I visited Leeds Christmas Market and it was exactly what I needed

I must admit, this year hasn't felt particularly festive yet. Perhaps it's just me, but I've struggled to grasp that we're almost exactly a month away from Christmas Day.

Therefore, my trip to the Leeds Christmas Market was somewhat of a system shock. This year, the market is once again dispersed throughout the city centre, with stalls in City Square and Millennium Square, as well as various other locations around Leeds. The city is a popular day out for Teessiders all year round for shopping trips.

I first entered the market on City Square after departing the train station, where I noticed a wide variety of food stalls. From mulled wine to bratwurst, there's a plethora of food and drink options to indulge in.

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Additionally, there are stalls selling Christmas decorations and other items, allowing you to bring some festive cheer back to your own home. You can get all the latest Leeds food, drink, events and shopping news straight to your inbox by subscribing to our Best in Leeds newsletter here.

The Christmas lights and familiar festive aromas around the market are enough to lift anyone's spirits, and they were just about sufficient for me to rediscover my own Christmas spirit. If there's one criticism to be made at this point, it's the layout of the market itself, reports Yorkshire Live.

After exploring City Square, I decided to walk up to Millennium Square to see what was happening there. While there are some attractions along the way, such as outside the Leeds Art Gallery with the Winter Wheel, the journey largely looks the same as it does every year.

Thankfully, it was only a short walk before I found myself once again enveloped in the glow of Christmas lights. The Millennium Square section of the market boasts a diverse range of food options, alongside an array of different rides.

With a Carousel situated outside the Art Gallery as well, there's certainly no shortage of attractions to keep youngsters and children entertained. However, the chilly weather led me to seek out some food instead.

As I wandered around, I noticed a wide variety of cuisines on offer. Bars and stalls serving American, Canadian, German, Chinese and Greek food were scattered across the city, along with numerous outlets offering British fare.

I opted for some Spanish churros. The food was pleasantly warm, providing a welcome respite from the cold, and cost me around £6 for a regular portion.

Prices are similar across the market stalls, with 'essentials' such as a Bratwurst priced at £7 and a pint at £6.50 - so it can be quite pricey, particularly if you're footing the bill for more than one person. Despite this, the Christmas Market is truly a great place to immerse yourself in the festive spirit, so if you've been lacking in Christmas cheer this year, it's definitely worth a visit.

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