The first of England’s cathedral Christmas markets opens today, and this year Lincoln joins the list for the first time.
Cathedral Christmas markets open as Canterbury leads the way
Canterbury fills the cathedral precincts and the city centre’s other market zones, and is among the biggest in the country, with more than 170 stallholders at last year’s event. Stalls in the precincts date back to 1383, following a royal grant from Richard II. The market was closed in 1813 on grounds of “indecency and tumultuous conduct” and returned in 2024 after more than 200 years. Entry to the precincts is free, with visitors paying only to go inside the Cathedral and Cloister.
Exeter follows tomorrow, with its market on Cathedral Green running from 10am on Friday 13 November until 5pm on Sunday 13 December. Last year was a record for the market, and organisers say stall spaces fill quickly.
Next week brings a cluster of openings.
Ely’s Christmas Gift & Food Fair runs from 19 to 21 November. Now in its 14th year, the ticketed fair inside the cathedral draws around 15,000 visitors. More than a third of this year’s 160 exhibitors are new, bringing a showcase of artisan food, fine craftsmanship and creative talent. Outside, an extended marquee houses a festive village, with a vintage carousel and an observation wheel adding to the atmosphere.
Ripon’s fair takes place on Friday 20 and Saturday 21 November with more than 100 stalls. In 2023 it raised more than £41,000 for the cathedral.
Winchester’s Christmas Market also opens on 20 November and runs until 22 December. Billed as one of the best in Europe, it features more than 120 wooden chalets in the Inner Close, modelled on traditional German markets, offering handcrafted gifts, artisan food and festive treats, alongside the Makers’ Market for independent artisans. Sustainability is a priority: no generators are used, the market tree is lit by solar panels, water from the flooded crypt flushes the public toilets, and all waste is sorted and recycled.
Peterborough’s Christmas Craft & Gift Market runs from 20 to 22 November, with Father Christmas on hand to open the festivities. More than 100 handpicked stallholders, all dedicated to handmade and original work, make this the biggest year yet, with the emphasis on local makers, artists and independent businesses.
Guildford’s Christmas Fair takes place on Friday 20 and Saturday 21 November, from 10am to 4pm, at Stag Hill. More than 50 independent makers and specialist vendors will sell gifts, crafts, home décor, fashion, jewellery and festive food, and the Seasons Café will serve drinks, snacks and lunches. Entry is £3 per person, payable at the door or bookable online.
Later in the season, Truro’s Christmas Market (25 to 28 November) celebrates Cornwall’s finest makers, artists and producers, with gifts, decorations and festive food and drink. St Edmundsbury’s market runs from 26 to 28 November.
For the first time, Lincoln stages its own Christmas market, from 3 to 5 December. The Gothic nave, Chapter House, cloisters and Dean’s Green will be filled with Christmas trees, lights, and food and gift stalls. The event is ticketed and on a much smaller scale than the city’s old street market.
All the markets contribute to our cathedrals’ outreach and finances. Cathedrals have no guaranteed central government funding, and the bulk of their running costs comes from sources beyond the Church of England: donations, visitors and local support (Living Stones, Theos/AEC, 2026).
