I've been to countless UK festive markets and one city does Christmas better than all the others

My quest to find the perfect Christmas city in the UK has been a journey to say the least. I’ve been to countless cities in an attempt to find the best Christmas market, but none of them ticked all of the boxes until I came to Cardiff for the first time in 2021.

London and its Winter Wonderland? Overdone and overcrowded. Bath? It turns into an extension of London as the city overruns it, clogging the streets and cafés as people flock for a ‘wholesome’ day out. Manchester? It’s lively, but it lacks that special something which Cardiff has in abundance - the magical, festive atmosphere which makes you go “wow.”

I swear I’m not a Christmas snob. It’s all about the fun. Honestly, I’ve never left a Christmas market without feeling totally wrapped up in festive joy. For the latest Cardiff news, sign up to our newsletter here

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Sure, they’re a little pricey, but they’re so full of charm you can’t help but want to dive headfirst into the season. But if you’re looking for the perfect mix of magic, fun, and sheer Christmas happiness, Cardiff is absolutely the place to be. You can read about all Cardiff's Christmas events and key dates here.

Firstly, we have a castle, which gives us a festive edge. It’s placed right in the middle of the city and the Christmas markets and activities are all centred around it and this is what gives Cardiff the feeling of the whole city turning into a gigantic Christmas grotto throughout December. The light up decorations and impressive touches, like the Light of Winter Aurora projection at central station, make it feel truly magical.

Cardiff is really the only city which sparkles just as much as any European Christmas market, as it just leans in to everything that makes it special - lining the German market along a busy high street, taking it over with festive vibes and leading on to main landmark, Cardiff Castle.

I love that along the way there’s a special blend of showing off local produce and options you may have never eaten before. At the Cardiff Christmas markets, there’s everything from hot Welsh cakes, for a sweet sense of Cardiff comfort, to a raclette stall where you can try out different variations of this unctously cheesy iconic Swiss dish in the middle of the Welsh capital.

And the fact that you can toast marshmallows, go ice skating, or sip on a hot chocolate or mulled wine while gazing at a castle. It doesn’t get much better than that. Or does it?

“Imagine getting on a ride without queuing for half an hour or battling through Christmas crowds,” says anyone who’s ever dared to tackle London’s Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park. Enter Cardiff: a perfectly scaled-down winter wonderland where you can actually stroll at your own pace, enjoy fantastic rides, indulge in amazing food, and soak up a lively atmosphere that feels like a true escape from the ordinary. You can read our full article about everything Cardiff's winter wonderland has to offer here.

For me, it’s a wonder that more people don’t rave about Christmas in Cardiff outside of Wales. Having also experienced cities like Leeds, Sheffield, Nottingham, and Liverpool at Christmas time, they’re perfectly fine, but they don’t exactly dazzle with festive spirit.

Then there’s the next tier with places like York, Oxford, and Birmingham. They’ve got a touch of that more organic charm, but nothing that jumps out and says, this is the place to be. They’re like a good Christmas film you’ve seen a few times because it’s the only thing on TV. Enjoyable, but not in any way unforgettable.

None of them have an equivalent that’s as good as the light trail in Bute Park. Or show Christmas films in the city’s underground castle cinema. And honestly, the atmosphere is genuinely second to none.

I find that in other places, the Christmas rush is well and truly real, and full of crowds of people who all seem equally irritated by how much is going on, despite them all being there for the same reason. But in Cardiff, instead of crowds drowning the city - it's like they make it come alive even more.

We've all seen how much energy there is on a rugby day, or when a huge gig comes to town. The excitement and buzz in the city is truly infectious, and should 100% be celebrated even more. No matter where you live, Cardiff needs to be top of your Christmas city list of places to visit if you like that kind of thing. And don't forget to visit the massive range of independent businesses which fill the centre in the Georgian arcades while you're at it, if you want to pick up some unique gifts or treats for yourself while you're here.