The Cathedral city of St Albans' European Christmas Market is just 20 minutes travel from London St Pancras station, meaning that you don't have to even leave the country to enjoy a traditional German-style Christmas Market, and this year it is to double the number of traders from around 50 to nearly 100 due to the success of its first-ever Christmas Market last year, which brought 45,000 visitors into the historic city.

 

The pretty, festive market, which will take place from 27 November to 21 December, will have more than 70 wooden chalets this year, with some of them housing more than one trader, and will take place in the stunning ancient quarter of the town, in the shadow of the Cathedral and a stone's throw from the oldest pub in the country.

 

St Albans's charm lies in how well the city mixes the contemporary with the traditional and authentic and the Christmas Market will aim to do the same: there will be music CDs for children, with the songs personalised with the child's name, wooden toys from Slovakia, Spanish cookware and Polish pottery, stylish home accessories, such as fragrant festive wreathes that are also available at some of the most exclusive London stores, plus jewellery, clothing and fashion accessories, and a wide range of Christmas decorations.

 

The food and drink offering will be second to none, with a huge selection of fare from German-style bratwurst and black forest ham to pulled-pork sandwiches, brownies and luxurious hot chocolate. Mulled wine and locally brewed beer will be served from a special outdoor bar and from carts dotted about the site.

 

There will be regular music and entertainment too. The popular 'Carols on the Hour' will take place at the Cathedral on the last Saturday of the market – Saturday 20 December – at which the world-respected St Albans Cathedral choristers will delight visitors with a selection of popular carols every hour throughout the day, offering a welcome break from shopping, and a treat for music-lovers.  And there will also be live acoustic and a cappella music slots every day to showcase the talent of indie musicians from around the region and add that Christmassy magic to the atmosphere.

 

Liz Marcy, manager of the St Albans Christmas Market, says: "We have a wonderful site for the market that is very concentrated and contained, as well as iincredibly picturesque. We really want to offer shoppers produce that is of the highest quality: the sort of beautiful gifts and decorations that people would travel up to exclusive London stores to find. But there should be something for everybody, from pocket-money toys and stocking fillers to statement pieces for the home."

 

And, as well as this, St Albans Christmas Market is aiming to be particularly family-friendly too, with a host of pre-schooler activities and attractions planned for the week days including Father Christmas's grotto, treasure hunts, Christmas creations for toddlers, carols on the hour, and a superb food and drink offering.

 

"We think that we would win the award for "prettiest Christmas market in the UK" as it is held in the grounds of the 11th-century Cathedral (built on the site of an ancient Abbey) and in the walled Vintry Garden, which was once the Abbey's vineyard and tended by Medieval monks," says Liz Marcy.

 

"The location lends itself really well to a magical family experience, without the worry about losing children in a huge sprawling metropolis, with long streets of stalls, like some of the bigger cities' Christmas markets. This walled garden is like a secret garden and children love it, particularly once it is filled with traditional wooden chalets, and we are really maximizing its charm and appeal to young families this year by building on its magical, medieval aesthetic and having an area dedicated to young children's activities, as well as creating a programme of events to really excite children in the quieter week daytimes, as well as adults in the evenings.

 

"We want to create a place to visit for a fun festive day out with the children that is not just about spending money."

 

The Cathedral quarter in St Albans sits right at the centre of a triangle of St Albans 'oldest' treasures: the only working Medieval Clock Tower; the oldest Public School in the country; and, for visitors to the market who fancy a pint of real ale, the oldest pub in the UK (according to the Guinness Book of Records), The Fighting Cocks, just at the foot of the beautiful green Abbey Orchard, a stone's throw from the Cathedral.   The Abbey orchard is a huge lawn that gently slopes away from the Cathedral and is the locals' favourite sledging location when it snows.

 

Last year's market was the first German-style Christmas Market the historic City has had, despite having the longest running regular market held in the same place (for over 1,000 years) in the UK.

 

 

The market opens on Thursday Nov 27th but there will also be a special Christmas mini-festival to officially launch the market, on the evening of Friday 28th November from 5pm – 8pm. 

 

To celebrate the market's official opening, the central shopping areas Market Place and Christopher Place in St Albans – a stone's throw from the Christmas Market site - will be transformed into magical frozen winter wonderlands with Christmas themed acts, Christmas lights and snow.

 

Meet Mr Snowman and Bjorn the polar bear (the star of the 2013 Christmas Market Launch back by popular request).

 

See the Ice Queen riding her mythical Snow Creature, and be entranced by the Ice Fairies in their fabulous illuminated costumes.  Marvel at the amazing tricks performed by our close-up magician.

 

All this to the accompaniment of live festive music on the Market Place stage. With the shops staying open until 7.30pm and icicle-making and festive balloon modelling for children, all the family will really get into the spirit of Christmas.

 

And then stroll down to the Christmas Market, grab a Gluhwein and see the Mayor of the City officially open the Christmas Market so you can start on your Christmas market shopping.  

 

For more info, go to www.enjoystalbans.com 
 

*A traditional European-style Christmas Market, or Christkindlmarkt, such as those originating from Germany and Austria

 

Friday 28 Nov - 5pm - 8pm -Official Launch event - special Christmas mini-festival 

Saturday 20 December –  'Carols on the Hour' - carols sung even hour by the St Albans Cathedral Choristers