Liverpool Christmas Market

Liverpool sets its market on St George’s Plateau, the raised terrace directly in front of St George’s Hall — one of the finest neoclassical buildings in Europe, and floodlit behind the stalls after dark. The setting is the reason to come in the evening rather than at lunchtime.

What is there

Over 40 timber stalls covering crafts, gifts and international street food, with funfair rides alongside for children. It is a mid-sized market rather than a sprawling one, and can be done properly in an hour or two.

The wider Liverpool Christmas

The market is one part of a larger festive programme, and the other parts matter. ‘Skate St George’s’ puts an outdoor rink beside the market, and the Christmas Wonderland at the Pier Head adds a covered rink, thrill rides and games down on the waterfront. Between the two you have a full day, with the Albert Dock and the waterfront museums in between.

Getting there

Lime Street station opens almost directly onto St George’s Plateau — you walk out of the station and the market is in front of you. That makes Liverpool one of the most convenient markets in the country to reach by train.

When to go

In 2025 it was open from 11am to 10pm every day, a longer day than most UK markets, which made an evening visit easy. We will confirm the 2026 hours once the council publishes them.

Worth knowing

The 2026 dates have not yet been confirmed by Liverpool City Council. Two different date ranges are circulating online, and the council’s own page still shows 2025’s, so we are waiting for the official announcement rather than guessing. The ice skating at the Pier Head usually runs on into early January.

The rest of the Liverpool Christmas

Treat the market as one stop rather than the destination. ‘Skate St George’s’ is immediately beside it; the Christmas Wonderland at the Pier Head adds a covered rink, thrill rides and games on the waterfront and runs into January; and the Albert Dock, the Walker Art Gallery and the World Museum are all within twenty minutes on foot of the plateau.

Bold Street and the independents

If the market’s forty stalls do not produce a present, Bold Street — ten minutes’ walk — is one of the better independent shopping streets in the north, and the Bluecoat runs a Christmas craft fair most years. Between them they cover the gap the market leaves.