Do you visit the German Christmas markets?

[caprimint]

The traditional ones that show up every year from around the middle of November, where you can buy gifts, go on rides, try different foods/drinks and watch the entertainment. If so, which ones?

I go every year, they're one of my favourite things about this time of year :love: Such a good atmosphere.

I usually always go to the Birmingham one, this year I'll only be visiting the ones in London though I think (Southbank, Tower Bridge and Leicester Square, might go to Winter Wonderland too possibly).

[LukeB]

Yes, i always visit the birmingham one for the food :laugh:

[AnnieK]

Always go to the manchester one...

[Drew.]

No but i really want to

[Crimson Dynamo]

no

[Locke.]

Didn't know they were German :think:

Went to the one in Liverpool last year which was pretty good

[caprimint]

Yes, i always visit the birmingham one for the food :laugh:
The food is amazing :love: I always want to try it all though and realize that's all I've spent my money on. :laugh:

Didn't know they were German :think:

Yeah they originated in Germany, some of the biggest ones are there, Austria and Switzerland too I think.

[Cherie]

Every year with a few girlfriends we make a weekend of it, been to York, Harrogate, Lille, Paris and Bruges, London, this year we are going to Canterbury

[Crimson Dynamo]

2 minutes ago they were dropping bombs on us now they want us to buy their fecking stollen cake?

:idc:

[Morgan.]

Used to go to the Birmingham one as a youngster but they're so busy now and I find them a bit of a waste of time having to walk through crowded queues and seeing nothing

[LukeB]

Used to go to the Birmingham one as a youngster but they're so busy now and I find them a bit of a waste of time having to walk through crowded queues and seeing nothing

It’s fine when you go in the weekday around this time tbh

[reece(:]

There's a really cute one at Newc this year

[caprimint]

Used to go to the Birmingham one as a youngster but they're so busy now and I find them a bit of a waste of time having to walk through crowded queues and seeing nothing
If you go at peak time (lunch time or when people finish work and evenings, especially weekends) it can be super busy but if you go early morning when they open you'll be fine

[Lostie!]

Haven't before but planning to go to the Manchester markets this year

[Shaun]

None anywhere nearby. Used to go to the Bath one when I lived there and have been to the Birmingham one too, though.

[RichardG]

i see the leeds one pretty much every day as i live a five minute walk away

[Marsh.]

No. Just the English ones.

[Shaun]

They're very much a "just go there for something to eat and drink bc the actual products they sell are way-overpriced" sort of deal tho

[Cherie]

They're very much a "just go there for something to eat and drink bc the actual products they sell are way-overpriced" sort of deal tho

It's all about the gluhwein and the atmosphere

[Jason.]

I like to have a stroll through Winter Wonderland whenever I happen to pass it when I'm down in the city.

[caprimint]

I like to have a stroll through Winter Wonderland whenever I happen to pass it when I'm down in the city.
So basically you don't have to pay to enter then? But you do for rides and the activities? :suspect:

[Niamh.]

I don't think we get them here, never heard of them around anyway

[Wizard.]

Well I have to walk through them everyday to get to uni but I probably just snoop around once last year I bought fudge and a bonsai tree

[Cherie]

I don't think we get them here, never heard of them around anyway

Christmas markets, are you sure, every town around my home area has one...

[Crimson Dynamo]

I don't think we get them here, never heard of them around anyway

I expect its because you dont have Christmas in Ireland yet?

[Niamh.]

Christmas markets, are you sure, every town around my home area has one...

I thought it was specifically German markets the OP meant?

[Cherie]

I thought it was specifically German markets the OP meant?

They are called German markets because they originated in Germany, you don't have to be German to sell Gluhwein (mulled wine) :hehe:

[Niamh.]

