Bath Christmas Market is a traditional Christmas market held annually in the beautiful, historic city of Bath. The Bath Christmas Market has become a real tradition for us as a family since our first visit in 2016.
Bath Christmas Market
Every holiday season, the city of Bath hosts the Bath Christmas Market. It attracts visitors from far and wide. Over 170 pop up wooden chalets line the streets surrounding the Roman Baths and Bath Abbey, selling artisanal arts, crafts, food and drink. Many of the stallholders are from local small businesses as Bath Christmas Market aims to be as sustainable as possible and support local industry.
The atmosphere is friendly and fun and the crisp, cold air is fragrant with mulled wine. If you enjoy a tipple, you will definitely want to try some of this delicious beverage. I highly recommend the optional added brandy!
Exploring the Bath Christmas Market
The Bath Christmas Market offers so many ideas for gifts – and for treats for yourself as well. There are artisanal food, drink and liqueurs as well as handmade crafts, locally blown glass and more.
Because we travel by train, I’m limited in how much I can buy at the market itself, but thankfully most of the sellers have websites! If you are in a similar position you can always order online later.
Tips for Visiting Bath Christmas Market
Dress Warmly
The Bath Christmas Market is entirely outdoors. It can get very cold in December, so be sure to dress warmly. Wear layers and don’t forget gloves and a hat.
Travel by train or public transportation
I recommend travelling to Bath by train. Parking in Bath is never easy and at Christmas it is nigh on impossible. Alcohol is served at the market, so if you plan to imbibe travelling by train is a good idea as well. Be sure to arrange transport from your local train station home!
We generally park overnight at our local train station and take a taxi home, collecting our car in the morning. That can be expensive though, so check out pricing before you decide what to do.
The trains late in the evening can sometimes be very full, and occasionally the passengers are a bit rowdy and worse for wear. It can be better to arrive at the market early in the day and travel home in the late afternoon or earlier in the evening if you can.
Another option is to make a short break of your visit and stay at a hotel in Bath. Be sure to make hotel reservations as early as possible as hotels fill up quickly and check parking arrangements if you plan to drive.
Visit early in the day
The Bath Christmas Market gets incredibly busy as the day wears on and by lunchtime it’s generally very crowded. It’s best to be there just before the market opens if you can. The market stalls open at 10am most days, although when we visited last year we noticed some were open a little bit before official opening time. It meant we had a chance to really see what was on offer. The market gets very crowded by lunchtime.
More Things To Do While Visiting The Bath Christmas Market
Take Time for Tea at Sally Lunn’s
Whenever we visit Bath, and our Bath Christmas Market visits are no exception, we almost alway enjoy a visit to one of the oldest eating establishments in England.
The house itself dates from the 1400’s but Sally Lunn’s Eating House was established in 1680. Ever since then, they’ve been selling light, fluffy, buttery buns still made from Sally’s secret recipe. You can even visit the original kitchens in the basement of the house after you’ve enjoyed their traditional treats. The most amazing thing is, that basement level today was at street level when Sally Lunn was baking her buns!
Sally Lunn’s do not take reservations and there is generally a queue. However, they have three floors of tables and the queue generally moves quite quickly. We waited about 20 minutes to be seated on our latest visit in 2023.
Bath Abbey
It can be very busy during the market, but I definitely recommend a visit to Bath Abbey if you can get in. One way to do this is to attend one of the frequent short carol services. Those who attend the services are offered priority entry over sightseers.
Three different churches have occupied the site since 757 AD, and in 973 AD the coronation of the first King of England was held here. The current Abbey was built in the 1600’s, then restored and added to in the 1800’s. It is nothing short of awe inspiring, and as you walk over and past memorials and ancient tombs, you get a real sense of the history and faith contained in this beautiful building.
The Roman Baths
I feel like a visit to Bath is not complete without a visit to the Roman Baths themselves. It’s also a great chance to warm up a little!
Since the time of the Celts the hot springs here have been used for bathing and restorative purposes. The Romans built a temple and baths complex here in the first century. The self-guided audio tour takes you through ante-rooms and exhibits of stonework and artefacts from the baths. On our most recent visit, there was a bar set up on the edge of the Baths themselves and we enjoyed a glass of champagne as we explored!
A visit to Bath and the Bath Christmas Market is a wonderful day out. It’s an excellent opportunity to buy beautiful, unique Christmas gifts whilst enjoying the best of ancient and modern Bath.
The 2024 Bath Christmas Market is open from Thursday November 28th through Sunday December 15th. Please see the Bath Christmas Market website for opening times and further information.
Getting to Bath
Bath is in Somerset, about an hour and a half from London’s Paddington Station. We travel to Bath directly from Reading, which takes just under an hour. The train stop for Bath is Bath Spa.
More British Travel
Visiting Highclere Castle – The Real Downton Abbey
5 Great Things to Do in London
Favourite Castles and Palaces in England
Thanks to our son Alexander for many of the photographs in this post.
This post contains my honest opinions and the advice I give to friends. None of our experiences were gifted and we paid all our own expenses. Information is correct to the best of my knowledge at the time of writing, and every effort is made to ensure it remains up to date, however I am not responsible for any changes that may occur post publication. Always visit restaurant and venue websites for opening times, their full terms and conditions, and to check prices, availability and payment terms.
Comments & Reviews
Yes, Bath is wonderful but I’ve never been at Christmas-time. I love these markets in their little wooden huts; so glad they have spread across Europe now!
Me too, Pauline 🙂 I’m hoping to go to some more Christmas markets next year as we enjoyed it so much. I’m also hoping to return to Bath again soon.
That last photo of you and your husband is such a beautiful photo! What a treasure of a city. I would love to visit there some day. I’ve heard of Sally Lunn’s Eating House; and I have to say that I had a donut this morning for ‘elevenses’. Bath Abbey also looks very beautiful and serene. Some day I will get there, but for now, I’ll enjoy exploring through your adventures.:)
Thank you so much, Mel. We were lucky to have our son with us to take the photos 🙂 And thank you so much for featuring this post at Inspire Me Wednesday. It’s one of my favourite linky parties.
April,
What a beautiful post filled with so much eye candy!! A truly lovely place! Thanks so much for sharing!!
Hugs,
Debbie
I’m so glad you enjoyed it, Debbie! Thank you so much 🙂 Hugs!
That looks like a wonderful place to visit; especially at Christmas time!
It really was fun, Joanne 🙂
What fun! Alexander is a good photographer as well. I would love to visit Bath and, of course, Sally Lunn’s Eating House!
I’m so glad you enjoyed the article, Jean – and thank you, I will pass your compliment on to Alexander. Please let me know if you are ever in Bath – I would love to meet you for tea at Sally Lunn’s!