12 Best Places To Spend Christmas in the UK (Yes, Even If You’re a Grinch)

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The best places for Christmas in the UK offer festive travelers a magical experience filled with bright lights, towering Christmas trees, themed events, and magnificent Christmas markets. No matter where you are, Christmas cheer is alive and kicking across the United Kingdom, but some places are better than others.

Famous cities like London and Edinburgh have everything you could ever dream of, while small towns like Ludlow and Conwy offer spectacular Christmas experiences you won’t find anywhere else. As someone who lives in the UK, I’m ideally placed to tell you about Christmas here. With that said, here are 12 of the best places to spend Christmas in the UK.

Edinburgh

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Edinburgh’s medieval cobblestone streets come to life at Christmas with bright lights, trees, and exciting toy-filled shop windows, making it one of the UK’s best places to spend Christmas. Besides the Christmas-themed decor, the festive atmosphere in Scotland’s capital throughout December is magical, especially at the Christmas markets around Scott Monument.

When you’re not sipping mulled wine and eating hot dogs at the Christmas market, do some last-minute shopping in the Grassmarket, admire the city views from Calton Hill, and enjoy a crisp morning walk up Arthur’s Seat. Explore the city on a ghost or dungeon tour if you want something unique. Alternatively, kick back with a beer in one of the many pubs.

Conwy

One of my favorite places for Christmas in the UK is Conwy, a charming market town in Wales famed for its 13th-century castle. On Christmas Day, this beautiful harbor town is a fantastic place to enjoy a more relaxed Christmas getaway surrounded by medieval architecture and impressive natural scenery.

There are also plenty of things to see and do, especially at Christmas, when the town offers various events, such as the Conwy Christmas Market, ice skating, and live entertainment. One of the best things to do in Conwy is meander the medieval walls, which offer delightful town views. After walking the walks, relax in a cozy cafe with a luxury hot chocolate or visit the smallest house in Great Britain.

Ludlow

Around Christmas, the medieval town of Ludlow hosts various festive events that draw in travelers from near and far. December is also the snowiest time of year in Ludlow, so you might see the city coated in snow if lucky. Furthermore, Ludlow is renowned for exceptional food and drink, so the Christmas markets are often a delight for visitors.

What’s more, the festive season sees the town transformed into a magical winter wonderland, with a tall Christmas street, twinkling lights, and Christmas-themed shop displays. You’ll likely spend most of your time in Ludlow purchasing gifts at the Christmas market and Ludlow Market, exploring Ludlow Castle, and walking in Whitcliffe Common Nature Reserve.

Belfast

Belfast, the capital of Northern Ireland, is a fascinating, vibrant city year-round, but it truly comes to life in December when it becomes one of the top UK Christmas destinations. At Christmas, Belfast’s bustling streets are filled with festive magic, while traditional Irish pubs serve delicious winter-themed menus and Guinness.

You can still visit the city’s most famous attractions in December, such as Titanic Belfast and St. George’s Market, but the main highlight is the award-winning Belfast Christmas Market. Found outside Belfast City Hall, this Dickensian-themed market features craft stalls, food stalls, bars, toy shops, and fairground rides, making it an excellent place to visit with your family.

Derry

Derry is another must-visit Christmas destination in Northern Ireland, from Christmas shopping and festive parades to winter-themed menus and craft markets. For starters, Derry, officially Londonderry, takes Christmas very seriously. At every corner of the city, you’ll find Christmas trees, bright lights, and Christmas music blasting out.

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Often dubbed the ‘festival city,’ you’ll also find many Christmas-themed events in Derry, including the Christmas Wonderland, Xmas Fine Art Print Fair, and various live concerts. After a busy day of enjoying the city’s festive spirit, you can settle down for the evening in a pub with a pint of Guinness and some traditional grub. We don’t know about you, but that sounds like the perfect city break.

Hay-on-Wye

Hay-on-Wye is only a small market town in Powys, Wales, but it packs a punch with breathtaking architecture, traditional pubs, exciting local markets, and beautiful scenery. This is one of the best towns in the UK for Christmas. It offers gorgeous Christmas markets, festive vibes, and fewer crowds than other UK towns. It is truly a beautiful under-the-radar Christmas market in the UK.