They are called German markets because they originated in Germany, you don't have to be German to sell Gluhwein (mulled wine) :hehe:

aaahhh well you learn something new everyday :laugh:

[Cherie]

aaahhh well you learn something new everyday :laugh:

some towns do have a genuine German market where they sell bratwurst and other German delicacies but in the main they have just been adapted from the original German markets

[Jack_]

I never make a point of going to them but I'll always have a look round if I'm in the area

So basically you don't have to pay to enter then? But you do for rides and the activities? :suspect:

Yeah it's free to enter, whatever you do don't pay for the ice sculptures exhibit or whatever it's called, biggest waste of money ever

Everything else is cute tho

[Cherie]

So basically you don't have to pay to enter then? But you do for rides and the activities? :suspect:

Yeah its free to go in and walk around the stalls and stuff

[caprimint]

Yeah it's free to enter, whatever you do don't pay for the ice sculptures exhibit or whatever it's called, biggest waste of money ever

Everything else is cute tho
Yeah its free to go in and walk around the stalls and stuff
Right okay, doubt I'll pay for anything except for the rides maybe if they look good :laugh:

[bots]

never been to a german market, we don't have them round these parts

[hijaxers]

never been to a german market, we don't have them round these parts

Don't bother , they are well overpriced , usually jam packed and there's absolutely nothing 'different' they do smell 'Christmassy' though, i only went once and wouldn't bother again - same ole !

[y.winter]

I've been to a few in Berlin a couple of years ago, and then to another one in Prague last year - all lovely and had lots of fun (especially Berlin's Alexa:love:).
Next month it'll be my very first winter in London, so I'm sure I'll go to one/a few of them - depends on how much my companion will approve this evil plan :laugh:

[Crimson Dynamo]

there is a chocolate and gin one coming up round these parts

no doubt a busy day for the St Johns ambulance people..

[DemolitionRed]

We are visiting family in Harrogate next weekend and plan to go to their Xmas market. Just hope its not going to rain but its Harrogate so it probably will!

[caprimint]

Don't bother , they are well overpriced , usually jam packed and there's absolutely nothing 'different' they do smell 'Christmassy' though, i only went once and wouldn't bother again - same ole !
The atmosphere is great, especially if you haven't been to one before then I'd definitely suggest experiencing one. Sure it's overpriced to some degree, but it's a once a year thing so it doesn't bother me at all.

[Jason.]

Yeah it's free to enter, whatever you do don't pay for the ice sculptures exhibit or whatever it's called, biggest waste of money ever

Everything else is cute tho

Yeah its free to go in and walk around the stalls and stuff

Her eyes lit up then!

[caprimint]

Her eyes lit up then!
:joker:

[Josy]

Every year Glasgow and Edinburgh are the main ones but we sometimes go to ones in smaller towns too, we love them, last year we bought my mother in law a lovely little candle dome thing that lights up the whole room when its being used and Stuart bought a handmade tungsten carbide ring for £47 it was beautifully designed.

[Cherie]

We are visiting family in Harrogate next weekend and plan to go to their Xmas market. Just hope its not going to rain but its Harrogate so it probably will!

Harrogate was one of the best markets I have been to, in addition to the market there is a craft fair in a covered area and they sell some really nice unusual bits :love:

[Cherie]

The atmosphere is great, especially if you haven't been to one before then I'd definitely suggest experiencing one. Sure it's overpriced to some degree, but it's a once a year thing so it doesn't bother me at all.

I don't think the stuff is that overpriced, they have to cover their costs, rental of the hut etc, and standing around in the cold is no fun, personally I don't have an issue paying a few quid more for something especially if it is something hand made or that you wouldn't find anywhere else

[caprimint]

I don't think the stuff is that overpriced, they have to cover their costs, rental of the hut etc, and standing around in the cold is no fun, personally I don't have an issue paying a few quid more for something especially if it is something hand made or that you wouldn't find anywhere else
Yeah of course and it's not overpriced in comparison to some places anyway (probably about the same), but you can expect to pay that price for stuff on markets/stalls generally. You get different things that are worth the money imo

[Josy]

We are going to one on Saturday :hee: