Christmas in the Cotswolds 2026: Magical Markets, Festive Days Out & Our Favourite Places to Shop

There’s something about Christmas in the Cotswolds that feels like stepping straight into a festive film.

Honey-coloured cottages dressed in fairy lights, Christmas trees lining the streets, the smell of mulled wine drifting from cosy pubs and little independent shops filled with things you never knew you needed.

And if we’re being completely honest, we think the Cotswolds does Christmas rather well.

Whether you’re visiting for a festive weekend, planning a family adventure or simply looking for somewhere lovely to do your Christmas shopping, there’s so much happening across our little corner of the countryside.

So, we’ve pulled together some of our favourite Christmas markets, magical experiences and independent places to shop, all within easy reach of our Tucked Away cottages.

The Best Christmas Markets in the Cotswolds

Broadway Christmas Shopping Evenings

Friday 27 November & Friday 4 December 2026

If there’s one Cotswold village that looks like it was made for Christmas, it’s Broadway.

Its beautiful High Street, lined with honey-coloured buildings and independent shops, becomes even more magical when the Christmas lights go on.

Broadway’s late-night Christmas shopping evenings are a real highlight of the festive calendar, with shops staying open late, market stalls, music and plenty of seasonal cheer.

It’s the perfect excuse to wander between boutiques, pick up a few presents and stop for a glass of mulled wine along the way.

And here’s something rather lovely for 2026. The Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway is introducing special Christmas shopping trains from Toddington to Broadway on both evenings, so you can arrive in suitably festive style without worrying about parking.

Discover Broadway’s Christmas Shopping Trains

Winchcombe Christmas Festival

Thursday 3 & Friday 4 December 2026

Now, we might be a little biased because Winchcombe is home to our very own Fern Cottage, but we absolutely love Christmas here.

Winchcombe’s annual Christmas Festival is one of those wonderful community occasions that really captures the spirit of the season.

This year, it’s taking place over two days.

Thursday 3 December brings the traditional Christmas market, with more than 50 stalls selling gifts, crafts, food and festive treats. The town will be dressed with real Christmas trees, while carol singers, musicians and entertainers bring the streets to life.

Then, on Friday 4 December, there’s a new Christmas Shopping Trail, with around 20 festive pop-ups dotted around the town’s independent shops and venues.

It’s a lovely opportunity to explore Winchcombe, support local businesses and enjoy a proper Cotswold Christmas atmosphere.

And if you’re staying at Fern Cottage, you can enjoy it all without even needing to get in the car.

Explore Winchcombe Christmas Festival

Chipping Campden Christmas Market

Saturday 5 December 2026

Chipping Campden is beautiful at any time of year, but there’s something particularly special about it at Christmas.

The historic High Street closes to traffic for its annual Christmas market, filling with independent traders, handmade gifts, festive decorations and delicious seasonal food.

You’ll find stalls along the High Street and Market Square, as well as an indoor market at the Town Hall.

With its beautiful architecture, traditional shops and Christmas lights, it’s a wonderfully atmospheric place to spend an afternoon.

And when the Christmas tree lights are switched on, the whole village feels rather magical.

The indoor Town Hall market also continues on Sunday 6 December, so there’s another opportunity to browse.

Discover Chipping Campden Christmas Market

Cirencester Christmas Markets

Christmas Market: 5–6 December 2026
Christmas Gift Markets: 13–22 December 2026

If you love a proper Christmas market, Cirencester is well worth making time for.

The historic Market Place, with the magnificent parish church as its backdrop, provides one of the loveliest settings for festive shopping in the Cotswolds.

This year, Cirencester’s Christmas Market takes place over the weekend of 5 and 6 December, followed by the Christmas Gift Markets running from 13 to 22 December.

That’s plenty of opportunity to pick up those last-minute presents, discover independent makers and enjoy a little festive atmosphere.

Expect artisan food and drink, handmade gifts, beautiful decorations and plenty of seasonal treats.

We’d recommend making a whole day of it. Browse the stalls, explore the town’s independent shops, stop somewhere lovely for lunch and enjoy a little Christmas shopping without the rush of a big city.

Explore Cirencester’s Markets and Events

Magical Christmas Experiences for Children

Meet Father Christmas at Cotswold Farm Park

Selected dates from 27 November–23 December 2026

If you’re visiting the Cotswolds with little ones, Christmas at Adam Henson’s Cotswold Farm Park is a really lovely experience.

Children can meet Father Christmas in his grotto, choose a special gift, make their very own teddy bear and decorate gingerbread with the elves.

