# Bishop Auckland's Christmas Town 2026 > Bishop Auckland's Christmas Town runs 3 to 6 December 2026 in Bishop Auckland. Opening times, where it is and entry cost, checked against the organiser on 11 October 2026. Source: https://bestchristmasmarkets.co.uk/markets/bishop-auckland/ Bishop Auckland, [County Durham](https://bestchristmasmarkets.co.uk/areas/county-durham/) 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](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=54.6662,-1.6745) | | 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](https://www.bishopaucklandschristmastown.co.uk/) | ## Checked Against the Source These dates and times come from the organiser's own page, not from another guide. - [Bishop Auckland's Christmas Town](https://www.bishopaucklandschristmastown.co.uk/), checked 11 October 2026 Organisers sometimes change hours or close early in bad weather. On the day, check the [official page](https://www.bishopaucklandschristmastown.co.uk/). Spotted something out of date? [Tell us](https://bestchristmasmarkets.co.uk/contact/). ## 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. [Add the Dates to Your Calendar](https://bestchristmasmarkets.co.uk/markets/bishop-auckland/dates.ics) ## 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. ## 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](https://baccanalia.co.uk/events/bishop-aucklands-christmas-town-2026/) | 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. Source: [Baccanalia for Culture CIC](https://www.bishopaucklandschristmastown.co.uk/), checked 12 October 2026. [All markets with a grotto](https://bestchristmasmarkets.co.uk/santas-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. Map by Stay22. [affiliate](https://bestchristmasmarkets.co.uk/affiliate-disclosure/) ## Have You Been to Bishop Auckland's Christmas Town? Tell other visitors whether it was worth the trip. One vote per market, no account needed. ## Other Christmas Markets Nearby [Raby Castle Christmas Market Staindrop, County Durham 27 to 29 Nov 2026 7 miles away](https://bestchristmasmarkets.co.uk/markets/raby-castle/) [Durham Christmas Festival Durham, County Durham 4 to 6 Dec 2026 8 miles away](https://bestchristmasmarkets.co.uk/markets/durham/) [Ushaw Christmas Craft Fair Ushaw Moor, County Durham 14 to 15 Nov 2026 8 miles away](https://bestchristmasmarkets.co.uk/markets/ushaw/) [The Winter Market at The Bowes Museum Barnard Castle, County Durham 11 to 13 Dec 2026 13 miles away](https://bestchristmasmarkets.co.uk/markets/bowes-museum/) [Wynyard Hall Christmas Fayre Wynyard, County Durham 20 to 22 Nov 2026 13 miles away](https://bestchristmasmarkets.co.uk/markets/wynyard-hall/) See all [Christmas markets near Middlesbrough](https://bestchristmasmarkets.co.uk/near/middlesbrough/). More in [North East](https://bestchristmasmarkets.co.uk/regions/north-east/), or see [every market's 2026 dates](https://bestchristmasmarkets.co.uk/dates/).