Nottingham Christmas Market 2026 Dates & Winter Wonderland

Most Christmas markets are about shopping, but this one is really a night out. The Nottingham Christmas Market sits inside Nottingham’s Winter Wonderland, where you can skate, ride the wheel or sit in a ski-lodge bar between laps of the stalls. Pace yourself, and save room for a Yorkshire pudding wrap.

Nottingham Christmas Market 2026

Dates

Status: Confirmed
Market stalls: 12th November to 24th December 2026
Winter Wonderland attractions: 12th November to 31st December 2026
Last checked: October 2026

Update: Dates were announced in October. Sign up for our newsletter to be notified of changes.

Source: Verified by Ultimate Christmas Markets via the Nottingham.

Plan Your Visit

Location and Times

Location: Old Market Square
Christmas Day: Closed

Market Stalls:
November:
Sunday to Thursday: 10am to 6pm
Friday and Saturday: 10am to 8pm
December (until 24th):
Sunday to Thursday: 10am to 8:30pm
Friday and Saturday: 10am to 9pm
Tip: Some food stalls will re-open after Christmas for the New Year celebrations.

Observation Wheel:
November:
Monday to Thursday: 10am to 10pm
Friday and Saturday: 10am to 11pm
Sunday: 10am to 9pm
December:
Monday to Saturday: 10am to 11pm
Sunday: 10am to 10pm
Christmas Eve: 10am to 8pm
Christmas Day: Closed
Boxing Day: 10am to 8pm
New Year’s Eve: 10am to 8pm

Ice Bar:
November:
Monday to Thursday: 12pm to 9pm
Friday to Sunday: 10am to 10pm
December:
Monday to Thursday: 12pm to 9pm
Friday and Saturday: 10am to 11pm
Sunday: 10am to 10pm
Christmas Eve: 10am to 8pm
Christmas Day: Closed
Boxing Day: 10am to 8pm
New Year’s Eve: 10am to 8pm

Sur La Piste and Altitude:
Monday to Friday: 11am to 11pm
Saturday: 10am to 11pm
Sunday: 10am to 10pm
Christmas Eve: 10am to 8pm
Christmas Day: Closed
Boxing Day: 10am to 8pm
New Year’s Eve: 10am to 8pm

Ice Rink and Sky Skate:
Monday to Thursday: 12:30pm to 10:30pm
Friday: 11:15am to 11pm
Saturday: 10am to 11pm
Sunday: 10am to 10:15pm
Christmas Eve: 10am to 8pm
Christmas Day: Closed
Boxing Day: 10am to 8pm
New Year’s Eve: 10am to 8pm

Travel and Accommodation

Recommended Tour: walking tour with a local guide
Public Transport: Old Market Square tram stop.
Parking: Please take public transport to help limit congestion. The closest parking is at Upper Parliament Street and Lace Market Council Car Park.
Where to stay: The Lace Market Hotel in central Nottingham.

Tickets and Attractions

Admission: Free.
Tickets: Certain attractions and the Ice Bar require tickets and it’s advisable to book in advance. Click here to find attractions and book. You can also book on the day at the event.
Payment: This is a mostly cashless event.

Lights: Switch on date: unavailable.
Santa: Yes.
Ice skating: Yes. Skates are included in the ticket price or you can bring your own.

Attractions:
Market Stalls: The main attraction, open and free for all visitors. No tickets are required.
Sky Skate Ice Path: Glide through the markets and enjoy ice skating from an elevated perspective.
Ice Rink: The centrepiece of the square that is open for all ages.
Observation Wheel: Panoramic views of the city from above on this 32-metre-high Ferris wheel.
Toboggan Slide: Suitable for all ages, tickets can be purchased on-site without needing advance booking.
Altitude: A rooftop bar where you can order food and drinks using your phone. It’s advisable to make reservations ahead of time.
Sur la Piste: This ski chalet-inspired bar offers extensive food options. Be sure to reserve a table in advance.
Ice Bar: Cool down in this unique bar adorned with ice-crafted furniture.
Helter Skelter Bar: Unwind and grab a drink while your children have fun on the slide. No tickets are required.

Dietary Options

Vegetarian: Yes, plenty of options.
Vegan: Yes, plenty of options.
Gluten free: Yes, but limited.
Food specialities: Artisan cheese, chocolates, baked treats and street food.

Accessibility

Accessible: Most of the venue is accessible. There is lift access to the first floor.
Pet-friendly: It’s encouraged to leave dogs at home due to the crowds. However, they are welcome in any outside area.

Convenient Hotels

I suggest staying in the Lace Market district or near Old Market Square. The Lace Market Hotel is highly rated and less than 10 minutes from Winter Wonderland. The Lace Market is one of Nottingham’s trendiest areas. Many excellent restaurants, bars and shops are nearby, or you can eat at the hotel’s award-winning pub. It’s a really nice area to stay in.

Nottingham has few excellent, value-for-money places to stay. I’ve written a guide to help you find convenient hotels in Nottingham.

Read our complete UK Christmas Markets guide.

Recommended Tours

Almost everything interesting in Nottingham is either underground in the cave network or above the shopfronts in the Lace Market, and neither advertises itself. The walking tour with a local guide covers both in ninety minutes. Take it before you hit Old Market Square.