There’s also marshmallow toasting around the fire pits, festive food and drink, and plenty of opportunities to meet the farm animals.

It’s the sort of experience that makes Christmas feel genuinely magical for younger children, with lots to enjoy beyond the all-important visit to Santa.

Booking ahead is definitely recommended.

Book Christmas at Cotswold Farm Park

All Aboard the Santa Express with GWSR

28 November–23 December 2026

There’s something wonderfully nostalgic about a steam train at Christmas.

The Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway’s Santa Express is one of our favourite festive experiences in the area.

For 2026, the adventure begins at Toddington Station, where families board a beautifully decorated heritage steam train for a journey through the Cotswold countryside.

The destination? Winchcombe, transformed into a magical North Pole.

Children get to meet Father Christmas, share their Christmas wishes and receive a special gift, while grown-ups can enjoy a warming drink and mince pie.

It’s a really lovely way to make some Christmas memories, particularly for little train enthusiasts.

Book the GWSR Santa Express

Ice Skating and Reindeer at Jolly Nice Farmshop

Festive season 2026

We love Jolly Nice at any time of year, but at Christmas it becomes something rather special.

Located near Frampton Mansell, this wonderful farm shop transforms into a festive destination with a Christmas tree forest, seasonal treats, beautiful gifts and plenty of family activities.

There’s festive skating, fireside stories with Father Christmas and even the opportunity to meet their resident reindeer, Conker, Medlar and Walnut.

The reindeer meet-and-feed experiences run from 21 November to 26 December, giving children the chance to get close to these rather magical animals.

And, of course, no visit would be complete without a hot chocolate, mince pie or something delicious from the farm shop.

It’s a brilliant place to combine a festive family outing with a little Christmas shopping.

Explore Christmas at Jolly Nice

Christmas at Blenheim Palace

13 November 2026–3 January 2027

For a truly spectacular Christmas experience, Blenheim Palace near Woodstock is difficult to beat.

The palace and grounds are transformed for the festive season, with an illuminated after-dark trail, a Christmas market, ice skating in the Great Court and a beautifully decorated palace interior.

This year’s indoor experience brings the story of Cinderella to life, with the State Rooms transformed into scenes from the much-loved fairytale.

It’s one of those places where you really can make a whole day and evening of it.

Explore the palace, browse the market, enjoy something delicious and then head outside as darkness falls to experience the illuminated gardens.

If you’re looking for a big, magical Christmas day out, this would be high on our list.

Discover Christmas at Blenheim Palace

Christmas Theatre, Music & Festive Entertainment

Cinderella at Cheltenham’s Everyman Theatre

27 November 2026–10 January 2027

For many Gloucestershire families, Christmas simply wouldn’t be Christmas without a trip to the Everyman Theatre pantomime.

And this year, it’s Cinderella.

Even better, our much-loved local clown Tweedy is back, playing Buttons.

Tweedy has been making Cotswold families laugh for years, and he’s become something of a Christmas institution around here.

Expect plenty of silliness, spectacular costumes, songs, audience participation and all the wonderfully ridiculous moments that make a traditional British pantomime so much fun.

It’s a brilliant family outing and one we’d definitely recommend booking early.

Book Cinderella at the Everyman Theatre

Festive Events at Dunkertons Park

Throughout November & December 2026

If you fancy something a little more grown-up, or just somewhere lovely to spend a festive afternoon, Dunkertons Park near Cheltenham is always worth a visit.

Home to Dunkertons Organic Cider, it’s a brilliant destination for independent food, drink, shopping and live entertainment.

Their festive programme includes Christmas workshops, music nights, seasonal parties and a Christmas Craft Market on Sunday 6 December.

The market brings together independent makers selling everything from ceramics and jewellery to handmade decorations, artisan chocolates and gifts.

It’s free to attend, dog-friendly and a lovely way to support small businesses while enjoying something delicious from the food traders.

Explore Christmas Events at Dunkertons

Christmas at Isbourne Arts, Winchcombe

One of the things we love about the Cotswolds is the number of independent venues bringing culture and entertainment into our towns and villages.

Isbourne Arts in Winchcombe is a brilliant example.

This community-led arts venue hosts everything from live music and theatre to film screenings, workshops and family activities.

If you’re staying in or around Winchcombe over the festive period, it’s well worth checking their programme to see what’s happening.

There’s something particularly lovely about enjoying a performance in a smaller, more intimate venue, especially at Christmas.

