‘Tis the season for a Christmas market – think bratwurst in one hand and either a piping hot cup of mulled wine or indulgent, whipped cream-topped hot chocolate in the other. With the number of towns and cities across the UK now hosting their own Christmas market rising over recent years, just where exactly is the best place to visit for yuletide fun? Luckily, for those in the North West, two cities were ranked highly for their Christmas markets by Which? – however, Manchester did not make the cut.
Based on a survey of the best UK cities by the consumer watchdog, which involved more than 4,000 participants, eight locations came out on top when it came to their Christmas market offering. Which? magazine ranked cities based on great food and drink, fantastic cultural attractions, or both – scoring at least four out of five in those categories.
Of the eight top Christmas markets in the UK, Chester Christmas Market, which runs from November 15 to December 22, came second and was described as a “peaceful festive day out”. Chester Christmas market, which is only an hour from Manchester, scored highly for its ease of getting around, parking and lack of crowds.
Despite only having a modest 70 stalls, compared to numerous huts dotted across a whopping nine locations in Manchester, these spiral around Chester’s Victorian Gothic town hall and medieval cathedral so you can soak up wonderful architectural sites as well. Visitors to Chester market will find scented candles, upcycled cutlery, artisan liqueurs and much more, all underneath a sparkling Christmas tree, adding to the festive feels.
Plus, there are more independent traders to be found in the renowned, double-deck shopping arcades that date back to the 13th century – known as the Rows. In addition to the Christmas shopping opportunities, Chester was also credited for its history ranging from Roman ruins to ancient gatehouses, Tudor buildings, and Georgian and Victorian architecture.
Chester Christmas Market was ranked one of the best alongside Durham, Winchester, Wells, Edinburgh, York and Belfast, with Bath being ranked number one. Another North West city praised for its Christmas market was Liverpool, which runs from November 16 to December 24.
Liverpool received five stars for its cultural sights, and further high ratings for its food and drink options, accommodation and value for money. The city was also rated joint best for shopping, too – pretty crucial for Christmas. Plus, the average hotel room rate is £50 less per night than in London, and cheaper than Manchester, too.