5 Things to Do at Newcastle’s Christmas Markets
Paying a trip to Newcastle’s Christmas Markets this year? Here’s five must-do activities to make the most of the day!
Since the grand opening of Newcastle’s Christmas Markets in November, we’ve loved seeing the Toon graduate from Elf School, warm up inside The North Pole igloos, and of course, indulge in a Crumble Pot or two. Mince pie crumble, anyone?
But with so much to explore at Newcastle’s Christmas Markets this year, it can be hard to know where to start! So if you haven’t managed to visit just yet, then here’s our top five things-to-do.
Pay a visit to the Christmas Village
New for 2024, Old Eldon Square has been transformed into a magical Christmas Village full of fun for all the family. Start your day here with a trip to the Rockin’ Reindeer stage to get into the festive spirit, with interactive games, fun singalongs and meet-and-greets with some familiar Christmas characters.
Afterwards, head to class at Elf School, where little ones can create their very own elf profile and make magical reindeer dust before graduating with an official Elf Certificate and getting their photo taken with the elves. Say candy cane!
Just a stones throw from Elf School, you’ll then find the beautiful traditional Carousel. Why not grab a seat and take in the festivities around you? There’s even fast track tickets available to book if you don’t feel like queuing.
And last, but by no means least, round off your trip to the Christmas Village with a visit to Santa Stories. Father Christmas himself has taken up residency in this festive tipi, where families are invited to join for festive storytelling with some delicious free hot chocolate – and a Nice List Certificate for the little ones.
Please note that pre-booking is essential for activities at the Christmas Village, so make sure you’ve got your tickets before heading out!
Christmas shopping at the markets
Feeling festive yet? We certainly hope so, because it’s time to get some of that Christmas shopping done! Whoever you’re buying for, Newcastle has a veritable feast of local traders and independent shops to help you fill those stockings. And as if that wasn’t enough, some stalls will change weekly in the lead-up to Christmas, so no two visits to the Market will ever be the same!
From the Christmas Village at Old Eldon Square, head to Grey’s Monument. Here, you’ll find the likes of O’Donnell Moonshine (16th November-22nd December), Firebrick Brewery (16th November-22nd December) and Kocktail (30th November-13th December) stocking plenty festive tipples to make the perfect Christmas presents.
Then take a loop around Grainger Street – the one with that ginormous Grill Tower at the end of it, yes – where there’s quite literally something for everybody. Buying for a fashionista? Head to Urban Bear (14th December-22nd December), Acorn Outfitters (16th November-22nd December) or The Medibody (16th November-22nd December) for gifts they’ll treasure beyond December.
Alternatively, if they fancy themselves an interior-designer at heart, there’s Stix Studio (16th November-22nd November), Elemental Photography (16th November-22nd December) and Raw Print Shop (7th December-22nd December) to help decorate their space.
And of course, there’s Grey Street to explore too. It’s heaven for foodies (more on that later!) but the lovely folk here have your shopping list sorted too, with delicious presents available from the likes of Matthews Cheese (16th November-22nd December) and The Brownie Bar (16th November-22nd December). Don’t worry, we won’t tell if you accidentally buy some for yourself too…
Warm up inside The North Pole
Phew! After all that Christmas shopping, you probably need a breather, right? Not to worry, The North Pole is just a stones throw away! Based on the plinth of Grey’s Monument, these cosy igloos overlook the heart of the city centre – making them perfect for people watching, and enjoying a hot chocolate or two. They’re even heated so you can wave goodbye to that scratchy scarf for a minute, and there’ll be plenty of food and drink available to order from the stalls around you. Don’t be left out in the cold, get your igloo booked before you visit!
Hear some live music at Moosenwirt
In case you’ve been living at the actual North Pole, you’ve probably heard the news that Newcastle’s legendary Alpine bar Moosenwirt is back on Grey Street this year. As well as all the warm cosy seating, fire pit areas, and delicious mulled wine that we know and love it for, there’ll also be some incredible live music to enjoy too! So why not head here as the night starts drawing in to hear from some fantastic local talent, and maybe even partake in a little sing-a-long? Live moosic has never sounded better!
Fuel up at the food stalls
After a jam-packed time at Newcastle’s Christmas Markets, what better way to end your trip with some delicious food? No matter what you’re in the mood for, there’s plenty of good grub to pick from.
Handily nearby Moosenwirt, you’ll find the likes of Fire & Dough (16th November-22nd December), local legends Parm-O-Rama (16th November-22nd December) and Festive Yorkshire Pudding Wraps (16th November-22nd December) to fuel up on. Or, if you’re in the mood for something a little different, why not try Crumble Pots' (16th November-22nd December) Christmas dinner crumble? It’s definitely peaked our interest!
But if none of those tickle your tastebuds, then fret not! Venture back to Grainger Street where of course you’ll find the iconic Grill Tower (16th November-22nd December) – but don’t forget that Geordie Banger Co (30th November-22nd December) will be dishing up their delicious loaded hot dogs and gourmet sausage rolls there too.
Or maybe you’ve taken another spin on the carousel at the Christmas Village (we wouldn’t blame you!) and looking for something nearby? Not to worry, the home of all things crispy duck Hatch 76 will be there (16th November-22nd December), as well as Redheads Mac ‘N’ Cheese (16th November-22nd December) and Greek street food gurus Acropolis (16th November-22nd December) too.
And there you have it. With these five things-to-do at Newcastle’s Christmas Markets, you’ll be sleighing Christmas in no time! Wondering when the market opens, closes, and all that jazz? We’ve got you covered, read up on Everything You Need to Know About… Newcastle’s Christmas Markets.
Newcastle’s Christmas Markets will be open from Saturday 16th November until Sunday 22nd December. For more information, visit the official Newcastle’s Christmas website.
Want to be in the know about everything that’s happening in Newcastle city centre? Sign up to our newsletter and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, X and TikTok.
Featured image: Photo by Sarah May
