Best Christmas markets in Nottingham

Slider image

Winter is approaching, and with it come some of the most exciting events of the freezing season: Christmas markets. Nottingham has its fair share of markets to choose from, with everything from crafts to artisan cheeses ready to be wrapped up and placed under the tree. If you’re looking for a market you haven’t been to before, or you just want to shake things up from the standard city markets, this list will cover Nottingham’s hidden gems as well as its most famous Christmas market.

1. Nottingham Winter Wonderland

If you’re a Nottingham local, you won’t be surprised to see Nottingham Winter Wonderland at the top of this list. Widely regarded as one of the best Christmas markets in Europe, and the most famous Christmas market in Nottingham, the experience includes an Ice Bar full of ice sculptures, an ice rink, a toboggan slide, and a lineup of live entertainment for every day of the event. As for the wares themselves, the venue is proud to host independent stalls selling Christmas favourites from artisan cheese to mead, plants, homemade chutney, clothing, jewellery, perfume and more. 

2. It’s In Nottingham Christmas Market

While Winter Wonderland is the most well-known of Nottingham’s markets, it’s far from the only one in the city. It’s In Nottingham is hosting its 2024 Christmas market in collaboration with Nottingham Castle, allowing festive attendees to gain entry to the markets, the castle and the castle grounds all at once. 

Home to over 70 stalls, the market is a thriving spot to browse for Christmas gifts, with vendors peddling everything from artisan relish to cheese, clothes, candles and tea. You can also browse the Maker’s Marquee for unique, one-of-a-kind handmade gifts, including crochet, ceramics, macarons and art prints. 

3. Winterfest: Thoresby Arts and Crafts Fair

Another gem of Nottinghamshire is Thoresby Park’s Winterfest, a two-day fair in the idyllic country estate of the Pierreponts. Like most Christmas markets near Nottingham, Thoresby is a full-day event complete with a carousel, a merry-go-round, Santa’s Grotto and plenty of food and drink. 

With over 70 stalls on-site, including a place to pick out this year’s Christmas tree and a face-painting point for the kids, you can also grab the opportunity to explore the beautiful Thoresby grounds while they’re covered in snow. 

4. Snowed in at Newstead

If you’re searching for something new from your Christmas bash, Snowed in at Newstead is designed to be the most fun anyone has had at an abbey since the 6th century. From a festive house tour to craft stalls in the cloisters, this regular weekend event is perfect to add a little extra to your day out at Newstead. For an additional entry fee, you can head into the abbey itself and discover the ‘Snowed in’ festive decorations, alongside a self-guided tour around the historic house. You can even head in at night, if you’d like an extra touch of Christmas charm.

5. Rufford Abbey’s Mini Christmas Market

Rufford is the second abbey in Nottinghamshire to invest in winterfest, with a Mini Christmas Market running every weekend until just before the big day itself. Rufford offers a spread of 12 stalls every day of the market, where you can buy anything from decorations to jewellery, Christmas gifts and even pet treats to put in your puppy’s stocking. 

6. Christmas Fayre in Clumber Park

Our final entry in the Nottinghamshire forests is the National Trust’s Clumber Park. This market is on the smaller side, but it’s well worth a visit, with plenty of stalls to browse for unique gifts that you simply can’t buy anywhere else. Take the opportunity to also go on the park’s Snowman Walk inspired by Raymond Briggs’ ‘The Snowman’ or take the kids to meet Father Christmas at his grotto. 

7. Calke Abbey Christmas Gift Market

If you’re surprised to see a third abbey on this list, we wouldn’t blame you! Yes, it’s not exactly a Christmas market in Nottingham, but with it being under an hour away by car, it’s close enough to count… right? With festive lights to add a dash of magic to the winter dark, Calke Abbey offers plenty of things to do, from market stalls to the very best of the winter season: pigs in blankets. 

Looking forward to trying them all? Why not make the car ride shorter with a brand new home in Nottingham, ready for your family in the new year? 

Our locations

Our locations
Angus Ayrshire Barnsley Burton On Trent Castleford Chester-le-Street Chesterfield County Durham Derby Derbyshire Dundee Durham East Kilbride East Lothian East Midlands Edinburgh Glasgow Huddersfield Kettering Lanarkshire Lancashire Leamington Spa Leeds Leicester Leicestershire Lincolnshire Market Harborough Middlesbrough Midlothian Newark-on-Trent Newcastle North East North West North Yorkshire Northamptonshire Nottingham Nottinghamshire Pontefract Preston Renfrewshire Retford Scotland Sheffield Shropshire South Yorkshire Stirlingshire Sunderland Wakefield Walsall Warwick West Midlands West Yorkshire York Yorkshire and Humber
View all locations
Slider image

Buying with Avant

Why Choose Avant

About Avant

Customer Care

More

Avant Homes NHQC

www.avanthomes.co.uk is a site operated by Avant Homes Limited (”Avant”). Avant is registered in England and Wales under company number 03215228 and we have our registered office at Avant House, 6 and 9 Tallys End, Barlborough S43 4WP. Our main trading addresses are listed here. Our VAT number is 181 3492 62.

Website by MMS

© 2024 Avant Homes