Christmas Markets in the North West 2026
Updated 28 October 2026 · 14 markets · Cheshire, Cumbria, Greater Manchester, Lancashire
14 Christmas markets and fairs in North West England are listed for 2026, across Cumbria, Lancashire, Cheshire and Greater Manchester, opening with Holker Winter Market on Friday 6 November. Holker's market spreads through the grounds of Holker Hall & Gardens, and The Arley Shopping Spectacular sets out stalls indoors and outside at Arley Hall & Gardens. In Ulverston, the Dickensian Festival turns the town into a Christmas celebration in costume, while Taste Cumbria Christmas lines Main Street in Cockermouth with producers' stalls and Knutsford Christmas Market sets up along Princess Street, with a funfair and a Santa's Grotto.
- Markets listed
- 14
- First to open
- Fri 6 Nov
- Last to close
- Sun 13 Dec
- Dogs welcome at
- 7 of 14
All 14 at a glance
| Market | Dates 2026 | Town | County | Entry | Dogs | Access |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Holker Winter Market | Fri 6 – Sun 8 Nov | Cark-in-Cartmel | Cumbria | Paid entry | Dogs welcome on a lead | Accessible parking / blue badge parking |
| Artisan Christmas Markets at Holden Clough Nurseries | 14 Nov – 13 Dec | Holden | Lancashire | Free entry | Dogs welcome on a lead | Wheelchair accessible, Accessible toilets |
| The Arley Shopping Spectacular | Fri 20 – Sun 22 Nov | Northwich | Cheshire | Paid entry | Dogs welcome on a lead | Wheelchair accessible, Accessible toilets |
| Rydal Hall Christmas Craft Fair | Sat 21 – Sun 22 Nov | Ambleside | Cumbria | Free entry | Dogs welcome on a lead | — |
| Christmas Gift Fair at Norton Priory | Dates to be confirmed | Runcorn | Cheshire | Paid entry | Dogs welcome on a lead | Accessible toilets, Accessible parking / blue badge parking |
| Make It Artisan Market at The Monastery | Sun 22 Nov | Manchester | Greater Manchester | Free entry | — | Wheelchair accessible |
| Tatton Park Christmas Gift Fair | Thu 26 – Sun 29 Nov | Knutsford | Cheshire | Free entry | No dogs (assistance dogs are welcome by law) | Accessible toilets, Accessible parking / blue badge parking |
| Lancaster Christmas Market at Lancaster Brewery | Fri 27 – Sun 29 Nov | Lancaster | Lancashire | — | Dogs welcome on a lead | Wheelchair accessible |
| Samlesbury Hall Christmas Fair Weekend | Sat 28 – Sun 29 Nov | Samlesbury | Lancashire | Free entry | Dogs welcome on a lead | Wheelchair accessible, Accessible toilets, Accessible parking / blue badge parking |
| Ulverston Dickensian Festival | Sat 28 – Sun 29 Nov | Ulverston | Cumbria | — | — | Accessible parking / blue badge parking |
| CancerCare Christmas Fair at Leighton Hall | Wed 2 Dec | Carnforth | Lancashire | Paid entry | No dogs (assistance dogs are welcome by law) | Accessible toilets, Accessible parking / blue badge parking |
| Beetham Nurseries Christmas Market | Thu 3 – Sun 6 Dec | Beetham | Cumbria | — | — | Accessible toilets |
| Knutsford Christmas Market | Sat 5 – Sun 6 Dec | Knutsford | Cheshire | — | — | — |
| Taste Cumbria Christmas | Sat 5 – Sun 6 Dec | Cockermouth | Cumbria | Free entry | — | — |
- Fri 6 – Sun 8 NovHolker Winter Market
- 14 Nov – 13 DecArtisan Christmas Markets at Holden Clough Nurseries
- Fri 20 – Sun 22 NovThe Arley Shopping Spectacular
- Sat 21 – Sun 22 NovRydal Hall Christmas Craft Fair
- To be confirmedChristmas Gift Fair at Norton Priory
- Sun 22 NovMake It Artisan Market at The Monastery
- Thu 26 – Sun 29 NovTatton Park Christmas Gift Fair
- Fri 27 – Sun 29 NovLancaster Christmas Market at Lancaster Brewery
- Sat 28 – Sun 29 NovSamlesbury Hall Christmas Fair Weekend
- Sat 28 – Sun 29 NovUlverston Dickensian Festival
- Wed 2 DecCancerCare Christmas Fair at Leighton Hall
- Thu 3 – Sun 6 DecBeetham Nurseries Christmas Market
- Sat 5 – Sun 6 DecKnutsford Christmas Market
- Sat 5 – Sun 6 DecTaste Cumbria Christmas
A dash means the market has not said. Ordered by opening date.
