Christmas Market Train Trips in the UK

Across our Avanti West Coast routes, you’ll find Christmas markets up and down the country. From bustling German stalls in the heart of a city to quieter, cosier events in smaller towns, a Christmas market is never far by train.

Below, you can find out what Christmas market train trips in the UK you can take this festive season.

Christmas markets at a glance

Whether you’re travelling from London to one of these festive markets or you’re simply looking for essential travel information on how to reach the markets from your nearby station, here’s how to reach the Christmas markets at a glance:

Must-visit Christmas markets on the Avanti West Coast route

Alongside nutmeg, cinnamon, and cloves, variety is another spice a Christmas market should offer. Whether you’re planning one of your Christmas days out with friends, squeezing in some last-minute shopping or taking the family on a festive adventure full of rides, these renowned Christmas markets all offer something different.

Edinburgh Christmas Market

Just a few minutes' walk from Edinburgh Waverley Station, a trip to Edinburgh Christmas Market will immerse you in festive cheer. Set beneath the Scott Monument, with fairy lights glowing beneath the city skyline, this market offers a seasonal spectacle through East and West Princes Street Gardens and George Street.

Across the market, you will find around 70 stalls, each furnished with jewellery, clothing, handmade gifts, and plenty of food and drink. However, this Edinburgh winter wonderland offers plenty to tempt you away from the stalls, too.

Thrill-seekers can climb aboard the 80-metre Starflyer and swing high above Princes Street Gardens, with the city skyline spread out below. Meanwhile, if you’re planning Christmas days out with kids, West Princes Street Gardens has gentler rides and child-friendly attractions at the Festive Family Funfair.

Birmingham Frankfurt Christmas Market (5 Nov - 24 Dec 2026)

Hopping on a train to Birmingham Christmas Market has been a festive tradition since its start back in 1997.

Less than a five-minute walk from Birmingham New Street Station, this large-scale Christmas market lures in visitors with roasted almonds, sizzling bratwurst, and steaming mugs of glühwein across Victoria Square and New Street. With just a short stroll, you can explore stalls offering wooden decorations, handcrafted baubles, and other homemade gifts.

Then, once you’re done shopping, enjoy a long pit stop in Victoria Square and soak up the live music with your choice of hot chocolate, mulled wine, or a weissbier. For travellers seeking a traditional German-style Christmas market, Birmingham offers one of the UK's most authentic experiences.

London Christmas Markets: Leicester Square, Buckingham Palace area and city pop-ups

If you’re planning a London Christmas market day trip, arriving at London Euston puts you within easy reach of several Christmas markets and festive events across central London. 

From traditional chalets and ice skating to riverside food stalls and seasonal light displays, there’s plenty of festive fun to look forward to.

Leicester Square Christmas Market (12 Nov - 27th Dec 2026)

Explore wooden chalets with a hot chocolate in hand as you walk through the glow of the West End in Leicester Square’s Christmas Market. A cosy start to any Christmas day out, you will find plenty of handmade gifts and festive eats.

If you’re feeling confident, you can even take to the ice at Skate Leicester Square, before rounding your day off with a show.

Covent Garden at Christmas (12 Nov - early Jan 2027)

Covent Garden turns up the sparkle at Christmas, with giant gold bells, baubles, and more than 300,000 lights filling the Market Building.
Take the opportunity to get some thoughtful Christmas gifts from the array of shops set beneath the decorations. Or, stand at the foot of the towering Christmas tree on the Piazza for your chance to grab a snap of one of London’s most iconic seasonal sights.

Christmas at Trafalgar Square (9 Nov - 2 Jan 2027)

If you’re looking for a more traditional Christmas atmosphere, Trafalgar Square is the place to be. With a Norwegian spruce draped in its distinctive lights, you will find choirs gathered around the tree, singing and spreading festive cheer. If you’ve had your fill of Christmas stalls, it’s the perfect spot to soak up an old London Christmas tradition.

Hyde Park Winter Wonderland (19 Nov - 3 Jan 2027)

Packed full of festive energy and fun, Hyde Park Winter Wonderland offers a livelier take on a Christmas market. With bright fairground lights, the enticing smells of fresh, festive food and music sailing across the park, it’s also an easy choice for Christmas days out for kids when you want enough activities to fill the day.

Manchester Christmas Market (6 Nov - 22 Dec 2026)

For a Christmas day out in Manchester, you’ll easily find the city’s Christmas Market just a 10-minute walk from Manchester Piccadilly Station. However, the city doesn’t keep the seasonal spirit to just one small space. The market spills across streets and squares throughout the city centre, creating a trail of cosy wooden chalets and stalls.

Albert Square is your Christmas holiday hub, with its 50-metre Ferris wheel, an abundance of food and drink stalls, and live entertainment running across the weeks. However, every central square of Manchester will be brimming with cheer, so walking through the city will be a seasonal treat for both browsers and grazers.

Boutique regional stops: Chester, Liverpool and Crewe Christmas markets

If you’re looking for a quieter, more “Silent Night” style of Christmas Market, there are plenty just a train trip away during the holiday season. Chester, Liverpool, and Crewe all offer smaller festive stops, but still with plenty to do to make a day of it.

