Christkindelmarkt in Leeds, England
German Christmas markets are so renowned all over Europe, that they are even making their way to places outside Germany. For example, in Leeds, the up-and-coming metropolis of West Yorkshire, you will find the Christkindelmarkt, running from the 16th November to 20th December, a little piece of Germany in the heart of Leeds city centre, with over forty authentic traders from Frankfurt setting up stalls in Millenium Square.
A visit to this lovely Christmas market provides the perfect way to chase away the winter chills. Now in its sixth year, it is one of the largest and best established German Christmas markets in the UK –selling mugs of the German mulled wine known as Glühwein, the traditional German sausage Bratwurst, and a host of other speciality foods and German delicacies.
The stalls of the Christkindelmarkt are like small versions of traditional wooden chalets, and it is like wandering around a little German village. The goods you will find there will give you loads of great gift ideas – there are a wide variety of handcrafted gifts, toys, and festive decorations. There is even the authentic German bierkeller “Frankfurter Scheune” in the middle of it all. And if all this is not enough, there is also a Christmas funfair, with a festive carousel, dodgems and a variety of small children’s rides.
And to complete your Christmas shopping, Millenium Square is just around the corner from the fabulous indoor shopping centre known as The Light, which has The Body Shop, Joy, and a host of other big name shops. Also just a stone’s throw away is Leeds Art Gallery, which now has a large cafe which connects the library with the gallery. Here you can sip latte, and enjoy delicious sandwiches, cakes and cookies.
For Christmas shopping you can hardly do better than Leeds and the Christkindelmarkt.
Filed under: Shopping, Christmas markets, Cafe society, England
