From Victorian Christmas markets to London’s biggest festive event, SoGlos handpicks our favourite festive markets to travel to by train from Gloucestershire.

Connecting Gloucestershire to destinations like London, Bristol and Cornwall, GWR is the south west’s leading train operator. As well as free WiFi on its trains to keep kids entertained, GWR offers a fixed price family ticket for up to two adults and four children, across its network – including travel to and from London Paddington – ideal for a festive family day out a little further afield.

There’s nothing that gets us feeling more festive than a trip to a Christmas market, with hot mulled wine to sip and gorgeous gifts to browse on chilly winter days.

While Gloucestershire has its fair share of Christmas markets, for those looking for a day out a little further afield, SoGlos has rounded up nine fantastic festive markets to visit by train – with all of them easily accessible on the GWR network from Gloucestershire train stations, including Cheltenham, Gloucester, Tewkesbury, Stroud, Cam and Dursley, Stonehouse, Moreton-in-Marsh and Kemble.

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Transforming London’s Hyde Park with a giant Christmas market, fairground rides, ice-skating rink and loads more, Winter Wonderland is the ultimate Christmas day out in the capital.

Glide around the ice rink, see a show at Zippo’s Christmas circus, take in the city skyline from the giant wheel, and browse for gifts and treats at the festive market stalls, before warming up with a mulled wine in Thor’s Tipi or indulging in a Bavarian beer!

Hyde Park is an 11-minute walk from London Paddington station.

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Bristol’s Christmas market returns to Broadmead from Friday 5 November until Thursday 23 December 2021.

Browse for Christmas gifts and seasonal crafts at over 40 unique stalls; tuck into churros, crêpes and traditional German bratwurst; grab a drink from the heated barn bar; and enjoy live music from local musicians. There are cosy igloo pods to hire this year too – and Father Christmas may even make an appearance with his reindeer!

Broadmead is around 17-minutes’ walk from Bristol Temple Meads station.

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The beautiful Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire plays host to a traditional Christmas market from Friday 19 November to Sunday 19 December 2021, with wooden chalets offering festive food and drinks, along with a range of artisan and designer gifts.

There’s also a spectacular illuminated light trail, which sees Blenheim Palace’s beautiful grounds lit up with over a million lights and illuminated installations set to music, while inside, the palace state rooms are transformed into The Nutcracker’s fairytale workshop.

Blenheim Palace is around 17-minutes’ bus ride on the 233 towards Woodstock or 45-minutes’ walk from Hanborough train station.

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Bath’s artisan market returns this Christmas, running every day from Saturday 20 November to Sunday 19 December 2021 in Queen Square. Local artisan makers and crafters will be selling their wares alongside street food traders and live entertainment – there’ll even be a Victorian Christmas carousel from Thursday 2 until Friday 31 December 2021.

Plus, there’s an ice rink at Royal Victoria Park from Friday 12 November 2021; from Thursday 25 November 2021, some of Bath’s famous streets and buildings will be illuminated for the Christmas light trail; and Luke Jerram’s Museum of the Moon lights up Bath Abbey from Saturday 20 November until Christmas Eve.

Queen Square is an 11-minute walk from Bath Spa station.

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With stalls lining St John Street, Working Street, Trinity Street and the Hayes, Cardiff Christmas market opens on Thursday 11 November and runs until Thursday 23 December 2021.

Artisan makers will be offering everything from vintage teacup candles, handmade soaps and bath bombs, Welsh honey to bespoke pet portraits and everything in between – ideal for finding one-of-a-kind Christmas gifts. Cardiff’s beautiful Edwardian and Victorian shopping arcades are just a short walk away too.

Cardiff Christmas market is a 5-minute walk from Cardiff Central station.

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If you’re missing the Victorian Christmas market in Gloucester this year, hop on the train and head to Worcester Victorian Fayre from Thursday 2 to Sunday 5 December 2021.

As well as over 200 stalls selling local food and drink, Christmas treats and handmade goods, Victorian characters will bring Worcester’s historic streets to life – with stilt walkers and buskers providing live entertainment too!

Worcester Victorian Fayre takes place on New Street, Friar Street, Pump Street, High Street, the Cornmarket and Cathedral Square, around 5-minutes’ walk from Worcester Foregate Street.

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The city of dreaming spires is filled with the sound of carol-singing choirs and the smell of mulled wine from Thursday 9 to Sunday 19 December 2021 as Oxford Christmas market takes over Broad Street.

With a huge Christmas tree, a traditional carousel and wooden chalets full of handmade crafts, sweet treats and Christmas gifts to browse, it makes for a fabulous festive day out in the historic city.

Broad Street is around 12-minutes’ walk from Oxford station.

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On Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 December 2021, over 50 Christmas market stalls will be dotted in amongst the locomotives and displays at STEAM in Swindon.

With an array of handcrafted items on sale, including plenty of Christmas treats, Santa will also be visiting STEAM for storytime sessions taking place on both days – including a festive story and a wrapped gift for each child for a small additional cost.

STEAM is around 16-minutes’ walk from Swindon station.

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Take a stroll back in time through the historic market town as Newbury Victorian Christmas Fayre takes place from Friday 3 to Sunday 5 December 2021.

With traders dressed in traditional Victorian attire, wandering theatre performers, a Victorian carousel and an appearance from Father Christmas himself, it promises to be a fabulously festive day out.

Newbury town centre is around 8-minutes’ walk from Newbury station.

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