UK Christmas markets ranked as some of the best in the world for 2023
The world's best Christmas markets have been ranked - and two UK Christmas markets have made the cut.
If you are a big enough fan of the festive season to hop on a six-hour long plane in the hunt for the perfect combination of merriment and consumerism, then you're in luck, as the best Christmas market the world is Bryant Park Winter Village in New York.
Centrally located in Manhattan, the park features a free-admission 17,000-square-foot ice-skating rink against the stunning backdrop of skyscrapers and manicured gardens. With 180 stalls in the village from a wide range of vendors, visitors can find a variety of artisanal items and seasonal hot food options, such as chocolate s’mores, to feast on.
The market topped a list put together by Planet Cruise which scrutinised six different factors: number of stalls; open dates; TripAdvisor ratings; TripAdvisor reviews; Google search volume and Instagram hashtag data.
London's Winter Wonderland has slipped down the rankings (Getty Images/Lonely Planet Images)Knocking London’s Winter Wonderland off from last year’s second place is Munich’s Marienplatz, or Münchner Christkindlmarkt in German. With 25,618 TripAdvisor reviews and 50 stalls, the market is a heavy hitter. This is perhaps not surprising as it dates back to the 14th century, making it one of the oldest Christmas markets in Germany. It includes special attractions, such as the Kripperlmarkt, which comprises ten stalls offering exclusively Nativity scenes and figurines.
Snap up £12.99 flights to one of the best Christmas markets in the world
Third place can also be found in Germany, in the charming city of Cologne. In the shadows of one of Europe's most magnificent cathedrals can be found a sprawling market of 150 stalls that opens for a short but sweet 30 days only.
If scale is more your thing, then a trip to Strasbourg in France or Calgary in Canada may be in order. The festive fares there are the biggest in the world in terms of total number of stalls, both coming in at an eye watering 300 each. Neither has troubled the top ten this year, but in terms of sheer heft alone they're of seasonal note.
Top of the list from the UK is Blenheim Palace - coming in at sixth overall - which has a high Tripadvisor score, 75 stalls and is open for 44 days. This year the royal residence is showcasing a brand new illuminated light trail and themed Palace interior.
It has beaten the better known and bigger Winter Wonderland in London's Hyde Park into seventh place. Despite being an integral part of many a merry maker's seasonal plans, the jolly zone scores a low 3.5 average rating on Tripadvisor. Over the years many punters have levelled complaints that the Winter Wonderland is too pricey.
World's best Christmas markets
- Bryant Park, New York in the United States
- Marienplatz, Munich in Germany
- Cologne Cathedral, Cologne in Germany
- Krakow's Rynek Glowny Central Square, Krakow in Poland
- St. Stephen's Basilica, Budapest in Hungary
- Blenheim Palace, Woodstock in the United Kingdom
- Winter Wonderland, Hyde Park in the United Kingdom
- Alexanderplatz, Berlin in Germany
- Rynek of Wroclaw, Wroclaw in Poland
- Liseberg, Gothenburg in Sweden
If you love a Christmas market but don't fancy hopping on a plane or taking a lengthy train ride, then there are plenty to enjoy in the UK. The Mirror has put together a list of most of them here.
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