Christmas Markets in Yorkshire 2026

In 2026 the first to open is Harewood Christmas Market in West Yorkshire, on Friday 6 November. West Yorkshire: Harewood has a second weekend from Friday 27 November, Leeds starts on Thursday 19 November and ends on Wednesday 23 December, and The Hepworth Wakefield Festive Market begins on the evening of Friday 20 November. North Yorkshire: York Christmas Market starts on Thursday 12 November and ends on Monday 21 December, Living North's fair is on from Thursday 19 to Sunday 22 November, Ripon Cathedral's fair runs on Friday 20 and Saturday 21 November, and Knaresborough follows on Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 December. East Yorkshire: Sledmere Christmas Fair takes Wednesday 25 and Thursday 26 November, and Beverley Festival of Christmas is on Sunday 13 December. Every card gives the dates.

Policies differ by market. Harewood welcomes dogs outdoors on a lead, though the House and its indoor cafe areas are off limits, and Sledmere allows them in its grounds and at Coffee Corner, though not into the fair itself. Beverley welcomes well-behaved dogs on leads, kept close near the live reindeer and the fairground rides. At Living North only assistance dogs are admitted, Ripon Cathedral bars other dogs but welcomes assistance dogs, and The Hepworth Wakefield welcomes assistance dogs without saying more. Knaresborough's organisers describe the town as very dog friendly but suggest pets stay at home if possible. Leeds and York have not said whether dogs are welcome.

For some, yes. Harewood is entered by timed slot, with booking ahead the cheaper way, Sledmere sells timed tickets that are also available on the door, and Living North, The Hepworth Wakefield and Ripon Cathedral sell tickets too: Living North has under-12s free, the Hepworth has gallery members and under-18s free, and Ripon sells a separate ticket for each day with under-16s free. Entry to Beverley is free, as are Knaresborough's castle grounds and the Christmas Tree Festival held in St John's Church. Leeds and York have not published an entry charge.

Some are, in York, Leeds and Wakefield. York closes at 7pm from Wednesday to Monday and takes Tuesdays as a rest day, with an early 5pm finish on Monday 21 December, its final day. Leeds keeps its City Square stalls going until 7pm on Sundays to Thursdays and 8pm on Fridays and Saturdays, and The Hepworth Wakefield has a ticketed evening, 7pm until 10pm, on Friday 20 November.

Several have free parking. Harewood has ample free parking, with a pass needed alongside the ticket in its Christmas period, Living North has free parking, and a Sledmere ticket includes it. Knaresborough and Beverley both point to a free park and ride, from Manse Lane and from Beverley Racecourse, because spaces in the town are limited, and Beverley strongly recommends public transport. Ripon Cathedral points to the nearest car park, St Mary Gate and Cathedral, some 150 yards off.

Yes, for several. York Christmas Market and Leeds Christmas Market are in their city centres, and bus 36 serves both Harewood and Ripon, from Leeds and Harrogate. Knaresborough has buses to and from Harrogate and trains from York and Leeds. In Beverley the railway station is roughly a five-minute walk from the town centre, while the bus station is a minute or so from the festival.