Bath Christmas Market Guide and City Highlights

One of our favorite cities in England, the Georgian gem of Bath is outstanding during the holidays. For two weeks each year, the squares and streets transform into the Bath Christmas market—a citywide festival of food, entertainment, gifts, and holiday decorations. And that just scratches the surface of what to see in the city this time of year.

The Christmas market here often tops the list of best Christmas markets in England. Much of that has to do with two things—its stunning location and its size. With 200 chalets set among the historic buildings of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, visiting the market has a kind of romance Jane Austen would have approved of.

We spent a day in Bath just before Christmas enjoying the food and shopping at the market as well as other holiday and winter activities. Here’s what to expect from the market and beyond.

Market dates, times, and location

The market will be open November 28-December 15, 2024.

Shopping and eating at the market

As soon as we saw the first chalets, we were struck by the uniqueness of the merchandise. We’ve been to about 20 Christmas markets in Europe from Belgium to Germany and beyond, and one thing we’ve noticed is that many have a formula. While there are always local vendors and characteristic foods, there is often a selection of items that are more commercial and mass produced—more targeted at tourists or people shopping for things in a hurry rather than wanting something special. That’s not the case in Bath.

It varies slightly by year, but nearly 90 percent of the vendors at the market are local. That means that practically everything being offered is handmade, specially crafted, or artisan. What we saw in Bath had no relation to the decorations, gifts, and other items we saw for sale in London, Birmingham, or even nearby in Oxford. That alone makes Bath a must-visit.

As we made our way toward the Abbey, we marveled at all the unique things for sale. There were beautiful blown glass ornaments, handmade jewelry, and painted kitchenware. We saw cozy shawls and all manner of things designed to block out the English wind alongside craft spirits, sauce-making kits from a local chili farm, and artwork.

Among the gift and food stands, you’ll also find the charity chalets. Every day, different charities have the chance to raise awareness of their organizations and collect donations. There are two chalets which allow 36 charities to introduce themselves to market visitors and give people the chance to do a little good during the holiday season.

As the chalets continued up Union Street and Milsom Street, the stallholders featured garden sculptures, clothes, and candy and chocolates that looked like they came from the mind of Willy Wonka. We saw traditional sausage rolls and mince pies, and we sampled bratwurst and local mulled gin.

There were pastries galore, and the scent of flapjacks filled the air as we approached the piano on New Bond Street that invited anyone who wanted to play to contribute to the holiday mood. It was truly joyful.

More to do in Bath at Christmas

You could spend most of the day wandering through the market, eating, and shopping. But, if that’s not enough, there are lots of other things to see and do in this beautiful city.

Enjoy Bath on Ice

North of the market is Royal Victoria Park not far from the famous Royal Crescent. In winter, this place comes alive as Bath on Ice. From November 15, 2024 through January 5, 2025, crowds flock to the ice-skating rink to take a spin. It opens mid-morning and skating hours stretch well into the evening.

There are wood-fired pizzas and mulled cider to warm up with at the rink, or you can get a great view of the skaters from overhead at the Royal Pavilion Cafe. It’s fun to watch families and friends out for the day and people who are clearly testing their blades for the first time.

Try mini golf

Just behind the ice-skating rink is another unique experience–Victoria Falls Adventure Golf. You can check out their 18 holes of mini golf during the day, but at night in the winter, the entire course becomes glow-in-the-dark. Over waterfalls and around the lake glowing in green, red, and other surreal colors, you can try your hand at scoring a hole-in-one.

Find a musical performance

Throughout the weeks the market is on, there are lots of entertainers from local choirs to individual musicians to brass bands.

If you’re already at the market, it’s easy to stop into the Abbey for Shoppers’ Carols that happen every Saturday. The casual 20-minute services feature traditional carols and offer a break from shopping right in the middle of the market activity. They take place at the top of the hour from 1pm-5pm on November 30 and December 7 and from 1pm-3pm on December 14.

Additionally, the entertainment stages on New Bond Street and Stall street welcome different performers, and there are concerts and events around the city including pantomimes and even the Bath Philharmonic playing the live musical score to accompany The Snowman movie on December 14.

Meet Father Christmas

If you have children who want to spend time with Father Christmas, head for Milsom Place to see the man himself and his elves in their workshop. The 20-minute interactive experience at Father Christmas’ Grotto includes a small gift and a photo opportunity along with lots of Christmas magic. It’s available select dates from November 28 through December 24, 2024.

See the Christmas lights

Over the holiday season, the city is decked out in thousands of Christmas lights. Some are in the colors of the rainbow and others are bright white to complement the architecture of the city.

We loved the lights along Milsom Street and its cross streets, stretching over the Christmas market’s chalets and some of the main shopping areas. You’ll also find Christmas lights throughout the city center, including displays at SouthGate and on the Christmas trees at Bath Abbey, near the train station, and in other areas around town.

Marvel at the ancient Roman baths

The top attraction here is the ancient Roman Baths that date back to the first century. The area’s natural hot springs were channeled inside a Roman temple, and a settlement grew up around it, ultimately leading to modern-day Bath. There’s lots of history in the centuries in between, and that story is told in engaging detail inside the museum.

Get festive at the Abbey Hotel

In past years, the aprés-ski bar outside the Abbey Hotel was one of the most Christmassy places in town. This year, the festivities head inside to the restaurant that has been transformed with rustic decor and cozy throw blankets. The menu is full of warm drinks and holiday-themed cocktails. If the restaurant proves as popular as the bar was, you may need to be patient if you’re trying to get a seat.

Have tea at one of the city’s oldest houses

There is lots of great food available at the Christmas market, but you may want more than what the market offers (or a place to sit down to eat it). Sally Lunn’s is famous for their buns. They’re hard to describe but are essentially light breads that are delicious vehicles for butter, cinnamon, clotted cream, jam, and more. If you’re a carb-lover, make a beeline here.

Beyond the food, Sally Lunn’s is one of the oldest houses in Bath dating from 1482. You can see excavations that date to Roman times in the house and the bakery where Sally made her buns in the last 17th century.

Where to stay

The Gainsborough Bath Spa – The Gainsborough is the only hotel with access to the city’s natural thermal waters, which are used in the spa. One of the Leading Hotels of the World, it offers five-star accommodations and service.

The Francis Hotel – This Regency-style townhouse hotel is close to some of the best bars and restaurants in Bath. Many of its rooms have four-poster beds and views over the city.

Abbey Hotel– Built within three Georgian townhouses, the Abbey Hotel offers 4-star accommodations. Guests can enjoy drinks in the ArtBar or on the terrace.