Up there with the likes of London and Edinburgh's Christmas markets, Manchester is known to be one of the most festive cities in the UK, adding to our distinctly Northern friendliness. Thanks to the sprawling stalls that pop-up over the period - complete with Christmas lights, festive activities, and the finest seasonal food and drink - the yuletide cheer is in full force from November onwards, through to December and Christmas itself.
Whether you're after a last-minute gift in the form of artisanal crafts or a cosy afternoon out filled with hog roast wraps, ice skating and mulled wine, check out all the unmissable Manchester Christmas markets in 2024. With locations including the main city centre markets and smaller or independent markets across Greater Manchester, there's bound to be something spreading festive cheer near you.
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Everything You Need To Know About Manchester's Christmas Markets: Opening Times, Dates And More
Manchester Christmas Markets 2024
Location: Nine city centre sites
Dates: Friday 8th November to Sunday 22nd December 2024
Opening Times: Craft and gift stalls 10am to 8pm; food and drink stalls 11am to 9pm (except 22 December, when the markets close at 6pm)
The clue's in the name with Manchester Christmas Markets, the main set of festive huts that are once again returning to the city centre. With extensive renovation works still taking place in Albert Square and at Manchester Town Hall, the markets' central hub remains at Piccadilly Gardens this year. You'll also find it taking over Market Street, St Ann's Square, Exchange Street, Exchange Square, Corn Exchange, King Street, Cathedral Gardens and New Cathedral Street - totalling over 200 stalls, from those selling spiced rum to candles, Nepalese woollen jumpers and truckles of cheese.
Skate Manchester makes a reappearance too, covering all your ice skating needs from its Cathedral Gardens rink (open 8th November to 1st January), while the annual Manchester Christmas Parade, which starts and ends at Manchester Cathedral, brings festive joy in the form of over 400 fancy dress participants on 8th December. Topping it all off? The food and drink spanning Porky Pig's Yorkshire pudding wraps, The Witch House's currywursts, and copious amounts of mulled wine.
The staple Manchester Christmas Market can be found all across the city centre.
Best Alternatives To Manchester Christmas Markets
Indie Festive Market At GRUB
Location: 50 Red Bank, Manchester M4 4HF
Date: Sunday 1st December 2024
Opening Times: 12 to 5pm
Independent artisans, creators and makers are coming together for the Indie Festive Market at GRUB - a place for local independents to be in the spotlight, and just in time for your Christmas shopping trips.
Expect over 15 stalls from small businesses, including print shops, candle makers, masters of ceramics, artists and more, plus the usual lineup of street food vendors for keeping you fed. Admission is free, and you can enjoy everything from mulled wine to other boozy winter warmers while you're at it.
To keep your Christmas gifts sustainable and local, check out GRUB's Indie Festive Market.
The Makers Market
Location: Across Greater Manchester
Dates: 1st December (Ancoats and Quayside), 7th December (Cheadle, Quayside and Wythenshawe), 8th December (Northern Quarter, Prestwich and Quayside), 14th December (Stockport and Quayside), 15th December (Sale and Quayside), 21st December (Chorlton, Heaton Mersey and Quayside), 22nd December (Quayside and West Didsbury)
Opening Times: Various
A favourite of alternative Christmas markets in Manchester to rival the main city centre celebrations, The Makers Market is a much-loved, year-round staple that's been going since 2011 and gets a festive makeover in the lead up to Christmas. Popping up in locations across Manchester and Greater Manchester in December, it's a chance to try seasonal treats from local restaurants and street food traders, as well as grabbing gifts from independent artisans while you're at it.
A particular highlight are the markets at Quayside in Media City, Salford, which run every weekend of the month. Although local choices from Prestwich to Heaton Mersey, Wythenshaw, Sale and more are just as bustling.
A trip to your local Makers Market is a Christmastime essential.
Altrincham Market
Location: Market Street, Altrincham WA14 1SA
Dates and opening times: TBC on late-night shopping
Affectionately nicknamed Alty Market, Altrincham Market is a multi-award-winning market and street food spot with both an outdoor market and an indoor market house. Inside, you'll find award-winning pies from Great North Pie Co alongside flat iron steak from Tender Cow, Mexican bites from Pico's tacos, Reserves Wine bar and more, while stalls and further food vendors litter the outside. As one of the UK's original market towns, dating back to 1290, it's a must for Christmastime.
With both their regular opening times and late-night shopping across the festive period, there's plenty of chance to buy everything from artisan produce for your Boxing Day cheese feast to hand-crafted ceramics, original artwork or perfume as gifts. And don't forget to admire all the nearby Christmas lights while you're at it, too.
The best Manchester Christmas Markets alternative? Altrincham is always keeping it local.
Stockport Market's Victorian Christmas
Location: 21 Market Place, Stockport, SK1 1EU
Date: Friday 6th to Saturday 7th December
Opening Times: 9am to 4pm
Stockport Market was the winner of the best small indoor market last year and its Market Hall has been around since the 1860s, while the town itself has been trading market town for a whopping 750 years. To say it's a local favourite would be an understatement.
This year, aside from their regular market days with over thirty five stalls and the 80 stall-strong makers market on the 2nd Saturday of every month, they're also hosting a fun Victorian Christmas Market. There will be live choirs, fairground rides and plenty family photo opportunities across the two-day event, as well as festive shopping and food galore.
This market town's festivities aren't to be missed.
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