Christmas Markets in Gloucestershire 2026

In 2026 the Gloucester Quays Christmas Markets open first and run on every weekend between Saturday 7 November and Sunday 20 December. The Christmas Cotswold Fair follows from Monday 9 to Thursday 12 November, Newark Park's 'Handmade in Britain' market is on Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 November, and Tewkesbury Christmas Market is on Sunday 22 November. Cirencester Advent Market is on Saturday 28 November. Winchcombe's market is on Thursday 3 December, with a shopping trail the next day, and Cheltenham Christmas Market runs from Thursday 10 to Wednesday 23 December. The dates for each are on its card.

It depends on the market. At Newark Park, dogs that are well behaved and on short leads can go in the garden and estate, but inside the house, where some of the market stalls stand, the rule is assistance dogs only. The Christmas Cotswold Fair permits only guide dogs. The organisers of Cirencester Advent Market describe it as very crowded and advise against bringing dogs other than assistance dogs. Gloucester Quays says assistance dogs are welcome in the centre and other animals are not allowed there, and it has not said whether other dogs may come to the stalls across the Quays and the docks. Tewkesbury, Winchcombe and Cheltenham have not published a dog rule.

Entry to the Gloucester Quays Christmas Markets is free. Admission to the market at Newark Park is included with entry to the property, and National Trust members go in free. The Christmas Cotswold Fair sells tickets: everyone over 12 needs one, and babies and younger children are free. Tewkesbury, Cirencester and Winchcombe have not published an entry price.

It varies from market to market. The multi-storey car park at Gloucester Quays is open 24 hours a day. The Christmas Cotswold Fair offers free field parking, and pre-paid parking on hard ground can be added when you buy a ticket. Five town car parks offer free parking for Tewkesbury Christmas Market: Spring Gardens, Oldbury Road, Station Road, The Vineyards and Rails Meadow. For Winchcombe, the Back Lane car park is a few minutes' walk from the High Street, Bull Lane is short stay, and Abbey Terrace has free two-hour parking close to the High Street. For Cheltenham Christmas Market, Royal Well Car Park is about 100 metres from the Promenade, and the Rodney Road and St George's Road car parks are each about 300 metres away. Cirencester Town Council asks visitors to park appropriately and legally, and town centre road closures are in place.

Gloucester Quays is a 20-minute walk from Gloucester railway station, and Gloucester Bus Station lies a few minutes on foot from the railway station. In Cheltenham, the market is about 50 metres from Royal Well bus station and about a mile from Cheltenham Spa station. For Winchcombe, trains run to Cheltenham Spa and Evesham, and frequent daily buses run between Winchcombe and Cheltenham. The nearest railway station to Cirencester is Kemble, about 4 miles away, to Newark Park is Cam & Dursley, about 6 miles away, and to the Christmas Cotswold Fair is Moreton-in-Marsh, five miles away by road. Tewkesbury Christmas Market has published no station or bus details.

It varies from market to market. The Christmas Cotswold Fair is in a marquee that wheelchair users can access, with disabled toilets on site, though, as the fair is held in a field, the ground between the car park and the marquee can be uneven and car-park staff can help. At Newark Park the house's ground floor is step-free thanks to a built-in ramp, and there is an accessible toilet with a changing table at visitor reception, Blue Badge parking on the right of the car park and a wheelchair to borrow on request; the main area around the house is flat with gravel paths, while other paths on the estate are uneven or sloped. Gloucester Quays has not confirmed access to the market itself, but says its shops are wheelchair accessible, accessible toilets are in eight areas and wheelchairs can be borrowed from Customer Services. In Winchcombe there are disabled bays at the Back Lane, Bull Lane and Abbey Terrace car parks and on North Street. Tewkesbury, Cirencester and Cheltenham have published no access details.

Yes. The Christmas Cotswold Fair is open from 5.30pm to 9.30pm on its opening evening, Monday 9 November, and Winchcombe's market and shops stay open until 8pm on Thursday 3 December. Tewkesbury Christmas Market runs until 6pm, with the lights switched on at 5pm, and Cirencester Advent Market runs from 10am to 6pm. Gloucester Quays closes at 6pm on Saturdays and 5pm on Sundays, and Cheltenham Christmas Market and Newark Park close at 5pm.