10 of the Best Campsites for UK Christmas Markets 2026
There is something pretty special about visiting a Christmas market in the run-up to the festive season. Twinkling lights, steaming mugs of hot chocolate, the smell of mulled wine and cinnamon, and rows of little wooden chalets packed with Christmas gifts – it is guaranteed to get you feeling festive! And what better way to turn a visit to one of the UK's best Christmas markets into a proper festive getaway than by taking your campervan or motorhome? Instead of worrying about the long drive home, you can retreat to your cosy home-on-wheels, put the heating on, make another hot chocolate and settle in for the evening.
We have rounded up 10 of the best campsites for visiting UK Christmas markets in 2026, from Edinburgh and York to Bath, Exeter and London. Better still, these campsites are suitable for winter touring, making them brilliant bases for a festive campervan break. If you are planning to continue camping throughout the colder months, have a read of our 10 of the Best Campsites Open All Year for Winter Camping too. We have also created a Google Map of more than 130 campsites open all year, which makes planning winter road trips much easier.
Get your campervan ready for a Christmas market trip
Winter campervanning does need a little more preparation than a summer weekend away. Warm bedding, blankets, insulated window covers, decent outdoor lighting and plenty of layers make a huge difference when the temperature drops. We also always make sure the heating is working properly before setting off!
And while you're getting the van winter-ready, why not make it festive too? A few battery-powered fairy lights, a mini Christmas tree and some decorations can completely transform a campervan. Our Campervan Christmas: Ideas for Making Your Home-on-Wheels Merry and Bright guide has loads of simple ideas for creating a cosy Christmas camper.
Right, Christmas jumpers at the ready...
Here are 10 of the best campsites for Christmas markets in the UK in 2026.
1. Edinburgh Christmas Market 2026
Dates: 14 November 2026 – 3 January 2027
Edinburgh has to be one of the most magical cities to visit at Christmas. The city centre is transformed for Edinburgh's Christmas, with the traditional Christmas Market in East Princes Street Gardens sitting beneath the spectacular Old Town skyline. Expect festive market stalls, food and drink, fairground rides and plenty of Christmas atmosphere, with attractions spread across the city centre. Edinburgh is already a beautiful city, but add Christmas lights and a mug of something warm and it becomes even more special.
Where to stay: Edinburgh Caravan and Motorhome Club Site
Edinburgh Caravan and Motorhome Club Site makes a convenient base for a winter city break and gives you somewhere peaceful to retreat to after a busy day exploring the capital.
With hardstanding pitches and electric hook-up available, it is much better suited to a cold-weather campervan trip than trying to find somewhere to stay right in the city centre.
TOP TIP: Edinburgh gets extremely busy over the festive period, particularly at weekends and around Hogmanay, so book your campsite and any ticketed Christmas attractions well in advance.
2. Winchester Cathedral Christmas Market 2026
Dates: 20 November – 22 December 2026
Winchester is often described as England's Christmas Capital and once you've visited during December it is easy to understand why. Winchester Cathedral Christmas Market is held within the historic Cathedral Close, where wooden chalets, Christmas lights and the magnificent cathedral create a beautiful setting. More than 100 exhibitors are expected, with everything from handmade crafts and homewares to gifts and artisan food. Entry to the Christmas Market itself is free, making this a great option for a festive family day out. Keep an eye out here for when the Christmas lights will be switched on.
Morn Hill is just outside Winchester and provides a handy base for exploring the city.
Stay overnight in the campervan, spend the day browsing the Christmas Market and then head back to the van for a cosy evening away from the crowds.
3. Birmingham Frankfurt Christmas Market 2026
Dates: 5 November – 24 December 2026
You don't have to drive all the way to Germany for a traditional German Christmas market! Birmingham's Frankfurt Christmas Market returns in 2026, filling Victoria Square and New Street with festive stalls. Expect plenty of traditional German favourites including bratwurst, pretzels, roasted almonds and glühwein alongside Christmas decorations and gifts. It is a brilliant market if food is high on your Christmas-market priority list – although you might need rolling back to the campervan afterwards!
Hopleys offers a much more peaceful base away from the bustle of Birmingham. The family-friendly campsite is open throughout the year and offers hardstanding pitches and electric hook-up, making it a good option for campervans and motorhomes during winter. Allow around an hour for the journey into Birmingham depending on traffic and where you choose to park or connect with public transport.
