Twinkling lights, ice skating, and hot chocolate to boot, Christmas in the Cotswolds has its own kind of magic. Whether you’re a Christmas Scrooge or you wholeheartedly embrace the festive season, you surely can’t help but love a Christmas market. Cotswold Christmas markets are some of the most traditional in the country, popular among both locals and tourists and brimming with unique gifts and local festive favourites like mince pies.
We’ve put together a list of our favourite Cotswold Christmas festivals and markets to make for a memorable season.
Bath Christmas Market
Thursday 27th November to Sunday 14th December
Set in the majestic UNESCO World Heritage city of Bath, the Bath Christmas Market is one of the best Christmas markets in the Cotswolds. Providing a picture-perfect backdrop finished with Christmas lights and the historic Bath Abbey, this market boasts everything from independent boutiques and homeware to designer and high-street names.
Our Bath and the Cotswolds Walking Tour and our Cotswold Way Long Distance Walking Tour visit this iconic historic city.
Moreton-in-Marsh Christmas Lights Switch-On
Saturday 29th November
The Moreton-in-Marsh Christmas Market and Lights Switch-On is a must-see if you’re visiting in time. As one of the most charming market towns of the Cotswolds, Moreton-in-Marsh is an attraction in its own right. It is known as one of the prettiest villages in the Cotswolds and is home to a suite of 18th-century inns, cosy cafes, and charming antique shops.
In the festive season, Moreton-in-Marsh comes alive. Visitors and locals alike can gather at the Christmas Lights Switch-On event and market, meet Father Christmas and bask in the twinkling lights of the village, and browse the quaint market stalls and festive food on offer.
As a popular Cotswold destination, Moreton-in-Marsh features on many of our walking tours, including the Grand Tour of the Cotswolds on Foot, the Cotswold Circle Walking Tour, and the Cotswolds Interlude Short Break Walking Tour.
Broadway Late Night Christmas Markets
Friday 28th November and 5th December
Broadway hosts spectacular Cotswold Christmas markets that take place in the evening. Shops stay open especially late, Christmas stalls pop up, and there’s live music, drinks, food, and merriment! There are even pony sleigh rides through the village. This is a magical event that attracts many people from the surrounding areas. Either come for a fun-filled family night out or make it a useful evening and get some Christmas shopping completed. Broadway is one of the biggest and most beautiful of the Cotswold villages and truly sets the Christmas scene during the Cotswold Christmas markets.
A winter visit to Broadway tower is an easy bonus you could add to your Broadyway Christmas experience.
Broadway is a Cotswold classic, making it a highlight among several of our tours, including our Best of the Cotswolds Walking Tour, Heart of the Cotswolds Walking Tour, Cotswold Circle Walking Tour, and Cotswold Guided Walking Tour.
Blenheim Palace’s Light Trail and Christmas Festival
Friday 14th November 2025 to Saturday 3 January 2026
Blenheim Palace hosts a show-stopping Christmas festival each year, complete with an enchanting light trail, covered ice rink, a Ferris wheel, and Christmas market. With so much on offer, Blenheim Palace is one of the best places to visit in the Cotswolds in the festive season.
Sudeley Castle’s Spectacle of Light
Friday 21st November to Tuesday 30 December
For 10 years, Sudeley Castle has put on a Spectacle of Light each Christmas season. In addition to the themed light spectacle, guests can tuck into the delicious festive food on offer and complete their festive shopping at the gift market, surrounded by winter wonderland magic and festive spirit.
Winchcombe Christmas Festival
Friday 28th and Saturday 29th November
The Winchcombe Christmas Festival and Market is another highlight at this joyful time of year. Visitors can look forward to a weekend of twinkling Christmas lights, food and gift stalls, Christmas carols and live music.
The village of Winchcombe itself comes alive at Christmas time, with streets lined with Christmas trees, lights, and bustling with street performers, including dancers, choirs and bands.
