Nothing says Christmas like a good old festive winter market and no one does it better in the UK than Edinburgh.
Taking over Princes Street Gardens, the annual event is a melting pot of sights, sounds and of course the delicious smells.
I visited, along with my blogging besty Vicky to see what the fair city had to offer.
Ok so we might have got our festive day off to an early start on the train with a few drinks but the warming appeal of the mulled Rekorderlig cider was calling to us so we made it stop number 1. With a cute seating area with a fire pit and several food and drink stalls, we opted for chilled cider (and a pair of warm gloves!) to get started. For all it was bloody freezing, the sun was shining and it was a crisp fresh day. We were well wrapped up too!
The Dome in Edinburgh gets festive too!
With rides for kids both young AND old, there’s something for everyone at the Edinburgh Christmas Market. While we side stepped the thrill rides and the big wheel, we watched the glitzy brightly lit kids rides for a while and definitely contemplated a spin on the carousel! There’s a mini train and a cute christmas tree maze that looks magical when it is lit up.
With an abundance of cutesy stalls in their own wooden huts, you could be mistaken for being in a North Pole grotto. I did notice this year there was a bigger increase on food vendors over the gift based sellers, or so it felt. Hand made decorations were in their masses so be sure to check them all out and pick up some personalised gifts!
If the food is the big draw for you, then you’ll be in heaven. From mulled wine to delicious hot Bratwurst, there’s something for every craving. While Vicky indulged in some oh so sickly Nutella pancakes, I made a beeline for the Raclette stall. Oh the cheesy goodness. It was heaven. I did need a little bit of help to finish it off though….. and someone to make sure my face wasn’t covered in grease! Now THAT is friendship right there!
We made our way to the cosy winter bar hut for a mid-way shopping break with a hot chocolate. Bagging 2 cosy furry chairs made the visit all the better to rest our weary feet! As festive as it is during the day, we were saving the magic for dusk when the lights shine, the music seems to get louder and the festive spirit seems to double.
You simply cannot beat the market at dusk when everything is lit up and pretty with the beautiful Monuments of Edinburgh City playing from just in front of the entrance to the train station on Waverley Bridge.
Whilst not the most practical for prams and wheelchair users due to the width of some of the alleyways and crowds, there were step free routes to make the area more accessible. The entry and exit points were major choke points so if you don’t feel comfortable with crowds or need a bit more space, then definitely aim to be there for ‘opening’.
Thank you to Vicky for supplying some of the lush photos!