I've been to quite a few Christmas markets around the UK over the years, so I thought I'd share my thoughts on each.
Bristol
Bristol's market is very small. It's generally known for focusing more on independent traders and local food than sheer size, but if you're expecting rows upon rows of stalls, you'll probably be disappointed.
Sheffield
Sheffield's is also very small and is spread across a few different spots in the city centre rather than being one single market. It has a pleasant atmosphere, but it feels more like several festive pockets than one destination market.
Cardiff
Cardiff's is very small too, and spread out across the city, with one area in the city centre and another near the Megabus stop. There's a decent walk between the two. One thing it does well is showcasing local Welsh makers and independent crafts, which gives it a different feel from many of the larger German-style markets.
Birmingham
Birmingham, in my opinion, is the best Christmas market in the UK. It's giant and sprawling, German themed, though you do get a lot of repeated shops as you make your way round. That's hardly surprising given its reputation. Birmingham's Frankfurt Christmas Market is widely regarded as the largest authentic German Christmas market outside Germany and Austria, with dozens of stalls, live music and traditional German food and drink.
York
York was genuinely beautiful, but I found it very small and very busy. Everything is located close together, so you don't have to walk far, but I queued 30 minutes just to get food. Most people seem to agree that York's biggest strength is the setting rather than the size. The historic streets make it one of the UK's most picturesque Christmas markets, even if the popularity means the crowds can be overwhelming at peak times.
Lincoln
Lincoln is only held on two weekends a year, which means it gets so busy that you often can't get close enough to actually see the stalls. Its limited run has become part of its appeal, but it also concentrates enormous crowds into a very short period, making it one of the busiest festive events in the country.
Nottingham
Nottingham is quite small but has no repeated stalls, and it's home to the UK's only two level ice skating rink, plus an ice bar, which is pretty cool.
Chester
Chester is very small but very nice, and it's central too, so not much walking is required. Like York, the historic surroundings add a lot to the atmosphere, and the market feels cosy even if it doesn't take long to walk around.
London
Christmas by the River
This one is best for photos, largely thanks to the bridge in the background. The food choices were only okay, but because it's spread out along the river, it never felt as busy as some of the other markets on this list. The decorations weren't quite as nice as elsewhere, though there were some lovely sheltered bar domes where you could sit with a drink and actually stay warm. Online, this is often recommended more for the riverside walk and Tower Bridge views than for shopping, which matched my experience.
Covent Garden Christmas Market
Nicely decorated, but I couldn't actually find a Christmas market here. Did I miss it? As far as I could tell, it was just Covent Garden itself, so the shops and stalls are lovely if you haven't been before, but nothing new if you have. Apparently there are seasonal craft stalls alongside the permanent market, but the decorations are very much the main attraction. Most guides talk more about the giant tree, lights and festive displays than the shopping itself, which probably explains why I struggled to find anything that felt like a traditional Christmas market.
Leicester Square Christmas Market
You get counted in and counted out of a specific market area here, which suggests it gets very busy indeed. It was, in fact, the busiest of the five. The decorations were okay, but the prices were extortionate. £9.50 for a cardboard cup of hot chocolate with a splash of alcohol in it. £9.50! It's also quite small.
Trafalgar Square Christmas Market
Nice for photos thanks to the gallery behind it, though this one is very small, with plenty of room between the stalls. The food choices here were fairly poor. Most people seem to visit this one as much for the famous Norwegian Christmas tree and the carol singing as for the market itself.
Southbank Centre Christmas Market
This was the quietest market of the day, but not the most photogenic, mostly because it sits under a bridge and the bridge rather overwhelms the decorations. It made up for that with the best food options by far. There was a bar area with seating, but it was outside, so rather cold. This seems to be one of London's better-regarded festive markets online, particularly for its street food. The independent craft stalls also help it stand out a little from the others.
