Why not treat yourself to a unique gift shopping experience this Christmas? Make your festive shopping as memorable as the gifts themselves by visiting a Christmas Market in a quirky, more unusual venue, this year.
And the best thing? You can go with your entire family, grab a bunch of your friends or even take yourself on a solo date, to make some Christmas memories that money can’t buy. There’s fun for foodies, fab live music acts – you name it, we’ve got a market for you!!
Pedddle, the nation’s best artisan market directory, have admitted their struggle to narrow the list down to just 7 markets!! But they’ve just about done it…
Nicki Capewell, Pedddle’s founder, said “there are so many fantastic Christmas Markets taking place all over the UK this year, but having a quirky venue makes them even more unique. From historic homes to glass houses, we’ve compiled a list for your Christmas bucket list, that you simply have to experience at least once in your lifetime!”.
In no particular order, here are some of our favourites:
1. Haddon Hall Winter Mercatum, Derbyshire
A 900-year-old Hall, Haddon has hosted many lifetimes’ worth of events, from 3-day medieval banquets to Elizabethan balls. Now welcoming festive visitors for its annual Mercatum events, a series of winter markets running on weekends in the lead-up to Christmas! The perfect place for not only gift shopping but enjoying a full day out in a historic venue.
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2. V & A Dundee Festive Design Market, Dundee, Scotland
Curated by pop-up market legends Tea Green Events, this Festive Design Market is always brimming with high-quality designers and independent businesses. Held at Scotland’s iconic V & A (Victoria and Albert Museum) in Dundee, this market offers a perfect place for the inspiration to welcome in the new year.
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3. Curated by Dapper & Suave Christmas Evening Pop-Up at Denbies, Surrey
Curated by Dapper & Suave recently hosted at market in the Great Conservatory at Syon Park, and following that success, they have another quirky venue coming up, at England’s largest vineyard! The spectacular venue of Denbies Wine Estate in the picturesque North Downs, Surrey, is a lovely place to shop from small businesses and buy handmade Christmas gifts this year.
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4. Bodnant Welsh Food Artisan Market, Wales
Held at Bodnant Gardens, overlooking the beautiful Conwy Valley, this food market is a real celebration of North Welsh produce and crafts. With 30 stalls and a stunning scenic backdrop, drop in if you love food or want to find something unique for this Christmas!
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5. Middleport Artisan Markets, Staffordshire
In a place known as the ‘Mother Town’ of Britain’s Pottery industry, previously a filming location of The Great British Sewing Bee and Peaky Blinders, this historic venue has regular markets that are a celebration of the area’s local makers, bakers and producers. Its red brick buildings sit alongside the canal, with the markets bringing trade alive once again. With free entry, catch the market to do your Christmas shopping here too!
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6. The Christmas Ideal Home Show London
Creating an entire village of small businesses, if you’re in London this is a market not to miss! Offering a selection of 24 handmade brands, this show offers not just homewares (despite the ‘Home Show’ name!), but jewellery, clothing, food, drink, beauty products and much more. A great way to shop small this Christmas in the heart of the big smoke.
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7. Pop up in the Palm House, Sefton Park, Liverpool
Liverpool’s Sefton Park is home to the iconic Palm House, a glass-domed venue filled with tropical plants, which makes for a brilliantly quirky market venue! Unfortunately, you’ve now missed its annual Christmas events in early November, but pop the dates in your diary for its Spring events, coming up in late April 2025.
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Rebecca Adams, Pedddle’s Market Liaison Manager, said “we’ve seen a real trend in people looking for more unusual venues to make festive memories at. As much as we all love visiting local markets, sometimes it’s nice to have a festive day out somewhere further afield, and make a destination trip to a market to buy those extra-special gifts”.
Check Pedddle.com for full details on these markets and to discover lots more!
