# Chester Christmas Market 2026 > Chester Christmas Market runs 18 November to 22 December 2026 in Chester. Opening times, where it is and entry cost, checked against the organiser on 11 October 2026. Source: https://bestchristmasmarkets.co.uk/markets/chester/ Chester, [Cheshire](https://bestchristmasmarkets.co.uk/areas/cheshire/) Runs Wednesday 18 November to Tuesday 22 December 2026 | Dates | Wednesday 18 November to Tuesday 22 December 2026 (35 open days) | | --- | --- | | Days Closed | None listed: open every day of its run | | Opening Times | Sunday to Wednesday: **10.30am to 6.30pm** Thursday to Saturday: **10.30am to 8pm** | | Where | Town Hall Square on Northgate Street, between the Town Hall and the Cathedral CH1 2HJ [Open in Maps](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=53.1917,-2.8925) | | Entry | No ticket is mentioned on the official page | | Organiser | Chester Christmas Market, with Marketing Chester and Cheshire West and Chester Council. [Official page](https://www.chester-christmasmarket.com/) | ## Checked Against the Source These dates and times come from the organiser's own page, not from another guide. - [Chester Christmas Market](https://www.chester-christmasmarket.com/), checked 11 October 2026 - [Visit Cheshire (Marketing Cheshire)](https://visitcheshire.com/events/chester-christmas-market), checked 11 October 2026 Organisers sometimes change hours or close early in bad weather. On the day, check the [official page](https://www.chester-christmasmarket.com/). Spotted something out of date? [Tell us](https://bestchristmasmarkets.co.uk/contact/). ## Chester Christmas Market: Quick Answers ### When does Chester Christmas Market start in 2026? It opens on Wednesday 18 November 2026. ### When does Chester Christmas Market end? The last day is Tuesday 22 December 2026. ### What time does Chester Christmas Market open and close? Sunday to Wednesday 10.30am to 6.30pm; Thursday to Saturday 10.30am to 8pm. ### Is Chester Christmas Market open every day? Yes. The organiser lists no closed days between 18 Nov and 22 Dec. ### Where is Chester Christmas Market? Town Hall Square on Northgate Street, between the Town Hall and the Cathedral, Chester CH1 2HJ. ## About Chester Christmas Market Around 80 traders in wooden chalets in the square around Chester Town Hall, selling crafts, gifts, food and drink. [Add the Dates to Your Calendar](https://bestchristmasmarkets.co.uk/markets/chester/dates.ics) ## Where Is Chester Christmas Market? Town Hall Square on Northgate Street, between the Town Hall and the Cathedral, Chester CH1 2HJ. The other dots are nearby markets. ## Santa's Grotto in Chester | Called | Santa's Grotto at Chester Town Hall | | --- | --- | | When | 12 to 20 Dec 2026. Saturdays and Sundays only: 12, 13, 19 and 20 December | | Where | Inside Chester Town Hall on Northgate Street, on the square where the market stalls stand; Santa is at the top of the main staircase | | Price | Not published by the organiser when we checked | | Booking | Booking advised. [Organiser's booking page](https://www.live-booking.co.uk/widget/afc2b577-cdd5-4a67-b982-2f7766195400/step/1) | The visit starts with a craft workshop run by two elves (a lantern, a photo frame and a bag to decorate) before meeting Santa, who gives each child a gift; there is a lift for wheelchairs and pushchairs, and an adult ticket can only be bought with a child ticket. Source: [Chester Town Hall (Cheshire West and Chester Council)](https://chestertownhall.com/santas-grotto-2026/), checked 12 October 2026. [All markets with a grotto](https://bestchristmasmarkets.co.uk/santas-grotto/). ![Shoppers walk between wooden chalets strung with festoon lights at dusk, with a tall Christmas tree covered in white lights behind.](https://bestchristmasmarkets.co.uk/assets/photos/chester-christmas-market-960.webp) *Chalets and the Christmas tree at Chester Christmas Market, December 2019. Photo: [Jeff Buck](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Chester_Christmas_Market_2019_-_geograph.org.uk_-_6347612.jpg), CC BY-SA 2.0.