Where to find Christmas markets in the Cotswolds [2024]

With wooden chalets draped with sparkling lights, colourful Christmas decorations, locally made gifts and crafts, and the smell of mulled wine and roasted chestnuts – Christmas markets have become an annual tradition. And there are a host of Christmas markets in the Cotswolds which add an extra dose of sparkle to the region’s towns and villages. Our guide to Cotswold Christmas markets in 2024 takes you through the markets not to miss, from big names to smaller events.

Christmas markets in the Cotswolds

Bath Christmas Market

Thursday 28 November to Sunday 15 December 2024

Bath Christmas Market is one of the UK’s most popular festive markets, and celebrates its 22nd anniversary this year. The UNESCO World Heritage-listed cobbled streets around Bath Abbey are given a magical Christmas makeover, with over 170 wooden chalets selling crafts from around the southwest and beyond, including pottery, jewellery, candles, knits, art and homewares.

There are also local food and drink stalls, including the Bristol Cider Co, 6 O’Clock Gin and Beckfords of Bath Rum – guaranteed to warm you up on a cold night. The market helps raise money for charity, and is trying to be more sustainable by reducing single-use plastics.

You can also celebrate Christmas in Bath with a spin around the Bath on Ice skating rink in Victoria Park, listen to carols at Bath Abbey, see the 12 Days of Christmas come to life at Prior Park Landscape Garden, get steamy at the Thermae Bath Spa or have tea at the Pump Rooms.

Cheltenham Christmas Markets

Thursday 21 to Sunday 24 November and Thursday 12 to Saturday 22 December 2024

Cheltenham’s annual Christmas markets also return this year, with two different markets on the Promenade. First up is the Christmas Gift Market in November, with a range of Christmas gifts, homewares and decorations for sale. You can pick up a warming hot chocolate or a mug of mulled wine or cider, and fill up on foodie treats like waffles, crêpes and German sausages.

Then the traditional Arts and Crafts Christmas Market in December focuses on independent traders who’ll be selling crafts and gifts including glassware, jewellery and art prints. There’s also an artisan market featuring local creatives at the Pittville Pump Room on 23–24 November.

You can also get into the spirit of Christmas in Cheltenham with a trip to the panto – choose from Aladdin at the Everyman Theatre or Jack and the Beanstalk at the Playhouse. There’s also skating at the indoor ice rink in Imperial Gardens and candlelight carols at Christ Church Cheltenham.

Cirencester Christmas Markets

30 November–1 December and 24 November, 15, 17–19 and 22 December 2024

There are a series of different Christmas markets in Cirencester, starting with the Advent Market on 30 November–1 December. This features over 100 market stalls selling food, drink and gifts, which stretch out along the length of the Market Place and into Cricklade and Castle Streets. And the streets will be decorated with lights and Christmas trees, with live music and carol singing.

On 30 November the town’s Christmas lights will be switched on at 4pm, with silent fireworks, light projections and falling snow. And there are also Christmas gift markets on 24 November and 15, 17–19 and 22 December, as well as farmers’ markets and the usual Charter Markets.

You can also see swashbuckling musical The Three Musketeers at the Barn Theatre as this year’s panto, and admire the beautifully decorated Advent trees in Cirencester Parish Church.

Stroud Christmas Markets

Wednesday 18 to Friday 20 December 2024

When Christmas is fast approaching, Stroud’s Christmas Markets are a great opportunity to finish off your Christmas shopping with some locally produced presents. There will be an eclectic mix of crafts, gifts and foods on sale at Cornhill Market Place on 18–20 December. And the Subscription Rooms are also hosting their annual Goodwill Evening and Christmas market on 6 December.

Then Stroud’s award-winning Saturday farmers’ market has a special festive edition on 21 December from 9am–2pm if you want to stock up on fresh produce for your Christmas dinner.

Blenheim Palace Christmas Market

Friday 15 November to Sunday 22 December 2024

The prize for the Cotswold Christmas market with the grandest backdrop has to go to Blenheim Palace, the 18th-century palace in Oxfordshire built for the Dukes of Marlborough. Around 70–80 wooden chalets fill the palace’s Great Court, with local designers and makers selling homewares, jewellery, leather goods, textile and ceramics, as well as delicious food and drink.

The market is part of the Christmas at Blenheim event, which also includes an illuminated light trail through the palace grounds, the new Great Skate undercover ice rink, Christmas afternoon teas in the Orangery, and the palace interiors transformed into Peter Pan’s Neverland.

