Christmas Markets

We used to book Bolton Abbey Site, sadly it cannot happen this year.

We will start our "Christmas Markets tour this year at the market in Gloucester, which we have enjoyed greatly in the past.  We like to go to Germany for the Christmas markets each year.  We visit old favourites and new (to us) markets. This year we are planning to visit the markets at Aachen, probably our favourite market.  Here we have had some fabulous white gluwein and Aachener Printen, a type of Lebkuchen.  Then on to Monschau and Koln / Cologne both of which we like for different reasons. Monschau is a lovely little town in a beautiful setting whilst the many markets in Koln offer great variety and interest in and around this great city.  From there we intend to visit Marburg, which we have previously visited but never for the Christmas market.  We are then going to the "fairy tale town" of Alsfeld, then on to Ladenburg which we visited last year along with Heidelburg.  From here we'll visit Weinheim.  On the way back we're going to Bernkastel-Kues, which was beautiful in the snow last year.  Finally we are going to Brugge before returning home.

Why wasn't  the Christmas market in Birmingham not in  the magazine guide???

Another vote for Lincoln from me and last year there was a Christmas Market/Fayre we went to at Ely Cathedral (ticket only) which we enjoyed.

That is quite an itinerary Wanderbirds. Never been to a Christmas Market "over there" and probably never will. Stayed at the Knaresborough Club site last year and went to the one held in Harogate. Enjoyed the Club site but found the market disappointing.

One of my sons used to live and work in Germany and told me the Birmingham one was every bit as good as those he had visited in Germany so what with this and a lack of love for crowded markets, there isn't much incentive to travel over there or to make a real effort to travel to those held in the UK.

peedee

Plymouth Christmas market opens up again at the end of November. Last year I could have bought an ersatz cuckoo clock, a small carved wooden reindeer and some imported Chinese lavender bags if I had needed them. 

Hello Peedee,

We can highly recommend the wide variety of markets in Germany.  Though Christmas markets can be a bit "samey",  the quality of food and gluwein varies greatly as does the ambience and variety of "artisan" products on the stalls. .  Our daughters, who have both been to quite a few markets in Germany rate both Manchester and Birmingham.  The worst we have visited in England was Canterbury.  Love the place but it's !?*!!

Though it sounds a lot we don't need to travel far each day except Bernkastel-Kues, to Brugge which is about 250 miles. we move every couple of days for between 25 and 150 miles.

I do not acknowledge that Christmas exists until Advent and "bar-humbug" my way through October and November but there is something very special about of a Christmas market whilst standing in the snow, gluwein and reibekuchen in hand, in a beautiful German town surrounded by happy people, whilst listening to a choir or local band.

Always enjoy the Edinburgh Christmas Market. ---- But the best we ever attended was the one at Bruges in Belgium.  The whole city centre is the market.  

K 

Wanderbirds said: "there is something very special about of a Christmas market whilst standing in the snow, gluwein and reibekuchen in hand, in a beautiful German town surrounded by happy people, whilst listening to a choir or local band"

Yes, I agree that somehow the markets in Germany, and the one in Brugge, seem to have more atmosphere.  It's even better when the local school comes along and sing carols, they really sing their hearts out and sometimes that brings a lump to your throat (but then I'm a real softie).

Perhaps I ought to reconsider, don't fancy the snow but the gluwein and kuchen sound great.

peedee