Winchester Cathedral Christmas Market
20 November – 22 December 2026
Winchester Cathedral, Winchester, Hampshire(SO23 9LS)
Each winter the grounds around Winchester Cathedral, a building with more than 900 years of history, fill with wooden chalets in the style of traditional German Christmas markets. Traders chosen with care sell handmade gifts, artisan food and seasonal treats, while lights glow overhead, carols sound and mulled wine and cinnamon scent the air. When you want a break, step inside the cathedral for Advent and Christmas services and music. Even the market tree is lit by solar panels. Entry is free and no pre-booking is needed, and on Fridays and Saturdays the market stays open until 8pm.
Get the full visitor guide
When this market goes live, you'll get an interactive map, live schedule with reminders, real-time announcements, stall listings, and offline access — all on your phone, no app download needed.
What to expect
Date & times
20 November – 22 December 2026
Getting there
Winchester Cathedral, Winchester, Hampshire (SO23 9LS for sat nav)
Dogs
Information coming soon
Accessibility
Not confirmed: Wheelchair accessible, Step-free access, Accessible toilets, Accessible parking / blue badge parking, Accessible viewing areas.
Stalls
Stall list coming soon
Live schedule
Full timetable available when market goes live
Interactive map
Site map with GPS location available when market goes live
Live announcements
Real-time updates available when market goes live
Accessibility
No accessibility features confirmed yet.
Not confirmed:
- Wheelchair accessible
- Step-free access
- Accessible toilets
- Accessible parking / blue badge parking
- Accessible viewing areas
Notes
Winchester Cathedral says weekends at the market can be very busy and recommends a quieter weekday if you are bringing a pushchair or wheelchair or would like more room. The cathedral's Access page says there is stairless access to the grounds and buildings within the inner close (except the Dean Garnier Garden), disabled toilets are in the Fleury building and Cafe, and Blue Badge holders can park in Colebrook Street, roughly a 3 minute walk away. A wheelchair can be borrowed during a visit, subject to availability.
Frequently asked questions
When is the Winchester Cathedral Christmas Market?
The 2026 market is open from Friday 20 November to Tuesday 22 December 2026, 33 days in all.
What are the opening hours?
Friday and Saturday 10am to 8pm; Sunday to Thursday 10am to 6pm. Winchester Cathedral itself keeps its own hours, Monday to Saturday 9am to 5pm and Sunday 12.30pm to 3pm, and services and events can limit access, so check its closure notices on the Plan your visit page of the cathedral's website.
Is it free to enter?
Yes. Admission to the market is free and no pre-booking is required.
Where is it, and which entrance should I use?
In the historic grounds around Winchester Cathedral, known as the Close, in Winchester, Hampshire (the cathedral's postcode is SO23 9LS). There are three entrances: Curles Passage, on the right of the cathedral and the most popular; Colebrook Street, also known as the Water Gate; and St Swithun's Street. If one is busy, try another, and follow the directional signs into the inner close, the part of the grounds where the market is.
How do I get there, and where can I park?
The cathedral strongly advises the train or the Park and Ride, because parking in the city centre is limited and often congested at Christmas. Winchester has rail links to London, Southampton, Basingstoke, Reading and the Midlands. Winchester City Council operates the Park and Ride, with drop-off points 2 to 3 minutes' walk from the cathedral, and it runs later on late-night openings. The cathedral says there is no parking within the Close or the immediate vicinity.
Can I come by coach?
Yes, but a free arrival slot must be booked with the cathedral's Visitor Welcome Team before you come, and coaches without a slot will not be met. Coaches drop off on the Broadway (SO23 9GH), near the Guildhall and the statue of King Alfred, where a steward in a high-visibility jacket walks the group to the market, about five minutes away. The coach must then move off the Broadway. Coach parking is at South Winchester Park and Ride (Hockley Link, SO21 2FG; 12 coach spaces, reached via M3 junction 11) or Worthy Lane Coach Park (SO23 7AB), and fees may apply.
What is there to eat, drink and buy?
The cathedral describes handcrafted gifts, artisan food and festive treats from carefully selected traders, in pretty wooden chalets inspired by German Christmas markets. The chalets are grouped into areas including a Makers Market, and traders are listed on the cathedral's website by category (for example bath and body, art, accessories and clothing, decorations and homeware, food and drink, children's, and gardens and outdoor).
What else is on?
The market is joined to Advent and Christmas services, music and seasonal experiences inside the cathedral, so you can step inside as you browse. The festive lighting and the sound of carols are part of the setting. Family activities, services and concerts are listed on the Christmas pages of the cathedral's website.
Is the market sustainable?
Winchester Cathedral says it works each year to make the market more sustainable. No generators are used, the cathedral's market tree is lit with energy from solar panels, and water from the flooded crypt is used to flush the public market toilets.
Are dogs allowed?
The cathedral suggests visiting on a quieter weekday if you are bringing a dog, as weekends can be very busy. Inside the cathedral, well-behaved dogs are welcome on a short lead during general opening hours, but not at ticketed events.
Is the market accessible for wheelchair users and families with pushchairs?
Weekends at the market can be very busy, and the cathedral recommends a quieter weekday if you are bringing a pushchair or wheelchair or would like more room. The cathedral's Access page says there is stairless access to the grounds and buildings within the inner close, except the Dean Garnier Garden, that disabled toilets are in the Fleury building and Cafe, and that Blue Badge holders can park in Colebrook Street, roughly a 3 minute walk away. The cathedral can lend a wheelchair during a visit, subject to availability.
How can I trade at the market?
Traders apply to the cathedral for a chalet through an online application, and applications for 2026 have closed. For later years, ask the cathedral through its website.
Is this your market?
This is a basic listing we've put together so visitors can find Winchester Cathedral Christmas Market. If you're one of its organisers, you can claim it — take control of the page, add your schedule, map and more.
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