The market is free to visit, but if you’re arriving by car you need to book and pay for parking via their website, which costs £10 plus a £2.50 booking fee (or you can get to the palace by public transport using Stagecoach buses S3 or S7 from Oxford, or the S3 also connects to Chipping Norton).

One-off Cotswold Christmas markets

As well as the longer events, there are also several towns and villages which have one-off Christmas markets in the Cotswolds, often as part of their Christmas lights switch-on events. These markets are on a lot smaller scale, but have tons of charm and beautiful scenic backdrops.

Moreton-in-Marsh Christmas Market

Saturday 23 November 2024, from 10am

Moreton-in-Marsh’s Christmas market runs throughout the day, so you have plenty of time to get your Christmas shopping done, with 80 stalls along the High Street selling gifts, seasonal food and drink. The town’s Christmas lights will be switched on by VIP guest Father Christmas at 5pm when the sun goes down, and he’ll also meet local children in his grotto in Redesdale Hall.

Painswick Goodwill Evening

Friday 29 November 2024, 5pm–8pm

The Goodwill Evening in Painswick is a Christmas event for all the family that’s full of merriment and Christmas cheer. After the bells of St Mary’s Church ring out, there’s a lantern procession through the village and the chance to meet Father Christmas and friends. You can also tuck into festive food, sing Christmas carols, browse gift stalls and make donations to a local food bank.

Malmesbury Late-Night Shopping

Friday 6 December 2024, 6pm–9pm

At the late-night shopping event in Malmesbury, shops around the town stay open late and there’s a selection of indoor and outdoor market stalls in the Upper High Street, Market Cross area and Town Hall. As well as craft stalls, street food and mulled wine for sale, there’s also entertainment for all the family including Santa’s Grotto, fairground rides for the kids and carol singing.

Tetbury Christmas Market

Date to be announced

The streets of Tetbury are lit by a festive lantern parade as part of the annual Christmas Fair and Market. There will also be Cotswold Christmas market stalls selling crafts, gifts, food and drink, and a brass band, Christmas carolers and Santa’s Grotto to add even more seasonal cheer.

Winchcombe Christmas Festival

Friday 6 December, 5pm–8pm, and Saturday 7 December 2024, 10am–5pm

Winchcombe Christmas Festival sees shops around town stay open late for Christmas shopping and over 50 market stalls selling festive gifts and food, with mince pies and punch while you shop. The streets of Winchcombe are decorated with over 70 real Christmas trees and there’s entertainment from carol singers, Morris dancers and street performers, as well as Santa’s Grotto.

Chipping Campden Christmas Market

Saturday 7 December 2024, 12pm–5pm

Chipping Campden Market Square is even more picturesque than usual as it’s transformed into winter wonderland for the town’s Christmas market, which also includes the Christmas tree lighting ceremony at dusk and a special appearance from Father Christmas. The High Street is closed to traffic, with stalls selling crafts, toys, gifts and food in the Market Square and Town Hall.

Christmas Under the Edge

Saturday 7 December 2024, 4pm–8pm

Christmas Under the Edge in Wotton-under-Edge brings the Christmas spirit to the town’s Long Street and Market Street. There are craft and food stalls, and the shops in the town centre stay open late. You can warm up with Christmas teas at the Town Hall, see St Mary’s Church lit by candlelight and meet Santa as well as enjoying fairground rides and musical performances.

Nailsworth’s Big Christmas Market

Saturday 21 December 2024, 9am–3pm

Finally, the last of our Christmas markets in the Cotswolds sees Nailsworth’s bus station get a festive makeover with over 50 stalls, decorated with twinkling lights and greenery. Keep warm with mulled wine and mince pies while you shop for hand-crafted crafts, gifts and stocking fillers. There’s a special appearance from Santa and Mrs Claus, plus live music from a jazz band and harpist.

Christmas markets further afield

You can also find Christmas markets near the Cotswolds in:

• Bristol: 35 stalls in the city centre, with visits from Santa, live music in the Jäger Barn Bar and private igloos and gondolas available to hire (1 November–23 December).
• Gloucester Quays: Over 90 stalls selling crafts, gifts and food, pop-up bars and street food stalls, plus an outdoor ice skating rink (weekends from 2–3 November to 14–15 December).
• Stratford-upon-Avon: A new-style Christmas market filling the city centre with 200 stalls selling festive treats and gifts, plus roaming entertainers (7–8 and 14–15 December).
• Tewkesbury: Christmas lights switch on with 80 stalls around the High Street, Church Street and Barton Street, plus fairground rides and live music performances (24 November).
• Worcester: The Victorian Christmas Fayre includes a street market with 200 stalls, a carousel and funfair, carol singers, magicians and street performers (28 November–1 December).

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