Christmas markets · Salisbury
Christmas markets in Salisbury 2026
Salisbury City Council lists Christmas on the Square (barrows and retail chalets) in Guildhall Square from Friday 20 November to Thursday 24 December 2026, 11am–6pm, with free entry, and the Christmas Begins lights switch-on in Market Place on 20 November, 1pm–8.30pm. Four Sunday Festive Markets in Market Place (29 Nov, 6, 13 and 20 Dec, 10am–4pm) come from a guide, not the council page, so check What's On on salisburycitycouncil.gov.uk.
1 market · checked October 2026
- Salisbury Christmas Markets2026: Christmas on the Square 20 Nov – 24 Dec 2026, 11am–6pm (Guildhall Square, Salisbury City Council); Sunday Festive Markets listed for 29 Nov, 6, 13 & 20 Dec 2026 (Market Place, 10am–4pm, per a guide)Free entry; the grotto is pre-booked (2025: via TicketSource, each child received a gift).
🧒 With kids
- Southampton Christmas Market · Southampton
- Winchester Cathedral Christmas Market · Winchester
- Littledown Christmas Market · Bournemouth
- Bournemouth Christmas Market · Bournemouth
- Bournemouth Festive Trail and SKATE Bournemouth · Bournemouth
✨ Date night
- Salisbury Christmas Markets · Salisbury
🎉 With friends
- Salisbury Christmas Markets · Salisbury
- Southampton Christmas Market · Southampton
- Winchester Cathedral Christmas Market · Winchester
- Littledown Christmas Market · Bournemouth
- Bournemouth Festive Trail and SKATE Bournemouth · Bournemouth
📷 Stephen McKay · CC BY-SA 2.0 · 📷 Richard Avery · CC BY-SA 4.0 · 📷 Richard Avery · CC BY 4.0
Christmas market · Salisbury
Salisbury Christmas Markets
Sunday festive markets in the Market Place, and 'Christmas on the Square' — a gift fayre inside one large heated chalet on Guildhall Square.
✨ Date night🎉 With friendsWhat's there
- Four Sunday festive markets in Market Place (29 Nov, 6, 13, 20 Dec 2026), 10am–4pm
- Christmas on the Square in Guildhall Square: retail huts, food, a pop-up bar and Santa's Grotto
- Christmas Begins lights switch-on in Market Place, Friday 20 Nov 2026, 1pm–8.30pm (Salisbury City Council)
- Cathedral city backdrop: the family festive trail starts from Salisbury Cathedral (per one guide)
Small but pleasant — pick a Sunday and add the cathedral.
- 2026
- Christmas on the Square 20 Nov – 24 Dec 2026, 11am–6pm (Guildhall Square, Salisbury City Council); Sunday Festive Markets listed for 29 Nov, 6, 13 & 20 Dec 2026 (Market Place, 10am–4pm, per a guide)
- Last season
- 21 Nov – 31 Dec 2025 (Christmas on the Square)
- Cost
- Free entry; the grotto is pre-booked (2025: via TicketSource, each child received a gift).
Getting there and parking
- Salisbury station is about 10 minutes' walk.
- Wiltshire Council runs park and ride sites around Salisbury; charges and Sunday service have changed in recent years, so check current terms on wiltshire.gov.uk before you drive.
- Guildhall Square is step-free according to one guide.
Worth knowing
- The council's 2026 events page lists Christmas on the Square (barrows and retail chalets) from Friday 20 Nov to Thursday 24 Dec 2026, 11am–6pm; one guide adds that it is closed on Christmas Day. Other guides give different end dates (31 Dec), so trust the council.
- The council page gives no dates for the Sunday Festive Markets (it says 2026 applications are closed), so the four Sundays come from a guide: check What's On on salisburycitycouncil.gov.uk.
- Specialities listed for 2026: the Snow Globe Bar, mulled wine and festive afternoon tea (ultimatechristmasmarkets.com, Oct 2026).
Salisbury at Christmas 2026: the programme
The council's 2025 programme gives the pattern: Christmas Begins in Market Place, Christmas on the Square in Guildhall Square with a Santa's Grotto, food and a bar with live music on selected days, and Sunday Festive Markets with handcrafted gifts and seasonal food. For 2026 one guide adds a Christmas light trail starting at the cathedral, window displays by local artists, and a Twilight Tower Tour at the cathedral (no dates).
Which day to choose
Pick a Sunday in December if you want stalls: the Market Place fills with local makers from 10am to 4pm. Come on 20 November for the switch-on, or on any day after 11am for the huts and bars on Guildhall Square. The city also holds its Charter Market on Tuesdays and Saturdays (Salisbury City Council), a good second stop.
Parking and getting around
Public transport is the recommended option in one guide. Wiltshire Council runs park and ride sites on the edge of the city; check its site for current charges and days. The station is about 10 minutes' walk from the centre.
Questions
When is Salisbury Christmas market 2026?
Christmas on the Square in Guildhall Square runs from 20 November to 24 December 2026, 11am–6pm (Salisbury City Council). The Sunday Festive Markets are listed by a guide for 29 November and 6, 13 and 20 December, 10am–4pm in Market Place; the council page gives no Sunday dates.
Is there a Christmas market in Salisbury this year?
Yes, in two parts: the Sunday Festive Markets in Market Place, and Christmas on the Square in Guildhall Square, which the council describes with retail huts, food, a bar and Santa's Grotto. It is small, not a large German-style market.
When are the Salisbury Christmas lights switched on 2026?
The council lists Christmas Begins for Friday 20 November 2026, 1pm–8.30pm, in Market Place. In 2025 it was 21 November, 1pm–8pm, and free.
What are the opening times of Christmas on the Square in Salisbury?
The council lists the barrows and retail chalets 11am–6pm from Friday 20 November to Thursday 24 December 2026; one guide adds that they close on Christmas Day. Confirm the details before you go.
Is Salisbury Christmas market free?
Entry to the Sunday markets and Christmas on the Square is free. Santa's Grotto needs a pre-booked ticket; in 2025 booking was through TicketSource and each child received a gift. Check the 2026 ticket price when booking.
How do I get to Salisbury Christmas market and where do I park?
Salisbury station is about 10 minutes' walk. If you drive, Wiltshire Council runs park and ride sites around the city; check current charges and days on wiltshire.gov.uk.
Where is the Christmas market in Salisbury?
The Sunday markets are in Market Place; Christmas on the Square is in nearby Guildhall Square (SP1 1JH). Both are in the city centre.