Cosy campervan evening essentials
One of our favourite things about winter camping is getting back to the van after a freezing cold day outside, putting the heating on and getting cosy. A warm blanket, insulated mugs, hot-water bottle and a decent pair of slippers are worth their weight in gold at this time of year.
4. Exeter Cathedral Christmas Market 2026
Dates: 13 November – 13 December 2026
Exeter Cathedral Christmas Market has one of the prettiest settings of any Christmas market in the South West. The market takes over Cathedral Green in the heart of Exeter, with the cathedral providing an impressive backdrop to the festive chalets. There is a fantastic mixture of artisan products, gifts and food and drink from Devon and further afield, making it a lovely place to pick up a few Christmas presents while supporting independent businesses.
Cofton Holidays makes a fantastic base for an Exeter Christmas-market weekend. It is around a 20-minute drive from Exeter and offers touring pitches for campervans and motorhomes. One of the big advantages of staying here in winter is having plenty to do when you get back to the campsite too. With an indoor swimming pool plus places to eat and drink on site, you can turn your Christmas-market visit into a proper family weekend away.
If you are travelling around Great Britain this winter, bookmark our Google Map of Campsites Open All Year for more places to stay!
5. Cardiff Christmas Market 2026
Dates: 12 November – 23 December 2026
Cardiff is another brilliant city for a festive campervan break because you can combine Christmas shopping with several seasonal attractions. Cardiff Christmas Market runs from 12 November until 23 December 2026, bringing independent artists, designers, makers and food producers into the city centre. Rather than being dominated by mass-produced Christmas gifts, there is a strong focus on handmade and locally produced items, making this a particularly good market for finding something a little different. Cardiff also hosts its popular Winter Wonderland during the festive season, so there is plenty to keep families entertained beyond the market itself. In 2026, Cardiff’s Winter Wonderland runs from Thursday 12 November to Sunday 3 January 2027.
It is hard to beat this campsite for location. Cardiff Caravan and Camping Park gives you a base right in the city, making it particularly convenient if you would rather leave the campervan parked up and explore Cardiff without having to drive backwards and forwards. Perfect for a festive city break on wheels.
Looking for Christmas gifts for a campervan owner?
If wandering around all these Christmas markets has reminded you that you haven't actually bought any presents yet, we've got you covered! Our newly updated 30+ Best Gifts for Campervan Owners: Practical Campervan Gift Ideas is packed with gift inspiration for people who would rather be in their campervan than pretty much anywhere else. We've included practical vanlife kit, cosy camping gifts, outdoor essentials and present ideas for different budgets.
6. York Christmas Market 2026
Dates: 12 November – 21 December 2026
Few cities do Christmas quite like York. York Christmas Market returns in 2026 with alpine chalets lining Parliament Street and St Sampson's Square and a strong focus on local businesses – more than 80% of the traders are from Yorkshire. Expect artisan products, Christmas gifts and plenty of seasonal food and drink surrounded by one of the most atmospheric historic city centres in the UK. One important change for 2026 is that the Christmas Market will be closed on Tuesdays, so keep this in mind when planning your campervan break.
Rowntree Park is a fantastic option for a York city break because of its location. You can leave the campervan on site and head into York to explore the Christmas Market, independent shops and historic streets before retreating back to your van for the night. Unsurprisingly, this is a popular site, so don't leave your Christmas booking until the last minute.
7. Chatsworth Christmas Market 2026
Dates: 7 November – 13 December 2026
If there is one Christmas market setting that looks like it belongs on the front of a Christmas card, Chatsworth has to be up there! Chatsworth Christmas Market returns from 7th November to 13th December 2026, with more than 100 stalls selling Christmas gifts, decorations and seasonal food and drink. You can also combine the market with Christmas at Chatsworth, which runs from 7th November 2026 until 3rd January 2027 and includes the beautifully decorated house and Christmas experiences around the estate. Parking for the Christmas Market needs to be pre-booked, so this is definitely one to plan rather than just turning up. Although Chatsworth Park Caravan and Motorhome Club Campsite might seem like the obvious place to pitch up, unfortunately it closes in September and isn't open during the Christmas Market.
This campsite makes a great family-friendly base for a festive visit to Chatsworth. The campsite is open all year, open to non-members and has more than 120 pitches, almost all of which are hardstanding – ideal for a winter campervan or motorhome trip. There are heated facilities, baby-changing facilities and a children's play area, which is always a bonus when you're travelling with kids. You'll need to drive from the campsite to Chatsworth, so allow plenty of time, particularly on busy Christmas Market weekends.