Christmas markets in Cheshire
The Cheshire guide →Markets in this guide: Knutsford, Northwich and Runcorn.
The Arley Shopping Spectacular
Fri 20 – Sun 22 Nov · NorthwichPaid entryDogs welcome on a leadAccessible toiletsChristmas Gift Fair at Norton Priory
Dates to be confirmed · RuncornPaid entryDogs welcome on a leadAccessible toiletsTatton Park Christmas Gift Fair
Thu 26 – Sun 29 Nov · KnutsfordFree entryNo dogs (assistance dogs are welcome by law)Accessible toiletsKnutsford Christmas Market
Sat 5 – Sun 6 Dec · Knutsford
Christmas markets in Cumbria
The Cumbria guide →Markets in this guide: Ambleside, Beetham, Cark-in-Cartmel, Cockermouth and Ulverston.
Holker Winter Market
Fri 6 – Sun 8 Nov · Cark-in-CartmelPaid entryDogs welcome on a leadRydal Hall Christmas Craft Fair
Sat 21 – Sun 22 Nov · AmblesideFree entryDogs welcome on a leadUlverston Dickensian Festival
Sat 28 – Sun 29 Nov · UlverstonBeetham Nurseries Christmas Market
Thu 3 – Sun 6 Dec · BeethamAccessible toiletsTaste Cumbria Christmas
Sat 5 – Sun 6 Dec · CockermouthFree entry
Christmas markets in Greater Manchester
Markets in this guide: Manchester.
Christmas markets in Lancashire
The Lancashire guide →Markets in this guide: Carnforth, Holden, Lancaster and Samlesbury.
Artisan Christmas Markets at Holden Clough Nurseries
14 Nov – 13 Dec · HoldenFree entryDogs welcome on a leadAccessible toiletsLancaster Christmas Market at Lancaster Brewery
Fri 27 – Sun 29 Nov · LancasterDogs welcome on a leadSamlesbury Hall Christmas Fair Weekend
Sat 28 – Sun 29 Nov · SamlesburyFree entryDogs welcome on a leadAccessible toiletsCancerCare Christmas Fair at Leighton Hall
Wed 2 Dec · CarnforthPaid entryNo dogs (assistance dogs are welcome by law)Accessible toilets
Questions about Christmas markets in the North West
When do Christmas markets start in the North West?
In 2026 the first to open is Holker Winter Market, from Friday 6 to Sunday 8 November. The Arley Shopping Spectacular follows from Friday 20 to Sunday 22 November, and Samlesbury Hall Christmas Fair Weekend and the Ulverston Dickensian Festival are both on Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 November. Knutsford Christmas Market and Taste Cumbria Christmas are both on Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 December. Each card shows the dates.
Are dogs allowed at Christmas markets in the North West?
At some, on a lead. Holker Winter Market welcomes well-behaved dogs on leads in the market areas and the gardens, but not inside the Hall. Arley Hall & Gardens and Samlesbury Hall welcome dogs in their gardens and grounds, though neither has published a dog rule for the market stalls themselves. Knutsford Christmas Market, Taste Cumbria Christmas and the Ulverston Dickensian Festival have not said whether dogs are welcome.
Which Christmas markets in the North West are free to enter?
Samlesbury Hall Christmas Fair Weekend is free to enter. The Ulverston Dickensian Festival says almost all its entertainment is free, and Taste Cumbria Christmas says most of its attractions are free, apart from the fairground rides and a few ticketed events. Holker Winter Market and The Arley Shopping Spectacular sell tickets; at Arley, children aged 4 to 16 go free.
Is there parking at Christmas markets in the North West?
Yes, though arrangements differ. At Arley, free parking comes with a ticket. Holker's parking is on uneven ground, often 5 to 10 minutes' walk from the market. Ulverston has a Park & Ride at Ulverston Auction Mart, and Knutsford runs a free park and ride shuttle from Booths Hall to Knutsford Bus Station for its market weekend.
Are Christmas markets in the North West wheelchair accessible?
It varies from market to market. Samlesbury Hall says its ground-floor visitor areas and most of its grounds are wheelchair accessible, though it has given no access details for the fair itself. Arley says its garden is fully accessible and has disabled toilets. Holker Winter Market is outdoors on uneven ground, with limited Blue Badge parking.
Christmas markets in other regions
Every market is listed from the details its organisers and venues publish.