Manchester’s annual Christmas markets opened in locations across the city centre on Friday 7 November.
Marking 27 years since their first appearance in the city in 1998, this year will see more seasonal stalls than ever before, for seven weeks during the festive run-up.
Stalls can be found at:
- Albert Square
- Cathedral Gardens
- Corn Exchange
- Exchange Square
- Exchange Street
- King Street
- Market Street
- New Cathedral Street
- Piccadilly Gardens
- St Ann’s Square
274 stalls across these ten sites will be open until Monday 22 December, while those at Albert Square and Cathedral Gardens, the latter being home of the ice skating rink, will remain until Sunday 4 January.
One new addition for 2025 is a 50-metre-tall Ferris wheel in Albert Square, the largest mobile wheel in the UK, offering views of the whole city.
The wheel will be open daily from 10am to 8:45pm, excluding Christmas Day. Tickets cost £8 for adults during off-peak hours and £9.50 at peak times.
The Ferris wheel forms part of Albert Square’s new ‘A Taste of Christmas’ activities, which also includes a festive ‘mini market’ selling food, drinks and crafts.
Albert Square, the first public square to host the markets since 2019, is also home to a Christmas themed light-up walk-through, a carousel, a helter-skelter ride and game stalls.
Craft stalls will be open every day from 10am to 8pm, while food and drink outlets will operate from 11am to 9pm.
The only exceptions are the stalls on Market Street, which will close at 6pm on Sundays. Additionally, all stalls will close at 6pm on the final day of the markets, Monday 22 December.
