Markets and Festive Days: Christmas Events in Somerset, UK (2025)
Discover the best Christmas events in Somerset, UK for 2025—six handpicked festive markets and days out with dates, times, addresses, official websites, ticket links, and parking tips.
Updated 03/12/2025
Somerset shines at Christmas. From medieval streets draped in lanterns to cathedral greens lined with artisan chalets, the county wraps visitors in twinkling lights, warm mulled aromas, choir song, and handcrafted gifts. We’ve hand-checked official sources for each listing so you get reliable details on dates, opening hours, addresses, parking, and where to buy tickets (when needed).
Expect a blend of traditions: the legendary Glastonbury Frost Fayre with its joyous switch-on, the nationally loved Bath Christmas Market celebrating its 25th year, and Wells Christmas Market filling the Market Place and Cathedral Green with more than a hundred stalls. Add the buzzing Taunton Independent Market late-night editions on Castle Green, the cosy, all-weather Cheese & Grain Christmas Gift Market in Frome, and the reimagined Dunster Winter Festival bringing history to life in candlelit charm. Whether you’re gift hunting, seeking a family day out, or planning a festive weekend, these events deliver atmosphere and local flavour in equal measure.
Read on for immersive snapshots of each celebration plus quick-scan bullets for the essentials: dates, times, addresses, official websites, ticket links, and parking. Bundle up, bring your wish list, and let Somerset’s seasonal spirit lead the way.
Glastonbury Frost Fayre
A community spectacular, the Glastonbury Frost Fayre turns the whole town centre into a festive promenade of stalls, live stages, and joyful street performance. Trading and late-night shopping start from 10am, the Mayor officially opens festivities at midday on the Melodrome Stage, and at 5pm the Christmas lights burst into colour for a jubilant switch-on before the celebration winds down around 6pm.
Families can meet Father Christmas at Abbey House (pre-book via Glastonbury Abbey), while buskers, choirs, and performers animate Benedict Street, Magdalene Street, Northload Street, Archers Way, and High Street. New for 2025, Park & Ride options ease arrivals, with overflow parking at Butler’s Carnival Park and donations supporting the service. Expect artisan gifts, local food, children’s crafts at the Town Hall, and extra indoor stalls at the Assembly Rooms, URC, and St John’s Church—ideal if the weather turns. It’s a free, friendly, thoroughly Somerset celebration that still feels proudly local despite its scale
Date: Saturday 29 November 2025
Time: 10:00–18:00 (lights at 17:00)
Address: Glastonbury Town Centre (High St & Market Place), Glastonbury BA6 9DS
Website: Official website here
Tickets: Free – no tickets required
Parking: Park & Ride from Herbies Field & overflow at Butler’s Carnival Park; local donation parking near Tor Leisure.
Arrive early to browse before the afternoon crowds, then stay for the 5pm lights—pure magic against the backdrop of the Market Square tree. Free entry; donations appreciated for Park & Ride.
Bath Christmas Market
One of Britain’s best-loved festive experiences, Bath Christmas Market celebrates 25 years in 2025, filling UNESCO-listed streets with 170+ chalets, artisan gifts, seasonal food, and choir music near Bath Abbey. Entry is free and hours run Mon–Wed 10:00–19:00, Thu–Sat 10:00–20:00, Sun 10:00–18:00. New this year are “quieter shopping hours” on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings for a calmer browse.
The market stretches through Abbeygate Street, Bath Street, and up Milsom Street—perfect for wandering, sipping mulled wine, and ticking off your gift list from local makers. Bath’s official pages include helpful travel notes: the market is a 5-minute walk from Bath Spa station, with Park & Ride stops on the perimeter; Bath also operates a Clean Air Zone affecting higher-emission vehicles (not private cars).
Dates: Thu 27 November – Sun 14 December 2025
Time: Mon–Wed 10:00–19:00; Thu–Sat 10:00–20:00; Sun 10:00–18:00
Address: Various locations across Bath City Centre, BA1 1LZ
Website: Official website here
Ticket Link: Free – no tickets required
Parking: City car parks & Park & Ride available; Clean Air Zone info on official page.
Plan a midweek visit for elbow room and add a late-afternoon return to enjoy the glow of the Abbey at dusk. Families love the lights and carols; shoppers love the quality and variety. Whatever your goal, Bath’s warm, continental ambiance delivers a seasonal day out that feels special without feeling rushed.
Christmas at Wells – Wells Christmas Market
England’s smallest city delivers big festive charm as Wells Christmas Market returns to the historic Market Place and Cathedral Green. From 9 am to 3 pm on Saturday 6 December, more than 100 stalls showcase artisan gifts, local produce, crafts, and winter warmers. The twin setting is part of the magic: browse beneath the Gothic towers of Wells Cathedral, then circle into the Market Place by the Town Hall for live music and seasonal treats.
