Voted one of the best Christmas markets in Europe, Winchester Christmas Market in Winchester, Hampshire, is a must-visit at Christmas. Here’s everything you need to know about visiting Winchester Cathedral Christmas Market.

One surefire way to get into the seasonal spirit is to visit a Christmas market. Christmas markets are filled with festive cheer, tasty food, beautiful twinkling lights and more. What’s better at Christmas?

Winchester Cathedral Christmas market is one of the best. Not only was it voted as one of the best Christmas markets in Europe, but it was also voted the second best in the UK by Booking.com in 2018. After visiting last December, it’s easy to see why.

The city’s Christmas market is unique in that it’s set against the backdrop of the beautiful Winchester Cathedral. The market – which consists of around 118 traders plus a food court – is set around the historic cathedral in the centre of Winchester. It also offers a more traditional atmosphere compared to other markets – with authentic food and drink stalls offering roasted chestnuts and mulled wine, and is inspired by traditional German Christmas Markets.

The atmosphere is so festive and idyllic too. The wooden stalls are decorated beautifully for the season and look so festive against the backdrop of Winchester Cathedral. When carol singers aren’t singing in the cathedral, wonderful Christmas music plays as you browse hand-picked goods from over 1000 chalets. And, after dark, when you see the lights start to twinkle, there’s just an extra something special in the air.

Planning Your Trip To Winchester Christmas Market

I truly believe that Winchester Cathedral Christmas Market is among the best in the UK. Though it has grown in popularity in recent years, you can very easily avoid the crowds by planning to visit at non-peak times. The setting is wonderful too – plus Winchester is easy to get to by train from all around the UK. I feel like Winchester Christmas Market offers the same festive atmosphere as bigger and more popular markets like Winter Wonderland but instead with a slightly smaller and more intimate atmosphere.

I also love that each year, Winchester Cathedral strides to make the Christmas market more sustainable. They do this by using LED lights and running the market off hard mains/power so no generators are used. They also use local vendors where possible and employ a company to undertake all waste and recycling operations.

Wondering more about Winchester Cathedral Christmas Market reviews? You can learn a little more about what I thought about the market and what else we got up to when we visited Winchester with this post here: Our Festive Weekend in Winchester (With a Trip to Winchester Cathedral Christmas Market).

Here’s everything you need to know about visiting Winchester Christmas Market in 2024.

Where is Winchester Christmas Market?

The market is held in the grounds of Winchester Cathedral (Address: Winchester SO23 9LS) in Winchester, Hampshire. Winchester is a lovely historic city with tons of character and lots to do all year round. It’s easily accessible by train from major cities around the UK and is about a two-hour drive from London.

Winchester Christmas Market Parking: Where Is Best to Park?

There are plenty of places to park in Winchester, though none are right beside the market. When parking for Winchester Christmas market, the closest car park is Colebrook Street car park, which is just an easy five-minute walk away. Alternatively, you could use the city’s Park and Ride service. This allows you to park outside of the city and take a bus ride into the centre for a maximum of £3.50 for the whole day. This is a more sustainable option too!

What Are the Dates of the Winchester Christmas Market?

Winchester Christmas Market opening times and dates in 2024 are Friday 22nd November to Sunday 22nd December 2024. The trading times of the stalls and chalets are 10.00am – 6.00pm between Sunday to Thursday and 10.00am – 8.00pm to trade a little later on Fridays and Saturdays.

I recommend visiting during the week when it’s quieter.

Do You Need Tickets for Winchester Market?

Entry to the Christmas markets in Winchester are entirely free!! There is no pre-booking required. However, if you would like to visit the Cathedral, entry is £13.50 (£12.50 if you book online). In terms of shopping, most items were fairly priced at the market! We never had a problem paying by card either, but it’s always worth having some cash to hand just in case the signal does drop.

Is Winchester Christmas Market Accessible for Wheelchairs?

The market is accessible for wheelchair access, with ramps and decking. But some narrow areas do get crowded and pathways can get muddy during particularly bad weather. The Cathedral itself has wheelchair access, but some areas like the crypt aren’t accessible due to the historic nature of the building.

Are There Toilets at Winchester Christmas Market?

There are no toilets in the main area of the market, but there are some just outside of the market. There are also disabled toilets and baby-changing facilities available in the Cathedral Visitors’ Centre.

