Beautiful UK town with four Christmas markets and a covered ice rink, perfect for a winter weekend
- UK Hidden Gems
- Dec 23, 2025
- 2 min read
There is a lovely town that turns into a festive wonderland at the end of every year.
Instead of hosting just one Christmas market, this place puts on four, all filled with cosy wooden stalls, street entertainers and carol singers.
There is even a covered ice rink for people wanting some winter fun.
This Regency town is packed with independent shops and stylish boutiques, making it a great place to find special Christmas gifts.
It is also easy to get to, sitting around 35 minutes from Birmingham by train and a similar journey from Bristol.
You can soak up the Christmas atmosphere while shopping beneath sparkling fairy lights along the busy high street, the tree lined Promenade and the elegant Montpellier area.
Visitors can enjoy hot food and mulled wine while browsing the stalls at the Cheltenham Christmas Arts and Crafts Market, which takes place from December 11 to 23 on the Promenade and Long Gardens, according to Birmingham Live.
The Christmas Artisan Craft Market at Dunkertons Park runs in early December and gives shoppers the chance to meet the makers behind handmade goods.
Items include cards, small gifts, decorations, jewellery, ceramics, glassware, prints, textiles, handmade chocolates, natural beauty products and even accessories for dogs.
The Ian Coley Sporting Christmas Market features a handpicked mix of countryside brands, local makers and food producers, along with a festive cafe menu. Best of all, entry to the market is free.
On December 11, the village of Prestbury will host its own Christmas market alongside its festive lights switch on.
The event includes carol singing, children’s activities, hot food and drinks, and the chance to meet Father Christmas. Nearby Sudeley Castle will also light up with its popular Spectacle of Light trail.
If you want to make a full weekend of it, you could book a place to stay overnight. Wellinghill Lodge sits on a working farm just outside Cheltenham and has an open plan living space where guests can relax after shopping, warmed by a cosy wood burning stove.
Cheltenham is also known for its excellent food scene and is home to one of the UK’s best restaurants.
Famous food critic Jay Rayner once said that Le Champignon Sauvage served him one of the best meals he has ever eaten.
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Litter tends to spread, so if you see any and are able to pick it up and dispose of it outside the hidden gem, it will help keep the area tidy.
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