Christmas markets and events in England 2021

Support local businesses by snapping up a Christmas gift on the Fowey Christmas Market website. Whether you snap up some homegrown cider, Cornish gouda or handmade candles from their trader directory, all purchases will go towards helping small Cornish businesses thrive through the winter. 

Grab some festive goodies at this East Midlands' virtual market. Showcasing the wide range of festive fare and unique gifts that Derbyshire-based producers have to offer, this virtual shop is the perfect place to spend your hard-earned cash. 

After the unfortunate cancellation of this year's event, Bath Christmas Market has turned virtual. Get your hands on unique gifts, handcrafted jewellery and personalised presents at this online marketplace. Shop from a range of local stallholders and get the goods sent straight to your door. 

Join over 3,000 other members on Manchester's Virtual Christmas Markets social media group who are stocking up on artisan goods and yuletide gifts from the city's local traders and businesses. 

Whether you need some Christmas Eve box ideas, want to gift a glamorous hamper or want to help local cultural and heritage institutions, head over to Visit Exeter's Virtual Christmas Market for a ton of festive inspiration.

Find artisan perfumes for a lucky lady in your life, pay it forward with a pottery workshop for a crafty cousin or opt for some fairtrade fare for a friend, all while boosting local businesses at Dudley Borough's Virtual Christmas Market. 

Get in the Christmas spirit with the first-ever virtual edition of the Fakenham Christmas Tree Festival. 

The stone of iconic Stonehenge have marked the winter solstice for thousands of years. And even those there's no gathering this year, you can still catch the phenomenon on 21 December if you wake up early to watch the live stream. 

Tune into exclusive readings and carols live from Hampton Court Palace and the Tower of London on the 21 December to get yourself well and truly into the Christmas spirit. Featuring the choirs of the Chapels Royal, along with some very special guests, give the festive season the royal treatment and donate what you can. 

Embark on an enchanting twilight adventure this Christmas to meet the Mad Hatter, the Queen of Hearts and Alice herself in a stunning giant lantern Wonderland. Bursting with holiday spirit, Lightwater Valley will also have a festive fairground full of traditional rides, a Christmas-themed puppet show and the opportunity to search for Santa’s mischievous elves.

Even though Thursford’s Christmas Spectacular is on pause this year, you can get into the festive spirit with the venue’s magical walk-through Wonderland Trail, an all-singing all-dancing maze of steam trains, fairytale characters and one of the UK’s biggest kinetic light displays, before ending up outdoors to marvel at four acres of breathtaking luminous sculptures.

See a royal estate lit up like never before at Luminate Sandringham. Follow a mesmerising mile-long trail, full of light play and ambient music, with different themes dotted through along the way. 

Enjoy a soundtrack of Christmas classics and light-draped canopies at Belton House. The magical mile-long trail, made even more enchanting with a soundtrack of classical Christmas tunes, will transform the gardens at this National Trust property. Discover giant candles that rise into the night sky, spot trees decked out with giant baubles and snowflakes, and take a moment to admire the waterside fire garden, aglow with hundreds of flickering flames. 

Discover towering luminescent sculptures at Stourhead. Stroll along the sparkling Heart Walk, framed by glittering trees, and stop for a photo inside the majestic 50-metre light tunnel, adorned with 100,000 bulbs. 

Step into a festive takeover of England's most famous caves. Draped in 100,000 twinkling Christmas lights, Wookey Hole is an unforgettable underground adventure. Take a guided tour through the caves (home to the legendary Witch of Wookey, before heading above ground to meet Santa, fairies, dinosaurs and more. 

Norwich was the location of Netflix’s brand-new Christmas flick, Jingle Jangle. Continuing with the colour and magic of Christmas, Hay Hill will once again transform into a Tunnel of Light. With 50,000 LEDs reflecting the patterns and colours of the Northern Lights, the awe-inspiring 45-metre-long tunnel is the perfect setting to get you into the festive spirit.

Scented fire gardens and neon tunnels light up Oxfordshire's Blenheim Palace this Christmas. The illuminated trail features lasers and light projections, colour-changing neon tunnels and lakeside reflections, accompanied by the soothing sounds of Christmas. 

A highlight of London’s festive calendar is back this year with a larger open-air ice rink and staggered skate sessions to make sure there’s plenty of social distancing. Glide (or shuffle) across the ice while enjoying views of an iconic Tudor Palace, then warm up with a festive snack at the Ice Rink Café and Bar.

Please note that due to current Tier 4 restrictions, the ice rink is now closed until further notice. 

Discover 11 fantastical lands at Chester Zoo this winter, each filled with sparkle and light, colourful lanterns, costumed characters and Christmas scenes. See the show-stopping Octopus, meander through a Cactus Desert and discover other exotic illuminated wildlife throughout the park. Measures are in place to keep visitors safe and all tickets go towards looking after animals in the zoo and around the world.

Dine in style this Christmas at the Spa Valley Railway. Step back to the bygone days of steam and enjoy a festive meal in a heritage train carriage. When boarding at Eridge in Kent, you'll be treated to a welcome aperitif and canapés, before sitting down to tuck into a hot Christmas dinner. The train trip also includes a short stop off at the station where you'll get to see the impressive steam locomotive up close from the platform.

Please note that due to current Tier 4 restrictions, the railway is closed until further notice.