Christmas markets in Cambridge: dates, rink and Ely fairs 2026

Cambridge in December has stone colleges, cold air and a lot of lights. The christmas markets in cambridge are not huge, but the main one has the things people actually want: wooden chalets, street food, a rink and a big wheel, all on a park a short walk from the centre. If you want something quieter and more crafty, Ely is a short trip north, and its cathedral fair is the best gift-shopping event in the area.

Here is what is on in 2026, with the opening hours, prices and travel details that the organisers have published so far.

1 Cambridge Christmas Market (Christmas in Cambridge), Parker’s Piece

This is the big one. It runs every day from Friday 13 November 2026 to Sunday 3 January 2027 on Parker’s Piece, CB1 1NA.

Hours depend on the date. Until 18 December the market opens at 11.30am on weekdays and at 10am at weekends. From 19 December it opens at 10am every day. It closes at 10pm from Sunday to Thursday and at 11pm on Fridays and Saturdays. Walking in costs nothing. The rink and the rides are paid.

The site has wooden chalets, street food, an ice rink, a big wheel, curling lanes, a funfair and a lodge bar. A one-hour skating session costs £16.50 for adults, £14 for under-12s and £53.50 for a family ticket. That is not cheap for a family of four, so decide whether skating is the point of the trip before you buy. The trader list and the Santa dates had not been published when we checked, so look again nearer the time.

Getting there is easy. The railway station is about a 15-minute walk. If you drive, Queen Anne Terrace car park (CB1 1ND) is 200 metres from the site and is free after 6pm. Park and ride buses run until about 8.30pm on weekdays, and Milton’s Service 2 runs until about 11.20pm, so do not rely on park and ride for a late evening.

My advice: go on a weekday, and aim for late morning just after the 11.30am opening. Weekend evenings are when the rink and the chalets are busiest.

2 Christmas Market, Cambridge Science Park

A one-day market on Thursday 3 December, 11:00 to 14:00, in the outdoor marquee at the Trinity Centre. It is free, and the ticket includes a mince pie and a mulled wine.

More than 30 local craft and food stalls take part. It is short and it is on a weekday lunchtime, so it works for people who live or work nearby. Visitors on a weekend trip will probably skip it.

3 Mill Road Winter Fair, Cambridge

The fair takes place on Saturday 5 December from 10:30 to 16:30 and is free. We only have those details, so we cannot tell you what the stalls will sell. It is a street event rather than a ticketed market, and a good way to see the city away from the college centre. Pair it with a walk down Mill Road itself.

4 Ely Cathedral Christmas Gift & Food Fair, Ely

This is the one worth planning a day around. The fair runs from Thursday 19 to Saturday 21 November inside Ely Cathedral (CB7 4DL), with an outdoor food village alongside. Another listing gives different dates, 28 November and 12 December, so confirm before you travel.

About 160 gift and food exhibitors take part, and there is a vintage carousel and an observation wheel outside. On Thursday and Friday the fair runs from 9.30am to 4.30pm, with an evening session from 6.30pm to 8.30pm. Saturday is 9.30am to 4.30pm.

Entry is by timed ticket. Prices are £10 for adults and £5 for ages 3 to 15, and normal cathedral passes are not valid. An all-day ticket at £15 had sold out when we checked. Book early.

5 Ely Markets at Christmas, Ely

Ely’s own markets run through the season, and the dates are easy to miss. Here they are in order.

• Festive Food & Gift Markets: Friday 20 November and Friday 11 December, 10am to 4pm.
• Festive Foodie Friday: Friday 27 November, 4pm to 8pm, with street food and live music.
• Craft, Food & Vintage Market: Saturday 19 December, 8.30am to 3.30pm.
• Sunday Market: Sunday 20 December, 9am to 3pm.
• Christmas Eve Charter Market: Thursday 24 December, 8.30am to 3pm.

Festive Foodie Friday is the one I would pick if you like to eat while you shop. The Christmas Eve Charter Market is the last-minute choice for anyone who has left the shopping late.

How to plan a trip

Do the dates before anything else. The Ely Cathedral fair is only three days, and the Science Park and Mill Road events are single days. The Parker’s Piece market is the only one that gives you flexibility.

For a first visit, here is a simple route. Go to Parker’s Piece on a weekday late morning, have lunch at the chalets, then walk into the centre. Add Ely on a separate day, and book the cathedral timed tickets first because they are the first thing to sell out. The park and ride buses stop early in the evening, so check your return before you settle in for the night.

Food and drink

Street food is the main attraction at Cambridge and at Ely’s Festive Foodie Friday. The Science Park market gives you a mulled wine and a mince pie with your ticket, which is a nice touch for a free event. The sources do not list individual vendors, so we will not name any.

Christmas markets in Cambridge: frequently asked questions

Is the Parker’s Piece market free?

Entry is free. You pay for the ice rink and the rides. Ely Cathedral fair needs a timed ticket.

How do I get to Parker’s Piece without a car?

It is about a 15-minute walk from Cambridge station. Milton’s Service 2 runs until about 11.20pm if you need a bus.

Where can I park?

Queen Anne Terrace car park, CB1 1ND, is 200 metres from the market and is free after 6pm.

Which market should I visit first?

Parker’s Piece, because it has the longest season and the most to do. Add the Ely Cathedral fair if you want proper gift shopping and can book a timed ticket.