Are you searching for one of the best Christmas markets in north east England?
I used to be born and raised in the stunning little area…. so in this information, I’ve put my proud parochial data to some topical use.
I’ve ordered this record from earliest-starting to latest-starting—and I’ve introduced you a wide range of distinctive and strange choices, together with visitor appearances from coasts, castles, metropolis facilities, charming cities, and even some pleasant packs of canines.
Pack your Santa hat, fill that sleigh with sacks, and are available be a part of the festive enjoyable! Here are one of the best Christmas markets close to Newcastle upon Tyne.
Best Christmas Markets in North East England
Here’s the map of one of the best Christmas markets, fayres, occasions, and festivals, in north east England:
1. Central Newcastle’s Christmas Markets
For festive market-hunters in north east England, that is clearly the standard selection.
The greatest (and most well-known) Christmas market in the area, you’ll discover infinite stalls unfold round a number of the metropolis’s central streets.
To hit the center of the motion, head to Grey’s Monument, and discover from there.
It’s a reasonably normal Christmas market—it’s not particular in any manner, but it surely’s large, and it gives all of the festive stuff you’re searching for. Expect world meals, locally-sourced treats and trinkets, Christmas crafts, a giant bunch of drool-inducing candy stuff, and a welcoming ambiance.
Most Decembers, I come right here (assuming I’m in the area, which isn’t at all times the case).
It runs each through the day and in the night, but it surely’s busier and higher at evening.
When you’re carried out with the markets, head to the close by Life Center, the place you’ll discover a wonderful (and ever-popular) out of doors ice rink.
2. Sunderland Christmas Frost Village
Running for just about the very same interval as Newcastle’s Christmas markets, the Sunderland Christmas Frost Village is a themed occasion space, fairly than only a bunch of stalls.
Aside from all the standard market-based festive fayre, you’ll additionally discover an ice rink, out of doors film screenings, a candlelit conga parade, a number of music and dance, and a load of pleasant faces.
If you may have time, I like to recommend trying out each the Newcastle Christmas markets and the Sunderland Christmas Frost Village. They’re fairly just like each other, however they’re each nice.
3. Brocksbushes Christmas Fayre
Charming family-run Brocksbushes Farm is most well-known for 2 issues: on-site fruit-picking adventures, and internet hosting probably the greatest pumpkin patches close to Newcastle.
But it’s additionally the location of an wonderful Christmas Fayre.
You’ll discover crafts, meals, and drinks—and all of it’s regionally sourced.
Other choices embrace a number of hyper-local vegetables and fruit (picked proper on the farm!), and a very good choice of wreaths and actual Christmas bushes (to take dwelling). You can’t simply arrive unannounced—so be sure to guide a slot in advance.
During chosen days in December, the farm additionally gives ‘Story Time with Mrs Claus’ periods, that includes tractor rides, sizzling goodies, a grotto, and extra. These experiences aren’t at all times on the identical days because the Christmas markets, so examine dates in advance.
4. Spanish City Christmas Market
One of my favourite components of northeast England, I like Spanish City.
A promenade-side assortment of native venues in the stunning coastal city of Whitley Bay, it’s a super-popular place.
In and round Spanish City, you’ll discover bars, cute cafes, amusement arcades, a number of fish and chips, and a number of the area’s greatest coastlines. Visiting right here is an efficient choice if you happen to’re touring with children (who’ll most likely need some further post-market enjoyable).
The Christmas markets are properly curated and introduced, with a giant concentrate on regional crafters and suppliers. Most of the meals is handmade and locally-sourced.
And better of all, it’s all indoors—so that you’ll by no means have to endure any horrendous climate.
For extra seaside enjoyable in the close by space, stamp your sandy toes over to our information on one of the best seashores in Northumberland.
5. Northumbrian Christmas Fair on the Sill
If you’re searching for distant, rural, and one thing a bit completely different, you’ll love this. Sitting in a glass-fronted field-surrounded constructing, visiting the Sill is a novel expertise.
At the markets, you get all the conventional stuff, like crafts, arts, meals, and drinks—together with books, ceramics, reside poetry, reside music, and extra.
But the true spotlight is the placement, perched proper alongside probably the most spectacular and thrilling components of Hadrian’s Wall. You gained’t discover a market with higher views than this.
If you may have time, I like to recommend climbing across the space (ignore the chilly ya large child, simply put a sweater on). The Steel Rigg to Houseasteads round is gorgeous, straightforward to observe, straightforward to sort out, and even higher in snow.
Be warned: the meals choice at this market (although lip-smackingly tasty) is fairly small.
6. Beamish Hall Christmas Fair
Another distinctive and strange spot, the Beamish Hall Christmas Fair sits inside a Seventeenth-century nation dwelling.
Every Christmas, they go to fairly large lengths to embellish the place and provide market stalls, an out of doors interactive ‘Forest of Light*,’ and plenty of themed meals, drinks, and in a single day stays.
*The Forest of Light days are generally completely different from the Christmas Fair days, so be sure to examine.
