Christmas markets and light switch-ons in the Cotswolds 2026

I love a proper Christmas market. Food to try, little personalised gifts, and the kind of browsing where the shopping is half the fun.

What I'm less keen on is a market that runs all year and just adds Christmas to its name. So this guide is picky. It covers the markets, light switch-ons and late-night shopping evenings across the Cotswolds this year that I think are worth the trip, with the dates and times you need to plan.

And the shopping doesn't have to be the whole point. A market followed by the town lights going on gives you a reason to stay a little longer. If you'd rather wander the shops with music and something warm in hand, there are evenings for that too.

Here's a breakdown of what's happening and when. Some programmes are still taking shape, so we'll update this guide week by week as more details are announced.

At a glance

Proper Christmas markets

Handmade gifts, independent makers and good seasonal food are what earn a market its Christmas title for me. These are the ones that caught my eye.

Lechlade: get ahead in November

If you like to be organised before December arrives, Crafty Boaters runs two handmade-only markets at Lechlade Memorial Hall, Oak Street, GL7 3AY. They're on Saturday 14 and Sunday 22 November, 10am to 4pm.

Everyone selling made what they're selling, across up to 38 stalls. Entry and parking are free, well-behaved dogs on leads are welcome, and the refreshment money goes to charity.

If the dog comes everywhere with you, this is worth considering over a switch-on where dogs aren't allowed.

Burford: food, makers and the lights after

Burford's Christmas Market is at Warwick Hall, Church Lane, OX18 4RY, on Saturday 28 November, 10am to 3.30pm. Entry is free.

The artisan Food Hall is what sold me on this one. Food and present shopping under one roof is exactly what I'm after, with independent makers and artists alongside. Look out for the chocolate stand raising money for St John's Church, which invited Beccy Hunt to organise the market.

The organiser says the High Street lights go on at 4pm, so you finish browsing with half an hour to find a good spot. That time comes from the market listing, so check it again closer to the day.

Chipping Campden: make Saturday the day

Campden's market weekend is 5 and 6 December, and the two days are quite different.

Saturday is the big one: an outdoor market on High Street and Market Square from noon to 5pm, with crafts, decorations, cards, toys and gifts, plus festive food and drink in Market Square. Father Christmas makes an appearance, and the lights go on at dusk.

Sunday moves indoors to the Town Hall. It's handy if Saturday is already booked: the organiser's timetable gives 10am to 5pm for Town Hall markets unless otherwise stated.

Elkstone: a Sunday morning browse

Sainte Market at Elkstone Studios, GL53 9PQ, is on Sunday 6 December, 10am to 2pm. Handmade and small-batch seasonal stalls share the space with food vendors and extra food and drink trucks.

It's the one for a browse and a bite to eat with the afternoon still free. Just don't leave it until after lunch, as it finishes at 2pm.

Entry is free and dogs are welcome. It's outdoors, so dress for it.

Tetbury: a Friday craft market

Tetbury's Christmas Craft Market is on Friday 4 December, 5pm to 8.30pm. That gives you an evening market to browse after work. The exact lights switch-on time still needs confirming, so don't treat the market's opening time as the ceremony time.

Fairford: market first, tree lights at 6.30pm

Fairford's Festive Market fills Market Place on Friday 4 December, 4.30pm to 8.30pm, with the tree lights going on at 6.30pm. The town council's programme advertises more than 45 stalls with crafts, gifts, food and drink, including hot food.

Light switch-ons

If you're going for the moment the lights come on, the event hours won't tell you much. Here's what's been announced so far.

Bourton-on-the-Water: the tree in the river

This is the one I'd most like to see. A Christmas tree standing in the river is a pretty good reason to pick a switch-on, and the parish council confirms it's back this year.

The lights go on at 5.30pm on Friday 27 November, with a small event on the Village Green. High Street closes from 5.15pm to 6.15pm, and some shops are expected to stay open for Christmas shopping, with the full programme still to come.

Cirencester: plan around the crowds

Cirencester's Advent Market and switch-on fills Market Place on Saturday 28 November, 10am to 6pm. The town council warns of crowds and road closures, so I'd plan for a busy day.

The town council's Christmas programme gives a 4.15pm ceremony start, with low-noise fireworks at about 4.55pm after the switch-on. It doesn't state the precise moment the lights come on, so arrive for the ceremony rather than aiming for the fireworks.

The council asks people not to bring dogs, other than assistance dogs, so the dog-friendly markets elsewhere in this guide may suit some families better.

If the switch-on isn't essential, there are two other ways to do Cirencester. For the Sunday Advent Market on 29 November, the council pages disagree: its Christmas programme says 10am to 4pm, while its dated event listing says 9am to 5pm. Check with the council before travelling, particularly if you're planning to arrive early or stay late.

