Overview
- York’s St Nicholas Fair opened on November 13 with more than 20 alpine chalets on Parliament Street and St Sampson’s Square, daily hours of 10:30am–7pm through December 21, and designated quiet shopping from 10am–12pm.
- Organisers in York emphasised local participation at roughly 80–85% of stalls and introduced crowd‑management changes by relocating the Treehouse, removing the King’s Square carousel, and cutting seven huts.
- Sheffield’s market launched November 13 with over 60 cabins across Fargate, Barkers Pool, Peace Gardens and the Moor, running to December 24 with food, gift stalls, a big wheel and Santa’s Grotto.
- Edinburgh Winterfest, ranked best in the UK by travel site Locals Insider, opens November 15 in East Princes Street Gardens and runs to January 4 with dozens of chalets and rides including the LNER Big Wheel and Starflyer.
- Newcastle’s market begins November 15 and continues to December 23 across Grey’s Monument, Grainger Street, Nelson Street and Old Eldon Square, offering free entry plus paid experiences such as North Pole dining igloos priced at £30 off‑peak and £60 peak.