The landscapes of the Lake District and Cumbria are renowned for their otherworldly beauty, carved with the contours of ancient peaks and mirrored in glacial lakes. Made all the more dreamlike in wintertime, the region transforms into a wonderland with snow-dusted fells and lakeside villages adorned in fairylights. For the quintessential Yuletide escape, there are few places more magical.
To make your luxury staycation the most memorable this year, uncover our guide to Christmas markets in the Lake District and Cumbria ready to peruse stalls, sample seasonal favourites, and find something special to place under the tree…
Christmas in Kendal
19th - 22nd November & 5th December 2026
Kendal Mountain Festival offers a Christmas experience with a twist for festive merrymakers. One of the biggest events on the Cumbrian calendar, it draws hikers, climbers and mountain lovers from near and far across a whole weekend each year. With hundreds of events encompassing live sessions, speakers, films, activities, trail runs, visual arts, parties and more, there’s something for all outdoor enthusiasts to uncover. Head over on the night of Thursday 19th for the festival’s Opening Ceremony, followed by the Kendal Street Parade around the Christmas light-strung town and Market Square. Later in the month, Kendal Christmas Markets return on 5th December for family-friendly festivities, with market stalls, flavoursome food, and live entertainment promising something for all generations.
Christmas in Keswick
20th November & 6th December 2026
Whisk away to the Lakeland town of Keswick to pursue Christmas reveries this December. A scenic destination in the northern realms of the Lake District National Park, Keswick offers a wealth of frivolities for those seeking to immerse in the season of cheer. Commencing on Friday 20th November with the town’s much anticipated lights switch on, merriment continues on Sunday 6th December with the traditional Keswick Victorian Fayre in Market Square. Complementing seasonal forays are live performances of A Christmas Carol from Friday 13th November 2026 to Sunday 3rd January 2027. Performed at the Theatre by the Lake in Keswick, this Christmas classic is sure to enthral.
Ambleside Christmas Lights
21st November 2026
One of the best places to visit in the Lake District, the beautiful town of Ambleside resides at the northerly-most tip of Windermere. Home to some of the best pubs and Michelin recommended restaurants in the Lake District and Cumbria, it is adored for its breathtaking location and plethora of local treasures. Especially captivating at Christmas, the streets of Ambleside come alive each November with the town’s annual lights switch on. Held on Saturday 21st November this year, this family-friendly event promises lights, lantern parades, fireworks, market stalls, carollers, hot food and mulled wine, as well as Father Christmas Cruises.
Dickensian Christmas Festival, Ulverston
28th - 29th November 2026
The Cumbrian market town of Ulverston plays host to a famous Dickensian Christmas Festival each year. Running since 1999, this beloved festival sees the whole town transform into a romantic Victorian-era time-trap, complete with costume-clad street performers and parades. A Dickensian reverie for revellers of all ages, this year marks the festival’s 27th anniversary and promises an abundance of live entertainment and a town full of market stalls. With performance stages and roving artists alike, a collection of brass bands, singers, magicians, circus acts and more are all part of the festive offering. Embrace the period attire or simply layer up in your cosiest apparel as you venture over to the festival.
Coniston Festive Fayre
14th November 2026
Held on Saturday 14th November, Coniston Festive Fayre proposes lakeside strolls and unique shopping opportunities this year. Held on Yewdale Road just a whisper from the shores of Coniston Water, it features a collection of producers and artisans selling Christmas wares. Combine your visit with an alfresco wander in the crisp winter air, before perusing the various Christmas collections. From homeware and country accessories to delicious, festive-inspired treats, a range of gift ideas await to pique your interest. Children can also enjoy a trip to Santa's Grotto.
Hawkshead Christmas Fair
5th - 6th December 2026
The picturesque village of Hawkshead can be found in the heart of the Lake District National Park. Loved for its soul-stirring walks and welcoming pubs, it also lends itself perfectly to winter retreats with its frost-tinted landscapes and annual Christmas markets. One of the best Christmas markets in the Lake District and Cumbria, Hawkshead Christmas Fair beckons with local streets and venues filled with festive offerings, from food tents stacked with indulgent treats to gardens garlanded with lights. Adorn your warmest winter layers and meander along Hawkshead’s quaint streets and stalls to bask in the ambience and find a present or several to take home with you.
Taste Cumbria Christmas Market, Cockermouth
5th - 6th December 2026
Christmas is the season of goodwill and there’s no better love language than food. For the culinary connoisseurs and pursuers of epicurean delights, there’s no finer festival this season than Taste Cumbria Christmas Market. Held in the market town of Cockermouth, considered the gateway to the Western Lakes and Solway Coast, this cherished festival celebrates the very best of foodie festivity. On the line-up, visitors can expect a vibrant marketplace, hot food court, outdoor picnic area, cookery demonstrations and an array of food counters. Adding to the entertainment, live music, fairground rides, and children’s activities can also be enjoyed across the weekend.
Sedbergh Late-Night Christmas Shopping
TBC
The perfect way to celebrate Christmas in Cumbria, Sedbergh Late-Night Shopping weaves together high street favourites and local artisans for one unmissable evening. Set amongst the rolling Howgill Fells gilded with glistening snowy coats in winter, Sedbergh makes for a dreamy destination for winter escapes. Make way to uncover a Christmas craft market, musical processions and town bands, carol singers, nativity plays and more. For artisan treats, an array of market stalls await under sparkling Christmas lights, while as dusk falls, high street stores open for late-night shopping. As one of England’s beloved book towns, Sedbergh is also a great place for literary lovers to pick up a Christmas page-turner.
Yew Tree Barn Christmas Markets
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Brimming with unique finds, Yew Tree Barn at Low Newton, Cartmel, resides within a 19th century Westmorland barn conversion and is a dream for antique seekers. The host of a family-friendly Christmas festival each year, it is also one of the best places to visit this Christmas to pick up one-of-a-kind gifts. Follow spellbinding Cumbrian roads to reach Yew Tree Barn during the first weekend in December and discover a curated collection of artisan makers and creatives selling bespoke wares. Serenading merrymakers is live music, while satiating appetites is food from Harry’s Café, Heft, Yonder and more. From Christmas trees and wreaths to furniture and ceramics, there’s plenty to capture your attention.
Bowness Glebe Markets
TBC
Glebe Markets in Bowness on Windermere take place throughout the year and are a favourite with visitors and locals alike for fresh, seasonal selections. Wrapped in Christmas festivity this December, the lakeside market tempts with dozens of stalls. The ideal place to find treasured gifts and thoughtful stocking fillers, it offers a huge assortment of local food and crafts. Take your time wandering through the rows of stalls and absorbing the atmosphere, stopping off to try delicious samples and cast your gaze over present possibilities. Buttery fudge, organic soaps, Cumbrian canvases, vintage curios and more await…
Feeling festive? Uncover our luxury cottages in the Lake District and Cumbria.
