Where to find Christmas markets in the Cotswolds [2026]

With wooden chalets draped with twinkling lights, colourful Christmas decorations, locally made gifts and crafts, and the smell of mulled wine – Christmas markets have become an annual tradition. From large markets in Bath and Cheltenham to one-night festive fairs in towns and villages, there are dozens of places to shop for gifts and get in the festive spirit in the Cotswolds at Christmas.

This guide brings together the 2026 Cotswold Christmas market dates, including opening times and event details, and there’s also a downloadable calendar to help plan your visit. Most events fall between late November and early December, with the highest concentration on weekends.

Cotswold Christmas market calendar 2026

Planning a festive day out? This calendar shows the markets taking place this Christmas, so you can quickly see what’s on during your visit. Download a printable PDF version here.

Ongoing Christmas markets in the Cotswolds

Blenheim Palace Christmas Market

Friday 13 November to Sunday 20 December 2026

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 grounds, the Great Skate ice rink in the Great Court, Christmas afternoon teas in the Orangery, and Cinderella-themed decorations inside the palace – all at extra cost.

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 S3 or S7 buses from Oxford, or the S7 from Hanborough station).

Bath Christmas Market

Thursday 26 November to Sunday 13 December 2026

Bath Christmas Market is one of the UK’s most popular festive markets, with one of the most beautiful settings. The UNESCO World Heritage-listed cobbled streets around Bath Abbey are given a magical Christmas makeover, with over 180 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 Rubis Chocolate Wine and Beckford’s of Bath Rum 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. But it can get very busy, especially with coach trips on weekend afternoons, so visit early or late in the day on a weekday if you can.

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 The Nutcracker come to life at Prior Park Landscape Garden, get steamy at the Thermae Bath Spa or have tea at the Pump Rooms.

Cheltenham Christmas Market

Thursday 10 to Wednesday 23 December 2026

Cheltenham’s annual Christmas market also returns this year, with 40 chalets along the Promenade. There’s a range of Christmas gifts, homewares, clothes and decorations for sale, with artists and crafters selling glassware, jewellery and art prints. You can pick up a warming hot chocolate, mug of mulled wine or cider, and foodie treats like waffles, crêpes and German sausages.

You can also get into the spirit of Christmas in Cheltenham with a trip to the panto – choose from Cinderella at the Everyman Theatre or Peter Pan at the Playhouse. There will also be a festive light projection across the front of the Municipal Offices and candlelight carols at Christ Church.

Cirencester Christmas Markets

28–29 November, 5–6 and 13–22 December 2026

There’s a series of different Christmas markets in Cirencester, including the Advent Market on 28–29 November. This features over 200 stalls selling food, drink and gifts, which stretch out along the Market Place into Cricklade and Castle Streets. The town’s Christmas lights will be switched on on 28 November, with performances from local choirs and theatre groups in the church.

There are Christmas gift markets in Cirencester Market Place on 5–6 and 13–22 December, as well as farmers’ markets (dates to be confirmed). You can also see Honk! at the Barn Theatre as this year’s panto, and admire decorated Advent trees in Cirencester Parish Church.

Stroud Christmas Markets

4 and 16–18 December 2026

Stroud’s festive season kicks off at the Goodwill Evening on 4 December, with a lantern procession to St Laurence’s Church and plenty of live music, from rock to carols. There are also several Christmas markets at the Shambles, Five Valleys Shopping Centre and Cornhill Market Place.

You can also shop for an eclectic mix of crafts, gifts and food at the Cornhill Christmas Market on 16, 17 and 18 December. And Stroud’s award-winning farmers’ market has special festive editions (dates to be announced) if you want to stock up on fresh produce for your Christmas dinner.

While you’re in Stroud you can also visit the Christmas Tree Festival at St Laurence’s Church, see pantomime Beauty and the Beast at the Sub Rooms or take a Santa Cruise in a canal boat.

Smaller and short-run Cotswold Christmas markets

As well as the longer events, there are also several towns and villages with single day or weekend Christmas markets, which are often as part of Christmas lights switch-on events. These markets are on a lot smaller scale, but have tons of charm and beautiful scenic backdrops.

Note: some dates are still to be announced so more markets be added once they’re available.

