Best Christmas market in the UK for: handmade treasures
When: November 9, 2023 – December 23, 2023
Organized by Craft*folk for nearly 30 years, this Cardiff market has a proper handmade focus spanning stalls selling silver jewelry, glasswork, hand-thrown ceramics, and quilts. The taster scheme—where new artists and crafters sell their wares for five-, seven- or 10-day stints—includes Castell Apothecary (visit for home fragrances and soaps) and prints by Carmarthen-based artist Louise Jones.
Cheltenham Christmas Market
Best Christmas market for: weekend festivities
When: November 16, 2023 – November 19, 2023; December 14, 2023 – December 23, 2023
Cheltenham has not one but three Christmas markets, all alongside the covered ice rink in Imperial Gardens. First up is the craft market, which spans one weekend in November when stalls include stoneware pots from Vineyard Potter and original wildlife illustrations (both prints and printed on homeware) by Kerry Jane Art. Then, there’s the pop-up Christmas market at the beginning of December—it’s a great time to scoop up small-batch botanical spirits by Friary Drinks and handcrafted decorations by PaperSam. Following that, the main festive market runs until Christmas Eve.
A version of this article originally appeared in Condé Nast Traveller.
