The UK’s most popular Christmas markets

Manchester’s Christmas market tops the list as the most ‘Instagrammable’; the Northern city’s festive attraction came out on top with an impressive 69,932 posts. Manchester’s first-ever Christmas market took place in 1998 and has since grown in size and popularity. The event runs from 10th November until 21st December.

Coming in second is Scotland’s capital, Edinburgh, with 54,887 Instagram posts featuring hashtags for the Scottish Christmas market. From ice-skating to a giant Ferris wheel, the market provides festive fun for all the family, and takes place from 17th November until 6th January.

Next in the rankings is Bath in third place, with 35,572 posts. The city is the only listed UNESCO World Heritage Site featured in the rankings, owing to the city’s Roman remains and hot springs. Locals, or even visitors from out-of-town, can enjoy Bath’s Christmas markets from 23rd November until 10th December.

Birmingham is the first city of the Midlands in the list and ranks fourth overall for its Christmas markets with 21,464 posts. The city’s Frankfurt Christmas Market is one of the largest in the UK and is Birmingham’s busiest Christmas market; The event started on 2nd November and will be available to visit until 24th December.

Taking the fifth spot with 11,330 posts is York, with the market running from 16th November until 22nd December. This Northern city is famous for its quaint street, The Shambles, which is a must-visit aspect of York’s festivities. York’s Christmas market has been a staple of the city’s festive calendar since 1992, making it one of the UK’s longest-running Christmas markets.

Sixth place goes to Belfast, the only city in Northern Ireland making the top 10, with the markets taking place from 18th November to 22nd December. The market has been tagged in 10,089 posts to date and forms the festive highlight for the city and its visitors – in fact, a record 1.3 million visitors attended the market in 2022.

In seventh spot is Winchester’s Christmas market, with hashtags for the market appearing in 9,719 posts. The historic city’s market takes place within Winchester Cathedral’s grounds and will run from 17th November to 21st December.

London comes in eighth place with the city’s Christmas markets being tagged in 7,302 posts. Among the most ‘Instagrammable’ of London’s markets are Hyde Park Winter Wonderland, which is open to the public from 17th November to 1st January, and Covent Garden Christmas market, which runs from 9th November until 3rd January.

Seizing ninth place in the rankings is the largest East Midlands city, Nottingham, with the markets taking place from 7th November until 31st December. Famous for its role in the Robin Hood legend, the city is also making itself known for its Christmas markets, with 6,139 posts featuring the city’s festive event.

Concluding the list, with 5,250 posts, is Leeds in tenth spot, despite the market’s four-year absence. The Christmas market is set to return on 24th November and will run until 22nd December.

Commenting on the findings, Sean Walsh, Head of Marketing at Protectivity said: “It’s great to see that the UK’s Christmas markets have bounced back after the pandemic.  Christmas markets have become an integral part of the festive season for many in the UK, bringing joy and light to the winter months.

“It is interesting to note that there are a variety of locations in which the top ten cities are situated in the UK, reflecting there is an event not too far from everyone, so the festivities can be enjoyed by many.”