Bishop Auckland's Christmas Town 2026

Runs Thursday 3 December to Sunday 6 December 2026

Dates	Thursday 3 December to Sunday 6 December 2026 (4 open days)
Days Closed	None listed: open every day of its run
Opening Times	Thursday: 4pm to 8pm Friday: 4pm to 9pm Saturday: 10am to 8pm Sunday: 10am to 6pm
Where	Bishop Auckland Market Place and the surrounding town-centre streets Open in Maps
Entry	Free to enter. Market is free to walk round. Rides, curling lane and tipis need a day pass: £5 Thursday, £7.50 Friday, £10 Saturday or Sunday (2026 advance prices)
Organiser	Bishop Auckland's Christmas Town. Official page

Bishop Auckland's Christmas Town: Quick Answers

When does Bishop Auckland's Christmas Town start in 2026?

It opens on Thursday 3 December 2026.

When does Bishop Auckland's Christmas Town end?

The last day is Sunday 6 December 2026.

What time does Bishop Auckland's Christmas Town open and close?

Thursday 4pm to 8pm; Friday 4pm to 9pm; Saturday 10am to 8pm; Sunday 10am to 6pm.

Is Bishop Auckland's Christmas Town open every day?

Yes. The organiser lists no closed days between 3 Dec and 6 Dec.

Is Bishop Auckland's Christmas Town free to enter?

Yes. Market is free to walk round. Rides, curling lane and tipis need a day pass: £5 Thursday, £7.50 Friday, £10 Saturday or Sunday (2026 advance prices).

Where is Bishop Auckland's Christmas Town?

Bishop Auckland Market Place and the surrounding town-centre streets, Bishop Auckland.

About Bishop Auckland's Christmas Town

Four-day town-centre event in the Market Place with a Christmas market, fairground rides, a grotto and large tipis.

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Where Is Bishop Auckland's Christmas Town?

Bishop Auckland Market Place and the surrounding town-centre streets, Bishop Auckland. The other dots are nearby markets.

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Open today Running, closed today Opens within two weeks Later this season Dates not announced
Map: © OpenStreetMap contributors, OpenFreeMap.

Santa's Grotto at Bishop Auckland's Christmas Town

Called	Santa's Grotto
When	3 to 6 Dec 2026. Thursday 3 to Sunday 6 December Thursday 4pm to 8pm, Friday 4pm to 9pm, Saturday 10am to 8pm, Sunday 10am to 6pm
Where	At Christmas Town in Bishop Auckland Market Place
Price	£5 a child; £2 an adult. The Grotto Pass is an add-on: everyone going in also needs that day's Golden Pass (£5 Thursday, £7.50 Friday, £10 Saturday or Sunday per person, advance prices). Older siblings not getting a gift pay the £2 adult rate. Children of 2 and under can go in with their family without any pass if they are not getting a gift
Booking	Booking advised. Organiser's booking page

No timed slot: you queue at any point during opening hours on the day of your pass and the whole booking party goes in together for one visit, so leave time for the queue before closing.

Visits to Santa at the bigger markets sell out weeks ahead, and times change. Check the organiser's page before you promise anyone.

Source: Baccanalia for Culture CIC, checked 12 October 2026. All markets with a grotto.

Where to Stay Near Bishop Auckland's Christmas Town

Staying the night? See hotels and rooms near the stalls on a map, priced for Saturday 5 December.

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Other Christmas Markets Nearby

Raby Castle Christmas Market

Staindrop, County Durham

27 to 29 Nov 2026

7 miles away

Durham Christmas Festival

Durham, County Durham

4 to 6 Dec 2026

8 miles away

Ushaw Christmas Craft Fair

Ushaw Moor, County Durham

14 to 15 Nov 2026