The UK seaside town with the ‘best’ Christmas market insanely pretty all year round

A quaint little Cornish town’s Christmas market has been crowned the best in the UK.

Padstow is a seaside town hidden on the north coast of Cornwall and each year it hosts its annual Christmas Festival filled with firework displays, cooking demonstrations, a beautiful lantern parade as well as a big food and drink market.

Now National Geographic has put it first in its list of the 11 “best Christmas markets in the UK“, even beating out some of the country’s biggest festive markets in major cities.

The Padstow Christmas Festival will take place from December 7 to December 10 this year. This year it has partnered up with The Prince’s Trust.

The world travel and culture website praised it for its varied food offering, saying it’s “the ideal place to pick up supplies for your Christmas store cupboard.”

Last year, the organisers received backlash after they introduced a £7 entry fee due to the rising costs.

However, this year entrance is free due to a “generous sponsorship” but tickets for the Sharp’s Chefs Theatre cost £5 per day, plus a £2 booking fee, or £15 for all four days. You can buy tickets here.

National Geographic wrote: “Cheeses from Lanreath, chocolates from Kernow, preserves from Coverack: this Cornish food festival is the ideal place to pick up supplies for your Christmas store cupboard. Explore the craft stalls in the attached market — home to everything from traditional woollen throws to ceramics — before wandering down to the quayside for the closing fireworks display.

“Plus, Rick Stein, Angela Hartnett and José Pizarro have all taken to the Chef’s Theatre stage in past years to share their festive cookery tips. Entry to the market is free, though you’ll need a ticket for the cookery demonstrations.”

Event organiser Tina Evans said: “2023 marks the 16th year of the Padstow Christmas Festival and I’m thrilled that the event will live up to everyone’s expectations.

“Arguably the best Christmas Festival in the southwest, we are privileged to showcase sensational food and drink producers and beautiful arts and crafts.

“We look forward to welcoming you to Padstow, not only to the festival but to our wonderful town, which has something for everyone. It is the perfect, picturesque place to shop and sample our wonderful culinary delights.”

The Christmas markets in the UK this year, according to National Geographic, are:

Padstow Christmas Festival, EnglandBelfast Christmas Market, Northern IrelandLiverpool Christmas Market, EnglandJupiter Christmas Fair, Edinburgh, ScotlandFood & Craft Fair, Portmeirion, WalesCardiff Christmas Market, WalesChristmas Market, Glamis Castle, ScotlandStratford-upon-Avon Victorian Christmas Market, EnglandBirmingham Frankfurt Christmas Market, EnglandBlenheim Palace, OxfordLondon markets