Chester Christmas Market (18 Nov - 22 Dec 2026)

Walking through Chester’s historic streets, it already feels like it’s tailor-made for Christmas. With its Christmas market a 20-minute walk away from Chester Station, you can enjoy a jaunt through the timber-framed buildings, narrow streets, and iconic Rows as a cosy backdrop to your festive adventure.

The market itself is perfect for an unhurried hunt for any remaining stocking fillers, with plenty of locally made crafts, jewellery, and produce. Once you’re satisfied you’ve found everything on your list, take in the Rows and Chester Cathedral as Christmas lights and decorations bring even more warmth to the historic streets.

Liverpool Christmas Market (21 Nov - 3 Jan 2027)

Despite a reputation as one of the UK’s liveliest cities, Liverpool’s Christmas Market offers a quieter and more relaxed atmosphere compared to other larger locales. Just a couple of minutes’ walk from Liverpool Lime Street Station, you’ll find St George’s Plateau, where organisers deck the halls with festive fairy lights and market stalls.

With a hot chocolate or mulled wine in hand, you can soon swap the stalls for a graceful skate around the outdoor ice rink, or take in the views of Liverpool’s cityscape with a ride on the Big Wheel. With so much packed into one spot, it’s a handy choice for Christmas family days out, especially when you want skating, shopping and festive treats without trekking across the city.

Crewe Christmas Market (28 Nov 2026)

If you want to swap a sprawling city market for a more local experience, the Chester Christmas Market offers a simpler festive day trip. Held just a 10-minute walk away from Crewe Station, you’ll find a homely atmosphere built around lights, local music, and a town-centre celebration starting with their Lights Switch On event.

It’s a worthwhile consideration for anyone looking to skip the crowds and for a more compact Christmas market experience. Pick up a few stocking fillers, stop for some Christmas comfort eats, then stay as the lights come on and the town settles into the evening’s celebrations.

The foodie’s guide to UK Christmas market stalls 

It’s always a good idea to bring a healthy appetite when taking a train to a UK Christmas market. From bratwursts cooked on a hanging grill and churros delicately dusted in cinnamon sugar, to steaming cups of mulled wine, there will be many festive treats to sample.

• Yorkshire pudding wraps: The very best of a Sunday roast, roasted meat, stuffing, veggies in tow, wrapped together in a Yorkshire pudding blanket with lashings of gravy. It’s hearty, messy, and ready for a warm welcome on a cold afternoon.

• Bratwurst and currywurst: An enticing sight and smell that is now commonplace across UK Christmas markets, both bratwurst and currywurst are a staple of seasonal fare. For an even more authentic experience, be sure to enjoy them with a fresh pretzel and a side of roasted almonds.

• Raclette: Hard to miss at a market, these half-wheels of cheese are slowly melted before being scraped onto a bed of potatoes or bread. Bringing warm, rich gooeyness, it’s an Alpine treat that’s become a favourite at a Christmas market.

• Churros, Dutch pancakes and other sweet treats: If you’ve left room for dessert, it’s always easy to find freshly fried churros piped to the brim with your choice of sauce. Or, for a more bite-sized treat, keep your eyes peeled for poffertjes - small Dutch pancakes dusted in sugar.

• Mulled wine, cider and hot chocolate: To wash everything down, you will need something to sip as well. Gloved hands wrapped around a warm cup of mulled wine (or ‘Glühwein’ in German) almost seem like a part of the Christmas market uniform. If you’re looking for something sweeter, hot chocolate with all the trimmings can usually be found, alongside spiced local cider.

Essential rail tips for your Christmas market day trip

When there are last-minute presents to pick up, hot chocolates to savour and Christmas decorations to admire, a little planning will make sure you can make the most of your Christmas market day trip. 

Taking the train keeps things simple and safe if you’re looking to enjoy a couple of glasses of Glühwein, by getting you to the heart of the destination without any worries about driving and parking amid the Christmas traffic.

You’ll also want to be sure to:

• Book ahead for busy December dates: Our train tickets usually become available around 12 weeks before you travel. These tickets will be in high demand given the season, but you will be locked in to that specific journey when purchasing an Advance Ticket.

• Figure out the journey home before festivities begin: If you’re planning to stay late to see the lights, sneak in an evening skate or enjoy just one last mulled wine, check your return train before booking. That way you know exactly how long you can stay to enjoy the market.

• Check before you travel: Planned engineering works around the Christmas period can lead to timetables being confirmed later than usual. If the tickets for your Christmas market day trip aren’t available yet, set a Priority Ticket Alert, and we’ll let you know when they go on sale.

• Leave a little room for the return: You might be starting the day one with one small bag, but could be coming home with a lot more. Pack light to start, but be prepared to use your luggage allowance.

• Arrange support if you need it: Passenger Assist is available across the holidays (excluding Christmas Day and Boxing Day) to help with boarding your train, getting off, and making connections. You can book the support you need ahead of time, or make a request at the station on the day you travel.

Once you’ve found the Christmas market for your day trip, use our Journey Planner to find the best trains for your festive day out. After that, the only thing left to plan is what you’ll be eating first.