# Christmas on the Square 2026 > Christmas on the Square runs 20 November to 24 December 2026 in Salisbury. Opening times, where it is and entry cost, checked against the council on 12 October 2026. Source: https://bestchristmasmarkets.co.uk/markets/salisbury/ Salisbury, [Wiltshire](https://bestchristmasmarkets.co.uk/areas/wiltshire/) Runs Friday 20 November to Thursday 24 December 2026 | Dates | Friday 20 November to Thursday 24 December 2026 (35 open days) | | --- | --- | | Days Closed | None listed: open every day of its run | | Opening Times | Daily: **11am to 6pm** These are the trading hours the council gives stallholders for the retail chalets and barrows. The public listing still shows the time as to be confirmed. | | Where | Guildhall Square in the city centre, beside the Market Place SP1 1JH [Open in Maps](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=51.0689,-1.7946) | | Entry | Free to enter | | Organiser | Salisbury City Council. [Official page](https://salisburycitycouncil.gov.uk/whats-on/christmas-on-the-square/) | ## Checked Against the Source These dates and times come from the council's own page, not from another guide. - [Salisbury City Council](https://salisburycitycouncil.gov.uk/whats-on/), checked 12 October 2026 - [Salisbury City Council](https://salisburycitycouncil.gov.uk/our-city/apply-for-events-and-markets/take-part-in-our-christmas-events/), checked 12 October 2026 Organisers sometimes change hours or close early in bad weather. On the day, check the [official page](https://salisburycitycouncil.gov.uk/whats-on/christmas-on-the-square/). Spotted something out of date? [Tell us](https://bestchristmasmarkets.co.uk/contact/). ## Christmas on the Square: Quick Answers ### When does Christmas on the Square start in 2026? It opens on Friday 20 November 2026. ### When does Christmas on the Square end? The last day is Thursday 24 December 2026. ### What time does Christmas on the Square open and close? Daily 11am to 6pm. These are the trading hours the council gives stallholders for the retail chalets and barrows. The public listing still shows the time as to be confirmed. ### Is Christmas on the Square open every day? Yes. The organiser lists no closed days between 20 Nov and 24 Dec. ### Is Christmas on the Square free to enter? Yes. ### Where is Christmas on the Square? Guildhall Square in the city centre, beside the Market Place, Salisbury SP1 1JH. ## About Christmas on the Square A council-run festive pop-up of retail chalets and a Santa's Grotto on Guildhall Square, which has replaced the former Salisbury Christmas Market. Separate Sunday Festive Markets are held in the Market Place on 29 November and 6, 13 and 20 December, 10:00 to 16:00. [Add the Dates to Your Calendar](https://bestchristmasmarkets.co.uk/markets/salisbury/dates.ics) ## Where Is Christmas on the Square? Guildhall Square in the city centre, beside the Market Place, Salisbury SP1 1JH. The other dots are nearby markets. ## Santa's Grotto at Christmas on the Square Salisbury City Council says there will be a grotto (listed as "Santa's Grotto") at the 2026 event, but had not published its dates, times or price when we checked. Place given: at Christmas on the Square, the council's festive pop-up on Guildhall Square. Source: [Salisbury City Council](https://salisburycitycouncil.gov.uk/whats-on/), checked 12 October 2026. [All markets with a grotto](https://bestchristmasmarkets.co.uk/santas-grotto/). ## Getting There and Parking ### By Train Salisbury station, on South Western Road, is managed by South Western Railway. Experience Salisbury, the city's visitor site, says the city is on the main London and Bristol lines, with direct trains from Southampton, Bath, Basingstoke and Exeter, and puts the station about a 10-minute walk from the centre. The Guildhall Square is roughly half a mile from the station in a straight line (from the coordinates), and the walk is flat. National Rail says there is some step-free access to all platforms and that there are no lifts. Taxis wait at the station. Source: [National Rail](https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations/salisbury/), checked 12 October 2026; [Experience Salisbury](https://www.experiencesalisbury.co.uk/explore/travelling-to-salisbury/), checked 12 October 2026. ### Park and Ride Salisbury has five park and ride sites, with buses run by Salisbury Reds: Wilton, London Road, Britford, Beehive and Petersfinger. Parking is free and an adult return is £3.50, or £4.50 for a group of up to four travelling together (October 2026). Drivers take contactless and cash. Experience Salisbury says buses run up to every 30 minutes Monday to Saturday and on bank holidays. It does not mention Sundays, so check the timetable if you are coming for a Sunday Festive Market. City centre stops differ by route, as the table shows. No Christmas arrangements for 2026 had been published when we checked. | Site | Postcode | Bus | City centre stop | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Wilton | SP2 0BT | PR3 | Stand S, New Canal | | London Road | SP1 3HP | PR7 | Stop K, Castle Street | | Britford | SP5 4DS | PR9 | Stop W, Milford Street | | Beehive | SP4 6BT | PR11 | Stop J, Castle Street | | Petersfinger | SP5 3BZ | PR15 | Stop W, Milford Street | Source: [Salisbury Reds](https://www.salisburyreds.co.uk/parkride-fares), checked 12 October 2026; [Experience Salisbury](https://www.experiencesalisbury.co.uk/explore/travelling-to-salisbury/), checked 12 October 2026. ### Parking Wiltshire Council runs most of the city centre car parks, long