The Christmas Markets are back in Manchester again opening on the 14th November and well worth the trip. This is the biggest market in the UK:

http://www.visitmanchester.com/artic...stmas-markets/

The markets across the City Centre opened last Friday and we went to have a look on Friday afternoon. We came home laden with chorizo, cheese and salami with a liqueur coffee nestling nicely inside me, along with a German frankfurter.

This past weekend was very busy and well worth a visit.

https://www.flickr.com/groups/2106198@N20/pool/

We went on Saturday night.

Ice skated outdoor, went on the big wheel, the market was huge and v.v. busy.

Take the train, parking was very hard work.

Seems to get bigger and better each year Dickie_Gr. we were in Prague a year or two ago at this time of year and were very disappointed with the size and content of their market. It was small and not very good in comparison.

Gee, and here I am scheduled for Vienna, Salzburg, and Munich and only NOW are you saying that I should "forsake all those others"...what a bummer.

No Dukey1, didn't say you should forsake them, but I think you'd be pleasantly surprised at how Manchester compares with the overhyped and smaller markets where you mention. Manchester is the largest Christmas Market in Europe.

Too many people think Britain consists of London, York and Edinburgh.

Not sure if Mrs Bilbo will let be across the border, but the Leeds one (including the Tahi Ladyboys!) will be opening soon.

Besides the Xmas Market Manchester is a fascinating city - I spent a great day there recently - neat museums and the original Coronation Street set. Manchester rocks!

bilbo, sneak in the back way through Crosshills. I'll leave your name at the barrier!

PalenQ, you missed a whole lot. Next time you're coming let me know and I'll let you have a must see list.

Seems to get bigger and better each year Dickie_Gr. we were in Prague a year or two ago at this time of year and were very disappointed with the size and content of their market. It was small and not very good in comparison.>>

rubicund - we were in Prague a few years ago between Christmas and New Year and the markets were great. Ditto Budapest.

now let me think - do I want to go to Manchester, or to fly out to Munich, Salzburg and/or Vienna?

Dukey - I'm with you - metaphorically speaking, anyway.

I understand what you say annhig, and the markets are good where you mention, but unless you've seen Manchester's markets you don't have a comparison. We've seen both Vienna and Salzburg and whilst the towns themselves are very nice, the markets are much smaller and the vibe in Manchester feels great. Sometimes people prefer to say,"We were in Munich etc for the markets" which they imagine sounds better than "Manchester".

However, there are reasons that both traders and the public flock to Manchester each year and part of that is the City itself and what it has to offer. We may not be fashionable with the glitterati, but those in the know appreciate what Manchester has to offer. Great restaurants, hotels, clubs, music, history, buildings, people etc etc.

I'm not saying come here instead, I'm saying come here as well and make your own judgement. I rest my case Ma'am.

While I am pretty sure that the market in Manchester is beautiful (it looks at least very nice in the photos), I am not sure that "size" is the determining factor.
In fact, I never ever go to the big major Christmas market in Munich - but only to the small ones like the one in the English Gardens at the Chinese pagoda or the Medieval Christmas market..

Sometimes people prefer to say,"We were in Munich etc for the markets" which they imagine sounds better than "Manchester".>>

selbverständlich, liebe/r Rubicund.

in fact, living where we do, it might be just as easy to get to Prague or Budapest as to Manchester. [only a slight exaggeration!]

"vibe in Manchester"

Is the key thing.

I grew up just outside Manchester and was weaned on New Order, The Smiths, Charlatans, The Stone Roses et al.

It was the best place in the world. You would go out on a Friday night and reappear sometime on Wednesday afternoon. Can't describe how good life was in Madchester with its twin town San Antonio.

The vibe is coming back but it is more Loius Vuitton than Bez. There is a big nouveau riche scene with flash cars and extras from The O.C.

Still we will take allsorts.

Sorry Morrissey, The Queen is certainly not dead, well not on a fifty quid note anyway, your battle against materialism failed.

annhig, vielen dank fur "liebe". I'm all in a tizz now.

http://www.flybe.com/cam/lowestFareS...ndPrice.action

Takes an hour and a quarter.

BBC News England ‏@BBCEngland · 2h2 hours ago
England's Big Picture: A view of the Christmas market in Manchester taken by the police helicopter @NPAS_Barton

From my twitter feeds this am. Hoping it comes up/

Dang, it didn't link. Anyway was a very nice picture of the markets from a helicopter view.

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-30179416

The picture is only of the Albert square section of the market and doesn't show the stalls on:

Brazennose St
Lincoln Sq
King St
Spinningfields
St Ann's Sq
Cathedral St
Exchange Sq
Market St
Piccadilly

My apologies if I've missed anywhere, but that's why Manchester is Europe's biggest market.