Make certain you guide any experiences (and market visits!) in advance—it’s a well-liked place.
When you’re carried out right here, wander over to very-nearby Beamish, an interactive ‘living museum’ with a number of themed areas. One of essentially the most distinctive issues to do in the north of England, it’s each good and weird, and it’ll simply maintain you and your children entertained for a full day.
7. Newcastle Dog & Cat Shelter Christmas Market
Dogs, cats, pleasant faces, and Christmas stuff…. all crammed into the welcoming confines of 1 healthful place. Does Christmas get any higher than this!?
Expect Christmas crafts, carol singing, a canine present, native foods and drinks, a small Santa’s village, and (heaps and plenty and plenty of) pleasant cats and canines.
You’ll be capable of meet a number of the cute creatures and critters. Good luck not falling in love with all of them.
And get this: you’ll be able to even take your personal canines!
If you want animals, that is genuinely a should: if I may solely go to one Christmas market in north east England, it might be this one.
If you’re searching for extra birds and beasts, right here’s our information to the 13 greatest zoos, animal farms and aquariums close to Newcastle.
8. Durham Christmas Festival
Visiting Durham Christmas Festival is an efficient excuse for visiting Durham, a small however endearing metropolis only a 10-minute practice trip from Newcastle.
Durham is perhaps small, however their Christmas pageant is fairly large. It options over 250 impartial merchants (lots of them native), all separated into completely different classes and areas.
The pageant typically serves up another occasions and actions, together with the super-popular Children’s Lantern Parade.
Whether or not you enterprise inside for the markets, be sure to go to Durham Cathedral—it’s probably the most spectacular in northern England.
9. Raby Castle Christmas Market (and Events)
Southwest of Durham, Raby Castle is among the most spectacular and imposing castles close to Newcastle.
It overlooks two little lakes, it’s surrounded by a load of deer, and it has an fascinating historical past. So it’s value visiting each time.
But at Christmastime, it’s even higher.
The market is admittedly fairly small, however there’s a lot extra enjoyable on provide.
You’ll discover an ‘Enchanted Forest’ path, a ‘12 Days of Christmas’ path, a small choice of produce (together with freshly-cut Christmas bushes and different native goodies), particular festive menus, on-site in a single day stays, story time with Santa Claus, a Christmas-themed retailer, some seasonal afternoon teas, and lots extra.
Some of the occasions are provided on completely different days from each other, so be sure to examine in advance.
10. Northumberlandia Christmas Market
Sitting in Cramlington (the boring however large city the place I used to be born), Northumberlandia is a bizarre sculpture-cum-uninteresting-hiking-area that (when considered from above) is in the form of a unadorned girl.
No, I don’t perceive both.
Anyway, the place can also be dwelling to a small however charming annual one-day Christmas market, the place you’ll discover out of doors stalls. They promote meals, drinks, items, handmade stuff, Wildlife Trust merchandise, and lots extra.
Other festive occasions at Northumberlandia embrace crafting, storytelling periods, and a so-called ‘Snowflake Trail’ (however they’re all on completely different dates to at least one one other, so double-check the calendar on the hyperlink beneath).
11. North Shields Victorian Christmas Market
Featuring round 100 stalls, that is one other archetypal out of doors German-style Christmas market.
So it’s not as thrilling as a number of the different locations on our record, but it surely’s an excellent choice if you happen to’re simply searching for a plain ol’ (however good!) Christmas market in northeast England.
Dotted in amongst all of the motion, you’ll discover handicrafts, items, German sausages, mulled drinks, a few small fairground rides, and extra.
When you’re carried out, head vaguely east to the coast. Here, you’ll discover Tynemouth, probably the greatest coastal cities close to Newcastle. It gives fish and chips, a historic priory, and a load of weirdos who like swimming in the ocean throughout winter. Join them if you happen to like.
12. Hexham Christmas Market (and Hexham Abbey Christmas Fair)
One of the prettiest (and hottest) cities in Northumberland, Hexham has an iconic abbey, which was constructed again in AD674.
And the city’s Christmas market and Christmas truthful (although I don’t know the distinction between the 2 occasions and I’m not likely certain why they’re marketed as two separate issues and never only one large factor) are centered in and across the abbey.
Expect items, decorations, jewellery, garments, foods and drinks, some musical performances, and even (and that is the large spotlight for a manchild like me) some alpacas(!).
When you’re carried out, it is best to completely discover Hexham. It gives cobbled streets, a quaint city heart, and an oldy-worldly vibe. And if in case you have time, head to each Corbridge and Haltwhistle too (and all of the close by Hadrian’s Wall stuff!).
13. Made Up North Winter Market (in Newcastle’s Boiler Shop)
Another choice in central Newcastle. If you’re searching for hip and taking place, that is the place for you.
Newcastle’s Boiler Shop is a stylish multi-purpose occasions venue sitting simply behind the town’s practice station. And though a Christmas market is hardly the edgiest occasion on the planet, these guys nonetheless handle to make it fairly distinctive.
