For many, our Christmas fairs and markets mark the start of the season of Advent and Christmas.
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas …
They are an opportunity for invitation, they support local crafters, makers, businesses and charities. They support cathedral finances, and boost local economies.
And they remind people that we are here, ever present, at the heart of our communities.
The Dean of Canterbury, the Very Revd David Monteith, said,
“I want to invite everyone to come and be part of our celebrations, whether that’s enjoying the Christmas market in the Precincts of the Cathedral, coming to one of our special music events or activities, or indeed, coming to one of our special Advent and Christmas services.
‘We’re looking forward to making new connections and to remembering afresh the story of Christmas. I love the baubles and the tinsel as much as anybody else, but, of course, at the heart of it is the story of God coming to be with us, which is a story of profound and lasting hope.
‘And so that’s my wish for everyone this Christmas. Join with us and come and discover something of the hope that sits at the heart of this special season.”
Do check your local cathedral for up-to-date information on services and events this season.
Here is a round-up of some of our Christmas fairs and markets.
Chelmsford Cathedral will host its Cathedral Christmas Market on Saturday 6 December offering space for local artisans and makers to showcase their handcrafted goods and there will be a pop-up café under the cathedral’s Tree of Life mural. More here.
The Dean of Hereford, the Very Revd Sarah Brown, will be leading carol singing in the Close at midday when Hereford Cathedral hosts its Christmas Fair on Saturday 13 December.
Over forty stallholders will be in the cathedral featuring homemade produce, handcrafted items and plenty of festive gifts and crafts from local stallholders.
It’s the fifth year that Truro Cathedral has hosted Cornwall’s Artisan Christmas Market which took place over two days earlier this month and this weekend, 28-30 November, the cathedral will host the Made in Cornwall Christmas Market.
Truro Cathedral – Made in Cornwall: Cathedral Christmas Market
Portsmouth Cathedral’s Christmas Fair on Saturday 6 December will be followed by Carols on the Green and includes a cake stall, raffles, a chocolate tombola, a bottle tombola, toys and much more. It is a fundraiser to support the cathedral’s mission and ministry.
There’s a helter-skelter for Christmas in the grounds of Birmingham Cathedral Square for the Christmas Craft Market, and for the first time, a family Christmas Tree experience. A large Christmas Tree ride has been set up where families can ride in a bauble and are given a special cathedral bauble to bring into the cathedral to hang on their Christmas Tree with their own message. There are prayer cards available for people too.
The Christmas fair runs to 24 December 2025, visitors can explore handmade gifts, and seasonal treats with over 60 independent businesses, crafters and makers.
Once again, the Cathedral is hosting a Cathedral Charity chalet (number 16) at the market – giving ten local charities the opportunity to raise awareness and raise funds from Women’s Aid to Fare Share.
Christmas in Cathedral Square Craft Market is by Danter Attractions Limited, working alongside Birmingham Cathedral, Colmore Business Improvement District, and Birmingham City Council.
Coventry Cathedral is hosting a local makers and crafters market on 29 November as part of its Step Into Christmas event – find out more here.
St Davids Cathedral in Pembrokeshire, from our partners in the Church In Wales will hold its Christmas Fayre on Saturday 29th November, 10am to 4pm. Over 45 stalls of local arts, crafts and food will fill the whole cathedral. The Community Choir and St Andrew’s Voices (the amateur adult cathedral choir) will be singing during the day and the cathedral coffee shop is open all day too.
St Edmundsbury Cathedral’s annual Christmas Market will welcome all from Thursday 27 November to Saturday 29 November this year.
A variety of stallholders from Suffolk and beyond will showcase their products, with over 50 stalls filling the Cathedral Nave. There will be refreshments available and daily entertainment.
“The Cathedral Christmas Market is a big few days for us at St Edmundsbury when we welcome lots of returning but also new visitors,” James Stark, Head Verger and Events Manager at St Edmundsbury Cathedral said, “Alongside our Advent services, it marks the start of our Christmas celebrations. We’re looking forward to welcoming all.”
Exeter Cathedral’s Christmas market has just opened. Set against the backdrop of Exeter Cathedral, this market is set in twinkling chalets, and offers seasonal delicacies and crafts and gifts showcasing the very best of Devon and beyond. The Cathedral suspends charging during the market, which runs until 19 December.
The Dean of Exeter, the Very Revd Jonathan Greener, said,
‘The month-long Christmas Market in Exeter makes a significant contribution to Cathedral finances, helping us to maintain this fantastic building and to keep our doors open every day of the year; but it’s also become an essential part of Exeter’s Christmas.
‘Last time we counted, we reckoned the Market attracted 600,000 visitors and brought some £30 Million of commercial activity into the City Centre. The Market is a tremendous showcase for local craftsmen and traders and a great place to meet up with friends for festive food and drink.
‘It also brings large numbers of people into the cathedral. We suspend charging during the Market, and invite our visitors to make a donation instead. Again, at the last count, we welcomed some 20,000 people to look round the cathedral, which happens of course alongside the daily round of Carol Services and Concerts which we are delighted to host throughout December.’
Winchester Cathedral’s Christmas market has been hailed one of the best in Europe. It attracts up to 110,000 visitors with the emphasis on sustainability, this year it will be more eco-friendly than ever, with measures to conserve energy and water usage, all waste will be recycled and there are many more sustainable traders.
Winchester Cathedral Christmas Market – 20 November – 22 December
Another favourite in the calendar, Ely’s Christmas Gift & Food Fair welcomed over 16,000 visitors at the weekend with around 170 local stall holders.
This year, its thirteenth, saw a 35m observation wheel installed for visitors to ride and get a bird’s eye view of the Cathedral and the fens beyond, and there was and old fashioned carousel too.
Canterbury Christmas market opened on November 15 and runs until Christmas Eve across three sites in the city with over 170 stallholders and has just been confirmed as one of the largest in the UK.
The Dean of Canterbury, the Very Revd David Monteith, said,
“I want to invite everyone to come and be part of our celebrations, whether that’s enjoying the Christmas market in the Precincts of the Cathedral, coming to one of our special music events or activities, or indeed, coming to one of our special Advent and Christmas services.
‘We’re looking forward to making new connections, and to remembering the story of Christmas anew.
‘I love the baubles and the tinsel as much as anybody else, but, of course, at the heart of it is the story of God coming to be with us, which is a story of profound and lasting hope.
‘And so that’s my wish for everyone this Christmas. Join with us and come and discover something of the hope that sits at the heart of this special season.”
Other cathedrals have already hosted their Christmas fairs, including Peterborough’s Craft and Gift Market 14-16 November, Leicester held a Christmas Market and Craft Night on Saturday 22 November, Guildford held their Christmas market on 21 and 22 November with over 50 stalls offering bespoke Christmas gifts, decorations, spirits, jewellery, accessories, and crafts. Ripon held its traditional Christmas Gift and Food Fair then too, with music and singing from choirs from local churches, schools and community groups. Ripon’s Christmas fair raises vital funds for the cathedral’s mission, its education programme, music and heritage conservation.
Lichfield Cathedral held its artisan Christmas market on Saturday 8 November which saw 30 stall holders and welcomed over 2,300 visitors on the day. Southwell Minster saw a record-breaking number of visitors to their Christmas fair earlier this month too with 3,100 visitors (about 700 on the Friday evening, 2,400 on the Saturday daytime).
