Christmas Markets

The Christmas market season across Yorkshire and the North of England is one of the most magical times to take a motorhome on the road. From late November through to late December, cities and towns across the region fill with festive stalls, twinkling lights, and the irresistible scent of mulled wine and roasting chestnuts. A motorhome from Heath's Motorhome Hire in Pontefract gives you the freedom to visit several markets across the season, turning what might otherwise be separate day trips into a proper festive touring holiday.

York's St Nicholas Fair is one of the finest Christmas markets in England. Set against the backdrop of York Minster and spread through the medieval streets of the city centre, the market fills Parliament Street, St Sampson's Square, and the surrounding lanes with wooden chalets selling handmade gifts, artisan food, and seasonal decorations. The atmosphere is enchanting — carol singers perform beneath the city walls, the Shambles glows with fairy lights, and the smell of hot chocolate and gingerbread drifts through the cold air. York is approximately 30 minutes from our Pontefract depot, making it an easy and rewarding first stop on a Christmas market tour.

Leeds' Christkindelmarkt, inspired by the traditional German Christmas markets, fills Millennium Square with rows of wooden huts selling bratwurst, stollen, gluhwein, and handcrafted German gifts. The market runs from mid-November through to late December and has become a highlight of the Leeds social calendar. The wider city centre adds its own festive programme, with lights along Briggate, a fairground in the Victoria Quarter, and the annual Christmas lights switch-on drawing huge crowds. Leeds is roughly 25 minutes from Pontefract.

Manchester's Christmas Markets are among the largest in the country, spreading across multiple city centre locations including Albert Square, Exchange Square, Cathedral Gardens, and Piccadilly Gardens. Each area has its own character — the Albert Square market, overlooked by the neo-Gothic Town Hall, is the most traditional, while the newer areas around Exchange Square and the Corn Exchange have a more contemporary feel. Manchester is approximately one hour and fifteen minutes from Pontefract via the M62, and the scale of the markets justifies the journey.

Closer to home, Harrogate, Wakefield, and Pontefract itself all host seasonal markets and festive events through December. Harrogate's Christmas Fayre fills the streets around the Montpellier Quarter with artisan stalls and live entertainment, and the town's natural elegance provides a fittingly stylish backdrop. Wakefield's Christmas market in the city centre offers local produce and handmade gifts, and the cathedral hosts a programme of seasonal concerts and services. Even our own market town of Pontefract gets into the spirit, with festive events around the historic Buttercross and market square.

A motorhome is particularly well-suited to Christmas market touring for practical reasons. You have a warm, dry base to return to after hours of walking through cold streets. You have a kitchen for hot drinks and meals when you want a break from market food prices. You have storage space for all your purchases — and at Christmas markets, the temptation to buy is considerable. And you have the freedom to visit multiple markets across several days without booking separate accommodation for each stop.

For campsite options during the winter season, check availability carefully as some sites close from November. Year-round sites in the region include Maustin Caravan Park near York, Rudding Holiday Park near Harrogate, and several Caravan and Motorhome Club sites across Yorkshire. Many offer hardstanding pitches with electrical hook-ups, which are essential during the colder months. A heated motorhome with blown-air heating makes winter touring genuinely comfortable — it is a very different experience from summer camping, but in many ways a more atmospheric one.

The Christmas market season is a wonderful excuse to take a motorhome out during the quieter months. The roads are emptier, the campsites are less crowded, and the festive atmosphere adds a warmth to every stop. Collect your motorhome from our Pontefract depot and spend a few days touring the best markets in the north — it is a holiday tradition worth starting.