York St Nicholas Fair has been named the UK’s fifth-best Christmas market to visit in 2026, according to new research.
The festive market has secured a place in the top five of a nationwide ranking produced by artificial Christmas tree retailer Christmas Tree World, which analysed factors including Google search interest, average December hotel prices, entry fees, the number of market stalls and proximity to public transport.
York St Nicholas Fair achieved a Christmas market score of 5.32 out of 10, putting it fifth among the ten markets included in the research. The research found that an average December hotel stay in York costs around £133 per night, while entry to the Christmas market is free.
The fair also recorded 499,600 annual Google searches, while visitors can expect around 75 stalls and a public transport station or stop within a 14-minute walk. The ranking puts York behind markets in Manchester, Edinburgh, Birmingham and Bath.
Manchester Christmas Markets took the top position in the research, followed by Edinburgh Christmas Market, Birmingham’s Frankfurt Christmas Market and Bath Christmas Market. At the other end of the table, Leeds Christmas Market ranked tenth with a score of 3.38.
UK Christmas markets ranked for 2026
| Rank | Christmas market | Annual searches | Average December hotel cost | Entry fee | Approx. stalls | Walk to closest public transport | Score /10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Manchester Christmas Markets | 633,400 | £107 | £0 | 274 | 11 mins | 7.64 |
| 2 | Edinburgh Christmas Market | 920,700 | £189 | £0 | 70 | 5 mins | 6.95 |
| 3 | Birmingham’s Frankfurt Christmas Market | 326,900 | £93 | £0 | 80 | 4 mins | 6.71 |
| 4 | Bath Christmas Market | 427,200 | £206 | £0 | 210 | 8 mins | 6.21 |
| 5 | York St Nicholas Fair | 499,600 | £133 | £0 | 75 | 14 mins | 5.32 |
| 6 | Hyde Park Winter Wonderland | 3,758,500 | £303 | £4.63 | 100 | 11 mins | 5.09 |
| 7 | Winchester Cathedral Christmas Market | 378,500 | £87 | £0 | 120 | 15 mins | 4.82 |
| 8 | Nottingham Winter Wonderland | 149,810 | £81 | £0 | 80 | 7 mins | 4.54 |
| 9 | Chester Christmas Market | 196,100 | £82 | £0 | 70 | 19 mins | 3.98 |
| 10 | Leeds Christmas Market | 137,050 | £91 | £0 | 40 | 12 mins | 3.38 |
The research also highlights the popularity of York as a Christmas destination, with its 499,600 annual searches putting it ahead of several other markets in the top ten. While York’s hotel prices are higher than those recorded for Manchester and Birmingham, visitors do not have to pay an entry fee to visit St Nicholas Fair.
Hyde Park Winter Wonderland recorded by far the highest search figure in the research, with more than 3.7 million annual searches, although its average December hotel price and entry fee were also the highest among the ten markets listed. The research provides a snapshot of some of the factors that can influence the appeal and accessibility of Christmas markets, from accommodation costs and transport links to visitor interest and the size of the market itself.
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Feature Image Credit: Make It York
