If you're an avid Jetsetter, chances are at this stage in the game – you’ve ticked a lot of European Christmas markets off your list. Yes they’re wonderful – taking in alpine cabins and various baked goods in any destination is a win in our books. But the faff of getting there and the realisation that all those ‘gifts’ you bought are well over 100ml does get tiresome.
Thankfully, we’ve got a veritable shed load of markets to explore here in the UK. Better still, it gives you an excuse to get behind the wheel of one of our cars.
Here are some of the coolest…
Best for families: Blenheim Palace
The gorgeous Oxfordshire palace not only hosts an impressive Christmas market (park before 12pm for free) but the Palace itself has decked the halls too. Their formal gardens are once again lit up with lasers, projections and thousands of tea-lights in the Illuminated Light Trail. While inside the Alice in Wonderland themed decorations include mirrored hallways, illusions, and a Mad Hatter’s tea party.
Best chance of snow: Edinburgh
It’s oh so cold but importantly – the Christmas market in East Princes Street Gardens is oh so magical. And if the cold gets too much and a wee dram is in order – there will be something mulled (non-alcoholic for the drivers) or hot chocolate to warm your cockles.
Best alternative entertainment: Bristol
First up, Corn Street’s St Nicholas market has had a festive upgrade – extending the existing indoor market to the great outdoors too. Once you’ve completed the stalls there, walk just ten minutes to Millennium Square where the real fun begins. The Après Bar has all of your mulled beverage desires covered – but even better there’s BUMP – a weird but entirely wonderful upcycled mobile roller rink. Completely retro but not at all unfashionable.
Best for actually buying gifts: Nottingham
There is a rather impressive 70 stalls at Nottingham Winter Wonderland so gift-getting should in theory be a walk in the park. Once you’ve smashed through your list, there’s entertainment aplenty to enjoy. There’s an ice bar, incredibly magical ice-skating rink in Market Square and even a handsomely-lit helter skelter. For more amazing – and of course – driveable Christmas Markets to visit this year, we’re very into Time Out’s rather brilliant roundup.
So what’ll it be? Where will your next roadtrip take you? You choose the Christmas market – if you can even whittle it down to one that is. We’ll drop off your wheels and collect them afterwards too.
Book your Range Rover Sport (or PHEV version of course), Land Rover Discovery Sport, Range Rover Velar, Range Rover Evoque or Jaguar I-PACE right now.
