Celebrating 200 years of UK passenger rail travel Jessica Baldwin lines up of the best family Christmas markets in Europe, that are even more magical by train.
Christmas, Markt Square, Bruges
Bruges: best family Christmas markets for fairy tale feels
21 November 2025 to 4 January 2026
Bruges Christmas markets are the stuff of children’s dreams, with fluffy Belgian waffles buried beneath a mountain of whipped cream, fun-fuelled fairground rides and twinkling lights at every turn.
Winter Glow transforms Bruges into a festive wonderland, with two Christmas markets and a spellbinding light trail through its storybook streets. Hit the ice or trot past rows of pretty medieval townhouses whilst snuggled up in a horse-drawn carriage – ideally with a bag of delicious Speculoos (spiced biscuits).
After sustainable, crafty gifts? Simon Stevin Square is the market for you.
How to get there: Eurostar London St. Pancras International to Bruges, via Brussels, from 3 hours, 30 minutes
Where to stay: Crown Plaza Bruges (2 adults, 2 children) from £344 per night BOOK HERE
READ MORE: Find me a fairy tale: spellbinding winter cities for easy family breaks
Bath Christmas Market ©Visit Britain/James Osmond
Bath: 200 twinkling stalls and skating in the park
27 November to 14 December 2025
Fancy doing some Christmas shopping in a UNESCO World Heritage Site? Celebrating its silver anniversary, Bath’s enchanting Christmas market sees 200 twinkling stalls surround the city’s most iconic sights, from historic Bath Abbey to its famous Roman Baths.
Most stallholders are local artisans, letting you fill your stockings with hand-blown baubles, freshly poured West Country candles and pungent Somerset cheese.
Little ones can visit Santa in the Holburne Museum or don their skates in Royal Victoria Park, home to Bath on Ice.
How to get there: London Paddington to Bath Spa from 1 hour, 12 minutes
Where to stay: The Bath Priory (2 adults, 2 children) from £824 per night BOOK HERE
READ MORE: Come on a Family Traveller day out in Bath, bring your kids
Reims Cathedral and Christmas Market, France
Reims: one of the largest Christmas markets in France
26 November to 28 December 2025
In the heart of Champagne country, Reims shines with one of the largest and best family Christmas markets in France, just steps away from the station, where 150 treat-packed chalets fill Promenades Jean-Louis Schneiter.
Buying for a foodie? Surprise them with a bag of the city’s famous pink biscuits (best dipped in Champagne).
If you can drag kids off the funfair rides and Ferris wheel, head to Reims Cathedral as night descends and a dazzling light show paints it every colour of the rainbow.
How to get there: Eurostar London St Pancras International to Reims, via Paris Gare du Nord, from 4 hours
Where to stay: Hotel de la Paix (2 adults, 2 children) from £306 per night BOOK HERE
READ MORE: How to have an unforgettable French holiday? Add a fairy tale château
Ruelle Petite France, Strasbourg ©Strasbourg/Cedric Schell
Strasbourg: Europe’s official Capital of Christmas
26 November to 24 December 2025
Catch a morning Eurostar, change in Paris, and by lunchtime you could easily be sipping glühwein in wonderfully wonky old town Strasbourg.
Draped in kilometres of lights and topped with over 1,000 ornaments, France’s biggest Christmas tree towers above its oldest and largest festive market.
With over 300 stalls and different experiences all over the centre, it’s hard to know where to start. Always pick up spicy bredele biscuits or mannele (festive dough f igures) for stocking fillers. And the traditional Chrìstkìndelsmärik is a must-visit for Christmas decorations and atmosphere.
Then think about extending your adventure by hopping on a train to nearby Colmar for its shimmering canals and 16th-century gingerbread houses, as well as more Alsatian treats.
How to get there: Eurostar London St. Pancras International to Strasbourg, via Paris, from 5 hours
Where to stay: Le Lodge Brit Hotel (2 adults, 2 children) from £496 per night BOOK HERE
READ MORE: Where to find the most captivating Christmas markets in Europe this winter
Cologne Christmas Markets @koelntourismus
Cologne: several of Europe’s best family Christmas markets
14 November to 28 December 2025
With festive hubs dotted around the city, Cologne is a great pick for a weekend of market-hopping with your kids.
Whilst curious stilt-walking creatures patrol the romantic Market of Angels, you’ll find shanty-singing pirates running riot around the city’s scenic Harbour Market. There’s even one market dedicated to Cologne’s mythical ‘brownies’.
Start out at family friendly St. Nicholas Village, where gentle storytelling and activities unfold beside the medieval city gate. Beneath the imposing cathedral, wooden cabins glitter under a starry canopy, and there’s always a packed calendar of Christmassy events.
It might be a little chilly, so you’ve a good excuse to warm up with a feuerzangenbowle: mulled wine with flaming sugarloaf melted into it!
