Christmas Markets!

My first holiday season in the UK is ahead!  I am planning to take full advantage of this, as Christmas is my favorite time of year and enjoying the spirit of the season in Europe is even more exciting.

Based in London, what are some day and weekend trips I can take to enjoy festive Christmas markets/towns within England/the UK/Europe?  Rail is probably the most preferable and easiest mode of transport.

Well the Christmas market at south bank in London and winter wonderland in Hyde Park are my favorites I've been to. So quite local for you!

I would suggest the Christmas market in Brussels. I have been about 4 times already!!
I live in the westcountry and usually drive over. But eurostar would be an option. It runs until after christmas too!
Most of the people will speak english and the stalls are much better than those of the 'german' market in birmingham.
Have done the markets in brugge too and nothing has yet beaten the brussels market for atmosphere and selection
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I went to Paris one New Year and there was a large Christmas market still in full swing. Can't compare it to others as that is the only one I've experienced, but I found it expensive for gifts (might just be cheapo me!). The food and drink were excellent though, and we decided to lunch while walking in the freezing cold rather than going to a restaurant.

When I lived there as a student - my husband & I took the ferry to Lille & went to the Christmas market there - I have fond memories of it!

Yeah, you really can't beat the Eurostar to Brussels.  Its like an hour and a half and center to center for each city and soooooo easy and very comfortable.  Brussels itself is quite nice - definitely recommend.  I haven't been to Paris yet other than to fly in and out and, oddly enough, drove AROUND it, but I could see it being a bit more to difficult to manoeuver in than Brussels.

I suppose you could just do a day trip for the market then - when do they start?

Paris is not difficult to travel to using Eurostar, and is very easy to get around on foot or using the Metro. I haven't been to Brussels tho', so can't compare the two cities.

Not sure how far you want to travel, but a friend of mine (USAF retired) and her hubby (USAF) are in Germany. He's stationed there. She is enthralled by the German Christmas markets, and posts so many amazing pictures of them I am jealous and wanting to book a flight to spend the Christmas season with her. She says there is nothing like Christmas in Germany for the old fashioned Christmas wonderland feel. This from someone who grew up 3 miles from Santa Claus, IN, where Christmas is an all out celebration the whole month of December.

She loves the Gluhwein and the amazing cups it is served in. She bought an artificial tree, and has nothing but the cups on it, other than lights, and it looks so cool. She goes to as many markets as she can each season, usually 6 - 9, and gets one cup at each, so the tree has been and will continue to be a work in progress during the time her hubby is stationed there.

Thanks for all the wonderful replies!

I have already looked at the website for the winter wonderland in Hyde Park and am SO excited about it!  It reminds me a lot of New York City at Christmastime.

I am familiar with EuroStar, as my mother and I did a day trip from London to Paris before.  Either Paris or Brussels would be great!  I usually don't buy anything, I just like to look.  Even the Christmas market in Philadelphia is expensive!

I am pretty enticed by the Germany markets, as well - that may be a good weekend trip    The cups on the tree sound very cool!  Maybe I will acquire one for my tree this year!

Are the markets on the continent as insanely crowded as the one in Hyde Park?  I have found that one a bit difficult to enjoy...  I seem to get stuck in a river of people and can't really see anything...   

Is it just me or do Christmas threads pop up earlier and earlier every year?

Is it just me or do Christmas threads pop up earlier and earlier every year?

It is always earlier then the year before! 

We went to the Christmas market at Stuttgart last December, it was absolutely wonderful!
We stayed for 3 nights in Stuttgart and also took the train to the medievel Christmas market in Esslingen, which is just outside of Stuttgart.
There were big crowds at Stuttgart, but it wasn't awful, it was easy enough to get from stall to stall and most importantly, the "Glühwein" (mulled wine) stalls! 

hehe Sorry about it being so early - particularly crazy time of year at work so I am coping by listening to Christmas music (so relaxing!) and fantasizing about being in London already!!  That prompted me to start thinking about markets.

Though I was out shopping last weekend and I saw a Christmas display being put up....

Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park can be fun, but it's a mob scene especially on the weekends. I highly recommend going in the evening early in the week (or a week day). You'll end up in tears if you attempt a Saturday or Sunday visit.

If time is short and you can't manage a trip to Europe, Birmingham has a great German Christmas market every year in the city centre. It was one of the first German style Christmas market in the UK before the concept really took off.

And as Stephanie says, the Christmas market in Stuttgart is tops. I went last year when visiting family and it the atmosphere is very festive (as it is in Esslingen, worth the trip).

Is it just me or do Christmas threads pop up earlier and earlier every year?

Uggh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We started planning the work Christmas party too. And of course, I have already started requesting and booking the dates for the Christmas bucket collections for the Brass Band (dates fill up quick!)  Plus I expect to see mince pies in the shops any day now....  

It may feel like winter out there, but it's August and I fully intend to keep it summer for as long as possible!!