UK city with beautiful German inspired Christmas market named one of UK's best

The German-inspired festive market in Winchester is home to over 100 wooden chalets selling food, stocking fillers, and other lovely festive titbits, making it a perfect pre-Christmas stop-off

As the chilly days grow shorter, many Londoners are eager to escape the city gloom for a bit of fun. Luckily, there are plenty of nearby villages, towns and cities perfect for a weekend getaway.

And with the festive season on the horizon, what could be better than visiting a town famed for its Christmas market? Winchester's Christmas market is touted as one of the best in the country by Conde Nast Traveller. The high praise for the market alone should be enough to lure even the most hardened Scrooge, not to mention that The Times named it among the best places to live in 2024.

The market will be opening on November 22 and will run until December 22, providing a month of festive shopping and food. It has been held on the Cathedral grounds since 2006 and has seen success over the years. The German-inspired market features over 100 wooden chalets selling food, stocking fillers, and other festive treats. It's open from Sunday to Thursday from 10am to 6pm, and Friday and Saturday from 10am to 8pm.

While you're in the city, it would be a shame to miss out on the Gothic Winchester Cathedral. It's is replete with stunning architecture, medieval woodwork, beautiful stained glass windows, and a treasure trove of ancient artefacts, including the carefully preserved 12th-century Winchester Bible. And let's not forget about the delicious food on offer.

Brasserie Blanc, famed for its exquisite duck confit and steak bavette, has earned rave reviews from foodies, with one satisfied customer sharing: "Came here on a Friday late lunch after enjoying a day in Winchester. They offer some good 2 and 3 course deals, but we had our heart set on the chateaubriand steak. We ordered this and the baguette with dips to enjoy while waiting for the steak to be cooked. The place is very spacious and nicely laid out, with an open plan kitchen upstairs."

To visit, the journey from London Waterloo to Winchester is just shy of an hour and tickets can be easily booked through Trainline.

If you aren't in the south of England and don't plan on being anytime soon, then fear not. There are plenty of other great locations which have Christmas markets. We have compiled a list of most of the biggest and best that are setting up shop in the UK this year.