Where to Stay in Winchester

If you’re travelling to Winchester for the Christmas markets, I’d definitely recommend staying overnight and exploring the rest of Winchester too. There are lots of lovely places to stay in the city, from budget options like the Winchester Royal Hotel all the way through to luxurious stays at The Old Vine.

We actually stayed at Mercure Winchester Wessex Hotel, which was basic but cosy! We purchased our stay through a deal on Wowcher, which included a room overlooking the cathedral and late check-out with breakfast the morning after. This only cost £85.00! I haven’t yet seen any deals for this year but I’ll keep my eyes peeled and share here if I do.

Things to Do at the Winchester Christmas Markets

There’s plenty do to at Winchester Cathedral Christmas Market and beyond as well. Here are some things you should make sure you don’t miss when you visit.

Browse Over 100 Chalets for Christmas Gifts

Forgetting for a second that last year all I did was buy presents for myself (oops! Well I was there celebrating my birthday!), there is so much choice for Christmas gifts and plenty of variation. You won’t find tat for sale here! There’s also a smaller Makers Market which is dedicated entirely to authentic and hand-made gifts from independent artists. Plus plenty of stalls selling festive decorations too, from beautiful Christmas tree ornaments (which you could get personalised there and then!) to dried orange wreaths and more. I was in my element.

Enjoy Festive Food & Drink

There are so many food and drink stalls at Winchester Christmas market, from traditional mulled wine and roasted chestnuts all the way through to toasted sandwiches and crumble. All of which make the market smell amazing, by the way. We were spoilt for choice! This year boasts hog roasts, Pakistani street food, hot spiced mead, mac and cheese, and traditional German Bratwursts of course – to name just a few options!

Visit Winchester Cathedral

Considering the Christmas market surrounds the Cathedral, it’s well worth taking a look inside and exploring over 1,000 years of history! Not only is it absolutely stunning inside but it’s actually among the largest of its kind in Northern Europe. You can even find Jane Austen’s final resting place inside. I would also recommend sticking around for one of the many events held in the cathedral, including Advent and Christmas services, and Christmas workshops.

Attend a Carol Service

In the run-up to Christmas, Winchester Cathedral has a festive events programme. You’ll find lots going on around the city of Winchester too. But there’s nothing quite like a Christmas carol service to get you into the festive spirit! I’d recommend attending one in the beautifully decorated cathedral before heading outside and enjoying some mulled wine from the Christmas market.

Explore the Rest of Winchester

Winchester is a bustling city, steeped in history and culture. Be sure to visit The Great Hall and Round Table Museum. It’s decorated for the season and you’ll find a replica of King Arthur’s Round Table on display! Take time to browse Winchester’s pretty high street, filled with restaurants and shops and don’t forget to explore the medieval side streets too. And, of course, visit Winchester’s many cosy pubs. My favourite was definitely The Eclipse Inn.

Winchester Christmas Market: FAQs And Everything Else You Need to Know

Hopefully my guide has covered everything you need to know about visiting Winchester Christmas Market in 2024 but if not, you can find answers to some frequent below. You can also contact me if you have any further questions or queries!

Is Winchester Christmas Market worth it?

Yes! It’s definitely worth it. It’s free to enter, Winchester is super easy to get to and the market is so large that you could spread your visit over a few days and spend time in the rest of Winchester too. The only downside is that it can get busy – like most Christmas markets! – as it has grown in popularity in recent years. But simply plan ahead and visit off-peak to beat the crowds. Even when crowded, it still offers a lovely festive atmosphere.

Is Winchester nice at Christmas?

Winchester is gorgeous at Christmas. In fact, I wasn’t expecting it to be so festive – I had no idea Winchester would be so lovely beyond the market when we booked to go! The area where the market is based is beautiful by itself, with the historic Winchester Cathedral providing a wonderful backdrop. But just a short walk away is the centre of Winchester, which also offers pretty twinkling light displays and a giant Christmas tree. Many shop fronts are decorated for the season too. The Great Hall is decorated for Christmas with festive displays as well, and many of the characteristic pubs offer a cosy and welcoming atmosphere. Plus the Cathedral itself hosts many seasonal events!

If you’re looking to go to a Christmas market this year, the Winchester Cathedral Christmas market is a no-brainer. It’s easy to get to, is a decent size without getting too overcrowded and it’s based in the most lovely surroundings of Winchester Cathedral. Plus Winchester is just a beautiful place to visit anyway. It’ll get you in the Christmas spirit in no time.

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