The iconic Manchester Christmas Markets draw in visitors from across the world each year. The opening date has been confirmed.
Summer has officially come to a close, and that means plans for Christmas around the world are well underway.
The nights are getting shorter, the air is getting a bit (a lot) colder, and with the turn of the season comes the opening date for the Manchester Christmas Markets.
The markets will be returning to the streets of Manchester on 10 November this year. They will then run until 22 December.
Manchester Christmas Markets – dates confirmed for the return
As usual, the main hubs for the Christmas Markets in Manchester are Exchange Square, St Ann’s Square, King Street, and Market Street.
Manchester has some of the best markets across the UK and Ireland. This year, they will all run from 10 November to 22 December.
Cathedral Gardens will already be open by the time the other markets do. It opens on 21 October for the launch of the new Halloween-theme ice rink. The stalls here will stay open right through to 31 December.
The stalls in the main Christmas Markets will be open daily. Retail stalls will close at 8 pm and food and drinks stalls will close at 9 pm.
The best in the UK – 8.39/10 rating
Last year, the Manchester Christmas Markets were named the best in the UK. Open since 1999, the markets are known to attract millions of visitors every year. On average, nine million visitors annually.
There were a number of factors considered to come to this conclusion. These include the number of stalls, the running time of the markets, the number of visitors, the entrance fee and the likelihood of seeing Santa.
With all of these factors combined, holiday agency My Favourite Cottages concluded that the Manchester Christmas Markets came out on top of the best Christmas markets in the UK with an overall score of 8.39 out of 10.
The return of the markets – backed by the council
Councillor Pat Karney, the Christmas Spokesperson at Manchester City Council, said, “With Christmas Day a mere three months away, that can only mean one thing – Manchester Christmas Markets Day is even sooner.
“In fact, there’s only seven weeks left to go until you can grab a gluhwein and buddy up with a bratwurst whilst checking out the fantastic Christmas gifts and goodies on the best Christmas Market in the land.
“Mark it on your calendars – 10 November – they’re back!”. The full times for Manchester Christmas Markets 2022 will be confirmed by the council sometime this week.
For more information on the Manchester Christmas Markets, click here.
