announced by Manchester Council today.

The Winter Gardens at Piccadilly

Piccadilly Gardens will be transformed into a "bigger and better Winter Gardens" this year with two twinkling light filled marquees providing more under-cover space for Christmas shoppers.

All the festive food and drink favourites are back for 2024 – expect pancakes, bratwursts, churros, and more, with bars serving continental and foreign ales. Plus, the much-loved Piccadilly Street Food Market will also stay open until 9pm each night, serving up flavours from across the globe.

Winter Gardens will offer live entertainment and music everyday beneath the shelter of marquees and under-cover seating areas.

Market Street

Organisers say you can get your Christmas shopping all wrapped up on Market Street - with even more stalls lined up there for this year.

Expect a Santa's sack full of goods on offer from stalls offering bespoke crafts, gifts and produce – from tweed hats to spiced rum, Christmas decorations to candles, freshly baked coconut macaroons and jewellery, to gift sets of cheese truckles, and much more.

Cathedral Gardens

Traditionally the more family-focussed area of the markets, there will be much for youngest visitors to enjoy at Cathedral Gardens.

Experience Skate Manchester’s huge, covered ice rink (open daily) and free live entertainment hosted every Thursday to Sunday all the way up to New Year’s Eve. Plus, warm up with authentic crepes, gourmet hotdogs and hot chocolate.

St Ann's Square and Exchange Street

St Ann's Square was the original site of Manchester’s first-ever Christmas Market. This year it will be back with some of their longest-standing traders including the German beers, cherry gluhwein and bratwurst stalls.

Also back will be the fried chicken treats from Northern Quarter favourite, Yard and Coop, and hot chocolate cones poured right from the chocolate taps..

New Cathedral Street

New Cathedral Street is the spot for high end gifts and foodie favourites.

Craft-lovers will be enchanted by the selection of handmade candles, ceramics, local spirits, and keepsakes on offer. This is also the place to savour a cold beer and currywurst from The Witch House or a hearty burrito from Wrap Up.

Exchange Square

One of the largest market locations in the city, Exchange Square is where Christmas shoppers will find a host of seasonal stalls selling everything from clothing, soaps, boutique babywear, local crafts, and handmade gifts.

You can warm up at The Mill Exchange with their Mancunian mulled wine made on site, and enjoy the legends of Manchester artwork adorning their walls. This is also the place to try the much-loved Yorkshire pudding wrap from Porky Pig, as well as everything from birria bowls and hot curries to mini pancakes and fresh fudge.

King Street

Traditionally the continental food market area in the city, King Street will once again offer up a host of treats.

Authentic Italian deli, Ballaro, will be serving up fresh cannelloni and arancini, and El Gato Negro will be back to bring some Mediterranean menu flavours to their seating area. Plus, a range of stalls to browse selling crafts including the always popular French soap stall, personalised tree decorations, handmade wooden furniture and beautifully illustrated bottles from local distillery, Salford Rum.

The Corn Exchange

Situated between Corn Exchange and Shambles Square, you’ll find some of the most unique gifts available from crafters.

Expect handmade pies, Nepalese woollen jumpers, handmade jewellery, Christmas decorations made from recycled wood, plus photo frames, artisan chocolates and much more.

Dates and times for 2024

Manchester's Christmas Markets will be open daily from Friday 8 November to Sunday 22 December.

Craft stalls and stalls selling seasonal goods will be open each day from 10 am - 8 pm, whilst food and drink stalls will be open from 11 am - 9 pm each day.

The markets wrap for Christmas at 6pm on Sunday 22 December, except for the food and drink stalls at Cathedral Gardens which will stay open until December 31 alongside the ice rink.

For more information on Christmas in Manchester visit manchester.gov.uk/christmas