There’s not long to go until one of the UK’s best Christmas markets returns to the heart of Bath – so it’s time to start getting excited! We can’t wait until those charming wooden chalets and sparkling lights appear in the city centre once more, filled with handmade gifts, delicious food and warming mulled wine. 

If you’ve never visited the Bath Christmas Markets before, you’re in for a really special treat. Here’s all of the essential info you need to know…

When and where

This year’s Bath Christmas Market dates are 28th November to 15th December. The markets are open from 10am to 7pm from Monday to Wednesday, staying open an hour later from Thursday to Saturday. On Sundays, closing time is 6pm. 

The markets are spread across the city centre, including:

• Abbeygate Street
• Abbey Street
• Abbey Green
• Abbey Churchyard
• Union Street
• Bath Street
• Milsom Street

What’s new this year?

Brand new for 2019 is the Bath Christmas Market Experience. This very exciting package gives you the chance to enjoy a special, Christmas-packed day in Bath city centre. It includes Christmas crafts and wreath-making, a two-course Champagne lunch at The Ivy Bath Brasserie, a shopping trip at the markets and a chance to soothe those weary feet at the Thermae Bath Spa. It’s a great value deal, with prices for the whole package starting at just £112 a person. 

Also new for this year is the addition of more than 30 new stallholders. This includes a dedicated vegan food chalet and two new charity chalets hosting 36 local charities during the duration of the markets. 

Food and drink 

Christmas markets are all about hearty, warming treats, and Bath certainly doesn’t disappoint. Take your pick from hog roasts, bratwurst, handmade donuts, gourmet burgers and much more, and there’s a new vegan food stall. Pair your food with a classic mulled wine, or try local beers at The Lodge Bar. And watch out for the cosy pop-up Après-Ski bar too – it’s only available for limited periods during the usual Bath Christmas Market times.

Shop from the very best of Bath

A visit to the Bath Christmas Markets isn’t just a lovely festive day out. It’s also a way to support local businesses, artists and makers. A huge 80% of the 150 stallholders are from Bath or the South West, including:

• Bath Ales
• Bath Aqua Glass
• Slimbridge Soaps
• Julian Smith Fine Art
• Priormade. 

Planning your visit

The city’s festive markets are always enormously popular, so it can get very busy. The best time to go to the Christmas markets and beat the crowds is usually weekday mornings and evenings.  

Parking in Bath during the market season is always tricky, as it gets very busy and car parks fill up quickly. Public transport could be a better option, as Bath Spa train station is only a short walk from the markets. You can also make use of Bath’s three Park & Ride services if you do want or need to drive. 

Staying overnight could be the ideal solution, giving you time to enjoy the many other sights and sounds of Bath city centre. All of our self-catering Bath apartments come with parking included, and most are a conveniently short distance from the Christmas Markets.