Visitor Feedback

What Visitors Loved

• The views from the wheel: Riding the observation wheel after dark, with the whole square lit up below, is the moment most visitors single out.
• Plenty to do: The rink, the raised skating path, the toboggan slide and the bars mean groups and families can split up and still have a good time.
• Free to wander: Because entry costs nothing, it’s easy to drop in after work or between shops without committing to a full evening.
• The food: Yorkshire pudding wraps, churros and boozy hot chocolates come up again and again, and there are good vegan options too.

Common Complaints

• Weekend crowds: Saturday afternoons and evenings in December get very busy, and moving between the stalls can be slow.
• Costs add up: Entry is free, but skating, the wheel and a few rounds of drinks make for an expensive evening, especially for families.
• Book ahead or queue: The rink and the bar tables fill up at peak times, and walk-up visitors can face a long wait.
• Parking: City centre car parks fill quickly on weekends, which is why locals tend to take the tram in.

The Bottom Line

Nottingham’s market is less about traditional crafts and more about a big night out, and it does that well. Come on a weekday evening, book the rink or a bar table in advance, and take the tram rather than the car.

Location

What to Expect

About the Market

Nottingham’s Winter Wonderland fills Old Market Square, known locally as Slab Square, with more than 60 wooden cabins in front of the domed Council House. The cabins look German, but the stalls come from all over: artisan cheese, mead, homemade chutneys, jewellery and plants sit alongside the mulled wine.

The market is only half of it. The ice rink, the Sky Skate path, the wheel and a row of alpine-style bars take up the rest of the square, so it suits a family afternoon as well as drinks with friends. If you’re meeting someone, do what locals do and arrange it by the left lion, the stone lion on the left of the Council House steps.

Ice Bar Nottingham

Ice Bar Nottingham is kept well below freezing, with carved ice sculptures, ice furniture and drinks served in ice glasses. The theme changes most years. A coat and gloves are included in the ticket, but wear warm layers underneath, because a session feels longer than it sounds.

Food Specialties

• Yorkshire Pudding Wraps: Roast meat, stuffing and gravy rolled up in a giant Yorkshire pudding. It’s the most British thing on the menu and a Nottingham market favourite.
• Hog Roast: Tender, slow-roasted pork served in a soft bun with apple sauce or stuffing.
• Bratwurst: German sausages in a bun with mustard or sauerkraut, for the German-market feel.
• Raclette: Melted Swiss cheese scraped onto potatoes, served with pickles and charcuterie.
• Poffertjes: Small Dutch pancakes with powdered sugar and a pat of butter. These are always amazing!
• Churros: Fried dough sticks with chocolate for dipping, one of the most popular sweet stalls on the square.
• Mulled Cider: The British alternative to mulled wine, served hot and spiced alongside the mulled wine.
• Spiced Hot Chocolate: Rich hot chocolate with cinnamon and nutmeg. In Nottingham, you can also order it with a shot of your favourite liqueur.

Gifts and Souvenirs

• Nottingham Lace: The city was the centre of the lace trade for over a century, and you may find lace collars, table runners and decorations that carry on the tradition.
• Nottinghamshire Stilton: Stilton can only be made in three counties and Nottinghamshire is one of them, with Colston Bassett and Cropwell Bishop dairies just outside the city. Ask the cheese stalls for a local one.
• Homemade Chutneys: Jars of chutney and preserves are a market staple here, and they travel well alongside a wedge of cheese.
• Mead: Honey wine from small producers, often with spiced or fruit versions to taste before you buy.
• Local Ales: Nottingham is a serious beer city, home to breweries like Castle Rock, so bottled local ales make an easy gift.
• Jewellery and Scents: Independent makers selling handmade jewellery, candles and fragrances.
• Plants and Home Accessories: Potted plants, wreaths and homewares that last longer than the season.

Things to Do in Winter

• Nottingham Castle: Learn the history of the castle on its sandstone rock and the Robin Hood stories tied to it.
• Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem: On cold or rainy days, warm up in this pub cut into the castle rock, which claims to be the oldest inn in England.
• The Lace Market: One of the city’s oldest areas, now its creative quarter, full of restaurants, bars and independent shops. Sneinton Market is a short walk east for street food.
• City of Caves: Discover Nottingham’s subterranean history by exploring the network of caves beneath the city streets.
• Newstead Abbey: A short drive north of the city, the ancestral home of the poet Lord Byron has gardens and ruins worth wandering.
• Wollaton Hall: Walk the parkland around this Elizabethan mansion and look out for the resident deer.

Sustainability Tips

• Take the tram: Nottingham Express Transit stops at Old Market Square, right beside the market, and its park-and-ride sites on the edge of the city have free parking.
• Ride a biogas bus: Nottingham City Transport runs one of the world’s largest fleets of biogas double-deckers, alongside a growing number of electric single-deckers.
• Walk from the station: Nottingham station is about a 12-minute walk from the square, so arriving by train needs no onward transport.
• Hire an e-bike: Lime e-bikes can be picked up around the city centre through the app, handy for reaching Wollaton Hall or the Lace Market.
• Shop the independents: The It’s in Nottingham market usually fills the castle grounds for one weekend in late November with over 90 stalls of local makers and producers.
• Browse Sneinton Market: The old wholesale market buildings east of the Lace Market now house independent makers, studios and cafés open year-round.