and short stay, and on-street bays in the centre have a one-hour limit. Salisbury City Council manages two more: Lush House, off Crane Bridge Road, and Churchill Gardens on Southampton Road. The city council says Blue Badge holders may park in any bay in Wiltshire Council and city council car parks. We have not listed prices, because we could not read Wiltshire Council's parking pages when we checked: look them up before you travel, or use the park and ride. Source: [Salisbury City Council](https://salisburycitycouncil.gov.uk/our-city/services-and-amenities/), checked 12 October 2026; [Experience Salisbury](https://www.experiencesalisbury.co.uk/explore/travelling-to-salisbury/), checked 12 October 2026. ### Accessibility Salisbury City Council, which runs the event, publishes general access information rather than a guide to the Square itself. There is an accessible toilet in the Market Place, next to the Guildhall Square, open 24 hours with a RADAR key. Changing Places toilets are at Lush House by Queen Elizabeth Gardens and at Fisherton Recreation Ground: ring the Information Centre on 01722 342860 for the access code. Salisbury Shopmobility, at 3b Priory Square (SP2 7TL), hires scooters, powerchairs and wheelchairs from £5.50 a day after a £10 annual membership (October 2026). It opens Monday to Saturday, 9am to 4.30pm, and is closed on Sundays. Experience Salisbury describes the city centre as flat. Source: [Salisbury City Council](https://salisburycitycouncil.gov.uk/our-city/services-and-amenities/), [page 2](https://salisburycitycouncil.gov.uk/our-city/shopmobility/), checked 12 October 2026; [Experience Salisbury](https://www.experiencesalisbury.co.uk/explore/travelling-to-salisbury/), checked 12 October 2026. ### What Else Is On Christmas on the Square opens alongside Christmas Begins on Friday 20 November 2026 in the Market Place next door, with live music, stalls and food. The council's trader page gives its hours as 1pm to 8.30pm, though the public listing still said the time was to be confirmed. Sunday Festive Markets fill the Market Place on 29 November and 6, 13 and 20 December, 10am to 4pm, free to enter. The regular Charter Market is there on Tuesdays and Saturdays. The council lists the pop-up itself, with Santa's Grotto, as running to 31 December, a week longer than the retail chalets. **Making a day of it?** Walking tours, day trips and other things to do in Salisbury can be booked ahead. [Tours and things to do in Salisbury on Viator](https://www.viator.com/Salisbury/d23165-ttd?pid=P00325279&mcid=42383&medium=link&campaign=bcm-salisbury) [affiliate link](https://bestchristmasmarkets.co.uk/affiliate-disclosure/) Source: [Salisbury City Council](https://salisburycitycouncil.gov.uk/whats-on/), [page 2](https://salisburycitycouncil.gov.uk/our-city/apply-for-events-and-markets/take-part-in-our-christmas-events/), [page 3](https://salisburycitycouncil.gov.uk/our-city/services-and-amenities/), checked 12 October 2026. ### Where to Stay The Guildhall Square is in the middle of the city, and Salisbury is flat and small enough that anywhere in the centre, around the Cathedral Close or along Fisherton Street towards the station is within about ten minutes on foot. Staying near a park and ride site and taking the bus in also works from Monday to Saturday. **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 **Is Christmas on the Square the same as Salisbury Christmas Market?** It is the city council's festive pop-up of retail chalets and a Santa's Grotto on the Guildhall Square, and it has taken the place of the former Salisbury Christmas Market. **When is Christmas on the Square open in 2026?** From Friday 20 November 2026. The council gives the retail chalets as trading 11am to 6pm until Thursday 24 December, and lists the pop-up as a whole to 31 December. The public listing had not confirmed times when we checked on 12 October 2026. **Is it free to get in?** Yes. The council lists entry as free. **How far is the Guildhall Square from Salisbury station?** Roughly half a mile in a straight line. The city visitor site puts the station about a 10-minute walk from the centre, and the route is flat. **How much is the Salisbury park and ride?** Parking is free and an adult return on the bus is £3.50, or £4.50 for a group of up to four (October 2026). There are five sites around the city. ## Have You Been to Christmas on the Square? Tell other visitors whether it was worth the trip. One vote per market, no account needed. ## Other Christmas Markets Nearby [Hawk Conservancy Trust Christmas Market Andover, Hampshire 26 to 29 Nov 2026 14 miles away](https://bestchristmasmarkets.co.uk/markets/hawk-conservancy/) [Artful Christmas Market at Sir Harold Hillier Gardens Romsey, Hampshire 21 to 22 Nov 2026 15 miles away](https://bestchristmasmarkets.co.uk/markets/hillier-gardens/) [Southampton Christmas Market Southampton, Hampshire 12 Nov to 27 Dec 2026 Closed on Fri 25 Dec 20 miles away](https://bestchristmasmarkets.co.uk/markets/southampton/) [Winchester Cathedral Christmas Market Winchester, Hampshire 20 Nov to 22 Dec 2026 21 miles away](https://bestchristmasmarkets.co.uk/markets/winchester/) [Bournemouth Christmas Market Bournemouth, Dorset 12 Nov to 31 Dec 2026 24 miles away](https://bestchristmasmarkets.co.uk/markets/bournemouth/) See all [Christmas markets near Southampton](https://bestchristmasmarkets.co.uk/near/southampton/). More in [South West](https://bestchristmasmarkets.co.uk/regions/south-west/), or see [every market's 2026 dates](https://bestchristmasmarkets.co.uk/dates/).