Yattendon Winter Market, Yattendon, 23 – 24 Nov

Like the Avengers but much, much cooler, the Modern Makers are back together and ready to do some serious damage. To your bank balance that is. Join their Christmas Market in November for a celebration of slow craftsmanship featuring a group of 24 exceptional artists, designer-makers and craftspeople. Jewellery, ceramics, textiles, glass, printmaking, bookbinding, furniture, knitwear, and basket weaving all ready to find new homes. Refreshments available. 10am – 4pm, £3pp entry, under 16s go free.

The Christmas Fair, Ascot Racecourse, 14 – 17 Nov

Giddee up to Ascot and nail your Crimbo shopping in one go. Loads of indie pop ups offering seasonal goodies not available on the high street. A staggering 150 pop-up boutiques selling gifts, homewares, toys, decs, fashion, stocking fillers, foodie treats and more. Shop, hit the bubbles, and relax. Well, it is Christmas.

Cavmas Christmas Market and Late Night Shopping Event, Caversham, 6 Dec

Late night shenanigans over in Caversham. An evening filled to the brim with wreath making, delicious hot food, cocktails and beers, Santa’s Grotto, a food bank donation stand and many shops open until the early hours await in this community event intent on spreading Christmas cheer. It’s open from 5pm onwards. Get your epic Christmas jumper on and get merry!

Christmas Fair, Shaw House Newbury, 1 Dec

Party like it’s the 50s! Mooch around over 70 stalls to the soundtrack of vintage tunes from Gramofun and local choir, Sing for Fun and let festive magic fill your ears. There will be hot food, mulled wine, Newbury’s Living Advent Calendar and an outdoor trail for children too. Now that’s Chrimbo done right!

Reading Winter Wonderland, Hills Meadow Reading, 9 Nov – 5 Jan

It’s back! Reading’s Winter Wonderland will be popping up in Hills Meadow Car Park. Expect more festive fun than a Mariah Carey video. There’s an ice rink, fun fair, Aprés bar, Santa’s grotto, German sausage and lots and lots of mulled wine. It’s free to enter, but you can buy tickets now for Santa’s Grotto, Ice Skating and an unlimited ride pass.

Christmas Market, The Little Play Lounge, Padworth, 30 Nov

See ya later kids! For the second year, The Little Play Lounge is hosting an event just for grown-ups. It’s the perfect chance to get some well needed Christmas shopping done with a cheeky Prosecco and plenty of time left to do the wrapping afterwards. They will have lots on offer, from stocking fillers to handmade essentials from local businesses and eco brands. Have to bring the little ones? Leave them with Santa’s elves for some Christmas activities in the Gala Hall as you browse.

Christmas Shopping Fai r, Windsor Racecourse, 23 – 24 Nov

Grab your list, check it twice and then go wild in the aisles at the Christmas Shopping Fair at Windsor Racecourse. Gallop around 150 stalls all showing a little leg to help you find a unique pressie from a huge selection of arts and crafts.

Christmas Market at Loddon Brewery, Nr Caversham, 30 Nov

The Christmas Market is back! Enjoy a variety of indie businesses offering everything from beautiful handcrafted goods to delicious cakes and treats. The brewery will be decked to the rafters with festive food and drink to enjoy, plus the fabulous Pangbourne Brass Band AND the Wokingham Rock Choir will perform live to keep the festive spirit alive.

Craft and Design Fair, South Hill Park, Bracknell, 16 – 17 Nov

Craftaholics make some noise as South Hill Park will be hosting two days worth of the UK’s best handmade crafts throughout the Mansion and Wilde Theatre. Joined by over 60 artists selling their fabulous wares, get ahead of the gift giving game and stock up on pressies for the big C-word. It’s free entry too.

Winter Craft Fair, The Base Gallery and Lookout Studio, 23 – 24 Nov

Shaking their buckets for The Base Charity, visit the magical Gallery grotto where you will be able to meet makers and buy unique and unusual gifts for loved ones directly from the artists themselves. Tickets are pay what you can.

Christmas Market, The Retreat at Elcot Park, 26 – 27 Nov

L-u-x-u-r-y! Fill the wicker basket in style with over 40 super trendy stalls from quirky brands, local artisans, unique gifts, innovative fashion, homewares, festive food, local art and more… seriously, there’s more? Wowee. Free entry.

Artisan Christmas Fair Weekends, City Arts Newbury, 20 – 24 & 29 Nov – 1 Dec

Two whole weekends of festive frolicking? Err, sign me up. Showcasing the best of local and uber talented craftspeople, expect to see a variety of unique work including cards, jewellery, ceramics, painting, glass art, and Christmas decorations. Stalls on each weekend will vary giving you the green light to go absolutely spend-happy. Free to visit too!

Get Your Claws Into Christmas, Renegade Taproom, Yattendon, 7 Dec

Shopping and a pint? Dreamy. Renegade Brewery are playing host to local producers galore in their heated tent, alongside all the homemade mince pies, mulled wine, live music, and festive vibes you could ask for. We likey.

Moss End Garden Village Christmas Market, Warfield, 17 Nov

A whole family event is taking place over at Moss End Garden Village. All day music, face painting, and games. Amidst all that there’s of course Christmas stalls too. The best part? It’s all to raise money for Pancreatic Cancer UK. Love, love, love.

