This atmospheric festive fair with cobbled streets and local businesses is one of the best Christmas markets in Britain
Festive season is in full swing, and that means that most of the UK’s Christmas markets are now open for business. A visit to the light filled, alpine hut-packed markets is a non-negotiable this time of year. Because how can you possibly get into the festive spirit before you’ve had a steaming cup of mulled wine outside in the cold?
The best Christmas market for you depends on what you’re looking for. Birmingham puts on the best German-style fair and Beverley puts on the best one day extravaganza, but if you want a Christmas market that’s full of ye olde character and locally made goods, head for York.
In our ranking of the UK’s greatest Christmas markets for 2025, we named York Christmas Market, also known as St Nicholas Fair, the best in the country for local traders. If you want to pay it a visit, here’s everything you need to know.
When is York Christmas Market 2025?
York’s Christmas market opened on November 13 and will stick around until December 21.
What are the opening times?
The fair is open daily from 10.30am until 7pm.
Main attractions
While some festive fairs across the UK go big with glitzy fairground rides and live music stages, the best thing about York’s market is the stalls. Huts line the city centre’s cosy cobbled streets, selling everything from gourmet scotch eggs to crochet supplies. More than 80 percent of the chalets will be occupied by independent Yorkshire businesses, and if you’re a York resident, you can get a sweet 10 percent off.
You can browse the full list of traders at this year’s market here.
Photograph: Shutterstock
How to get to York Christmas Market
Stalls will be set up across Parliament Street and St Sampson’s Square. If you’re coming from outside of York, you can use a Park and Ride into the city centre from just £3.90 return (free for children under 16). From nearby towns and cities you can catch the Coastliner from Leeds, Tadcaster and Malton, the 415 from Selby, the 30 from Easingwold, the 82 from Ripon, the X46/X47 from Hull and Beverley.
And if you’re arriving into the city by train, the market is just a 10 to 15 minute walk from York Railway Station.
ICYMI: The vast, ‘triumphant’ festive fair that is officially the best Christmas market in the UK for 2025.
Plus: When the Coca-Cola Christmas truck will return for 2025.
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