With Manchester’s Christmas markets opening thick and fast, the festive season is well and truly on its way to the city. Now, a study has revealed that Manchester Christmas Markets are officially some of the best in the UK, coming in the top three alongside some of the most infamously charming markets in the country.
The analysis by travel website Locals Insider assessed 18 markets across seven weighted categories – annual visitors, number of stalls, duration, online reviews, accessibility, setting and cost – to uncover which UK cities offer the best festive experience.
Manchester named one of the best Christmas markets in the UK
Manchester has been named one of the top three Christmas markets in the UK for 2025. The city scored 78.8 out of 100 in the nationwide study, finishing behind only Edinburgh (79.7) and London’s Winter Wonderland (79).
Manchester’s Christmas market performed especially well for size and variety, scoring 18 out of 18 for its wide selection of stalls spread across key city centre locations including Piccadilly Gardens, Market Street and Cathedral Gardens – with the market returning to Albert Square this year, too. It also achieved a strong score for affordability (10.5/15) and accessibility (8/10), reflecting its central location and ease of access via public transport.
However, the city ranked slightly lower for reviews (6.9/15) and setting (12.6/18), suggesting that while Manchester’s market is one of the biggest in the UK, some visitors find it less atmospheric compared with scenic backdrops like Edinburgh’s Princes Street Gardens or Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire.
Other top Christmas markets in the UK
Elsewhere in the top five, Birmingham (76.3) and Glasgow (69.5) also performed strongly, while Bath (66.4) was the highest-ranked market in the South of England other than London’s Winter Wonderland. At the other end of the table, Leeds (47.8), Chester (50.7) and Exeter (51.6) were named the least impressive festive markets in this year’s study – but still placed in the table.
Spokesperson for Locals Insider, Martin Danemaq, said: “Manchester continues to deliver one of the UK’s most popular and impressive festive markets, drawing millions of visitors every year and finishing third in our nationwide study for 2025.
“The fair’s sheer scale and diversity of stalls throughout the city make it a standout destination for shopping, street food and festive entertainment, with an overall score of 78.8 only narrowly short of Edinburgh (79.7) in first and London’s Winter Wonderland (79) in second.
“What’s particularly striking is how Manchester manages to balance accessibility and affordability while still offering a huge, high-quality market experience. Even if it doesn’t quite have the storybook setting of cities like Edinburgh or Bath, it more than makes up for it in atmosphere, community feel and variety.”
The best Christmas markets in the UK
- Edinburgh 79.7
- London (Winter Wonderland) 79
- Manchester 78.8
- Birmingham 76.3
- Glasgow 69.5
- Bath 66.4
- Belfast 63.5
- York 61.8
- Newcastle 59.3
- Winchester 57.6
