Bath Christmas Markets

taliwillow

Hello,

Despite being extemely poor at the moment (as per usual) I really desperately feel the need to get away. I have been thinking that maybe a weekend away to bath at the end of November would be nice as they have the Christmas markets there. But I have never been to bath and have never been to a Christmas market so just wondered what it's like and if it's worth a visit? What kind of things do they sell at the Christmas markets and are the prices ok or is everything ridiculously overpriced? We will be a family of 4 going (2 adults and 2 children aged almost 2 and 3). Any ideas of places to visit in the day that would be suitable for the children? I looked at Wookey but think it would scare them at the moment as they are so young. I have found a holiday cottage for the weekend that would cost us £168 which is quite reasonable isn't it?
Thanks
Taliwillow

maisiescamp

The Christmas market is lovely, it is all little wooden huts set around the abbey. They sell lots of handmade craft ranging from toys, jewellery, paintings, home accessories, candles, scarfes, hats, etc. They are also a couple of mulled wine, bratwurst stalls.

Word of warning though, it gets EXTREMELY busy on a weekend, so much so that you can't really move or look at anything and of course it is harder if you have young children in tow!

However Bath is a lovely city, it has a huge amount of shops including a brand new development. It has the roman baths which you can have a look round, the Bath Spa if you fancy relaxing (although they don't allow young children in). The Bath abbey is well worth a look around, it is gorgeous.

I know previously there has been an ice rink in Bath, but can't remember the name of the gardens where they had it. Also don't know if it is on this year.

Oh and Jamie Olivers Italian restaurant is nice for something to eat!

Edited to say, I see you have very young children so the Bath spa is out, also def wouldn't go to the market on a weekend either as I doubt you would get a proper look at anything and it can be a little stressful.

I can't think of anything to suggest in Bath for young children really I'm afraid. They might like a bus tour? and there is always Bristol zoo?

maisiescamp

Strangely I have just received an email about it detailing online brochures or requesting postal brochures, have a look!
http://visitbath.co.uk/winter-highlights/brochure-request

taliwillow

Thanks for your replies. I do understand that a weekend is busy but I work in a school so I can't take holidays other than school holidays so a weekend is the only option. It is the first weekend of the Christmas markets so not sure if that would mean it would be the busiest weekend, the quietest or whether they are all pretty much the same. There is a possibility that my Mum and her firend may come and stay in the cottage too so the agreement then would be that myself and my husband get to go into bath to the markets one afternoon/evening and my Mum will look after the children then her and her friend would go the next evening. Could be quite a romantic evening out with all of the lights and historical buildings about. Not sure that my husband and I actually remember what romance is though! Lol.

LEJC

The market is pretty much as the first poster has suggested...wooden shed type huts around the area of the abbey and surrounding streets...and the weekend the markets are on the area is packed...so in honesty its not the place for browsing with young children in fact its quite difficult to get to the stalls for all the other people there!...however saying that the range of things is quite good and a little different from the high street..not necessarly cheap but very nice all the same....also as there is very limited parking and car parks are not the cheapest..even if you can find a space..its not the best place to go with a car..there are park and ride facilities outside the city in several areas and I would recommend using those as even they can become quite busy...hotel wise in Bath its rather expensive but there is travelodge and even the holiday inn express is not too far a walk from the centre...
The skating rink referred to was in queen square a few years ago but I Think its only there for a short time over christmas and new year so may not be on at the same time as the markets,and you need to book your slotsd in advance..
Bath is a lovely city but Im not sure you will see the best of it if you visit at that time...personally I would avoid the market and head for the smaller independant shops...there are still a few in walcot street,or the back streets of Bath

taliwillow

Thanks for the replies. I was very excited about the idea but after these responses (which have been very helpful) maybe it's not such a great idea after all. In which case, does anyone have any suggestions of anywhere else that would be a good place to go for a weekend in November or December (if it was December it could be the first week of the school holidays or weekends and would have to be weekends in November). I just figured the weather at that time of year isn't great so I thought Christmas markets might give the holiday some focus (with our children being so young we don't find relaxing is an option, we normally need to take them out to get any kind of rest).
Bath is about a 2 hour drive South of us (we live in North Oxfordshire) and don't really want to drive for much longer than 2 hours just for a weekend away.

LEJC

When our son was a lot younger we occaisionally headed towards cadbury world..merry hill shopping centre...then stayed in a hotel with a swimming pool...it really isnt anything like Bath I know,but I just cant think of anything similar within your distances...its so difficult to find somewhere for good shopping and kids enjoyment...you could possibly have looked at Swindon and Steam...but im guessing thats possibly a little close to home...

taliwillow

Thanks for your reply. It's my daughters 2nd and 3rd birthdays the week after we plan to go and as the 3rd birthday is on a Saturday we have already been planning for months to go to Cadbury World (with tesco deals vouchers) on that day as they will have reindeer then too which I'm sure she will Love. I have just been doing a bit of searching online and thinking maybe York would be an option. We have been to York before but it was in the summer and our eldest was only 5 months old then but I'm thinking that has lots of attractions and shopping and would probably feel quite Christmassy too. I know it's a bit further than I was thinking originally but it's my birthday 3 days after my eldest daughters birthday so I'm thinking that the Radley shop in the retail outlet near York could be my birthday treat! And I have found a holiday cottage that looks fab about 30 mins outside of York that could accomodate the 4 of us plus my Mum and her friend for £168 for the weekend.

smokiewater

Oh Couldn't resist joining in - Belfast has a fantastic Christmas Market at the City Hall and it is all only a cheap Ryanair or Easyjet flight away! The weekend you mention is also one of the busiest for local craft fairs - The Magic of Christmas is on at the Kings Hall in Belfast, theres a huge Craft Fair at the Linengreen (designer?) outlet in Dungannon and Magherafelt's Christmas Market is on along with one in Armagh on the Saturday!!!

There is loads to do for small children as well, W5 at the Odyssey, Crazy Golf, the Zoo, Open Farms, Ice Skating, the list goes on and on... We are a small city so it is easy to see and do a lot! Plus we have all the usual High Street Shops in the City Centre, and loads of good eating houses too!

Honestly, I don't work for the tourist board!!!! If you fancied Dublin, the following weekend would be better, their Xmas Market would have started and the National Craft Fair would be on at the RDS!