Manchester Christmas Markets 2024 ultimate guide - prices, map, best food and locations

The Manchester Christmas Markets are officially back and open for business for 2024 - spreading their festive cheer across nine streets and squares in the city centre. There are some 240 stalls to navigate this year.

The largest zone is back at Piccadilly Gardens which has become the Winter Gardens for the coming weeks. The markets are now open daily until December 22.

Foodie favourites have returned in force, while there's also a host of newcomers to the markets this year. With so much going on, we've taken an in-depth look at what's happening across the markets this year.

READ MORE: All the updates from day one of Manchester Christmas Markets as they returned to city centre for 2024

We've hopefully got all your questions answered here, including how the mug deposit scheme works, the average price you're looking at paying for your hot sausage and mug of gluhwein, and also where to find the most asked-for stalls each year.

That includes the famous Porky Pig Yorkshire Pudding stall, the iconic chocolate-dipped fruit stalls and the new in-demand desserts of hot crumbles and pistachio croissants. You can also find a host of different features about this year's Manchester Christmas Markets at our dedicated page online here.

How much is food and drink?

We have compiled a full guide to the prices of hot food and drink options across the Christmas Markets this year which you can find here.

As a rough guide to how much you're looking at paying for drinks, gluhwein is priced on average at £5.50 this year, while pints of beer and cider will set you back between £6 - £7 depending on the stall.

Hot chocolate drinks with a shot are £6.50, while cocktails are from £8. Prosecco is from £6.50 a glass, while house wine is from £5.50 a glass.

Traditional German bratwurst are priced at £8 this year, while currywurst is £9. If you're looking to do the big one (pictured above) on the beer front - then a 1 litre stein of Bavarian Beer is £12.

How does the mug deposit scheme work?

Customers will be asked to pay a deposit of £3.50 for their mug when they purchase a hot drink, which is added to your total drink price. You can then either choose to return the mug to the stall afterwards to get the deposit back, or keep the mug and take it home as a souvenir of your visit to the markets.

You will just need to budget accordingly, as hot drinks at the markets range in price from £3.50 for non-alcoholic beverages up to £6 and over for boozy gluhweins and hot chocolates so you could be looking at shelling out up to £10 in the first instance.

If you are ordering a pint or wine the deposit for the glasses (or rather the plastic versions) are £2. If you're buying a Stein of beer, then the deposit for the 1 litre glass is a hefty £7. All of these prices are refundable when you take the glasses back after your drink.

What is there to do with kids?

The most family-oriented section of the Christmas Markets are at Cathedral Gardens, where you'll find the ice skating rink, Skate Manchester - you can find out all the pricing here.

At this part of the markets you'll find a slightly more relaxed setting, although there's only a small selection of food and drink stalls here. But it does include the popular mini Dutch pancakes, and a large Kingdom of Sweets stall.

New this year is the festive photobooths which families may like to try. This costs £6 for a printout picture that can also be sent to your email to add to all of your social media platforms. You can find the photobooths on St Ann's Square, at Piccadilly Gardens and Cathedral Gardens.

Kids will also love the free light trail featuring light arches and giant bauble and, of course, Big Santa, who will resume his position outside the Central Library. The St Peter's Square section will open from Monday, November 11, and the lights will be on until the end of Christmas.

However, you can already find the starry light arch and big Merry Christmas sign at Piccadilly Gardens which are now lit. New this year there's also a large Christmas tree at the far end of Albert Square which is a great festive spot for a photo.

Families may also like to see the charity wishing trees which have returned for 2024. You can purchase a label for £1 from the bar outside Selfirdges and write your own wish or message of thanks to then place on the fir trees.

Map of the markets

Here is the official trail map of the locations in the city centre that feature Christmas Markets stalls. It also adds the nearest tram and train stops to the main markets locations - which are at Piccadilly Gardens (at the top of the map) and Victoria Station (at the bottom).

Where are the toilets?

There are not official toilet blocks at all the different locations, but you will find portaloos at Piccadilly Gardens and Cathedral Gardens.

However, the council have signposted toilets in city centre businesses that they say will welcome visitors during the duration of the markets.

These are at: McDonald's on St Ann's Square, Marks and Spencer on Market Street, the National Football Museum on Cathedral Gardens and the Arndale Shopping Centre (access via Exchange Square or Market Street).

All the locations - and what to find where

The Winter Gardens

Piccadilly Gardens is back as the main hub this year and it has been reconfigured with more stalls. There is outdoor wooden seating, although there is also a couple of covered marquees and canopy seating at the far end closest to Portland Street.

Festive food and drink favourites are back for 2024 – expect scrambled pancakes, bratwurst, hot chocolates, churros, cookie dough and a whole host of bars serving continental and local ales. World cuisines are represented here - you can get Austrian, Brazilian, French, Latin American, Korean and more.

Some of the biggest hits from last year have returned including the Mr Crimble's Crumble stall, Flat Baker's pistachio croissants and gingerbread cookie hot chocolate and Korean corn dogs, as well as newcomers in the form of Hip Hop Chip Shop serving up battered Brussel sprouts alongside it's famous fish and chips.

