A CHRISTMAS market in the UK has been named one of the best in Europe.
Taking 8th place is none other than the UK’s Birmingham Frankfurt Christmas Market.
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Set against Victoria Square and the new Street shopping district, the market is the largest authentic German Christmas market outside of Austria and Germany.
It’s organised by Birmingham’s sister city of Frankfurt with over 100 stalls selling traditional toys, ornaments, arts and crafts.
There’s also a wide selection of traditional German food and drink on offer, including bratwurst, pretzels, schnitzels, roasted almonds, glühwein, weissbeer, and hot chocolate.
And a free live music programme with performances from German and Birmingham musicians takes place.
Rides and attractions include a Big Wheel, a Carousel, Danters AIR (a swing, spin and loop ride), and an ice rink.
But perhaps the most famous attraction of them all is a singing moose called Chris Moose.
The Christmas moose, a faux deer head, become quite the sensation over the years by belting out Christmas classics during the festivities.
He even has his own X profile, where he keeps followers entertained with hilarious pun-based jokes.
Some of his best posts include: “I had a great joke about German Christmas cake but someone’s stollen it.”
And: “What are the best Christmas jumpers made from? Fleece Navidad!”
People who have visited the market over the years have taken to Tripadvisor to share their thoughts.
One person wrote: “Had a wonderful time on our overnight visit to Birmingham Market.
“Lots of traditional German food and drink to try, with plenty of festive entertainment around. Queue’s were not too long either.”
Another said: “Look forward to this every year, gluwein music and fun.
‘I’ve been visiting the Christmas market in Birmingham for nearly two decades’
Travel reporter Hope Brotherton has been going to the market for nearly two decades – and can confirm it’s one of the best in the country.
As a young girl, my siblings and I enjoyed riding on the twinkling merry-go-round, sliding down the colorful helter skelter, and begging our parents for sweets at our favourite market stall.
The grub was another tantalising draw, with typical German dishes like pretzels, schnitzels, bratwursts, and roasted almonds, all vying for our pocket money.
And, as a student in the city, my friends and I often indulged in a weissbier (wheat beer), or two, at one of the traditional German beer halls.
A quick flash through the last 20 years of my jaunts to the Christmas market proves one thing: it has a little something for everyone, including a singing moose.
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“Also plenty of others bars around once you’ve had your German wurst and a pint or two.”
The city’s Christmas market was given a place in the top 10 by European Best Destinations.
The list comprises of 20 markets, which were ranked based on more than 590,000 votes of worldwide travellers.
Advent Feast at the Basilica in Budapest, Hungary was awarded the top spot, for its beautiful location, unique festive atmosphere, gastronomic adventures, and heart-warming musical and charity programmes.
Two more Christmas markets in Europe also made the list – London’s Hyde Park Winter Wonderland and Manchester’s Christmas market.
Birmingham Frankfurt Christmas Market will return to the city centre from Friday, November 1 and run until December 24.
In the mean time, here is Butlin’s ‘ultimate Christmas holiday weekend’ launching this year.
And here are some affordable December city breaks you can still book.
Best Christmas Markets in Europe 2024
- Budapest, Hungary – Advent Feast at the Basilica
- Craiova, Romania
- Metz, France
- Poznan, Poland
- Montbeliard, France
- Riga, Latvia
- Govone & Asti, Italy
- Birmingham, UK
- Madeira, Portugal
- Valkenburg, The Netherlands
- Brussels, Belgium
- Trier, Germany
- Edinburgh, Scotland
- Vienna, Austria
- Saranda, Albania
- London, UK
- Dresden, Germany
- Prague, Czech Republic
- Bruges, Belgium
- Manchester, UK