The Cirencester Christmas Market weekend follows on 5 and 6 December: Saturday 9am to 5pm, Sunday 10am to 4pm. The Sunday Advent Market and this later weekend let you browse without timing your visit around the lights.

Moreton-in-Marsh: Saturday on the High Street

Moreton's Christmas Lights Market and Switch-On is confirmed for Saturday 28 November in the town council's meeting update. Visitor hours and the exact switch-on time still need confirming, so check the programme from the Moreton-in-Marsh Christmas Lights Committee before you go.

It falls on the same day as Burford and Cirencester. I'd pick the one you most fancy and give yourself time to enjoy it, instead of spending the afternoon trying to get between all three.

Witney: lights at 6pm

Witney's lights event is on Friday 27 November, 5.30pm to 7.30pm, with the switch-on at 6pm. Rotary Club of Witney advertises a grotto, funfair and stalls alongside the lights.

Dursley: a Friday evening switch-on

Festive Dursley runs on Friday 27 November, 4.30pm to 8pm, with the lights going on at 6pm. The council's tourism programme includes fireworks, a funfair, food, stalls, music and a grotto.

Late-night shopping

Not every outing needs to be a Saturday. Broadway, Malmesbury and Stroud have Friday evenings, while Winchcombe and Cirencester offer Thursdays. There are several choices on Friday 4 December alone, so pick the evening that suits your shopping list.

Broadway: two Friday evenings

Broadway's late-night Christmas shopping is on Friday 27 November and Friday 4 December, 4.30pm to 8.30pm, along High Street and The Green.

Expect music, mulled wine and festive food alongside the shops and restaurants. It's an evening I'd consider even with a short present list. These are shopping evenings; no separate lights ceremony has been announced.

Winchcombe: Thursday evening, Friday trail

On Thursday 3 December, noon to 8pm, Winchcombe hosts an outdoor Christmas market with late shopping. There are more than 50 stalls, festive food, carols and live music, and the long hours mean you can go after work and still catch it.

Friday 4 December, 10am to 4pm, is something different: a shopping trail with around 20 pop-ups inside independent shops and venues. It's a way to explore the town, but it's a daytime outing. Both days are part of the Winchcombe Christmas Festival.

Malmesbury: Friday 4 December

Malmesbury's Christmas late-night shopping is on Friday 4 December from 6pm, according to the town council.

Last year it ran until 9pm, with stalls along the High Street and Oxford Street, Santa's grotto in the Cross Hayes car park, local choirs and food stalls. This year's full programme is still to come.

Stroud: Goodwill Evening, Friday 4 December

Stroud Goodwill Evening returns on Friday 4 December, with lanterns, live music and street performers across the town centre. This year's theme is Spectacular, with stilt-walkers, fire-eaters, puppeteers and cabaret announced.

The Cornhill Market, now in its 25th year, runs from 4pm to 9pm, and shops stay open late. The mix of local makers, lanterns and street performances makes this one worth a look if you want more going on around the shopping.

Cirencester: Thursday 10 December

Participating shops in Cirencester stay open until 8pm on Thursday 10 December, according to the town council's Christmas programme. It's another way to fit in some town-centre shopping if the Advent Market weekend doesn't work for you.

More lights after dark

Westonbirt

If one evening of lights isn't enough, Christmas at Westonbirt near Tetbury runs on selected evenings from Friday 27 November to Thursday 31 December. It's made by the team behind Christmas at Kew, with timed entry roughly every 15 minutes from 4pm to 8pm.

Standard tickets are £26.50 for adults and £19 for children aged 3 to 16, with cheaper off-peak midweek dates and an £89 family ticket. Parking must be booked in advance at £10.

Unlike Lechlade or Elkstone, dogs aren't allowed, apart from assistance dogs. Relaxed sessions for visitors with additional needs are on 28 November and 4, 10 and 16 December.

Painswick: Enchanted Garden by Night

The Rococo Garden's Enchanted Garden by Night runs on selected bookable dates from Friday 27 November 2026 to Saturday 2 January 2027. Choose a timed slot before you go; the date range doesn't mean it's open every night.

Still to be announced

Some dates are emerging, but these outings still need a confirmed 2026 visitor programme. Here's what we can establish so far and what to check before making plans.

If you only do one

Make it Burford on Saturday 28 November. A food hall, independent makers and the High Street lights half an hour after the market closes is as close to my perfect Christmas afternoon as this list gets.

If you can manage a second, Bourton's tree in the river the night before is the one I'd love to see.

Before you go

Times, guests and admission can change, so check the organiser's page again before you travel. Entry is confirmed free at Lechlade, Burford and Elkstone. If step-free access, accessible parking or transport matter for your visit, ask the venue directly.

There's more in the Cotswold Digest events calendar, and if you'd like local ideas sent straight to you, sign up for the free newsletter.

Checked 20 October 2026; additions checked 22 October 2026; selected announcements updated 29 October 2026. We'll update this guide week by week as more details are confirmed.