Christmas markets · South East England
Christmas Markets in South East England 2026
15 Christmas markets in South East England, in 15 towns and cities: 11 of them have 2026 dates announced, and the multi-week markets open between 12 November and 21 November. Best known: the markets of Oxford, Winchester and Brighton.
15 markets · checked October 2026
15
Christmas markets in South East England
15
towns where we list markets
15
towns with a full guide
11 / 15
markets with 2026 dates announced
The South East has cathedral cities, university towns and the coast. Winchester's Christmas market is the cathedral market; Canterbury and Rochester, both in Kent, each have a Christmas market in the historic town centre. Oxford, Windsor, Guildford and Chichester each run their own city-centre markets, Brighton has its Christmas festival, and Southampton and Portsmouth (Southsea) have coastal markets. Woodstock's Blenheim Palace market and the Victorian Christmas at Milton Keynes Museum are the day-out options.
The best-known and prettiest Christmas markets in South East 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.
Oxford
Christmas in Oxford
Christmas market
2026: 21 Nov – 31 Dec 2026
Not worth a trip on its own — go for Oxford, and visit Blenheim's market if you want a big one.
🎉 With friendsWinchester
Winchester Cathedral Christmas Market
Christmas market
2026: 20 Nov – 22 Dec 2026
The prettiest Christmas market in England — a day trip from London by train, ideally on a weekday.
✨ Date night🎉 With friends🧒 With kidsBrighton
Brighton Christmas Festival
Christmas market
2026 dates to be confirmed
Fine for a festive drink in Brighton — the independent shops are the bigger draw.
🎉 With friendsCanterbury
Canterbury Christmas Market
Christmas market
2026: 12 Nov – 24 Dec 2026
Go for Canterbury itself; the market is a pleasant extra.
✨ Date night🎉 With friendsSouthampton
Southampton Christmas Market
Christmas market
2026: 12 Nov – 27 Dec 2026
One of the better city markets in the south — use the park & ride.
🎉 With friends🧒 With kidsPortsmouth
Love Southsea Christmas Market
Weekend Christmas market
Last season: 29–30 Nov 2025
Portsmouth's best market weekend — and warm and dry.
🎉 With friendsWindsor
Windsor Christmas Shopping Fair
Weekend Christmas market
2026: 28–29 Nov 2026
A gift-shopping day rather than a festive market — Windsor's castle and streets do the atmosphere.
🎉 With friendsGuildford
Guildford Christmas Markets
Weekend Christmas market
2026: Cathedral Christmas Fair 20–21 Nov 2026
No big market here — check the dates and combine with the High Street shops.
🎉 With friends
🧒 With kids
- Winchester Cathedral Christmas Market · Winchester
- Rochester Christmas Market · Rochester
- Southampton Christmas Market · Southampton
- Blenheim Palace Christmas Market · Woodstock
- Milton Keynes Museum Victorian Christmas · Milton Keynes
- Tenterden Christmas Market · Tenterden
✨ Date night
- Winchester Cathedral Christmas Market · Winchester
- Canterbury Christmas Market · Canterbury
- Blenheim Palace Christmas Market · Woodstock
- The Pantiles Boutique Christmas Market · Tunbridge Wells
🎉 With friends
- Winchester Cathedral Christmas Market · Winchester
- Canterbury Christmas Market · Canterbury
- Rochester Christmas Market · Rochester
- Southampton Christmas Market · Southampton
- Christmas in Oxford · Oxford
- Windsor Christmas Shopping Fair · Windsor
Christmas markets in South East England by town
- Winchester1
- Rochester1
- Canterbury1
- Oxford1
- Southampton1
- Windsor1
- Woodstock1
- Brighton1
- Milton Keynes1
- Guildford1
- Chichester1
- Portsmouth1
- Faversham1
- Tenterden1
- Tunbridge Wells1
All 15 Christmas markets in South East 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.
- BrightonBrighton Christmas Festival2026 dates to be confirmedFree entry.
- CanterburyCanterbury Christmas Market2026: 12 Nov – 24 Dec 2026Free entry.
- ChichesterChichester Festive MarketsLast season: 6–7 & 13–14 Dec 2025Free entry.
- FavershamFaversham Christmas Market Weekend2026: 11–13 Dec 2026Free entry.
- GuildfordGuildford Christmas Markets2026: Cathedral Christmas Fair 20–21 Nov 2026Free entry.
