Christmas Markets: which do you rate?

PearlSaunders

mickeymouse303 wrote: »

The Manchester markets are beautiful and festive and everything, but it's hard to enjoy them when you can't actually move because there are that many people! It's difficult to look around on the stalls properly because it's too busy.

Yeah, though I go there once in the last year but also had plenty of memories. What I like most is to walk circling the store, try a bit of everything

Nile

I went to the York Christmas market yesterday and used the park and ride from the McArthur Glen outlet.

I wasn't that impressed with the Christmas market but the combination of visiting York and the McArthur Glen outlet was a good day out.

York Christmas Market

Good - well spaced market stalls and plenty of variety. The wonderful backdrop of York.

Bad - the (park and ride) single deck buses were jam packed and some people had to stand for the full journey.

McArthur Glen outlet

Good - a wide choice of shops, including UGG and Kipling. Plenty of sofas to sit down and relax.

Bad - nothing................can't fault it.

motorguy

mickeymouse303 wrote: »

The Manchester markets are beautiful and festive and everything, but it's hard to enjoy them when you can't actually move because there are that many people! It's difficult to look around on the stalls properly because it's too busy.

+1

Been to the Manchester christmas market for the first time this year (i work right beside it at the moment)

Really is excellent. My wife came over for the weekend and we had a wail of a time.

Its best to try to get to the main market in front of the town hall at a non peak time OR if you have to be there peak, then be in no hurry to move through it. You just have to "go with the flow" - albeit a very slow flow.

The other six or so sites across the city arent quite as busy so we often dropped out to those.

Great setup and very enjoyable. Irrespective of where i'm working next christmas (i'm an IT contractor) we're definitely going to make a point of a weekend in Manchester to get to the market

Luckystar

Just got back from an overnight break away to Bath Christmas market, really lovely and lots of different stalls with some unusual and locally made products, Would highly recommend. Such a historic city with lots to see and do.

EycplUK

Would that chocolate drink be at The Old Chocolate House ?

EycplUK

Salome wrote: »

Me, my hubby and two boys went to Brugge for an overnight stay last Christmas (around the 22nd of December, I think) and it was a magical experience. We live in Norfolk; the journey to the tunnel port took about 3 hours, half an hour under, then about two hours to Brugge. Although the actual Christmas market was fairly small, the 'experience' of the old town at Christmas was magical, chocolate shops by the plenty, wonderful little cafes selling hot chocolate and waffles, horse driven carriages and a real festive atmosphere.
As I said, the market itself was small, but they did have an amazing stall selling hand painted glass decorations, an ice skating rink and lots of the usual wooden toys. And en route home we called into a huge supermarket on the edge of town and picked up festive beer and some very toothsome pate for a fraction of the price it would have cost over here.
(photos including my hubby drinking the largest cup of hot chocolate EVER!

Chocolate Drink from The Old Chocolate House ?

mickey54

Kinski wrote: »

I've never enjoyed the Edinburgh market, over priced and very little there that you can't get in the shops, my grandbrats liked the small amount of shows that were there but that's about it.

Have to agree with you.

Also far too busy ... In effect that in parts you can hardly move.

Edinburgh has great pr .. So good that it's going to eventually be so busy that the reviews will be negative .. See local edinburgh evening news for info... That tourists will stop coming.

Murphybear

The only one I've been to is Bath. It was a nightmare, you had to queue up just to walk around. I suspect a lot of others are the same

weddingringman

Kinski wrote: »

I've never enjoyed the Edinburgh market, over priced and very little there that you can't get in the shops, my grandbrats liked the small amount of shows that were there but that's about it.

I have to agree.

It has a great atmosphere and good food, but having been a few years in succession I think I'll give it a miss in 2017. The gifts are just too overpriced and they feel a bit mass produced! The same stalls and products are repeated throughout the market, so it feels a bit contrived!

SamuelHarry

In Christmas eve in markets I present my friend bean bag. Bean bag is very comfortable when my loving friend sit on bean he remember me.