Although Christmas is rearing its head, meaning Christmas markets are slowly fading, there’s still some time to enjoy the festive stalls, eats and curious objects that come with them. Now, our very own Manchester Christmas Markets have been named the best in the UK once again, this time based on social media popularity alongside its average affordability – and we know how expensive this time of year can get.
With Christmas already being an expensive time of year, many Brits will want to try to celebrate the festivities on a budget. To help everyone enjoy the festive season, no matter their budget, credit card brand Aqua have researched the most affordable Christmas markets throughout the UK.
The study considers various factors such as hotel costs, reviews that mention pricing, entry costs, and the overall popularity on social media – and of course, Manchester Christmas Markets came top.
The study has placed Manchester’s Christmas markets on top for the best affordable market in the UK. Unlike London’s Winter Wonderland, it is free to enter Manchester’s markets, and no prior booking is required. Just 36 of the 134 one to three-star reviews (27%) reference the words ‘overpriced’ or ‘expensive’, meaning the majority of poor reviews are not concerned about the market’s affordability.
Manchester also appears to be one of the most-loved Christmas markets of those analysed, with an impressive 62,900 posts under #manchesterchristmasmarket on Instagram. You may have thought the likes of York, Edinburgh or London’s Winter Wonderland would follow closely behind Manchester Christmas Markets as the best in the UK, but next up were Glasgow’s Winterfest and Holkham Hall in North Norfolk – a refreshing surprise.
The Holkham Hall Christmas markets have really swooped in, with just 38 posts on social media – however its affordability and lack of negative reviews bagged it third place in the listings. We also like to think of Glasgow as the Manchester of Scotland, so it’s perhaps unsurprising its Christmas markets came in second place, with a low percentage of negative reviews, and a shockingly low average of £158.58 for a hotel for two adults.
The top 10 Christmas markets in the UK, according to the study
- Manchester Christmas Markets
- Glasgow Winterfest
- Holkham Hall, North Norfolk
- Frankfurt Christmas Market, Birmingham
- Leeds Christmas Market
- East Princes Street Gardens, Edinburgh
- Exeter Cathedral Christmas Market
- St Nicholas Fair, York
- Chester Christmas Market
- Winchester Cathedral Christmas Market
So, make the most of Manchester Christmas Markets before they disappear for another year after Sunday 22 December, as they are the best in the UK!