Can you believe, it's 20 years since Manchester's Christmas Markets started? Opening on Friday 8 November, plenty of our favourites are back, and there's also a new addition to the market’s trail.
Check out the mouth-watering international food, drinks and crafted Yuletide gifts at the following market locations:
Albert Square
Open daily from Friday 8 November to Sunday 22 December, 10 am to 9 pm
Late opening 12noon on Remembrance Sunday 10 November
Late 10 pm-close for Lights Switch-on, Thursday 14 November
Early 4 pm-close for the final day, Sunday 22 December
Albert Square is the original and most popular of our Christmas market locations: for a buzzing central starting point, you can’t go wrong with the hustle and bustle around the craft and artisan goods, delicatessen stalls, the eateries and the famous ‘windmill’ bar.
From hot mulled drinks to award-winning Great North Pies, there's always plenty of food and drink on offer: it wouldn’t feel like Christmas without the famous swing-griddle full of bratwurst or the Pig & Barrell’s hog-roast. New this year is Yard & Coop's buttermilk fried chicken in waffle cones, and the ski-bar inspired Apres Sally, and their speciality hot-buttered rum drinks. Or how about some fresh French macarons?
Dogs are not allowed on Albert Square, except assistance dogs.
Why not download a Christmas Markets trail map to take with you?
King Street
Open daily from Friday 8 December to Saturday 21 December, 10 am to 9 pm
Late opening 12noon on Remembrance Sunday 10 November
Late 10 pm-close for Lights Switch On, Thursday 14 November
Craft stalls open until 8 pm
Alongside the stylish shops of King Street, you'll find a Christmas Market location with a cosmopolitan feel. The ever-popular fresh-baked French Macarons are back, and the smash hit halloumi fries from EAT Greek return for their second year. New this year is a fresh flower stall, and an authentic arancini stall, which also sells deep fried calzones. Add new bar 'The Grumpy Moose' to the mix – their hot chocolates are amazing, and they've enough gins to make an advent calendar! Plus we have amazing crafters and producers selling arts, crafts, jewellery, clothing and boho styles.
St Ann's Square
Open daily from Friday 8 November to Saturday 21 December, 10am to 9pm
Late opening 12noon on Remembrance Sunday 10 November
Late close 10pm for Lights Switch-on, Thursday 14 November
Craft stalls open until 8pm
The elegant surroundings of St Ann's Square make for a lovely Christmas Market location. Here you'll find loads of decorative items to deck your halls with, plus creative and quirky gift ideas, artisan coffees and a great selection of eats to choose from.
New Cathedral Street
Open daily from Friday 8 November to Saturday 21 December, 10am to 9pm
Late opening 12noon on Remembrance Sunday 10 November
Late 10pm close for Lights Switch On, Thursday 14 November
Craft stalls open until 8pm
At one end of New Cathedral Street is the Witch-house beer house, and at the other end, our newest bar – Bar No3 – will be offering espresso martinis and smoking gin cocktail drinks as the Christmas Markets gets our own gin trail. Brand new for this year, we also have stunning hand-made leather brogues, boots and belts from LANX, all handcrafted in Lancashire, plus gourmet bagels with Eat New York, the Northern Quarter fave!
Exchange Square
Open daily from Friday 8 November to Saturday 21 December, 10am to 9pm
Late opening 12noon on Remembrance Sunday 10 November
Late 10pm close for Lights Switch On, Thursday 14 November
Craft stalls open until 8pm
Amazing antipasto selections, 3D lamp designs, handmade clothing and comicon crafts are flanked by amazing hot food and drink offerings: choose from ten different mulled wines, and eats like authentic Italian pizzas or hot and spicy curries, and – for those with a sweeter tooth, warm Cookie Dough, or mini pancakes smothered in biscoff and nutella.
Market Street
Open daily from Friday 8 November to Saturday 21 December, 10am to 9pm
Late opening 12noon on Remembrance Sunday 10 November
Late 10pm close for Lights Switch On, Thursday 14 November
Craft stalls open until 8pm
This location has become a firm favourite at the Christmas Markets, with its great range of gift ideas, from boho jewellery and ethnic goods, bags and accessories, to gorgeous hats and gift sets of cheese truckles (last year's Prosecco Wensleydale was featured in Cosmopolitan magazine!)
Cathedral Gardens
Open daily from Friday 8 November to Sunday 5 January, 10am to 9pm
Late opening 12noon on Remembrance Sunday 10 November
Late 10pm close for Lights Switch On, Thursday 14 November
Craft stalls open until 8pm
Alongside the Ice Village and skating rink, this Christmas Markets location is the perfect place to bring children of all ages to meet the main man at Santa's Grotto! As well as the Manchester City mini shop and a gorgeous baby-wear stall there's a free-to-use campervan selfie van new to site, and weekly entertainment (Thursday to Sunday) with a great selection of vocalists, DJs, magicians and shows.
Find out more about the Ice Village and Skating Rink at Cathedral Gardens
Piccadilly Gardens
Open daily from Friday 8 November to Sunday 22 December, 10am to 9pm
Late opening 12noon on Remembrance Sunday 10 November
Late 10pm close for Lights Switch On, Thursday 14 November
Street food stalls open until 6pm / Craft stalls open until 8pm
Early 4pm close for final day, Sunday 22 December
Piccadilly Gardens will host its first Christmas Market this year, and we'll be marking the occasion with lights installations and a brand new bar area – it's a giant snow globe! Beautifully lit and styled, and with a live entertainment programme, it's an oasis of calm in Manchester's main gateway. Surrounded by gourmet food options such as Eat Greek and Smore's campfire treats, we have plenty to browse plus the regular street food offering from our amazing weekly traders!
Why not download a Christmas Markets trail map to take with you?