- Milton KeynesMilton Keynes Museum Victorian ChristmasLast season: 5–21 Dec 2025Museum ticket.
- OxfordChristmas in Oxford2026: 21 Nov – 31 Dec 2026Free entry.
- PortsmouthLove Southsea Christmas MarketLast season: 29–30 Nov 2025Free entry.
- RochesterRochester Christmas Market2026: weekends 27 Nov – 13 Dec 2026Small entry charge (about £3 per person in 2025, per visitors).
- SouthamptonSouthampton Christmas Market2026: 12 Nov – 27 Dec 2026Free entry; park & ride about £3 return for up to five people.
- TenterdenTenterden Christmas Market2026: 19–22 Nov 2026 (Thu 12pm–6pm, Fri 8am–6pm, Sat 9am–5pm, Sun 10am–5pm)Free entry.
- Tunbridge WellsThe Pantiles Boutique Christmas Market2026: 13 Nov – 24 Dec 2026 (Fri–Sun, then daily 21–24 Dec)Free entry.
- WinchesterWinchester Cathedral Christmas Market2026: 20 Nov – 22 Dec 2026Free entry.
- WindsorWindsor Christmas Shopping Fair2026: 28–29 Nov 2026Ticketed at the gate, cheaper online; under-18s free.
- WoodstockBlenheim Palace Christmas Market2026: 13 Nov – 20 Dec 2026See Blenheim's Christmas tickets; trail and palace are ticketed.
Tips for your trip in South East England
- Winchester, Southampton, Portsmouth, Brighton, Chichester, Guildford, Oxford, Windsor and Canterbury are all on mainline or branch railways, and most markets are 5-15 minutes' walk from the station.
- The most popular markets (Canterbury, Winchester, Windsor) are busiest on December weekends and in the evenings: go midweek or early in the day.
- Rochester and Canterbury are both in Kent and can be done in one trip, both reached on the line from London; check the guides for dates, as some run only a few days.
How we check the dates
Dates, prices and travel details come from the organisers and councils; ratings are from Google, as a guide only. Where the 2026 date is missing we show last season's, marked as such. Last checked in October 2026: opening times can change, so check the organiser's website before you travel.
Questions about Christmas markets in South East England
- When do the Christmas markets in South East England open in 2026?
- For 11 of the 15 markets in South East England, 2026 dates are already announced. The multi-week markets open between 12 November and 21 November, half of them by 13 November, and most close around 24 December. For example: Christmas in Oxford: 21 Nov – 31 Dec 2026; Winchester Cathedral Christmas Market: 20 Nov – 22 Dec 2026; Canterbury Christmas Market: 12 Nov – 24 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 South East England?
- It depends what you like. Going by search interest, visitor reviews and our own verdict, the standouts in South East England are: Christmas in Oxford – Stalls on Broad Street by the colleges; Winchester Cathedral Christmas Market (Google 4.1 ★, 1,609 reviews) – Beside the floodlit cathedral; Brighton Christmas Festival – Christmas market by St Peter's Church. 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 South East England?
- Our list currently has 15 Christmas markets and festive events in 15 towns and cities in South East England, 15 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 South East England?
- Not for most of them: street and town-centre markets in South East England are free to walk around. According to our guides, a ticket is needed for a few venues, such as Rochester Christmas Market and Windsor Christmas Shopping Fair. Rides, ice rinks and grottos are often paid extras, and parking or park and ride can add to the cost.
- How do I get to the Christmas markets in South East England?
- Winchester, Southampton, Portsmouth, Brighton, Chichester, Guildford, Oxford, Canterbury, Rochester, Windsor (Windsor and Eton Central or Riverside) and Milton Keynes have railway stations, most within a short walk of the market. Woodstock has no station: take a bus from Oxford or go by car.
- Which Christmas markets in South East England are best for children?
- According to our guides: Winchester Cathedral Christmas Market (beside the floodlit cathedral); Blenheim Palace Christmas Market (Woodstock) (stalls in the palace's Great Court); Rochester Christmas Market (in the grounds of Rochester Castle); Southampton Christmas Market (cosy wooden stalls beside Westquay). Some rides and grottos are paid; the guide for each market says which.
- Which Christmas markets in South East England are the most romantic?
- For an evening for two our guides point to Winchester Cathedral Christmas Market, Blenheim Palace Christmas Market (Woodstock), Canterbury Christmas Market and The Pantiles Boutique Christmas Market (Tunbridge Wells). Go around dusk or on a weekday, when it is less crowded.