Take a look at what's on at Isbourne Arts

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Our Favourite Places for Christmas Shopping in the Cotswolds

One of the best things about Christmas shopping in the Cotswolds is that it doesn’t have to mean crowded shopping centres and endless queues.

Some of our favourite places to buy gifts are independent shops, small creative businesses and beautiful farm shops.

And we’d always encourage our guests to shop locally where they can.

Royle Collective, Broadway

If you’re looking for something a little different, Royle Collective on Broadway’s High Street is absolutely worth popping into.

Founded by Lola, it’s a beautiful independent space championing small businesses, craftspeople and makers, with a wonderful collection of clothing, jewellery, ceramics, homewares and gifts.

It’s exactly the sort of place we love discovering, where you can find something thoughtful, unusual and a little more personal than the usual high-street offerings.

And buying from businesses like this means you’re supporting the talented independent makers and creatives who help make the Cotswolds such an interesting place to explore.

Swift Art & Design, Winchcombe

For beautiful gifts and something a little out of the ordinary, we’d also recommend exploring Swift art & Design in Winchcombe.

Winchcombe has some really lovely independent shops, and it’s the sort of town where you can spend a leisurely morning wandering between them, finding little treasures along the way.

It’s also a great place for anyone who enjoys browsing antiques and vintage pieces.

There’s something particularly satisfying about finding a Christmas present that’s completely unique, especially when it comes with a little history.

Burford Garden Company

If you love interiors, beautiful homewares and anything that makes a house feel particularly lovely at Christmas, Burford Garden Company is a must.

It’s so much more than a garden centre.

Think beautifully curated home accessories, decorations, thoughtful gifts, books, food and drink, and plenty of inspiration for making your home feel festive.

It’s the sort of place where you pop in for one thing and somehow leave with considerably more.

We’d recommend allowing plenty of time to browse, particularly if you’re looking for something special for a home-loving friend or family member.

Daylesford Organic, Kingham

No Christmas shopping trip to the Cotswolds would feel quite complete without a visit to Daylesford Organic.

Located near Kingham, it’s a beautiful destination for anyone who loves good food, thoughtful gifts and beautifully designed things for the home.

At Christmas, the farm shop is particularly lovely, with seasonal produce, artisan food and drink, festive decorations and plenty of gift inspiration.

It’s a wonderful place to pick up something delicious for Christmas, put together a thoughtful food hamper or simply enjoy a leisurely lunch while soaking up the atmosphere.

And if you’re anything like us, you’ll probably come away with a few treats for yourself too.

Shop Local in Winchcombe, Broadway & Stow-on-the-Wold

Of course, some of the best Christmas shopping doesn’t need a particular destination at all.

Our favourite way to shop in the Cotswolds is simply to choose a beautiful village, wander along the High Street and see what catches our eye.

Winchcombe, Broadway and Stow-on-the-Wold are all full of wonderful independent businesses, from homeware shops and art galleries to bookshops, antique dealers, delis and boutiques.

They’re places where shopping feels less like a chore and more like a lovely way to spend an afternoon.

Stop for coffee, browse a few shops, enjoy a long lunch and perhaps finish with a glass of something festive in a cosy pub.

That’s our kind of Christmas shopping.

Make a Little Christmas Holiday of It

Of course, one of the loveliest things about visiting the Cotswolds at Christmas is having somewhere cosy to retreat to at the end of the day.

After an afternoon wandering through Christmas markets, meeting Father Christmas or browsing beautiful independent shops, there’s nothing quite like coming back to your own Cotswold cottage.

Think twinkling lights, a glass of red wine, a cheeseboard, a Christmas film and absolutely nowhere else you need to be.

At Tucked Away, our collection of thoughtfully designed holiday cottages puts you within easy reach of some of the Cotswolds’ loveliest festive experiences.

Whether you’re planning a family Christmas adventure, a romantic winter weekend or a few days away with friends, there’s plenty of opportunity to slow down and enjoy the season.

Our cottages will be dressed for Christmas throughout December, so you can enjoy all the festive atmosphere without having to put up a single decoration yourself.

And with 10% off when you book direct, plus dogs staying free on direct bookings, there’s even more reason to make a little holiday of it.

Because Christmas in the Cotswolds isn’t just about the markets, the presents or the big days out.

It’s about the little things. Beautiful villages, independent shops, cosy evenings and spending time with the people you love.

And we think that’s what makes it so special.

Ready to get Tucked Away this Christmas? Explore our collection of Cotswold cottages and find your perfect festive escape.

Event dates, programmes and availability may change. We recommend checking directly with each organiser and booking popular experiences in advance.

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