Are UK Christmas Markets Really as Magical as Germany’s?
So, I’ve been digging into this big question that always pops up around late November: are Christmas markets in the UK actually as good as the ones in Germany? And after looking through what reporters experienced on both sides, the answer turns out to be… surprisingly close, but with some fun twists.
Imagine this: you’re in Birmingham on a cold afternoon, walking past wooden huts glowing with soft, golden fairy lights. You’re seeing signs that say Glühwein and Bratwurst , people are wrapped up in woolly hats enjoying steaming drinks, and the whole street is buzzing with that cosy December energy. You’d think this was a square in Frankfurt or Cologne, but no — it’s the Frankfurt Christmas Market right in Birmingham, which organisers proudly call the largest authentic German market outside Germany and Austria.
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Two German PhD students, Nina and Till, were actually wandering around the market during the BBC’s visit. They pointed out how the wooden stalls and traditional food genuinely reminded them of home. Till even tasted some chocolate-coated marshmallows and insisted they tasted exactly like the ones from his hometown near Frankfurt. But of course, a few things felt slightly off to them — for example, there was a lot more beer being served than mulled wine, which isn’t how it’s usually done in Germany. And the soundtrack? Pop hits like The Power of Love — fun, but not the carols and festive choirs typical of a German market.
Still, Birmingham’s setup gets high marks for authenticity. Many stalls are actually built in Germany, the lights are intentionally soft and non-blinking, and the food is imported to match the real deal as closely as possible. But once you compare it to being 800 miles away in Berlin, the full traditional picture becomes clearer.
In Berlin, Christmas markets only open from 24 November onward — and nearly every neighbourhood has one. The BBC team visited the one at Charlottenburg Palace, where the entire Baroque building was illuminated in colourful lights with projected snowflakes drifting across it. The air was thick with the smell of roasted almonds, Bratwurst, goulash, and mulled wine. Kids were riding a tiny Ferris wheel, a live stage played Christmas carols, and craft stalls sold handmade gifts like wooden nutcrackers, candles, scarves, and jewellery. It’s atmospheric in a way that feels almost storybook-like, and locals say that these markets help brighten the dark winter season.
Back in the UK, other cities like Manchester, Edinburgh, Bath, and Leeds have embraced the Christmas market tradition too, though some feel more commercial or international in flavour. At Kingston’s market, you might hear an open-mic performance or find stalls selling Yorkshire pudding wraps and Greek gyros alongside a handful of German treats. Visitors still enjoy it, even if it doesn’t fully capture the German fairytale vibe.
Interestingly, German markets are evolving as well. More international food appears every year, and Santa Claus imagery is becoming more common than the traditional Saint Nikolaus. Even with added security in recent years, the festive feeling remains strong.
So, after all this — are UK markets as good as German ones? They’re different, but Birmingham comes impressively close. And the heart of it, as many visitors say, isn’t really the country — it’s the lights, the food, the music, the shared joy, and that unmistakable December magic that makes any Christmas market feel special.
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