How to get there: Eurostar London St. Pancras International to Cologne, via Brussels, from 5 hours
Where to stay: Aparthotel Adagio Köln (2 adults, 2 children) from £312 per night BOOK HERE
READ MORE: How to find time for yourself on family ski holidays this winter
Ville de Noël, Arras, France
Arras: one of the dreamiest markets in northern France
29 November to 29 December 2025
Framed by dashing gable-topped Flemish-Baroque buildings, Arras’s under-the-radar Christmas market couldn’t get much dreamier if it tried.
One of France’s largest festive celebrations, it boasts over 140 tat-free stalls selling handicrafts and delicious regional produce. Amidst the ice sculptures and light projections, you’ll find oysters and Champagne, but as the self-proclaimed home of French Fries it’s practically your duty to try one of the town’s beloved friteries.
For extra cheer visit on 6 December, when Santa abseils down the Belfry, welcoming children to his village on Place d’Ipswich.
How to get there: Eurostar London St. Pancras International to Arras, via Lille, from 2 hours, 10 minutes
Where to stay: Hôtel de l’Univers (2 adults, 2 children) from £312 per night BOOK HERE
READ MORE: Find the best family winter breaks to enchant your kids this year
Cardiff Christmas Market © Visit Wales/Tom Martin
Cardiff: one of the best family Christmas markets for crafts
13 November to 23 December 2025
As home to easily the craftiest market in the UK, Cardiff welcomes more than 200 talented craftspeople this Christmas.
From hand-knitted hats to honey, this market is the place to pick up one-of-a-kind gifts direct from the makers and catch plenty of craft demos along the way. Discover fresh local talent at Trinity Street’s ‘taster stalls’, where new stallholders arrive every few days.
Kids need to burn off energy? Then hit Bute Park’s dazzling light trail or head to the castle: little jaws will drop at the flamboyant apartments and dramatic 12th-century keep.
How to get there: London Paddington Station to Cardiff Central Station from 1 hour, 43 minutes
Where to stay: The Parkgate Hotel (2 adults, 2 children) B&B from £423 per night BOOK HERE
READ MORE: Best UK Christmas markets for lots of extra festive feels this year
Christmas in Lille, France
Lille: a French fairy tale less than two hours from London
20 November to 29 December 2025
Quick and easy to reach, Lille’s bijou market thrums with around 100 wooden chalets, just a short stroll from the station.
This cultural melting pot of a city is a treat for foodies: take home a box of creamy pralines or try Merveilleux de Lille (fluffy meringues rolled in whipped cream and chocolate flakes).
Children will adore the Ferris wheel, with breathtaking views of the fairy-lit Grand Place. Warm up with a traditional carbonnade flamande (a boozy beef stew) at one of the city’s cosy estaminets.
How to get there: Eurostar London St Pancras International to Lille from 1 hour, 22 minutes
Where to stay: Moxy Lille City (2 adults, 2 children) from £161 per night BOOK HERE
READ MORE: Cosy up and have a winter city break in wonderful, wonderful Copenhagen
Christmas biscuits, Brussels
Brussels: another Christmas market you can visit in no time
28 November 2025 to 4 January 2026
It takes under two hours to travel by train to this glittering snow globe of Brussels. With atmospheric cobbled streets flanked by pretty stepped gable townhouses, it’s like walking straight into an old timey Christmas card.
Winter Wonders transforms the city centre into a giant festive playground, with bright fairground rides, ice rinks and 250 glittery stalls, making it one of the best family Christmas markets for kids. There are also five light trails to discover here, plus a nightly sound and light show on the Grand Place.
Finish up atop the big wheel, with the city glowing beneath you.
How to get there: Eurostar London St. Pancras to Brussels-Midi/Zuid from 1 hour, 53 minutes
Where to stay: Hygge Hotel (2 adults, 2 children) from £221 per night BOOK HERE
READ MORE: The best European capitals for quick and easy city breaks with kids
Christmas in Amsterdam
Amsterdam: under the radar and over the top charming
15 November 2025 to 5 January 2026
Overshadowed by its trad, tinsel-touting neighbours, the Netherlands seldom tops Christmas bucket lists, but it should.
In Amsterdam, rosy-cheeked locals skate along frozen canals and niche festive markets pop up across the city. Wow little ones with a wintery canal cruise during the Amsterdam Light Festival, when 20 dazzling installations illuminate the waterways: it’s like floating through an open-air gallery.
Drop by Christmas Village’s stalls and ice rink. Or skip the skates, grab a gooey stroopwafel and just take in the show from the sidelines.
How to get there: Eurostar London St. Pancras International to Amsterdam, via Brussels, from 4 hours
Where to stay: The July – Boat & Co (2 adults, 2 children) from £347 per night BOOK HERE
READ MORE: Plan an amazing Amsterdam weekend with your kids
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