York Has Been Named In The UK’s Top 10 Best Christmas Markets

We love this time of year. And, with Halloween out of the way, the countdown to all the fantastic Christmas markets and events across Yorkshire is on. One of our favourites has always been York Christmas Market, which is set to return next week and has been named as one of the UK’s best Christmas markets, and we’d have to agree. It has all the festive fun that you want from the winter season.

Over November and December, thousands of visitors are expected to head to the historic city of York to check out one of the best Christmas markets in the UK. Visitors can expect alpine chalets brimming with handmade gifts and crafts, alongside sweet treats and mouth-watering food and drink from local vendors. Parliament Street and St Sampson’s Square will once again be transformed into a festive wonderland.

A recent study by European travel specialist Tollwayr has ranked the UK’s best Christmas markets for 2025. It analysed a range of factors such as days open, hotel costs, and the number of Instagram and TikTok posts, to find the most memorable experience.

Edinburgh Christmas Market came out on top, with Birmingham in second and London in third. York came just behind Manchester in 8th position. Organised by Make It York, York Christmas Market 2025 promises to be the biggest event in the city’s calendar, with thousands of visitors set to enjoy all it has to offer. Even better, 85% of traders are from the Yorkshire region, and every single food trader represents Yorkshire.

Mattijs Wijnmalen, CEO of Tollwayr, commented on the findings: “The most interesting thing we’ve seen is how value plays such a key role in the rankings. Birmingham offers the longest market season… making it ideal for families, couples, school groups, and friends looking to make the most of their festive budget without compromising on the authentic market experience.”

Finally, London’s Winter Wonderland secures third place with a score of 3.31/10, and a generous run of 49 days. It’s the fourth-most-searched market, with 16,000 Google searches, making it a popular choice for those looking for something to do in the Capital. Others in the list include Nottingham, Glasgow and Manchester.