Market merrymaking

Bundle up in your warmest coat, hat and mittens to visit the best Christmas markets in the UK.

- Katie Sipp-Hurley

For all the grey mornings and drizzly afternoons of winter in the UK, Christmas is a time when the country redeems itself. Rollicking through landmark streets, a hot (potentially alcoholic) drink in hand, panto booked - this is what it's all about, right? And the UK's selection of genuinely brilliant Christmas markets may just be the icing on top of the cake.

Hyde Park Winter Wonderland, London 21 November 2024 to 5 January 2025 Resembling a village, Hyde Park Winter Wonderland is an alluring choice for a romantic date, but perhaps not for the faint of heart.

You'll be swept away under thousands of dazzling lights and rides that tower overhead, one of which, The Hangover, reaches a dizzying 278ft in height.

For a post-ride breather, take a leisurely turn around the open-air ice rink that encircles the iconic Victorian bandstand, before getting lost in the Magical Ice Kingdom, where life-size sculptures crafted from more than 500 tons of ice and snow await. Feast on an astounding array of food, including fondue and churros. And, with your festive spirit now off the scale, join in with a Christmas sing-along.