Christmas Craft Fair, Corn Exchange Newbury, 16 Nov

We just love to shop local. Skilled independent crafters and makers will be showing off their homemade creations, and after you’ve shopped till you’ve dropped, grab a seasonal refreshment from the Café Bar. No need to book either. Just turn up and get to it.

Danesfield House Christmas Fair, Marlow on Thames, 7 Dec

Twinkling lights, mulled wine, roasted chestnuts and festive cheer – nope this isn’t a Hallmark movie. It’s the Christmas Fair over at gorgeous Danesfield House. In the Grand Hall, strike Christmas shopping off your list. You might even bump into the man in red too. Take the kids, or don’t – he’ll need to hear what we want under the tree too, right?

Winter Night Market and Christmas Fair, Norden Farm Maidenhead, 6 & 7 Dec

Stocking fillers? Sorted. Head over to Norden Farm and get your fill of festive goodies from a whole host of local producers. There will be refreshments, music, and more artisan gifts than you can swing a bauble at.

Newbury Christmas Market Weekend, Newbury, 13 – 15 Dec

Can you hear that? It’s the sound of three days of festive fun featuring 60 artisan stalls from local designers, creators, makers and bakers selling all the best seasonal and locally produced wares. Oh, and there will be children’s entertainment, activities, hot food, and jingle bells too. Obvs.

The Watermill Theatre Christmas Fair, Bagnor, 8 – 9 Nov

Gorgeous Watermill Theatre is back with the good goods. A beautiful array of gift stalls and of course some tasty treats to keep you fuelled up on your way around. There will be a taster craft session for families too. On 11am – 4pm and entry is £3.

More merry markets you should know about

Local Producers’ Winter Market, Stubbings Nursery Maidenhead, 24 Nov

Christmas Market and Light Switch On, Maidenhead, 23 Nov

Christmas Fair, Trunkwell House, Reading, 2 – 3 Nov

Christmas Craft Market, Oaktree Garden Centre, Bracknell, 23 Nov – 8 Dec

Cookham’s Christmas Market, Pinder Hall, 24 Nov

The Herb Farm Christmas Market, Sonning Common, 2 – 3 Nov

Holme Grange Craft Village Christmas Fair, Wokingham, 30 Nov

FURTHER AFIELD

Christmas Fair, Waddesdon Manor, Bucks, 15 Nov – 22 Dec

christmas market and two ladies shopping

This bustling market, with its fairytale Rothschild manor backdrop, boasts charming wooden chalets, tempting festive food to eat on site, and an array of local artisan gifts to take home.

Christmas at Blenheim Palace, Oxon, 15 Nov – 1 Jan

Few do Christmas like Blenheim. Enjoy a bustling Christmas market with winter street food and festive goodies to snap up. You can also see the story of Neverland re-imagined with a modern twist within the Palace’s rooms if you go for the house and grounds ticket. New for this year is an outdoor ice-skating rink too.

Christmas Gift Market, Cheltenham, Glos, 21 – 24 Nov

christmas market stall with nutcracker statue

The yuletide market in Regency Cheltenham is back and bigger than ever for 2024 with not just one Christmas market but TWO. Expect twinkling stalls festooning the pedestrianised Promenade streets, and stalls packed with unique treats, gifts and handmade Christmas decorations. Once you’ve shopped your fill, feast on giant Bratwurst, or an exotic selection of ostrich and crocodile burgers (no lie!), macaroons from Italy, local fudge, and the very best cheeses.

Frankfurt Christmas Market, Birmingham, 1 Nov – 24 Dec

Pretzels, bratwursts and schnitzels washed down with steins of beer and mugs of steaming gluhwein – is it even Christmas until you’ve been to a German market? You can’t miss this one: it’s the largest outside of Germany and Austria, smack in the middle of Birmingham, and is generally blasting traditional Bavarian music. You can stock up on quirky gifts, glass baubles and wooden decorations — who are we kidding, though? We’re just there for the food, drink, and festive vibe.

Winchester Cathedral’s Christmas Market, Hants, 22 Nov – 22 Dec

christmas market winchester — Pic: Annie Spratt

Hampshire’s biggest and most atmospheric, German-style Christmas Market is back at Winchester Cathedral. Sip mulled wine and have a good old mooch around the alpine-style chalet stalls around the inner close and shop high-quality local gifts. Admission is totally free.

CHRISTMAS IN THE CITY

Winter Wonderland, Hyde Park, 21 Nov – 5 Jan

Back for its 17th year, Winter Wonderland is more Christmas microcosm than market, but it has that too! Then once you’ve suitably shopped, sampled, and perused, you can head onto the fairground rides (there’s an unlimited ride pass new for this year), ice sculpting workshops, Santa Land, and ice rink. You do still need to book ahead which – fingers crossed – will reduce the mega crowds.

Winter Festiv al, Southbank Centre, 1 Nov – 5 Jan

Wander along the Thames and revel in twinkling lights, indulgent street food, and giftable goodies all part of the Southbank Centre’s Winter Festival. Tip: don’t miss the gooey fondue eaten out of transparent snow globes from Jimmy’s Lodge. Insta-catnip!

Kingston Christmas Market, Kingston-upon-Thames, 14 Nov – 5 Jan

It’s the outskirts of London, but this European-style Christmas market makes Kingston well worth a visit. Think hog rolls, twinkling lights, a vintage carousel, and gorgeous gifts to buy from Alpine cabins. See you there!

30 Christmas fairs and merry markets in Berkshire

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