York Christmas Market – also known as St Nicholas Fair – is set to return from November 13th to December 21st 2025, with twinkling lights, the scent of mulled wine and lots of unique gift ideas. The famous alpine chalets will return to line Parliament Street and St Sampson’s Square, creating a festive wonderland of local traders and artisan products. Organised by Make It York, the market is a celebration of all things local, with an impressive 85% of traders coming from Yorkshire and every single food stall proudly representing the region. It’s the perfect place to shop small, support local makers and soak up the festive atmosphere(read our guide here).
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What to expect at York Christmas Market 2025
✨ Alpine chalets – Dozens of wooden chalets packed with unique gifts, festive food and drink.
🌿 Local focus – Almost all traders are Yorkshire-based, so you’ll be supporting local businesses.
🤫 Quiet time – Every day from 10am to 12pm, the market runs music-free for a more sensory-friendly experience.
💚 Accessibility – An online, accessibility-friendly trader map will be published from 13th October to help plan your visit.
🌟 Quiet Oasis – St Sampson’s Centre (Church Street, YO1 8BE) will be open Monday to Saturday, 10am to 4pm, offering an accessible, calm space just a few metres from the market and next to Changing Places facilities.
Just around the corner, don’t miss Shambles Market, home to a wide range of local independent traders selling everything from Yorkshire flat caps to delicious cakes to hand-crafted products. All that browsing is hungry work, so follow your nose to Shambles Food Court where there’s a range of street food: we love Krep, which serves tasty filled crepes and galettes, and The Dark Horse Espresso where you can enjoy some of the best coffee in York. You might notice that the bar on Parliament Street has gone, but there are lots of other options in the city centre. If you’re looking for Thor’s Tipi, we’ve got good news: it’s returning to York Museum Gardens (22 October 2025 – 4 January 2026) and The Milner Hotel Gardens (8 November – 24 December 2025).
Top tips for visiting York Christmas Market with kids
🎄 Avoid peak times – It can get very busy, so go early, late or during the quiet period (10am to 12pm).
🎄 Evenings are magical – We love visiting after dark for the extra sparkle
🎄 Combine with the lights – Take a wander around the city centre to see the festive illuminations
Getting to York Christmas Market
🚍 Public transport is best – York Station is a major hub, and buses drop you right into the city centre.
🅿️ Use Park & Ride – Six sites around the city make it easy to avoid the scramble (and cost) of parking. Zero-emission buses take you straight in.
🚲 By bike – There are plenty of bike racks and even supervised cycle parking at Minster Refectory (2 Deangate, YO1 7JA) on selected November dates.
York Christmas Market is just one of many festive things to do in York with kids. From panto season to light trails and family attractions, there’s so much to do. Take a look at our Christmas in York guide for inspiration.
November 13th to December 21st 2025 – Visit the Visit York website for details
