Christmas Markets in North West England 2026

Manchester is the centre of the North West's Christmas markets: our list has ten sites across the city centre, from Piccadilly and St Ann's Square to Cathedral Gardens, Exchange Square and Market Street. Liverpool's market is at St George's Hall, Chester's in the walled city centre. Blackpool has Christmas by the Sea on the seafront, Lancaster and Preston have city-centre markets, and Knutsford is the smaller Cheshire town option.

The best-known and prettiest Christmas markets in North West England

Picked by search interest, visitor reviews and our own verdict, the strongest market in each town. 2026 dates only where the organiser has confirmed them; otherwise last season's dates, marked as such.

1. 1Manchester

   Manchester Christmas Markets

   Christmas market

   2026: 6 Nov – 22 Dec 2026

   One of the UK's biggest and still a great day out — come by train, start early and go from square to square.

   🎉 With friends✨ Date night
   Manchester guide →

2. 2Liverpool

   Liverpool Christmas Market (St George's Hall)

   Christmas market

   2026: 21 Nov 2026 – 3 Jan 2027

   The easiest big market to reach in the North West — it is right outside Lime Street station.

   🎉 With friends🧒 With kids
   Liverpool guide →

3. 3Chester

   Chester Christmas Market

   Christmas market

   2026: 18 Nov – 22 Dec 2026

   Chester itself is the draw; the market adds the festive layer — a good day trip from Liverpool or Manchester.

   ✨ Date night🎉 With friends
   Chester guide →

4. 4Blackpool

   Christmas by the Sea

   Winter festival

   2026: 20 Nov 2026 – 3 Jan 2027

   Free seaside Christmas fun — combine with the Tower and the illuminations.

   🧒 With kids🎉 With friends
   Blackpool guide →

5. 5Lancaster

   Lancaster Christmas Market

   Weekend Christmas market

   2026: 27–29 Nov 2026

   A relaxed weekend market — and Lancaster on Ice in Dalton Square adds skating.

   🎉 With friends🧒 With kids
   Lancaster guide →

6. 6Preston

   Preston Christmas Market

   Christmas market

   Last season: from 7 Nov 2025 for 8 weeks

   A long-running city-centre market — a festive stop rather than a trip.

   🎉 With friends
   Preston guide →

Christmas markets in North West England by town

• Manchester11
• Liverpool1
• Chester1
• Blackpool1
• Preston1
• Lancaster1
• Knutsford1

All 17 Christmas markets in North West England: dates at a glance

Sorted by town, checked in October 2026. Each market links to its guide with opening times, how to get there and our verdict.

Questions about Christmas markets in North West England

When do the Christmas markets in North West England open in 2026?

For 15 of the 17 markets in North West England, 2026 dates are already announced. The multi-week markets open between 6 November and 21 November, half of them by 6 November, and most close around 22 December. For example: Manchester Christmas Markets: 6 Nov – 22 Dec 2026; Liverpool Christmas Market (St George's Hall): 21 Nov 2026 – 3 Jan 2027; Chester Christmas Market: 18 Nov – 22 Dec 2026. Smaller markets often run only for a few days or weekends, so check the dates on each town's guide, and check the organiser's website before you travel as opening hours can change.

What is the best Christmas market in North West England?

It depends what you like. Going by search interest, visitor reviews and our own verdict, the standouts in North West England are: Manchester Christmas Markets (Google 4.0 ★, 2,694 reviews) – Markets spread across the city centre; Liverpool Christmas Market (St George's Hall) – Market on St George's Plateau in front of the neoclassical hall; Chester Christmas Market – Wooden chalets on Town Hall Square by the cathedral. For a quieter visit pick a smaller town; the «with kids, for two, with friends» tags on each market say who it suits.

How many Christmas markets are there in North West England?

Our list currently has 17 Christmas markets and festive events in 7 towns and cities in North West England, 7 of them with a full city guide. We list markets announced by the council, the organiser or the tourist board, not one-day school or church stalls, so the real number is higher.

Do you have to pay to enter the Christmas markets in North West England?

Mostly no: the markets in North West England are free to walk around, and each guide says whether rides, ice rinks, grottos, parking or park and ride cost extra.

How do I get to the Christmas markets in North West England?

Manchester, Liverpool, Chester, Lancaster, Preston and Blackpool all have mainline stations close to their markets; Knutsford is on the Mid-Cheshire line between Manchester and Chester. In Manchester, Metrolink trams stop at the city-centre sites. Driving into the centres is slow in the weeks before Christmas; use park and ride or a rail station car park where one is offered.

Which Christmas markets in North West England are best for children?

According to our guides: Liverpool Christmas Market (St George's Hall) (market on St George's Plateau in front of the neoclassical hall); Christmas by the Sea (Blackpool) (festive village on the Tower Festival Headland); Manchester Christmas Markets: New Cathedral Street (stalls between Exchange Square and Market Street); Manchester Christmas Markets: Exchange Square (stalls and food beside Selfridges and the Arndale). Some rides and grottos are paid; the guide for each market says which.

Which Christmas markets in North West England are the most romantic?

For an evening for two our guides point to Manchester Christmas Markets, Chester Christmas Market, Manchester Christmas Markets: St Ann's Square and Manchester Christmas Markets: Lincoln Square. Go around dusk or on a weekday, when it is less crowded.

Christmas markets in other parts of the UK

• The Midlands18
• South East England15
• Yorkshire11
• South West England11
• East of England11
• East Midlands9
• West Midlands9
• Scotland6
• Kent5
• Essex5
• Northern Ireland5
• Devon and Cornwall4
• The Cotswolds4
• North East England3