The Bath Christmas Market is one of the most popular festive events in England, and in 2026 it runs from Thursday 26 November to Sunday 13 December. There is a residents' evening on Wednesday 25 November before the public opening. The market fills the centre with wooden chalets along Abbeygate Street, Bath Street, Milsom Street and New Bond Street, in the shadow of the Abbey and the Roman Baths, and the setting is the draw: Georgian stone lit by fairy lights. Around 245 traders take part, 61 of them new this year, and about eighty per cent come from the South West. Stalls sell crafts, gifts, clothing, jewellery and food and drink, and there is live music, street performers and an indoor bar on Stall Street. Entry is free and no booking is required. Opening hours are Monday to Wednesday from ten to seven, Thursday to Saturday from ten to eight and Sunday from ten to six. Weekday mornings are quietest, while evenings and weekends are the busiest.
A good plan makes the market far more enjoyable. The most relaxed time to go is on a Tuesday or Wednesday between ten and noon, which the organisers themselves recommend, and the peak crowds come on Friday and Saturday evenings and weekends. If you go at a busy time, accept the crush as part of the atmosphere, hold on to your group and avoid taking a large pushchair into the narrowest lanes. Some lanes are cobbled, so wear sturdy shoes, and the market has accessible routes and toilets and quieter shopping periods for those who need them.
Getting there: the market is about a five-minute walk from Bath Spa railway station and the bus station. Park and Ride services run later into the evening, and Great Western Railway adds extra trains on Saturdays, which is the easiest way to arrive. Part of the city centre is in the Clean Air Zone, so check whether a vehicle needs to pay. Coach operators must book drop-off and pick-up slots in advance using Royal Avenue. If you can, stay overnight: the market is lovely in the evening and the nearby hotels make the second day calmer.
Making a weekend of it: pair the market with a morning at the Roman Baths, a late-afternoon soak at Thermae Bath Spa and a walk to the Royal Crescent. Bring a reusable cup, as participating stalls take fifty pence off hot drinks. Other festive events run in the city around the same time, including late openings at museums and Christmas events at the Roman Baths, so check each venue for dates before you travel.
What to expect
The experience
An open-air market of wooden chalets along central Georgian streets, with crafts, gifts, food and drink, live music and street performers, free to enter.
Best time
Tuesday and Wednesday mornings from ten to noon are quietest; evenings and weekends are the busiest and most atmospheric.
How long
Two to three hours, longer if you eat and drink at the stalls.
Tips
Arrive by train or Park and Ride, wear comfortable shoes for cobbles, bring a reusable cup for a discount on hot drinks and book a hotel early.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Anyone who loves Christmas markets and Georgian streets.
- Families
- Fun for children, but evenings and weekends are crowded, so go on a weekday morning with a pushchair.
- Couples
- Mulled drinks in the evening, followed by a walk past the lit-up Abbey.
- Pair with
- Bath Abbey, the Roman Baths and Thermae Bath Spa.
- Time needed
- A morning or an evening.
Good questions
When is the Bath Christmas Market in 2026?+
It runs from Thursday 26 November to Sunday 13 December 2026, with a residents' evening on Wednesday 25 November.
Is entry free?+
Yes, entry is completely free and no booking is required.
What are the opening hours?+
Monday to Wednesday ten to seven, Thursday to Saturday ten to eight and Sunday ten to six.
When is it least crowded?+
Weekday mornings, particularly Tuesday and Wednesday from ten to noon, are the quietest.
How do I get there?+
It is about a five-minute walk from Bath Spa station and the bus station. Park and Ride runs later into the evening and extra trains run on Saturdays.
