York Christmas Market named fifth best in world and second in UK

Research conducted by travel agency Planet Cruise has revealed that York's St Nicholas Fair, in Parliament Street. is the fifth best Christmas market in the world, and the second best in the UK for 2022.

The market opens tomorrow (November 17) and will mark its 30th anniversary.

Planet Cruise concluded which were the best Christmas markets in the world based on seven factors – the number of stalls, dates open, TripAdvisor reviews and the star ratings, social media posts, positive social sentiment, and Google searches.

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York earned the fifth place for its 4.5 star rating on TripAdvisor, having 100 stalls, being open 37 days, and seeing 225,5000 Google search demands between November and December.

The best Christmas market in the UK was Hyde Park's Winter Wonderland in London, and Bryant Park Winter village in New York was crowned the best Christmas market in the world for 2022.

However the UK and Germany are the most festive countries with 14 Christmas markets each ranking in the top 50.

Stall holders have already started to set up for tomorrow’s launch.

Matt Burnham co-owns Artifactually with his partner, Susie Calder, which will appear at the Christmas market.

Artifactually will be at York's St Nicholas Fair (Image: Dylan Connell)

While setting up the stall, Matt told The Press: “York is one of the best. People are really nice and it feels like Christmas.”

Stall holders at Khaplo, Family Tree Owls and Pama Crafts were also busy setting up and excited for the opening.

New additions to the market will include food by Michelin-starred chef, Andrew Pern, of the Starr in the City (York) restaurant, and the bar will include gluhwein and spiced cider.  

Another new addition is the Chocolate Circus, which is brought by the York-based family behind the pop up bar, Herbie’s Treehouse. It will be offering hot chocolates with giant snowman marshmallows and York printed wafers.

Herbie’s Treehouse will also return with German mulled wine, Cornish mulled cider and Belgian hot chocolates, with a new Herbie’s Secret Orchard menu created with York Gin.

Plus, York Cocoa Works will share its chocolate making process from the cocoa bean to the chocolate bar.

The new Treetop Stage will see entertainment from local choirs, York based artists and international singers.

New to this year is also a two-storey restaurant, The Winter Hutte, complete with a terrace overlooking the fair.

New to this year is a two-storey restaurant, The Winter Hutte, complete with a terrace overlooking the fair (Image: Dylan Connell)

As reported by The Press, York residents will be able to enjoy discounts of up to 30 per cent on Christmas Market stalls this year, as revealed by Sarah Loftus, managing director of Make it York (MIY).