If you fancy an affordable treat as Christmas approaches, why not visit one of the UK’s many Christmas markets?

Christmas markets are very popular all over Europe and provide a chance to enjoy the festive spirit early. They usually feature a wide range of continental food stalls, traditional Christmas crafts for sale and sometimes a good, old-fashioned fair, complete with Merry-Go-Rounds and other rides aimed at young children.

Christmas markets have really taken off over the last 20 years and there are a surprising number all over the UK. Many UK Christmas markets are German-style, allowing you to get your fill of  German beer, bockwurst and stollen (German Christmas cake), as well as buy hand-crafted traditional wooden German Christmas decorations.

We’ve put together a list of all the main Christmas markets in the UK – it’s a bit long but is in alphabetical order, so it should be easy to navigate.

Remember, if you are planning a group trip to a Christmas market, the cheapest and most efficient way to get there is to hire a minibus – that way, there is only one parking charge, one driver and everyone can travel together. It’s much cheaper than rail! Click here for a minibus hire quote.

UK Christmas Markets 2011:

• Bath Christmas Market: 24/11/2011 – 11/12/2011
• Belfast Christmas Continental Market: 19/11/2011 – 18/12/2011
• Birmingham Frankfurt Christmas Market: 17/11/2011 – 23/11/2011
• Bournemouth Christmas Market: 17/11/2011 – 03/01/2012
• Bradford Christmas Market: 19/11/2011 – 10/12/2011
• Bristol Christmas Market: 10/11/2011 – 22/12/2011
• Bury St Edmunds Christmas Fayre: 25/11/2011 – 27/11/2011
• Canterbury Traditional Christmas Market: 18/11/2011 – 24/12/2011
• Carlisle Christmas Market: 07/12/2011 – 11/12/2011
• Caerphilly Medieval Christmas Market: 10/12/2011 – 11/12/2011
• Chester Christmas Market: 24/11/2011 – 31/12/2011
• Chichester Christmas Market: 08/12/2011 – 11/12/2011
• Cirencester Christmas Market: 25/11/2011 – 11/12/2011
• Derby Christmas Market: 01/12/2011 – 24/12/2011
• Durham Christmas Market: 02/12/2011 – 04/12/2011
• Edinburgh Christmas Market: 24/11/2011 – 24/12/2011
• Glasgow Traditional Christmas Market: 20/11/2011 – 23/12/2011
• Gloucester Quays Victorian Christmas Market: 24/11/2011 – 27/11/2011
• Jersey – La Fête dé Noué: 01/12/2011 – 11/12/2011
• Kedleston Hall (Derby) Christmas Craft & Food Fair: 26/11/2011 – 27/11/2011
• Leeds Christkindelmarkt Traditional German Christmas Market: 11/11/2011 – 18/12/2011
• Leeds Caribbean Christmas Fair: 26/11/2011 – 27/11/2011
• Lincoln Christmas Market: 01/12/2011 – 04/12/2011
• Manchester Christmas Market: 17/11/2011 – 21/12/2011
• Newcastle Continental Christmas Market: 21/11/2011 – 03/12/2011
• Nottingham Christmas Market (Smithy Row): 23/11/2011 – 24/11/2011
• Oxford Christmas Market: 02/12/2011 – 18/12/2011
• Plymouth Christmas Market (Armada Way): 17/11/2011 – 24/12/2011
• Portsmouth Victorian Festival of Christmas: 25/11/2011 – 27/11/2011
• Ripley Castle Christmas Fair: 09/12/2011 – 11/12/2011
• Ripon – Lightwater Shopping Village Dickensian Festival: 01/12/2011 – 04/12/2011
• Rochester Castle Dickens Christmas Market: 30/11/2011 – 18/11/2011
• Royal Leamington Spa Christmas Fair: 20/11/2011 – 18/12/2011
• Skipton Yuletide Festival & Christmas Market: 04/12/2011 – 11/12/2011
• Solihull Christmas Market: 25/11/2011 – 17/12/2011
• Southbank Centre / London Eye Christmas Market: 18/11/2011 – 24/12/2011
• Stamford Christmas Market: 11/12/2011
• Swindon Christmas Market: 02/12/2011 – 24/12/2011
• Tetbury Christmas Market: 05/12/2011 – 10/12/2011
• Truro Victorian Christmas Market: 13/12/2011 – 18/12/2011
• Warrington Festival Gift Fair: 30/11/2011 – 23/12/2011
• Winchester Cathedral Christmas Market & Ice Rink: 24/11/2011 – 21/12/2011
• Worcester Victorian Christmas Fayre: 01/12/2011 – 04/12/2011
• Wrexham Erddig Christmas Market: 03/12/2011 – 18/12/2011
• York – Yorkshire’s Winter Wonderland: 26/11/2011 – 08/01/2012

Remember, if you are arranging a group trip to a Christmas market, minibus hire is often the most affordable way to get there and back.

Please note that all details and dates are correct to the best of my knowledge – but I cannot be held responsible for errors or cancellations. Please check before you make any transport arrangements.