Get ready to deck the halls and be jolly because I’m coming at you with the best Christmas markets in Bath!
I was lucky enough to spend some time in Bath and I fell completely in love. That’s why I’m excited to talk about Bath and my favorite time of year—Christmas!
If you’re like me, nothing gives you the warm fuzzies more than a traditional Christmas market. Last year we experienced European Christmas markets for the first time and they are nothing short of magical.
Bundling up in warm winter clothing, sipping on some hot cocoa or mulled wine, browsing through cute holiday craft stalls, gazing at colorful Christmas lights, the festive music…
Just imagine all that set against the backdrop of the charming historical British town of Bath, and it’s pure magic!
I can only imagine it’d look like the inside of a snow globe—picture perfect.
So let’s get to it with my list of the top four best Christmas markets in Bath!
4 Best Christmas Markets in Bath
1. Bath Christmas Market
This is THE Bath Christmas market. After sending the community into a tailspin with its devastating cancellation two years in a row in 2020 and 2021, the Bath Christmas Market is back—and people are overjoyed!
And who can blame them?
The Bath Christmas Market is renowned for ranking among the 10 best in Europe.
The entire center of Bath turns into one huge festive market for two weeks at Christmas time—most of which is centered around the stunning, historical Bath Abbey.
Over 170 chalets sell holiday goodies that range from unique gifts to some seriously tasty treats.
What makes the Bath market so special is that—unlike many other Christmas markets—most of the vendors are local and sell handmade or artisan gifts and decorations that you won’t find anywhere else. I love that you won’t find only mass-produced things here but can find some truly special items that are distinctly British.
Now, let’s get to the best part of any Christmas market…all the eats!
From traditional mince pies and bratwurst to artisan chocolates and never-ending pastry varieties, I’d have an amazing time just eating my way through the Bath Christmas Market!
And, of course, you’ll want to stay warm and toasty with a hot cup of cocoa or warm mulled wine—my fave!
While you’re there, why not really step up the holiday cheer with some outdoor ice skating? Bath’s famous outdoor ice rink at the Royal Pavilion at Royal Victoria Park is just a short stroll away.
There’s so much charm happening between the Christmas market, the outdoor ice skating, and Bath in general, that it’s hard not to get super excited just thinking about spending the holidays here.
There’s plenty to do here for the whole family and you’ll love every minute of it!
2. Bath Artisan Market
Located in Queen Square just a short walk from the Jane Austen Center, you’ll find the Bath Artisan Market, a friendly market adored by locals.
It’s an independent market where producers and makers sell their unique artisan products, from crafts and housewares to baked goods and street food.
At Christmas time, it turns into one big, jolly Christmas market with stalls packed with holiday goodies. It’s a great spot to find unique gifts, handmade ornaments, candles, and handcrafted decorations.
The food is superb here too! You’ll have no problem finding your fair share of baked treats, candies, hot food, mulled cider and wine, and spiced apple drinks.
3. Bath Guildhall Market
You’ll find the Bath Guildhall Market just opposite the Pulteney Bridge, about a one-minute walk from Bath Abbey.
It’s not nearly as big as the Bath Christmas Market, but the Guildhall Market is a special place year-round and even more so during the holidays. It’s actually the city’s oldest shopping venue.
It’s completely indoors, which makes it a perfect shopping destination no matter what the weather decides to do. It’s also nice and convenient to stroll through the twenty or so stalls that set up shop under one roof.
You’ll find plenty of interesting Christmas items at the quirky stalls and are sure to find something that catches your eye! There’s also a cute cafe where you can enjoy some good food and a warm cappuccino.
4. Green Park Station
Green Park Station is a really cool place, as it used to be the historic train station built in the 1960s called Queen Square Station.
Now it’s the home to a series of local businesses that include small shops, boutiques, and eateries. It’s not huge but they’re very picky about who gets to set up shop here, so you know you’re going to find some truly special places here!
And during Christmas, it lights up into a magical wonderland.
It’s easy to get into the holiday mood when you’re surrounded by live entertainment and carolers singing your favorite Christmas tunes!
Green Park’s Christmas event usually takes place in the final days leading up to Christmas which makes it ideal for last-minute shoppers! You can find some special, handcrafted gifts, decorations, and stocking stuffers made by local artisans plus vintage items that are truly unique.
It’s definitely the kind of place that I could get lost in for a few hours and just the holiday cheer take over!
So, there’s my roundup of the top Christmas markets in Bath!
If you know of more places that are worth visiting over the holidays, please let me know. I’m always reading up on unique holiday traditions like these Dutch Christmas traditions and looking for new places to visit, so send your recs my way!
Heading to Bath? Find more Bath content here.
Things to do in Bath: The Ultimate Weekend Guide
FAQs
The best Christmas Markets in Bath are:
– Bath Christmas Market
– Bath Artisan Market
– Bath Guildhall Market
The Christmas Markets in Bath happen from November to December.
There’s a lot to do at the Christmas Markets in Bath like shopping, food stalls, the Christmas lights, and mulled wine.
Elise Armitage is an entrepreneur and founder of What The Fab, a travel + lifestyle blog based in California. At the beginning of 2019, Elise left her corporate job at Google to chase her dreams: being an entrepreneur and helping women find fabulous in the everyday. Since then, she’s launched her SEO course Six-Figure SEO, where she teaches bloggers how to create a passive revenue stream from their website using SEO. Featured in publications like Forbes, Elle, HerMoney, and Real Simple, Elise is a firm believer that you can be of both substance and style.