At the Hay Christmas Fayre, you can sample and purchase baked goods, homemade wines, craft items, and artwork from over 40 independent stalls. Don’t forget to buy a bratwurst and mulled wine from the food market. After exploring the Christmas Fayre, visit Hay Castle, get lost in the local bookshops, and relax by the River Wye at the Warren.

Bath

This beautiful city in Southern England is famed worldwide for its breathtaking Georgian architecture and Roman-era baths. It is the perfect setting for a Christmas city break in the UK. Bath’s postcard-perfect streets at Christmas are lined with sparkling Christmas lights, bustling Christmas markets, and colorful Christmas trees.

Meanwhile, many Christmas-themed events pop up across the city, such as the Bath Independent Christmas Market, Step Into Christmas shows, and Glitzmas Christmas Party Nights. Of course, you can also spend time visiting the city’s most famous attractions, including the Roman Baths, Bath Abbey, Pulteney Bridge, and Thermae Bath Spa. Either way, you won’t struggle to find things to do.

Whitby

If you’re looking for a magical Christmas vacation jam-packed with festive cheer, Christmas markets, and picturesque scenery, look no further than Whitby, a seaside town in Yorkshire that thrives off being one of the UK’s best places to spend Christmas. Admittedly, Whitby is a fabulous place to visit year-round. However, it’s even more spectacular at Christmas.

There is something for everyone in Whitby, whether a traditional Christmas market, lantern parades, festive competitions, or simply a relaxed weekend spent wining, dining, and walking along the coast. Aside from the Christmas festivities, Whitby has many things to see, including the 7th Century Whitby Abbey, famously featured in Bram Stoker’s Dracula, and the Captain Cook Memorial Museum.

Aberdeen

At Christmas, Aberdeen hosts various Christmas-themed events, and the city center is brightly decorated with lights, trees, and festive shop windows, making the Northeast Scottish city an excellent place to spend Christmas in the UK. One of the city’s main highlights at Christmas is the Christmas Village, which offers fun for all the family.

Between November 15th and December 22nd, the Christmas Village features live music, an ice rink, food stalls, bars, fairground rides, and arts and crafts stalls. Brilliantly, the event raises thousands of dollars for charity. Besides the Christmas Village, Aberdeen’s shops are perfect for picking up last-minute gifts. It might also be worth noting that Aberdeen is an excellent place to glimpse the Northern Lights, and December is the best time to see it.

Llandudno

Llandudno, a grand coastal town in North Wales, is a fantastic UK Christmas destination with fabulous light displays, atmospheric markets, fairground rides, and a glorious stretch of Welsh coastline. This Victorian-era town is a great place to visit year-round, but it truly comes to life at Christmas.

You can buy gifts for your family at the Christmas market, admire the views of the Welsh coast from the top of the Great Orme, indulge in traditional pub grub, and enjoy one of many Christmas-themed shows at Venue Cymru. You can also walk along the pier, where you’ll find arcade games and enjoy a festive afternoon tea in one of the Victorian-style cafes. What’s not to like?

London

Offering several awesome Christmas markets, world-famous attractions, and iconic streets adorned with vibrant decorations, London is easily one of the best places to go for Christmas in the UK. Offering fun for all the family, you’ll never struggle to find something you enjoy doing in England’s fascinating capital city, no matter when you visit.

However, the city is most spectacular at Christmas when you can enjoy the sights and smells of the Covent Garden Christmas market, admire the winter wonderland that is Harrods at Christmas, and enjoy a British roast dinner in a traditional pub. Better yet, you can still visit iconic tourist attractions like the Tower of London, the London Eye, and London Dungeons.

Cotswolds

Where’s better to spend Christmas in the UK than where the Holiday, starring Cameron Diaz and Jude Law, was filmed? The perfect setting for a Christmas escape from the hustle and bustle of the daily grind, the Cotswolds is renowned for its charming stone villages, rolling hills, and ivy-covered buildings.

Here, you’ll most likely spend most of your time exploring the great outdoors, admiring small towns, and sitting by a roaring fire with hot chocolate. There are still plenty of things to do. For example, you’ll find Christmas-themed party nights, Santa’s Grotto’s, Christmas markets, and light displays across the region. Meanwhile, other must-visit attractions include Broadway Tower, Cotswold Wildlife Park & Gardens, and Blenheim Palace.