* ## Getting There and Parking ### By Train Chester station is the nearest. It is managed by Transport for Wales and has step-free access to all platforms. The organiser says the walk from the station to the market is about 20 minutes; in a straight line it is roughly 0.6 miles. National Rail lists a RailLink bus from directly outside the station to the city centre, running Monday to Saturday from 07:00 to 19:00, and local buses from the stop outside the station. Source: [Chester Christmas Market](https://chester-christmasmarket.com/contact-parking/), checked 11 October 2026; [National Rail](https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations/chester/), checked 11 October 2026. ### Park and Ride Chester has three working park and ride sites, run for the council by Stagecoach: Wrexham Road (PR1), Boughton Heath (PR2) and Upton by the Zoo (PR3). Sealand Road is suspended until further notice. An adult day ticket is £2.50 (October 2026), bought from the driver or in the Stagecoach app; concessionary passes are not accepted. Buses stop at the Bus Interchange and Foregate Street. The last buses leave before the market shuts, so check the time back if you are staying into the evening. There is no service on Christmas Day, Boxing Day or New Year's Day. The council had published no Christmas market extras when we looked. | Site | Spaces | Last bus Mon to Fri | Last bus Sat | Last bus Sun | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Wrexham Road (PR1) | 1,200 (14 disabled) | 18:40 | 17:40 | 17:00 | | Boughton Heath (PR2) | 750 (12 disabled) | 18:30 | 17:45 | 17:15 | | Upton, Zoo (PR3) | 460 (10 disabled) | 18:45 | 17:30 | 17:10 | Source: [Cheshire West and Chester Council](https://www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/residents/transport-and-roads/public-transport/buses/park-and-ride), [page 2](https://www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/residents/transport-and-roads/public-transport/buses/park-and-ride/tickets), checked 11 October 2026. ### Parking The organiser points drivers to New Market Parking on Hunter Street, the council's multi-storey with 800 spaces, as the nearest car park. It is open 6.30am to 1.30am. The council also runs Delamere Street (351 spaces, open 6.30am to 11.30pm) and Little Roodee by the river, which is open 24 hours and is where coaches park. Blue Badge holders can use disabled bays in council car parks for four hours unless signs say otherwise; parking free of charge needs a microchip sticker for the badge from the council. | Car Park | Postcode | Spaces | Price | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | New Market Parking | CH1 2AR | 800 | £4 up to 1 hour, £5.50 for 1 to 2 hours, £7 for 2 to 4 hours, £9 for 4 to 6 hours, £10.50 over 6 hours; £4.50 for arrivals after 6pm (October 2026) | | Delamere Street | | 351 | £4 up to 1 hour, £5.50 up to 2 hours, £7 up to 4 hours, £9 up to 6 hours, £10.50 over 6 hours; £3.50 for arrivals after 6pm (October 2026) | | Little Roodee | CH1 1SL | | Cars £6.50 up to 12 hours, £9.50 over 12 hours; £2 for arrivals after 6pm (October 2026) | Source: [Chester Christmas Market](https://chester-christmasmarket.com/contact-parking/), checked 11 October 2026; [Cheshire West and Chester Council](https://www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/residents/transport-and-roads/parking-and-permits/chester-car-parks/new-market-parking), [page 2](https://www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/residents/transport-and-roads/parking-and-permits/chester-car-parks/delamere-street-car-park), [page 3](https://www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/residents/transport-and-roads/parking-and-permits/chester-car-parks/little-roodee-car-park), [page 4](https://www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/residents/transport-and-roads/parking-and-permits/chester-car-parks), checked 11 October 2026. ### Accessibility The market's own site says nothing about access. Visit Cheshire's page for the market points to the council's Chester City Centre Access booklet, which covers the Shopmobility scheme, getting on to the Rows, parking and toilets, and can be picked up at the Visitor Information Centre on Town Hall Square. It lists public toilets at Chester Market on Exchange Square (closed Mondays), the railway station, Little Roodee car park, The Groves and the Bus Interchange. Santa's Grotto inside the Town Hall has a lift for wheelchairs, mobility scooters and pushchairs. Source: [Visit Cheshire (Marketing Cheshire)](https://visitcheshire.com/events/chester-christmas-market), checked 11 October 2026; [Chester Town Hall (Cheshire West and Chester Council)](https://chestertownhall.com/santas-grotto-2026/), checked 11 October 2026. ### What Else Is On Chester Cathedral, next to the market, holds its Christmas Tree Festival from 25 November 2026 to 3 January 2027, with more than 80 decorated trees; there is no booking or entry fee on Sundays. Storyhouse, close by on Hunter Street, has Rapunzel as its Christmas show from 4 December 2026 to 3 January 2027. Out of town, Chester Zoo's Lanterns and Light trail runs from 13 November 2026 to 3 January 2027. The Town Hall is also running a bookable Santa's Grotto on Saturdays and Sundays 12, 13, 19 and 20 December 2026 (see the grotto section above). **Making a day of it?** Walking tours, day trips and other things to do in Chester can be booked ahead. [Tours and things to do in Chester on Viator](https://www.viator.com/Chester/d36691-ttd?pid=P00325279&mcid=42383&medium=link&campaign=bcm-chester) [affiliate link](https://bestchristmasmarkets.co.uk/affiliate-disclosure/) Source: [Chester Cathedral](https://chestercathedral.com/events/event/christmas-tree-festival-3), checked 11 October 2026; [Storyhouse](https://www.storyhouse.com/whats-on/rapunzel/), checked 11 October 2026; [Chester Zoo](https://www.chesterzoo.org/events/lanterns-and-light), checked 11 October 2026. ### Where to Stay Anywhere inside the city walls is within about ten minutes' walk of Town Hall Square, including Northgate Street, Eastgate Street, Bridge Street and the streets around the Cathedral. The area around the station and City Road is further out, at about 20 minutes on foot. Places near the racecourse and the river are also walkable. **Staying the night?** See hotels and rooms near the stalls on a map, priced for Saturday 21 November. Map by Stay22. [affiliate](https://bestchristmasmarkets.co.uk/affiliate-disclosure/) **Making a weekend of it?** A cottage within reach of the market gives you an early start before the day trippers arrive. [Holiday cottages from Sykes](https://www.sykescottages.co.uk/) ## Questions People Ask **When is Chester Christmas Market open in 2026?** From 18 November to 22 December 2026. Hours are 10.30am to 6.30pm Sunday to Wednesday and 10.30am to 8pm Thursday to Saturday. **How far is Chester Christmas Market from the station?** The organiser says it is about a 20-minute walk from Chester station to the market on Town Hall Square. **Where is the nearest car park to Chester Christmas Market?** The organiser names New Market Parking on Hunter Street (CH1 2AR), a council multi-storey with 800 spaces. It cost £7 for 2 to 4 hours when we checked in October 2026. **Can I use the park and ride for an evening visit?** Only with care. The last park and ride buses leave between about 5pm and 6.45pm depending on the site and the day, which is before the market closes. **Do I need cash at Chester Christmas Market?** Visit Cheshire says many stalls take cards but cash is still useful for small purchases, food and drink and mug deposits. ## Have You Been to Chester Christmas Market? Tell other visitors whether it was worth the trip. One vote per market, no account needed. ## Other Christmas Markets Nearby [Christmas in Frodsham Frodsham, Cheshire 28 Nov 2026 10 miles away](https://bestchristmasmarkets.co.uk/markets/frodsham/) [Wrexham Victorian Christmas Market Wrexham 2026 dates not yet announced 11 miles away](https://bestchristmasmarkets.co.uk/markets/wrexham/) [Norton Priory Christmas Gift Fair Runcorn, Cheshire 22 Nov 2026 14 miles away](https://bestchristmasmarkets.co.uk/markets/norton-priory/) [Liverpool Christmas Market at Skate St George's Liverpool, Merseyside 21 Nov 2026 to 3 Jan 2027 Closed on Fri 25 Dec 15 miles away](https://bestchristmasmarkets.co.uk/markets/liverpool/) [Ruthin Christmas Extravaganza Ruthin, Denbighshire 2026 dates not yet announced 18 miles away](https://bestchristmasmarkets.co.uk/markets/ruthin/) See all [Christmas markets near Chester](https://bestchristmasmarkets.co.uk/near/chester/). More in [North West](https://bestchristmasmarkets.co.uk/regions/north-west/), or see [every market's 2026 dates](https://bestchristmasmarkets.co.uk/dates/).