I visited UK's two best Christmas markets
Although I am a British citizen, I grew up on the other side of the world in New Zealand and for me, Christmas has always meant beaches, sand between my toes and steaks on the barbeque as my friends and family sip cocktails under patio umbrellas. So when I moved to London in 2024 I was a little apprehensive about my first Christmas in the northern hemisphere.
TL;DR
- The author, a British citizen raised in New Zealand, moved to London in 2024 and was initially apprehensive about a Northern Hemisphere Christmas.
- She visited Edinburgh and Manchester Christmas markets, which experts at Christmas Tree World ranked as the two best in the UK for 2026.
- Edinburgh's market, despite its charming Gothic architecture and views, was marred by excessively dense crowds.
- Manchester's market offered a less crowded experience with more varied and higher quality food, such as a Yorkshire pudding wrap and fruit crumble.
- The author preferred Manchester's mulled wine over Edinburgh's mulled cider, finding the latter to taste like boiled Strongbow with cinnamon.
- Despite not being a particularly 'Christmassy' person, the author would choose Manchester if she were to revisit a Christmas market due to fewer crowds and better food.