The markets function round 60 native merchants, serving up festive chunks of pottery, textiles, garments, artwork, jewellery, cleaning soap, meals, drink, and extra. They need the occasion to exhibit the work of “northern creatives,” so visiting is an efficient option to get into the group spirit, and contribute to the native financial system, and all that stuff.
The market’s not essentially the most thrilling venue for teenagers, however there’s a number of nice stuff close by for little ones (the Life Center ice rink, the Life Center itself, the Discovery Museum, and all of the enjoyable of the Ouseburn—which we’ve coated in far more element subsequent).
14. Ouseburn Christmas Market
Your third middle-of-Newcastle choice, I like this Christmas market.
No matter who you might be and who you’re advertising with, you’ll get pleasure from hanging across the Ouseburn. This is my favourite a part of Newcastle: it’s full of fantastic under-the-radar stuff, and it’s the hippest a part of the town.
This Newcastle neighborhood at all times has an inclusive group really feel, however that’s much more true when the Christmas market is in city. Featuring round 40 stalls, there’s an enormous emphasis on native creatives and artists—together with eats, treats, and works from musicians, brewers, designers, artists, bakers, and extra. It’s not possible to not stroll round right here with a smile in your face.
When you’re carried out on the market, you may have heaps extra choices for different enjoyable in this diversified however tightly-packed neighborhood…
If you’re with children, head to Seven Stories (the wonderful National Center for Children’s Books), the Ouseburn Farm (stacked with a number of cute creatures), and Stepney Bank Stables.
If you’re not with children, wander alongside to all the stylish pubs, cafes, and eating places (my favourite venues are Tyne Bar and Ernest).
15. Barnard Castle Christmas Market
Famous for being the house of Dominic Cummings’ eye-testing routines and rituals, the historic market settlement of Barnard Castle is among the prettiest cities in the area.
Inside the city, you’ll discover Bowes Museum (an artwork gallery inside a grand outdated constructing). And inside Bowes Museum, you’ll discover a two-day Christmas market.
The market hosts over 70 separate distributors, providing meals, crafts, native produce, artisanal eats and treats, candles, ceramics, garments, handmade items, stained glass, and extra.
For discovering native meals, this is among the greatest Christmas markets in north east England. Scrumptious servings embrace pies, sausages, sauces, cheeses, and plenty of drinks.
And as a pleasant bonus, you’ll additionally discover kids’s actions, and a few fairground rides.
When you’re carried out on the market, I like to recommend visiting Eggleston Hall Gardens. And if you happen to’re not terrified of climbing in chilly climate, I additionally advocate wandering over to the very-nearby North Pennines.
16. Berwick Christmas Market
The most northerly city in England, Berwick (or ‘Berwick-upon-Tweed,’ to provide the place its official title) sits proper on the England-Scotland border.
Sitting alongside one of many city’s greatest streets, the Christmas market right here gives items, meals, drinks, fairly lights, particular visits from Santa, and the attract of one of many friendliest cities in north east England.
It gives round 60 stalls, and (as is turning into a theme in this information!) locations a agency concentrate on native folks, and locally-sourced crafts and produce.
If you may have time whenever you’re carried out right here, head north to Eyemouth, one in all my favourite coastal cities in Scotland. Full of stuff for each adults and youngsters, you’ll fall in love with the place (identical to all people else does).
17. Bonus Choice: York Christmas Festival
Last up, probably the greatest Christmas markets in the UK.
Okay, York isn’t fairly in the far northeast of England.
But the town’s cobbled lanes are perfectly-suited to Christmas attraction, it’s just one hour away from Newcastle by practice, and the entire place gives a large vary of festive enjoyable.
Come right here, and also you get far more than simply markets. Yeah, the more-than-100 chalet-style markets provide all the standard stuff (meals, drinks, crafts, artwork, native produce, festive eats, and extra).
But past the market stalls, different festive enjoyable consists of pantomimes, ice skating, live shows, caroling, Santa experiences, afternoon teas, indoor tents, heat fires, infinite foods and drinks, a retro-style fairground, and a Swiss-themed chalet expertise (with wonderful eats!). Visiting York throughout Christmas time is like strolling alongside the set of a festive film.
And if you happen to can’t make all of it the best way to York, the organizers even provide a digital Christmas market!
if you happen to’re prepared to journey even additional in pursuit of different Christmas markets, I additionally advocate visiting each Edinburgh’s Christmas markets and Manchester’s Christmas markets.
Okay, they’re each fairly removed from the area… however Manchester’s Christmas markets are one of the best I’ve ever seen, whereas Edinburgh is definitely the UK’s #1 setting for an atmospheric and alluring Christmas expertise.
Before You Go
There they’re—the 17 greatest Christmas markets in northeast England.
For far more info on exploring the area that raised me, try our guides to the 13 greatest causes to go to Newcastle, the 22 greatest issues to do in Newcastle, one of the best day journeys from the town, and why you’ll have completely no concept what anybody’s speaking about.
Thanks for studying, thanks for visiting Travelness, and have a beautiful Christmas!