Witney Christmas Market

Thursday 26–Sunday 29 November 2026, 10am–6pm

Witney’s Christmas market launched in 2023 and has expanded into a four-day festive celebration for 2026. The event takes place on Marriotts Walk and is run by the same people as the popular Cheltenham and Cirencester markets. There’s a mixture of handcrafted Christmas gifts, cosy winter wear, fragrant soaps and candles, and speciality food and drink. [More info]

Nailsworth Goodwill Evening

Friday 27 November 2026

Keep warm with mulled wine and mince pies while you shop for hand-crafted crafts, gifts and stocking fillers at Nailsworth’s community Christmas event. There’s a special appearance from Santa and the Christmas donkeys, plus face-painting, carol singing, live music and a funfair. Plus there’s more festive shopping at Artisan Markets on 28 November and 12 December. [More info]

Woodstock Festive Fayre

Friday 27 November and Saturday 28 November 2026

Woodstock’s annual festive fayre has been running since 2018, and now spreads across three local venues – St Mary Magdalene Church, the Oxfordshire Museum and Soldiers of Oxfordshire Museum. The event brings together a selection of local artisans and craftspeople, with over 55 stalls featuring handcrafted gifts, decorations, hot and cold food and mulled wine. [More info]

Broadway Late-Night Christmas Shopping

Friday 27 November and Friday 4 December 2026, 4.30pm–8.30pm

The late-night shopping event in Broadway is one of the most popular Cotswolds festive markets. It features beautiful Christmas lights – including the Tree of Light to commemorates loved ones who’ve passed away – street entertainers, pony sleigh rides and a visit from Father Christmas. Enjoy free mince pies and mulled wine as you shop for Christmas treats and gifts. [More info]

Heritage House Christmas Market at Daylesford

Friday 27–Sunday 29 November 2026, 9am–5pm

Daylesford Farm near Kingham puts its own spin on a Christmas market with their Heritage House event, with special gifts from a curated selection of independent makers and artisans. Unlike the other markets there’s an entry fee of £25, which includes a glass of fizz on arrival, then there are craft and cookery demonstrations, book signings and seasonal food and drink. [More info]

Moreton-in-Marsh Christmas Market

Saturday 28 November 2026, 10am–5.30pm

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. And the event ends with the town’s Christmas light switch on at 5pm. [More info]

Cogges Christmas Market

Saturday 28–Sunday 29 November 2026, 10am–4pm

At Cogges Manor Farm near Witney, you can browse the Victorian Barns for homewares, ceramics, knits, artworks and food. Then head out into the farmyard for more stalls, as well as Christmas trees for sale, mulled wine and mince pies, festive face painting for kids and live music. [More info]

Winchcombe Christmas Festival

Thursday 3 December, 12pm–8pm, and Friday 4 December 2026, 10am–4pm

Winchcombe Christmas Festival begins with late-night shopping and over 50 market stall selling festive gifts and food on Thursday. Streets are decorated with 70 real Christmas trees and there’s entertainment from carol singers and Morris dancers. Then there’s a new Christmas Shopping Trail on Friday with 20 pop-ups inside independent shops and venues around Winchcombe. [More info]

Malmesbury Late-Night Shopping

Friday 4 December 2026, 6pm–9pm

At the late-night shopping event in Malmesbury, shops around 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, there’s entertainment for all the family including Santa’s Grotto, fairground rides for the kids and carol singing. [More info]

Chipping Campden Christmas Market

Saturday 5 December 2026, 12pm–5pm

Chipping Campden 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. [More info]

Stonehouse Christmas Goodwill Fest

Saturday 5 December 2026, 2pm–6pm

Stonehouse’s annual Goodwill Fest features seasonal stalls selling gifts, crafts and treats, and beautifully decorated shop windows around town. Father Christmas will be there to switch on the Christmas lights before taking present requests in his grotto. And there are street entertainers and musicians, festive food and drink, and plenty of community spirit. [More info]

Christmas Under the Edge

Saturday 5 December 2026, 4pm–8pm

The last of our Cotswold Christmas markets is Christmas Under the Edge in Wotton-under-Edge. There are 70 craft and food stalls on the town’s Long and Market Streets, and shops around town stay open late. There’s a parade from Church Street to the Town Hall, you can see St Mary’s Church lit by candlelight and meet Santa, as well as enjoying musical performances. [More info]

Christmas markets further afield

You can also find Christmas markets near the Cotswolds in:

• Bristol: 40 stalls in the city centre, with visits from Santa, live music in the Jäger Barn Bar and private igloos and gondolas available to hire (6 November–23 December).
• Gloucester Quays: Over 120 traders selling crafts, gifts and food, pop-up bars and street food stalls, plus an outdoor ice rink (weekends from 7 November to 20 December).
• Stratford-upon-Avon: A Christmas market fills the city centre with 200 stalls selling festive treats and gifts, plus roaming entertainers (28–29 November and 5–6 December).
• Tewkesbury: Christmas lights switch on with 70 stalls around the High Street, Church Street and Barton Street, plus fairground rides and live music performances (22 November).
• Worcester: The Victorian Christmas Fayre includes a street market with 200 stalls, a carousel and funfair, carol singers, magicians and street performers (3–6 December).

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