Few things capture the essence of the cold winter season quite like a traditional Christmas market glowing beneath a canopy of twinkling lights, filled with tempting aromas of sweet, hot gluhwein and sizzling bratwursts.
While it is increasingly difficult to steer clear of overly commercialised events packed with generic imported items, six festive villages across England, the north of Ireland and Europe come highly recommended. Each offers an authentic Christmassy atmosphere alongside genuine local stallholders selling handcrafted gifts and delicious traditional winter fare.