It’s a compact, walkable footprint ideal for families and older visitors alike, with plenty of options for hot drinks and lunch nearby. Do note that Wells’ car parks can fill quickly on busy days; arrive early or consider alternative bays a short walk from the centre.
Date: Saturday 6 December 2025
Time: 09:00–15:00
Address: Market Place & Cathedral Green, Wells BA5 2RB/BA5 2UE
Website: Official website here
Ticket Link: Free – no tickets required
Parking: Public car parks in Wells
As a one-day market, it packs real atmosphere—arrive for opening if you like space to browse, or time your visit for late morning when choirs and bands tend to draw a crowd.
Shepton Mallet Sunday Market – Christmas Special
On the final Sunday of November, Shepton Mallet Sunday Market transforms the Market Place into a festive showcase of designer-makers, vintage finds, street food, and live music. The Christmas Special edition runs 11am–5pm, concluding with a cheerful light switch-on at 4:15pm. Expect a hand-picked mix of local traders selling conscious gifts and seasonal treats, plus family extras like Santa meet-and-greets and kids’ workshops.
It’s deliberately curated to feel like a friendly town party—stages with DJs, warm food aromas drifting across the Market Cross, and plenty of spots to pause with hot chocolate or a spiced cider. If you’re driving, organisers point visitors to nearby car parks at Great Ostry, Commercial Road, and Townsend Shopping Park—all within easy walking distance.
Date: Sunday 30 November 2025
Time: 11:00–17:00 (lights 16:15)
Address: Market Place, Shepton Mallet BA4 5AZ
Website: Official website here
Tickets: Free – no tickets required
Parking: Great Ostry, Commercial Road, and Townsend Shopping Park car parks nearby.
The market runs in most weather, with heritage buildings framing the stalls for a photogenic setting even on wintry days. Arrive at lunchtime for browsing, then linger as the lights glow and the switch-on nears.
Taunton Independent Market – Late Night Festive Edition
Castle Green becomes a lantern-lit arcade when Taunton Independent Market runs its late-night special on 4 December from 17:00 to 21:00. With 50–60 stalls of South West food, drink, crafts, and gifts, plus live music, this edition is designed for after-work browsing and seasonal snacking.
Expect artisan chocolate, small-batch spirits, indie fashion, homewares, and delicious hot bites—from loaded fries to wood-fired pizza—served alongside mulled drinks. The market team typically adds more late-night dates through December, but this early evening opener is ideal if you’re planning presents and want a relaxed atmosphere without weekend crowds. Castle Green is central and flat, easy to access from town car parks; it’s also a short stroll from the station for rail travellers. Entry is free.
Date: Thursday 4 December 2025
Time: 17:00–21:00
Address: Castle Green, Taunton TA1 4AD/TA1 4AF
Website: Official website here
Tickets: Free – no tickets required
Parking: Town centre car parks within a short walk of Castle Green (signed locally).
For those who like to plan, the organiser’s official “Upcoming Markets 2025” board, lists each December date with start/finish times, and you can sign up for reminders.
Dunster Winter Festival
Once famed as “Dunster by Candlelight,” the event now shines as the Dunster Winter Festival, spreading activity across three days. Medieval Dunster dresses its streets with warm light and welcomes visitors to music stages, heritage displays, children’s activities (including Santa’s grotto), and mediaeval-themed entertainment such as reenactment, concerts, and even a banquet.
Traders and local venues join in with special offerings, so you can browse crafts, taste festive food, and enjoy performances in one delightful loop around the Castle, High Street, and Yarn Market. While exact session times vary by programme, the official site confirms the Friday evening start and daytime focus over the weekend.
Dates: Fri 5 (evening), Sat 6 & Sun 7 December 2025 (daytime)
Time: Programme varies (see official schedule)
Address: Dunster Village, Minehead area, TA24 6SF
Website: Official website here
Tickets: Available via official website here
Parking: Limited during the festival
Parking is limited in the village during festivals; many visitors use park-and-walk or coach drop-offs arranged by tour operators—check the festival page for the latest access guidance before setting out. It’s a quintessential Somerset winter weekend: atmospheric, photogenic, and steeped in history.
From glittering abbey backdrops to lantern-lit medieval lanes, these six Christmas events in Somerset, UK serve up festive shopping and memory-making in equal measure. Plan Bath for a classic market city break, Glastonbury for big-hearted community vibes, Wells for cathedral-side browsing, Shepton for curated indie finds and a joyous switch-on, Taunton for relaxed late-night gift hunting, and Dunster for storytelling charm steeped in history.
Wherever you go, check official pages before travel for last-minute updates, bring a reusable cup for hot drinks, and consider Park & Ride or early arrival for the smoothest experience. Most of all, take your time—pause for choirs, sample something warm and local, and let Somerset’s Christmas spirit do the rest. Wishing you a season of safe travels, sparkling lights, and the perfect present or two.