Many of our tours visit this iconic Cotswold village, including our Best of the Cotswolds Walking Tour, Heart of the Cotswolds Walking Tour, and our Grand Tour of the Cotswolds on Foot.
Cheltenham Christmas Market
20th-23rd November
11th-23rd December
Each year, the village of Cheltenham hosts a Christmas gift market and a craft market at its promenade as Christmas approaches. These street markets boast a wide selection of gifts, local arts and crafts, and festive food to fuel the Christmas spirit.
A classic Cotswold village, Cheltenham features on several of our tours, including our Grand Tour of the Cotswolds on Foot, our South Cotswold Ring Walking Tour, and our Cotswold Circle Walking Tour.
Cirencester Gift Markets
23rd November
14th, 16th, 17th, 18th, 21st December
Cirencester holds several gift markets throughout the festive season at St. John’s Church. Traditional wooden chalets and market stalls fill the market place, offering a wide range of Christmas gifts and goodies.
Stroud Christmas Market
The week before Christmas
For a few days the last week before Christmas, Stroud will be hosting a Christmas Market in Cornhill Market Square, celebrating local makers with gifts, crafts, and homeware for sale alongside drinks and food stalls to make Christmas gift shopping entertaining and easy.
Stroud’s regular farmer’s markets showcase the best in local produce and at Christmas time, shoppers can expect festive fare including wine and ale, seasonal produce, and comforting Christmas puddings.
The Victorian Christmas Shop, Bourton-on-the-Water
All year
All year round, The Victorian Christmas Shop brings festive spirit to Bourton-on-the-Water. It’s a charming must-visit when in the Cotswolds, and even more so at Christmas time when the festive spirit is at its highest. Step back in time and browse the glittering ornaments, dainty decorations, and Victorian-inspired gifts.
Gloucester Quays Christmas Markets
8-9 November, 15-16 November, 22-23 November, 29-30 November
6-7 December, 13-14 December, 20-21 December
Gloucester Quays holds fabulous, enchanted Cotswold Christmas markets throughout November and December. This is one of the larger Cotswold Christmas markets, attracting up to 250,000 shoppers each year, and has everything you’d want to find. Situated on the Quays, it’s a really beautiful location. Expect loads of stalls to find interesting Christmas presents in, food and mulled wine aplenty, a Ferris wheel, and live choirs and brass bands. There is also an outdoor ice skating rink for some added winter wonderland magic.
Chipping Campden Christmas Market
Saturday 6th December
If you fancy something more low-key key, then head for Chipping Campden on Saturday 2nd December when they will be switching on their Christmas lights and having a small-scale Christmas fayre with some stalls, carol singers, and other local entertainment and the lighting of their tree.
Chipping Campden is a stunningly beautiful Cotswold village that really feels so festive and quintessentially English at this time of year. All it needs is a flutter of snow and it’s a scene made for a Christmas card.
Chipping Campden is a much-loved stop on many of our tours, including our Guided Cotswold Walking Tour, Cotswold Circle Walking Tour, and Cotswold Way Long Distance Walking Tour.
Forest of Dean Christmas Markets
5-6 December, 12-13 December, 19-20 December
During the first three weekends in December, Lydney hosts the Forest of Dean Cotswold Christmas markets. These markets are fantastic, with over 30 independent traders and many creative businesses coming together to showcase their beautiful Christmas products that can’t be purchased on the high street. The smell of freshly cut Christmas trees lingers in the air, as locally grown trees can be bought here. It’s got a very festive feel and the whole family will have a lovely day.
Also in the Forest of Dean, you can visit Puzzlewood, which has an enchanted Christmas forest where little ones can dress up and journey through the forest to meet Father Christmas.
From twinkling light trails to bustling village markets, the Cotswolds truly come alive during the festive season. Whether you’re browsing handcrafted gifts, sipping mulled wine, or taking in the music and performances, each outing offers a Christmas activity that captures the magic of the holidays. With so many Christmas events across the region, from grand castles to cosy market squares, there’s no better place to soak up the festive spirit.