The Manchester Christmas Markets make for a fantastic fun-filled day or night out! We’re here to help you with what’s on offer and how to travel smarter on your next festive adventure.

When are the Manchester Christmas Markets?

This year, the Manchester Christmas Markets will be spreading festive joy between November 10th and December 21st. It’s a special event this year, as it’s the 25th anniversary of the first Christmas market that came to Manchester. It’s been a firm favourite ever since.

Food and drink stalls will be open from 11 am to 9 pm, while the craft stalls will be open from 10 am to 8 pm. If you’re after some post-Christmas cheer, then the food and drink stalls at Cathedral Gardens will be around until December 31st to complement the ice skating rink (more information below).

What will I find at the Manchester Christmas Markets?

You’ll find over 225 different stalls spread over nine different sites at the Manchester Christmas Markets. Whether you’re looking for a bite to eat or handcrafted Christmas gifts, you’re sure to find what you’re after.

What’s more, the iconic Skate Manchester is back. You’ll be able to try your hand at ice skating up to January 2nd. It’s got a roof, so you don’t need to worry about the typically British weather causing a downpour, a snow flurry or anything else that it can throw at you.

Where will they be?

Great question! The main zones are expected to be in the following locations:

• Piccadilly Gardens (Winter Gardens) for a variety of craft, food and drink stalls. You’ll also find the iconic Tipi and Windmill here
• Exchange Square is the perfect stop for mulled wine, Yorkshire Pudding wraps, boutique babywear and everything in between
• King Street is full of must-visit locations for foodies. You could also pick up some handmade wooden furniture!
• Market Street has over 40 craft and gift stalls to peruse
• St Ann’s Square is the oldest Christmas Market site in Manchester. Pay a visit to the Manchester Shop and keep an eye out for the alien sculptures
• The Corn Exchange has some of the most unique gift stalls. Anyone for a Nepalese woollen jumper?
• New Cathedral Street is home to high-end gifts…and Parmos from Parmageddon. Decisions, decisions!
• Cathedral Gardens has all of the family fun you could wish for. It’s home to Skate Manchester and more.

What’s the Manchester Christmas Markets’ nearest train station?

That depends on where you’re looking to visit first! When it comes to the Manchester Christmas Markets’ nearest train station, we’ve produced a handy map below. Simply click on an icon to select a station or attraction:

If you’re able to get to Manchester Victoria, then this is the best location for visiting the majority of the Manchester Christmas Markets. Got your heart set on the Winter Gardens? Then Manchester Piccadilly is just a little closer.

Are there options for getting closer to the Markets?

Yes! While Manchester Christmas Markets’ nearest train stations are just a short walk away from all of the attractions, we know it can be quite hectic trying to walk to them. Manchester has a Free Bus service which you can use.

Does your rail ticket have ‘Manchester Central Zone’ as the destination? You can use the Metrolink tram service free of charge within the city centre.

Where will my train take me?

Depending on where you’re travelling from, you might have a choice of one or more stations in Manchester to choose from. Here’s a handy guide to which station your trains will take you to:

Origin/Destination	Manchester Station(s)
Blackburn	Victoria
Bolton	Victoria or Deansgate, Oxford Road and Piccadilly
Bradford (Interchange)	Victoria
Buxton	Piccadilly
Chester	Victoria, Oxford Road or Piccadilly
Crewe	Piccadilly
Dewsbury	Victoria, Oxford Road and/or Piccadilly
Glossop	Piccadilly
Huddersfield	Victoria, Oxford Road and/or Piccadilly
Leeds	Victoria, Oxford Road and/or Piccadilly
Liverpool (Lime Street)	Victoria, Deansgate, Oxford Road and/or Piccadilly
Marple	Piccadilly
Preston	Deansgate, Oxford Road and/or Piccadilly
Rochdale	Victoria
Sheffield	Piccadilly (all services) and Oxford Road (some services)
Southport	Victoria or Deansgate, Oxford Road and Piccadilly
Wigan	Victoria or Deansgate, Oxford Road and Piccadilly

Is there anything else I should know?

Wanting to know more about the stations in Manchester? We’ve got a dedicated guide for that. We’re also here to help with finding the best train fares to Manchester.

Ready to book your fun-filled festive trip? Railsmartr is here to help. We don’t charge any fees, so you won’t have to pay extra if you change your mind.

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