Sarah LOVES Christmas. I enjoy it too, however Sarah really LOVES Christmas! So a trip to the Manchester Christmas Markets 2013 was a surefire way of getting into the Christmas spirit (even if it is still only November). We have been to the Manchester Christmas Markets and tasted the gluhwein before of course. It’s becoming a tradition. We visited this year on the opening Saturday (as I found out later).

Originally the plan had been that Sarah and I would meet up in the afternoon following our various events we were due to attend. I had an Open University tutorial being held in one of the Manchester University buildings, whilst Sarah was attending an Alpha Course Away Day being held in Deansgate with Stockport Family Church. In the event my tutorial was cancelled and I took the opportunity to meet up with Andy S and take a tour around his Mountain Goat cycle ride instead and caught the train in later.

We started off with some tea and cake at the newly opened Fig and Sparrow on Oldham Street. We like non-mainstream cafes and this one appealed to us for we had read it served gluten-free food – always a good start. And it is indeed a lovely quirky little cafe. The front half of the shop sells a range of gifts, and at the back is a small cafe. We can report the gluten-free cakes are delicious.

  

The Manchester Christmas Markets 2013 trail starts at the Arndale Centre which we briefly passed through.

  

Before coming out near Shambles Square.

We had a quick look around the Manchester Cathedral Quarter.

  

We then worked our way down New Cathedral Street towards St Ann’s Square where we joined in the crush for the obligatory gluhwein.

  

From St Ann’s Square the Manchester Christmas Markets 2013 trail next takes you on to King Street. Thankfully it was a little easier to move around here (if we had been aware, we would have avoided the crush and purchased our gluhwein here!)

From there we walked down Brazennose Street (where again there was a little more space to move) before coming out at Albert Square.

  

The crowds in Albert Square were enormous, it was difficult to move around at anything other than a shuffling space. Frankly we had had enough by now and didn’t stay too long.

  

And that was our visit to the Manchester Christmas Markets 2013 over.

In truth we visited on probably one of the busiest day (the first weekend and a Saturday) and if visiting would recommend choosing alternative days. That said we love sampling the atmosphere. Most of the stalls return each year but that doesn’t seem to make the visit any less compelling. The Manchester Christmas Markets are always worth adding to your Christmas diary. Now here’s hoping that our local Stockport Christmas Market develops becomes an equally worthwhile fixture in the Christmas calendar.