Sleigh bells ring are you listening! From urban ice rinks to fairground rides, Santa’s grottos and glittering light shows, this is Christmas in all its ritzy, glitzy glory at some of the best winter wonderlands in the UK.
Hyde Park Winter Wonderland, London
21st November 2024 – 5th January 2025
Winter Wonderland at Hyde Park returns to guarantee visitors a magical experience. With free entry and so much to see and do, it remains at the top of list.
Get your festive fix with a visit to the market’s 200 chalet-style stalls, enchanting fairground, real ice slide and Bar Ice. Take a spin around the UK’s largest outdoor ice rink, feel the adrenaline as you go on the many rollercoaster rides or check out the daring performance of Cirque Beserk. As night falls, unwind with a hot dog and a glühwein or two at the Bavarian Village.
Stay: YHA London Central
Festive Forest Adventure, CONKERS, Derbyshire
30th November- 24th December 2024
Bundle up and prepare for your Elf adventure at Waterside Winter Wonderland! Join Santa’s Chief Elf and his team as you journey through the Enchanted Forest and the Valley of Christmas Lights to uncover Santa’s Woodland Grotto. This is your opportunity to share with Santa how good you’ve been and receive some special pre-Christmas gifts! And for the grown-ups, a glass of mulled wine and a mince pie should keep the cold at bay. Booking is essential.
Stay: YHA National Forest
Manchester Christmas Markets
8th November – 22nd December 2024
Manchester hosts an amazing winter wonderland which attracts thousands of visitors to the city centre every year. Soak up the atmosphere and visit the stalls which tempt you with jewellery, clothes and gifts. The Christmas market is famous for traditional bratwurst but there are many different food options to try. From hearty hot dogs and burgers to scrumptious waffles and churros for those with a sweet tooth. Be sure to wash it down with a Baileys hot choc or mulled cider.
Stay: YHA Manchester
York Christmas Market
14th November – 22nd December 2024
Another popular choice is York’s St Nicholas Fair. The waft or warm mulled wine on the air, the magic of the fairy lights, ah we can’t wait. York’s St Nicholas Fair features over 100 stalls spread over six sites in the historic city centre. Wander along Parliament Street to find some wonderful Christmas gifts and stocking fillers or for something slightly livelier, head over to Kings Square and enjoy the enjoyment of the fair. Don’t miss out on sliding down an old fashion Helter Skelter.
Stay: YHA York
Snowdonia & Local Producer and Makers Market
30th November – 1st December 2024
Discover the Snowdonia and Local Christmas Market, showcasing talented artisan makers and producers from Eryri and its surroundings, all dedicated to promoting local and sustainable food and drink. Meet a variety of creators, including picklers, brewers, bakers, potters, jewelers, photographers, scribes, butchers, distillers, knitters, sewers, star-gazers, and those crafting lotions and potions, jams, and cakes. When visiting the area, support the local artisans this Nadolig 2024!
Discover more about YHA.
We like to share information about lots of exciting events and third-party listings with you so you can have a great stay. However, please note that even though these are correct at the time of publishing, we recommend that you double-check individual events before you book and travel.
Photo credit: ingusk / David / Andrey Kiselev / SakhanPhotography / Peter Austin / sonyachny / Song_about_summer / Adobe Stock
