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Festive Trips: A Christmas Guide

Whether you want to explore historic cities, wander through winter wonderlands, or find family-friendly events, here is our brief guide (and lots of handy links) to the best festive trip ideas.

Christmas Markets

Few things capture the spirit of Christmas quite like a festive market. With your motorhome, you can create your own touring route, hopping between markets at your own pace.

Some UK Highlights

• Bath Christmas Market – Stroll among hundreds of wooden chalets set against the city’s Georgian architecture. After shopping for handmade gifts, warm up in the famous Roman Baths or modern Thermae Spa.
  Bath Christmas Market

• York’s St Nicholas Fair – York’s cobbled streets and medieval buildings provide an atmospheric setting for browsing stalls, sipping mulled wine, and enjoying festive street performances.
  York St Nicholas Fair

• Edinburgh Christmas Market – Nestled beneath the castle, this market combines rides, food stalls, and a festive village. Stay a little longer and join in the world-famous Hogmanay celebrations to welcome the New Year.
  Edinburgh’s Christmas | Edinburgh’s Hogmanay

• Winchester Cathedral Market – Cosy chalets under soaring gothic towers, an ice rink, and plenty of festive treats make this one of the UK’s prettiest markets.
  Winchester Cathedral Christmas Market

• London Christmas Highlights – The capital transforms into a festive wonderland with something for everyone:

  • Hyde Park Winter Wonderland – A huge Christmas fairground with markets, ice-skating, circus shows, and food from around the world.
    Hyde Park Winter Wonderland

  • Southbank Winter Festival – Riverside chalets selling crafts and seasonal treats, with pop-up bars and street entertainment.
    Southbank Centre Winter Festival

  • Covent Garden & Leicester Square Markets – Central London squares filled with lights, mulled wine stalls, and performers.
    Covent Garden Christmas | Leicester Square Market

  • Kew Gardens Light Trail – A magical after-dark event where the gardens sparkle with light installations, lasers, and seasonal music.
    Christmas at Kew

European Classics

If you’re keen to cross the Channel, Europe’s Christmas markets are on another level — and easy to reach by motorhome.

• Cologne, Germany – With multiple themed markets scattered across the city, Cologne is a must. A popular motorhome tour is to “drive the Rhine,” ticking off Cologne, Düsseldorf, and Aachen’s festive offerings in one trip.
  Cologne Christmas Markets

• Strasbourg, France – Known as the “Capital of Christmas,” Strasbourg’s timber-framed houses and grand squares host one of the oldest and most atmospheric markets in Europe.
  Strasbourg Christmas Market

• Bruges, Belgium – With its winding canals and fairy-tale buildings, Bruges looks like a Christmas card come to life. Don’t miss the ice rink in the main square.
  Bruges Christmas Market

• Vienna, Austria – Elegant imperial squares are filled with lights, music, and the scent of mulled wine. Vienna’s Christkindlmarkt is truly regal.
  Vienna Christmas Markets

Winter Wonderland Destinations

Markets aren’t the only way to experience the festive season. For motorhomers, winter landscapes bring their own kind of magic.

• Scottish Highlands – Snow-capped peaks, frosty glens, and quiet lochs offer a peaceful Christmas escape. Imagine spending Christmas Eve parked near a Highland inn, complete with a roaring fire.
  Visit Scotland – Winter Travel

• Lake District – Winter walks on crisp mornings, village pubs with local ales, and small-scale festive events make this a cosy seasonal retreat.
  Visit Lake District

• Snowdonia, Wales – Quieter in winter, Snowdonia is perfect for adventurous motorhomers who love dramatic scenery. On clear nights, the starry skies are spectacular.
  Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park

• Norway / Lapland – For those prepared for a serious road trip, Scandinavia offers an Arctic Christmas like no other. See the Northern Lights (although you can do that in London these days!), meet reindeer herds, and discover snowy forests that feel straight out of a Christmas story.
  Visit Norway – Christmas & Winter | Visit Lapland

Festive Events & Experiences

Christmas on the road is about more than destinations — it’s about the experiences you can enjoy along the way.

• Light Trails – Many stately homes and gardens host dazzling light trails in December. Standouts include:
  Christmas at Kew | Blenheim Palace Lights | Longleat Festival of Light

• Santa Steam Trains – The Watercress Line offers festive journeys complete with Santa visits and seasonal treats.
  UK Santa Steam Train Guide

• New Year Road Trips – Extend your Christmas travels into the New Year.

  • Edinburgh’s Hogmanay – Edinburgh Hogmanay

  • Or head for quieter countryside spots via the National Trust to see in the New Year under the stars.

Whether you travel this festive season or simply stay home away from the crowds and the cold, we hope our little Christmas Guide helped put you in the Festive spirit (even though it is only November)!