Winter Gardens will also offer live entertainment and music everyday.

Best for: people wanting the full "buzz" of the markets and groups wanting to eat and drink, but be warned it can get busy here.

Market Street

Market Street has more stalls this year, and this is very much the gift zone of the markets. You'll only find one hot drink stall and no alcohol, so this is not the place to head if you're after a gluhwein, pint or a hot sausage.

You can expect a bit of a smorgasbord of bespoke crafts, gifts and produce though – from spiced rum, Christmas decorations to candles, freshly baked coconut macaroons and jewellery, to gift sets of cheeses. This is also one of the zones where you can find chocolate-covered fruit - a traditional favourite of visitors.

Best for: those looking for Christmas gifts. It's also one of the main thoroughfares of the city, so be aware it gets busy with regular shoppers.

Cathedral Gardens

Traditionally the more family-focussed area of the markets, this is where you'll find 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.

On the food front, you'll find Yorkshire pudding wraps (not by Porky Pig though - he's only on Exchange Square), a sausage burgers and chips stall, Greek street food, Dutch mini pancakes and two bars serving hot and cold beverages

Best for: families, skaters and those looking for a more relaxed vibe and less crowds

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's back with some of the longest-standing traders including the German beers, pancakes, cherry gluhwein and bratwurst stalls.

Also back are the fried chicken treats from Northern Quarter favourite, Yard and Coop. New this year is a hot chocolate cones stall where you can watch chocolate poured right from the taps onto cones of fruit and also chocolate shots.

There are also brownie stalls, rum gifts, and the popular soap sponges of previous years. You can also find chocolate-covered fruit here, close to McDonalds.

Best for: groups and people looking to eat, drink and be merry as well as Christmas shoppers looking for quirky gifts

New Cathedral Street

New Cathedral Street is known as the spot for high end gifts and foodie favourites. Craft-lovers can expect handmade beeswax candles, ceramics, local spirits, and keepsakes on offer.

This is also the place you can get those 1 litre steins of Bavarian beer and German bratwurst and currywurst from The Witch House - it's the one with the famous giant sausage above the stall.

Other food on offer are burritos from Wrap Up and new this year and looking set to be a big hit is La Bavette Steak and Frites which includes melty raclette cheese. Also keep your eye out for gourmet Scotch eggs on sale.

Best for: those looking for a different gift and food and drink staples.

Exchange Square

One of the largest market locations in the city, Exchange Square is famously the location of the Porky Pig Yorkshire pudding stand, where queues were already forming as soon as it had opened on the first day. New there this year is the foot-long deep-fried pig in blanket, as well as a toad in the hole Yorkshire pudding alongside the original classics.

The Mill Exchange is back with its range of flavoured mulled wines, and you can also find Dutch mini pancakes here. Foodie newcomers here include Dine With Saira with Indian street food and combo boxes.

On the gift front this year you can find tweed clothing, boutique babywear and local crafts. This is also the spot to find the wooden carved nativity scenes for those wanting a traditional Christmas gift.

Best for: Another one for those who like the "buzz" of a big festive crowd, it also looks really festive here as well with the twinkling stalls, so a good spot for photos.

The Corn Exchange

Situated between the Corn Exchange and Shambles Square, you’ll find some of the most unique gifts available on the Christmas Markets here from a range of crafters. And as there are no hot food and drink stalls here, it's a more dedicated zone for shoppers.

There are handmade pies and pork scratching, Nepalese woollen jumpers and toys, handmade jewellery and the popular Christmas decorations and name plauques made from recycled wood.

Food gifts include artisan chocolates and brownies. This is another spot to find an array of chocolate-covered fruit as well.

Best for: People looking for the gift stalls who don't want to wade through queues of people eating and drinking

King Street

Traditionally the continental food market area in the city, King Street welcomes the return of Italian deli, Ballaro, serving up fresh canoli and arancini, and El Gato Negro who are back with their Mediterranean flavours and their own heated seating area. There are also the two Parisian-style bars at the Deansgate end which are a great spot for those wanting a more relaxed drink.

This is also the place for cheese lovers - it boasts the huge continental cheese stall as well as the Great British Cheese gift stall. Oh and there's a Cheezy Bandits stand as well for good measure with loaded mac 'n' cheese and cheesy fries.

Plus, there's 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.

Best for: the seated and covered bar spaces here are a real winner for those who don't want to (or aren't able) to stand up for long periods.

Christmas Markets opening and closing times

The dates confirmed for Manchester Christmas Markets for 2024 in the city centre are from Friday, November 8 through to Sunday, December 22 opening Monday - Sunday.

They will be open daily at the following times:

All craft stalls 10am - 8 pm

All bars and food stalls 11am - 9 pm

The only exception is on the final Sunday, December 22, when all stalls will close at 6pm.

Cathedral Gardens will also once again play host to the Ice Rink with food and drink stalls in Cathedral Gardens alongside it. This section of markets will stay open later than the rest, until December 31.