Experiences

York Christmas Market 2026: dates, times and where to stay

York Christmas Market runs from 12 November to 21 December 2026, closed on Tuesdays. Where the chalets are, what to do and the hotels we would book.

Gita Simonsen

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In short

York Christmas Market, also called St Nicholas Fair, runs from Thursday 12 November to Monday 21 December 2026. More than 100 wooden chalets line Parliament Street and St Sampson's Square, a few minutes from York Minster and The Shambles. New this year: the market is closed on Tuesdays. Entry is free.

Our first choice: Check availability and prices at The Grand, York

York does Christmas better than most English cities. The medieval lanes, the city walls and the Minster give the market a backdrop no set designer could match, and almost everything is within a ten-minute walk.

Dates and times 2026

Dates: 12 November to 21 December 2026.
Closed: every Tuesday, a trial agreed by the council to improve access for disabled visitors.
Quiet hours: no music from 10am to midday every day, for a calmer visit.
Entry: free.

Check the daily opening hours on Visit York before you travel. The late November weekends are the busiest.

Where are the chalets?

The main stretch runs along Parliament Street to St Sampson's Square. Stalls also spill into the lanes around Coppergate and the Shambles Market. Most of the traders come from Yorkshire, so look for local cheese, gin, chocolate and crafts.

More to do in York at Christmas

York Minster: Carol services and Christmas concerts fill the cathedral through December. Book ahead for the popular ones.
The Shambles: The crooked medieval street is at its best with Christmas lights in the shop windows.
Museums: The National Railway Museum is free, and the JORVIK Viking Centre and York Castle Museum are a short walk from the market.

Getting there

The train from London King's Cross takes around two hours, and York station is a ten-minute walk from the market. If you are driving, use one of York's park and ride sites, as the centre has very little parking in December.

Hotels near the Christmas market

The Grand, York

The Grand occupies the former headquarters of the North Eastern Railway, ten minutes on foot from York Minster and the city walls. It has a spa with an indoor pool, and The Rise restaurant serves breakfast and dinner. More than 1,200 guests on Hotels.com rate it 9.6.

Book your stay: Check availability and prices at The Grand, York

Grays Court

Grays Court is a historic house next to York Minster and The Shambles, with breakfast included. Its garden sits right below the city walls, and the market is a five-minute walk away. Guests rate it 10.

Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Grays Court

Hotel Indigo York

Hotel Indigo is ten minutes on foot from The Shambles and a quarter of an hour from the Christmas market and York Minster. The breakfast gets a lot of praise, and more than 1,200 guests rate it 9.2.

Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Hotel Indigo York

Frequently asked questions about York Christmas Market

When is York Christmas Market 2026?

York Christmas Market runs from Thursday 12 November to Monday 21 December 2026. It is closed every Tuesday this year. Check Visit York for daily opening hours.

Where is the Christmas market in York?

The chalets line Parliament Street and St Sampson's Square in the centre, a few minutes from York Minster and The Shambles. Smaller stalls spread into the lanes around them.

Is York Christmas Market free?

Yes. Entry is free and you do not need to book. You only pay for what you buy.

Where should you stay for York Christmas Market?

Stay inside the city walls so you can walk to the market, the Minster and The Shambles. Book early for late November and early December, when York is at its busiest.