This year there are two big Christmas markets within a reasonable travelling distance from Bradford.
If you fancy a festive day out in another city to see what hundreds of delightful wooden huts have to offer from mulled wine to homemade gifts, you are in luck.
As well as Leeds Christmas Markets which will be returning in 2023 after four years away, you might also be thinking about visiting Manchester Christmas Markets.
But if you have never been before, you might be wondering how to get there via car or train, as well as when it is on and what will be on offer.
How to get to Manchester Christmas Markets from Bradford
Travelling by car
If you want to drive to Manchester from Bradford, it will take approximately one hour via the M62.
When it comes to parking in the city centre for the markets, there are lots within walking distance - the nearest is Piccadilly Plaza and Chorlton Street.
However, if you don't want to drive in the city centre, you can use any of the Park and Ride locations (over 30 of them) across Greater Manchester – find out more via the Visit Manchester website.
By train
As Manchester Christmas Markets are spread out across the city centre, Deansgate, Victoria and Piccadilly stations are close to the different sites.
Direct trains from Bradford Interchange to Manchester currently take just under an hour and run frequently throughout each day – check the Trainline website for specific dates and times.
Within Manchester city centre, Metroshuttle also provides a free ‘hop on, hop off’ bus service.
What dates are Manchester Christmas Markets 2023 on?
Manchester Christmas Markets will open on November 10 and will run until December 21.
The whole event is free to attend and the opening times are as follows, according to Visit Manchester:
- Food and drink stalls across all the Christmas market locations open at 11am and close at 9pm every day, Monday to Sunday
- Craft stalls across all the Christmas market locations open at 10am and close at 8pm every day, Monday to Sunday
- The food and drink stalls at Cathedral Gardens will continue to trade until December 31 to complement the ice rink which is also open until then
- Father Christmas will take up residence in St Peter's Square after Remembrance Sunday
- The Ice Rink in Cathedral Gardens will be open for Christmas skaters from November 2 – January 2
What’s on at Manchester Christmas Markets for 2023?
For 2023, it will be Manchester Christmas Markets' 25th anniversary, as it first began back in Christmas 1998.
There will be over 225 stalls across nine sites throughout the city centre this year.
The Christmas markets will see the ski chalet market stalls take over Piccadilly Gardens, set to be transformed into the Winter Gardens - as well as Market Street, Cathedral Gardens, Exchange Street, New Cathedral Street, St Ann's Square, Exchange Square, The Corn Exchange and King Street.
Festive Sundays providing family entertainment also return as well as the Manchester Christmas lights trail.
Skate Manchester's ice rink will be set up in Cathedral Gardens next to a Christmas tree and twinkling lights as festive songs play.
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