For the first time in a few years, the Manchester Christmas Markets have been given a big shake-up, with loads of new stuff tempting thousands of visitors into the city centre.
The most notable, of course, is the return of Albert Square to the Christmas Markets circuit, which hasn’t been used for the festivities since the Town Hall restoration began.
It may be a ‘mini’ Christmas Market, with the main hub still at Piccadilly Gardens, but it feels like the spiritual home of the event is back where it belongs.
Beyond that, the hundreds of wooden huts around town are home to new food traders, exciting new bars, and even a brand-new Giant Santa (though he does look awfully familiar…)
Have a read for 10 new things you can check out at the Manchester Christmas Markets in 2025.
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The big wheel, Albert Square
Albert Square’s return to the Manchester Christmas Markets is news enough in itself, but for the first time this year you can get way up above the festive celebrations.
A gigantic big wheel is currently standing proudly over Albert Square, with views across all the traders below as well as the rooftops of the city centre and the Manchester Town Hall itself.
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As well as that, there are other fairground rides like a helter skelter, carousel, and plenty more.
A new Giant Santa, St Peter’s Square
Zippy, Manchester’s favourite Giant Santa, has made a surprise return
Manchester’s legendary Giant Santa sculpture is back – but you might be surprised to see the bearded fella who’s appeared this year.
Yep, that haunting blue gaze does indeed belong to Zippy, the beloved figure who ruled over Albert Square all the way up until 2018.
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This fat lad is officially back in town for another festive season (it’s actually Zippy 2.0, but close enough) and he’s SO bright. Like get your sunglasses ready, because when we say Zippy’s had a glow up, we actually mean he’s lit up with 20,000 LEDs.
Toast-your-own marshmallows, Albert Square
Why has no one done this at the Manchester Christmas Markets before?!
Right in the middle of Albert Square you’ll now find a stand with a roaring campfire in the middle.
You can buy a gigantic skewer of marshmallows, then toast them slowly over the fire for a melty, gooey, nostalgic sweet treat to walk around with.
Feuerzangenbowle (Flaming cocktails), St Ann’s Square
What could possibly be better than a mulled wine at the Manchester Christmas Markets? How about a mulled wine on FIRE?!
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Feuerzangenbowle loosely translates to ‘fire-tong punch’ and is a traditional German alcoholic drink, where a rum-soaked sugarloaf is set on fire and drips down into the mulled wine.
Ordering one of these at the Manchester Christmas Markets is a real theatrical moment.
Goulash in a bread bowl, Piccadilly Gardens
Austrian goulash in a bread bowlThe best food and drink at the Manchester Christmas Markets
There’s loads of new food and drink at the Manchester Christmas Markets this year (you can see 10 of them here), but this is the one that immediately caught our eye.
Anyone who’s skied in Austria or visited in the winter will know that goulash is the ultimate winter warmer dinner.
Now imagine that, but instead of a bowl, it’s served inside a hollowed-out bread loaf. Hell yeah.
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There’s also loaded roast potatoes here, including a portion topped with all sorts of traditional Christmas dinner trimmings.
Blitzen’s Brigade, Albert Square
The Blitzen’s Brigade fire engine bar
That fire engine in the middle of Albert Square? The only fires it’s fighting is your desperate craving for a lager.
This brand-new bar in a converted fire engine is serving Reinbeer, Brew-dolph IPA, and prosecco from its main bar in the side of the vehicle.
Then if you head up towards the driver’s cab you can find the mulled wine and hot chocolate window.
Hong Kong French Toast, King Street
This seems to be the food trader that’s caught everyone’s attention this year – and it’s not hard to see why.
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Thick, fluffy white bread is layered with fillings like peanut butter, Nutella, and pistachio cream, before being dipped in egg batter and deep-fried.
They’re then topped with things like condensed milk and miniature pats of butter for the ultimate indulgence that’s worth being on the naughty list for.
Rita’s Reign, Albert Square
This is a spot that’s far-from new to Manchester – Rita’s Reign is one of the best-loved street food operators in the North West and trades from Piccadilly Markets all year round.
But for the first time, they’ve made it onto the Manchester Christmas Markets, with a new colourful trailer serving festive twists on their legendary Afro-Caribbean boxes.
Expect boneless Jerk chicken, curry goat, and vegan bowls, all served with that sunny Rita’s Reign service.
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Roasted Chestnuts, Albert Square
‘Chestnuts roasting on an open fire’ except this, to our knowledge, has never actually been a thing at the Manchester Christmas Markets?!
Well, it is now, and it’s all happening in a delightfully vintage cart lit up with 1920s-esque lightbulbs, where the team here gently toast chestnuts before your very eyes.
It’s handily positioned right at the entrance to Albert Square too, so your festive Spidey senses can get tingling before you’ve even got into the main market.
New bars on King Street
The smart new bar on King Street at the Manchester Christmas Markets
Last but not least, you may notice on your travels that the Manchester Christmas Markets on King Street are looking rather lovely.
That’s largely in part to the brand-new Float bar, which splits into two around a large, covered seating area.
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The smart new bar takes up a lot less pavement which means way more space for mingling over a gluhwein or three. Gorgeous.