8. Bath Christmas Market 2026
Dates: 26 November – 13 December 2026
Bath is beautiful throughout the year, but Christmas suits it particularly well. During Bath Christmas Market, festive chalets spread through the city's historic streets around some of Bath's most famous landmarks. There are hundreds of stalls and plenty of independent makers, food producers and gift ideas to browse. The market is free to enter, although weekends can get extremely busy. If you have some flexibility, a weekday visit can make for a much more relaxed experience.
Located beside the River Avon and around two miles from the centre of Bath, this campsite makes a handy base for a Christmas-market weekend. Park the campervan, explore the city and return to a peaceful riverside pitch once you've had your fill of Christmas shopping.
9. Nottingham Winter Wonderland 2026
Nottingham's Old Market Square is transformed again for Nottingham Winter Wonderland 2026, bringing Christmas-market stalls and festive attractions into the heart of the city. The 2026 market has published opening hours throughout November and December, with the Christmas Market trading through to 24th December. Alongside the market, Winter Wonderland includes attractions such as the ice rink, Sky Skate, Observation Wheel, Ice Bar and festive food and drink venues. Because individual attractions operate to different times and dates, check the official Nottingham Winter Wonderland timetable when planning your visit.
Combine your Christmas city break with a stay close to one of England's most famous forests. Sherwood Forest Holiday Park is open throughout the year and offers hardstanding and electric pitches, giving you a quieter countryside base for your Nottingham Christmas adventure. It also means you can combine a day in the city with a winter walk through Sherwood Forest – a pretty good weekend in our book!
10. Hyde Park Winter Wonderland, London 2026
Dates: 19 November 2026 – 3 January 2027
For a BIG Christmas experience, finish your festive road trip in London. Hyde Park Winter Wonderland returns from 19th November 2026 until 3rd January 2027, with Christmas markets, rides, live entertainment and loads of festive food and drink. There are around 150 rides, attractions and experiences planned, so this is far more than a traditional Christmas market. You could easily spend a large part of the day here. Unlike many of the Christmas markets in this guide, Winter Wonderland is a ticketed event, so book before travelling – particularly if you're visiting at a popular time.
Taking a campervan right into central London is probably not anybody's idea of festive fun! Abbey Wood gives you a much easier alternative. Leave your campervan safely at the campsite and use public transport to travel into central London. After a day surrounded by thousands of people, bright lights and Christmas music, returning to the campervan for a quiet evening suddenly sounds even better!
What should you pack for a Christmas market campervan trip?
UK winter weather can change quickly, and Christmas markets involve spending a lot of time outside, so pack for cold and wet weather rather than hoping for the best. For the van, we wouldn't leave home without warm bedding and blankets, levelling ramps, torches, insulated window covers and everything we need to keep the campervan warm and comfortable. For days exploring the markets, pack waterproof coats, warm layers, hats and gloves and comfortable waterproof shoes. A flask or insulated travel mug is also really useful – particularly if you are travelling with children. If condensation becomes a problem once you've got a van full of wet coats and shoes, have a read of The Top Causes of Campervan Condensation (and How to Fix Them). Winter campervanning becomes much more enjoyable once you know how to manage all that extra moisture. You can also find more seasonal preparation advice in our 3 Essential Tips for Autumn Camping and Vanlife Preparation.
More Christmas campervan inspiration
Fancy making a whole festive road trip of it?
Have a read of our 5 Magical Campervan Getaways for Christmas and New Year for more inspiration on where to spend the festive period in your campervan or motorhome.
Christmas markets by campervan – our final tips
A campervan gives you a brilliant way to turn a simple visit to a Christmas market into a whole festive weekend away. Spend the day exploring wooden chalets, drinking hot chocolate and picking out Christmas presents, then head back to your own little home-on-wheels, turn on the heating and get cosy. Whether you choose Edinburgh, York, Bath, Exeter or a huge day out at London's Winter Wonderland, there are plenty of opportunities for one last campervan adventure before the year is over. Just remember that winter campsites – particularly those close to popular Christmas markets – can fill up quickly. Book your pitch early, check the latest market opening information before travelling and make sure the van is prepared for cold weather.
Then pack the Christmas jumpers, stock up on hot chocolate and get ready for a magical Christmas-market road trip!
Looking for your next festive adventure?
→ 5 Magical Campervan Getaways for Christmas and New Year
→ 30+ Best Gifts for Campervan Owners: Practical Campervan Gift Ideas
