With December only a week away and advent calendar doors soon to be opened, it’s time to get in the festive spirit if you haven’t already! All sorts of festive attractions and shopping destinations are popping up over Surrey, so what better time to offer our top picks for markets and fairs to visit over the coming weeks:
Winchester Cathedral Christmas Market
Running from Friday 18th November to Thursday 22nd November is the Christmas Market at Winchester Cathedral. The market is open Sunday to Thursday 10am to 6pm, and Friday to Saturday 10am to 8pm. Winchester Cathedral is around an hour’s drive from Reigate, so why not take a festive day out with the family! Inspired by German Christmas markets, there will be local and independent businesses offering one-of-a-kind gifts and pre-Christmas treats such as jewellery, brownies and pottery. Admission to this market is free – find more info.
Surrey Hills Christmas Fair – West Horsley Place
Surrey Hills’ Christmas Fair will take place at the lovely West Horsley Place this coming weekend (Friday 25th to Sunday 27th November). Local fine arts, crafts and artisan produce from around Surrey will be showcased across the Manor House and Place Barn Farm at West Horsley Place. Local businesses and partners will be present including the Surrey Guild of Craftsmen and new for 2022 the Surrey Sculpture Society; showcasing their amazing sculptures crafted from different materials, catering for all tastes. Refreshments and light bites from local sustainable producers will be available too – including organic meat, deli produce, Indian cuisine and artisan beer. Book your tickets in advance.
St Mary’s Church Big Christmas Event
St Mary’s Church in Reigate is putting on their Big Christmas Event this Saturday, 26th November, 11am to 3pm. It’s sure to live up to its name with a vast array of stalls and attractions, including donkey rides, biscuit decorating, card making, live choir, journey to Bethlehem trail and much more. The little ones can also meet Santa in his grotto! All proceeds and donations from the Big Event will go to St Matthew’s Foodbank and Ukrainian support charities. Admission is free – sign up on their website to pre-book a slot for donkey rides, Santa’s grotto and the journey to Bethlehem.
Festive Fayre at Hampton Court Palace
Slightly closer to Christmas is the Festive Fayre at Hampton Court Palace, taking place between 10am and 6pm on Friday 2nd to Sunday 4th December. The festive fayre will be set in the picturesque courtyards and grounds of Hampton Court Palace – so cameras at the ready! The East Front Bandstand will host live Christmas music and entertainment, while you can indulge in festive treats such as Christmas pudding and churros at one of the street food and drink stalls. There will also be a variety of specialist stalls selling a range of unique gifts. Admission to the Festive Fayre is included in the ticket price for admission to the Palace – book now.
Reigate Christmas Fayre
Saturday 3rd December sees one of Reigate’s biggest events of the year – the Reigate Christmas Fayre! Church Road will be closed for the whole day to allow for visitors to join in the festivities. Starting from 11.30am, there will be many food, drink and gift stalls as well as live music and entertainment. The Reigate & Banstead Mayor will be joined by the cast of the Harlequin theatre’s Cinderella panto to switch on the Christmas lights at 4.30pm. Free parking will be available at the council’s car parks on the day. This year's Fayre is sponsored by Virtue Property Group. Follow the link to find out more about the Reigate Christmas Fayre.
Tunsgate Quarter Christmas Market
On the mezzanine level at the Tunsgate Street entrance of the Tunsgate Quarter in Guildford, you will find their Christmas market on Wednesday 15th to Sun 19th December. The market offers the perfect opportunity to grab some last-minute gifts not long before Christmas. Original and unique gifts will be available to purchase, such as handmade candles, jewellery and even vintage items. No advanced booking is required. Find more info about the Tunsgate Quarter Christmas Market.
There you have it – our top picks for this year’s Surrey Christmas markets and fairs. This is by no means the only local fairs and markets – so do let us know if there are any you are visiting which we haven’t included so we can include them next time.