Manchester City are hosting special Christmas-themed tours of the Etihad Stadium
Danny Jones
Manchester City FC’s critically acclaimed stadium tour is about to get super festive, as the Etihad Stadium are now hosting special Christmas-themed walks around the ground.
You’ve watched the tales of the ‘Centurions’, ‘Treble winners, the ‘Fourmidables’, and plenty of other ‘Cityzen’ stories play out in front of you, but have you visited the hallowed halls while their decked doughs of holly for yourself?
Well, now’s your chance.
Hosting a series of exclusive festive tours around the Etihad this month, Man City fans, club-obsessed kids, and football fanatic tourists in general can take a walk around the impressive sporting arena for the perfect early Christmas present.
In addition to being able to walk around the famous home of the Blues, sit in the home team dressing room and see the trophy cabinet, fans of all ages can now field questions with virtual Pep and Haaland in their very own press conference, before walking down the tunnel, into the dugout and sitting pitchside.
Once you’ve finished warming up the gaffer’s very own seat (they’re actually already heated), supporters can look forward to a brand-new dancing light display, plus more heartwarming entertainment in the form of Christmas carol audio recorded by Manchester’s very own Hallé Youth Choir.
As if that wasn’t enough, ‘Beyond the Blue Moon’ VR experiences and special ‘Etihad After Dark’ tours will be available, too, giving people from all over and of all ages an extra opportunity to turn up and make the most of this truly global club.
You can even grab a warming mulled wine or hot Vimto during the evening slots to keep your hands nice and toasty as you go around – be rude not to.
Rumour has it Santa may have left a gift lying around each day, too. Safe to say that puts our Advent calendar this year to shame…
Credit: Man City (supplied)
Here’s hoping he doesn’t get a telling off for wearing red…
Evening tours at the Eithad will be held from 5:30 and 6pm on 7, 12, 14, 18, 22 and December, and the main slot will be running all the way up until Christmas Eve (24 Dec).
You can even grab a warming mulled wine or hot Vimto to keep your hands nice and toasty as you go around – be rude not to.
Tickets start from only £26 per person and family passes are priced at just £60.
Better still, you can even spring for the VIP package if you fancy: a two-hour experience that is one of the most interactive and immersive you’ll find anywhere.
The Etihad Stadium is currently in the middle of a huge redevelopment, both in terms of size and things to do around the wider Campus, with the expanded North Stand not only seeing matchday fan capacity increased to over 60k, but a new club shop, sky bar, hotel, and a rooftop walk being added.
With that in mind, it’s no wonder that the already award-winning City stadium tours are simultaneously seeing an upgrade over the holiday period.
Being given the Tripadvisor seal of approval once again last year, as the club were once again recognised in the Travellers’ Choice ‘Best of the Best’ – putting them not just in the top three stadium tours in the UK but in the top 1% of the most highly rated in the world – things are only getting bigger.
You can find out full availability, timings and where to get tickets right HERE.
Trafford Centre announces opening hours for 2025/26 festive season – including Boxing Day
Emily Sergeant
Trafford Centre has published its full list of opening hours for this current festive season.
We all know that the Christmas period is one of the busiest times of the year for the retail industry, with people flocking to the shops in their millions to snap up festive gifts for their loved ones, and it only gets busier from Boxing Day onwards too when all the sales launch, offering shoppers some unmissable deals and bargains.
And nowhere in Greater Manchester gets busier during the festive season than the Trafford Centre. After all, with more than 200 stores all under one room, it’s not hard to see why.
This year, shoppers can make the most of extended opening hours at the Trafford Centre right through to New Year’s Day – with late night shopping until 11pm on selected dates in December leading up to the big day.
Alongside being a one-stop-shop for gifts, there’s also dozens of festive events and new Christmas lights to enjoy at the Trafford Centre too, so visitors can tick everything off their list and have a great day out while they’re at it.
The shopping centre will be open from 9am – 5pm on Christmas Eve, so you can whip round and grab any last-minute presents, before it’s closed fully on Christmas Day, and then opens again bright and early at 8am on Boxing Day.
Trafford Centre Christmas Opening Hours 2025/26
18 and 19 December: 10am – 11pm
20 December: 10am – 10pm
21 December: 12pm – 6pm
22 and 23 December: 10am – 11pm
Christmas: 9am – 5pm
Christmas Day: Closed
26 December: 8am – 8pm (some stores may be closed, please check with individual brands)
27 December: 10am – 9pm
28 December: 12pm – 6pm
29 and 30 December: 10pm – 10pm
New Year’s Eve: 9am – 5pm
New Year’s Day: 12pm – 6pm
It’s also worth noting, however, that not every store inside the Trafford Centre will be open on Boxing Day, so you’ll need to check with individual brands ahead of time.
For the restaurants, stores, and leisure venues that are open, you can check their specific trading hours on the Trafford Centre website here.
When it comes to festive event, The Grotto is open until Christmas Eve for pre-bookings only, and the Christmas fairground and ice rink, Big Wheel, and Gandeys Snowstorm Firebird show are all open until 4 January (closed Christmas Day).
Daisy Jackson -
13th November 2025 
