Manchester Christmas Markets Guide 2024

Approaching its 26th year, the Manchester Christmas Markets are defrosting and awaiting your arrival. Whether local or travelling in especially for the seasonal celebrations, this city’s festivities have a lot to offer you. Hot chocolates radiating warmth through your gloves, carnival rides sending adrenaline through your system, and who can forget the aroma of European cuisines filling our nostrils? Our mouths are watering at the thought of it. Luckily for you the wait is nearly over. Get prepared so you can make the most out of your visit to Manchester this Christmas and ensure you capture the spirit this destination provides.  

Coming up in this article:

• What Are the Dates for Manchester’s Christmas Markets?

• Where to Find the Christmas Markets in Manchester

• Short Christmas Breaks with Rabbie’s

• Manchester’s Christmas Markets FAQs

What Are the Dates For Manchester’s Christmas Markets? 

Manchester’s Christmas market will return from the 8th November to the 22nd December 2024. However, individual pop-up markets may vary in start dates. The council in Manchester were hoping to return to Albert Square in 2024, but due to ongoing refurbishments, when you visit this Christmas market, it will be held in the 2023 location of Piccadilly Gardens.  

As an accessable gateway to the city, Piccadilly Gardens breathes the heart of Manchester and is perfectly situated for good transport links, the shopping quarters or the bustling city offices. And while you embrace the city for the festive celebrations, why not make a short break out of it and discover the surrounding areas of Manchester? Cross the border into Wales and climb your way to the top of Snowdonia, or maybe inhaling the serenity of The Lake District is more your style. It all starts with the idea of trying somewhere new.

Where to Find the Christmas Markets in Manchester 

As you take a stroll around the city at this time of year, its festive magic is waiting to be discovered. It’s just knowing where to look to find the best Christmas markets in Manchester! Let's provide a helping hand to arrive at your destination quicker.

Winter Gardens, Piccadilly Gardens 

Being transformed into a winter ski resort, Piccadilly Gardens will be the centre of attention at this year's Manchester Christmas extravagance. Providing a mix of craft, gift, food and drink stalls, if you only have time to experience one market this year, we’d say this one is a pretty good choice. Think wooden chalets housing festive treats that only appear at Christmas, merry songs that put a bounce in your step, and twinkling lights overhead to lead the way. And let’s not forget the Christmas windmill. This iconic structure for Manchester that stands 4 metres high is pretty hard to miss!

St Ann’s Square  

St Ann’s Square is a traditional Christmas market in the heart of Manchester. It’s also the oldest, as 26 years ago this venue housed the first seasonal stalls in the city. And oh, how it's grown. Here you’ll find continental cheese stalls, bars to shelter under when the weather inevitably turns damp, and alien sculptures have been known to make an appearance once or twice. So, nothing is out of reach. Add this landmark to your must-visit list of Christmas markets this year, and Manchester will be ready to welcome you with open arms. 

Exchange Square 

Home to the Yorkshire pudding wrap, need we say more as to why you should swing by this market in Manchester? Porky Pig is the vendor to look out for if this is your first trip to the city and trust us, they’re worth the wait. While in the area, you can also take a visit to The Mill Exchange to wash down your wrap with one of their Mancunian mulled wines. 

As one of the larger sites housing the festival in Manchester, Exchange Square has everything from local craft stalls to fill your secret Santa sacks, to boutique babywear to make their first Christmas magical. Save this ahead of your trip to make roaming the market just that little bit easier. 

Short Christmas Breaks with Rabbie’s 

Touring in winter has our heart fluttering and being in Greater Manchester at Christmas is a luxury we want you to experience. Think frosted mornings crunching beneath your boots, shop doors opening to your arrival waiting to see the goodies you plan to put under the tree, and most importantly the heartwarming food the North does so well! Yorkshire pudding festive wrap anyone? But who's to say the magic doesn’t seep beyond the walls of this English city? Did you know you're only a short coach ride away from the captivating waters of the Peak District, at the foothills of the Yorkshire Dales, and for literature fans among us, Bronte country is within the grasp of fingertips.

And for 2024, we’re running a unique offer for autumn and winter with 10% off day trips when you travel between 1st October and 17th December 2024. But if you want to make your trip extra personal to you and your guests, create your own itinerary with the help of our private tours team.

Manchester’s Christmas Markets FAQs 

Before you embark on your trip to Manchester’s Christmas markets, we’re sure you have a question or two you want answering. 

Do I Need Tickets for the Christmas Markets in Manchester? 

Entrance to Manchester’s Christmas markets is free, but there are certain activities which do have an additional cost, namely the Ice Rink, which can be pre-booked.     

Is the Christmas Markets Worth it in Manchester? 

Spread across nearly ten locations in the city, Manchester’s Christmas Market is one of the best to visit in the UK. Hosting nearly 300 wooden chalets, selling everything and anything from food to handmade gifts, this festive event is not to be missed. And why not partner your trip with one of our small-group tours to make the festivities continue?

Where is the Best Place to Park for the Christmas Market in Manchester? 

Parking for the city's Christmas market is very simple, with the nearest locations being Piccadilly Plaza or Chorlton Street. If city centre driving is not for you, Manchester does host a park and ride scheme with over 30 locations, so you can find the closest one for you. Alternatively, public transport is widely recommended with Manchester Piccadilly train station being a 10-minute tram ride from the Christmas markets.

Escape the Cold This Winter With Rabbie’s 

The nights are drawing in and the chill in the air is beginning to get us in a festive mood. Do you feel it? The crackling of open fires warming our bones and the burnt cinnamon scent dusts the ends of our nostrils, it’s finally time to say it...it’s beginning to feel a lot like Christmas.

What better way to welcome in season than with a group tour of the UK or Ireland with a certified B Corp travel company? Led by our knowledgeable driver-guides, they’re ready to start the engine, are you climbing onboard? To be one of the first to know about new departure points or dates, get the latest inspiration when you sign-up to our newsletter.