‘Always lovely’ small city named UK’s best for Christmas shopping

The run-up to Christmas Day is often filled with frantic last-minute shopping and elbowing your way through busy high streets.

If you’d rather avoid chaotic crowds or panic buyers, it’s worth carefully choosing where to do your Christmas shopping this year. 

One worthy option is Winchester, a small ancient city recently named the best small city in the UK for Christmas shopping by Which?.

Praised for its lack of crowds, pedestrian-friendly streets and value for money, the cathedral city in Hampshire offers a much more enjoyable festive shopping experience than larger cities, according to the consumer group.

Which? said: ‘England’s medieval capital might not have as many shops as London, but it’s a much more pleasant place to wander around in the weeks before Christmas. You’ll also have a better chance of quickly finding something special and different.’

Ideally located 60 miles south-west of London, Winchester takes just an hour on the train from London Waterloo. 

Visitors on Reddit have described it as ‘one of the most beautiful cities in the UK’, while users on TikTok hail its Christmas markets as ‘beautiful’ and ‘one of the best in the UK’.

So, what exactly is there to explore in Winchester this winter?

Winchester Christmas Markets 

The city’s Christmas Market is recognised as one of the best in Europe, according to Visit Winchester. 

Every year from November 22 until December 22, Winchester’s Cathedral grounds transform into a winter paradise with atmospheric lights, mulled wine and traditional wooden chalets.

Shoppers can browse various stalls, including locally made arts and crafts, clothing and food to find unique presents.

They’ll be able to find colourful paintings, handmade fairy lights and jewellery among the craft stalls. Some sustainable traders aim to help reduce carbon emissions and costs.

The Sussex Handmade Soap Company and West Wight Alpacas, a family-run business providing alpaca-themed gifts, are among them.

There are plenty of food and drink offerings, too. From The Mac Shack, a designated mac n cheese stall, to the Tikka Guys, a Pakistani street food truck.

Drinks-wise, there’s a chocolate rum stall, toffee vodka and craft cider – to name a few. 

One Tripadvisor review, left by KimmyWotto, read: ‘Winchester Cathedral Christmas market is a must visit. Lots of independent sellers. Lots of places for food and gluhwein.’

Meanwhile, on Reddit’s UK travel thread, user Major-Peanut wrote: ‘I really like Winchester Christmas market! Definitely worth a look if you like that kind of thing.’

To which user avallaug-h replied: ‘The Christmas Market is always lovely.’

Christmas attractions in Winchester

There are plenty of festive activities in the historic city, namely the Christmas mulled wine walk – a 90-minute tour.

The walk begins at Westgate, the medieval entrance to the city, before moving onto the Great Hall, home to King Arthur’s Round Table, to learn about the legendary King of Britain and the medieval Christmas feasts. 

Then, it’s a walk on the high street, where participants can admire the illuminated trees and hear stories of holiday traditions before heading to the Winchester Cathedral to enjoy a glass of mulled wine.

Elsewhere, there are lots of festive film screenings. The Bombay Sapphire Distillery, a historic red-brick gin distillery, has designated cinema nights, showing everything from Gremlins and Elf to The Holiday and Christmas with the Kranks.

The Everyman cinema, which lies within a converted church, is also screening Christmas films, including Home Alone, It’s a Wonderful Life and The Nutcracker. 

Marwell Zoo, a 140-acre zoo situated in Colden Common, just 20 minutes away from Winchester, will also be participating in the festivities with its Glow Marwell event.

The zoo will be illuminated with a ‘magical light experience’ that promises ‘breathtaking new displays and ‘interactive experiences that will fill you with wonder’.

Things to do in Winchester this winter

Aside from its designated Christmas attractions, there’s still lots to see in Winchester. 

Visitors can explore the various walking routes near Winchester this winter. 

The River Itchen, a ‘chalk stream’ waterway, runs through the city and even has its own designated walk, known as the Keats Walk.

You can see all sorts of native species at the Winnall Moors Nature Reserve or explore the South Downs National Park from the National Trust-run City Mill.

The Cathedral is often a top priority for visitors, which offers guided tours and a bell tower to climb. You can even visit the grave of Jane Austen, the renowned English novelist who is buried in the north nave aisle of the Cathedral.

If you fancy a more lively activity, why not go shopping? The district’s market towns, including Alresford, Wickham and Bishop’s Waltham are a haven of quirky cafes and independent retailers. 

This article was originally published on December 10, 2024.

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