If you celebrate Christmas, there’s a lot to think about this time of year. You’ve got to buy all the gifts, plan how you’re going to get home for the 25th and attempt to avoid the traffic from hell, and sort out all the décor. Not everyone can have a National Lampoons-esque setup, but you don’t want to be a grinch either.
Christmas is the time when you’re allowed to be unapologetically over the top with your decorations, but it’s not always easy to find a house-full of semi-tacky, very sparkly holiday paraphernalia. Lucky for you, the Times knows exactly where to go for just that.
The newspaper has created a list of the nation’s top seven festive stores, which sell exclusively stuff which will get you in the mood to be jolly. The Times recommends making a weekend trip out of it if you’re a real Nöel-ultra.
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The Times’ top pick is Käthe Wohlfahrt in York, which is arguably the most christmassy city in the UK even without its strong boutique game. This German craft shop is good for all things handmade from nutcrackers to cuckoo clocks to glass figurines. It also wins points for its proximity to the York Minster, as the article says you’re ‘just steps from towering Minster — home to some epic carol concerts, plus a month-long tree festival featuring 70 decorated evergreens’. Sounds ideal.
Next was Christmas on the Lakes, which is unsurprisingly in Bowness in the Lake District. Once again the surrounding locale, which is ‘aglow with holiday fervour’, certainly adds to the atmosphere. This store stocks everything from gonks to santa hats, but its the Beatrix Potter decor that’s a must.
Third on the Times’ list is The Little Christmas Shop of Ironbridge in Shropshire, which sells food as well as all the classic ornaments. Following that came the Cotswolds Christmas Shop in Lechlade-on-Thames, notably one of the oldest Christmas stores in the country and purveyor of old Victorian holiday models scenes.
Other places mentioned included Old Rowlands in Somerset, Tidings in Pastow, Cornwall, and The Nutcracker Christmas Shop in Edinburgh, all of which are magical in their own unique ways. You can learn more about any of the gift shops mentioned on the Times’ article here.
Enjoy your holiday-cheer-filled adventures!
Tis’ the season at Time Out
Looking to spread the Christmas cheer? We’ve got you covered. Here’s a ranking of the UK’s best Christmas lights displays, and if you’re in the mood for mulled wine, here’s where you can find the best Christmas markets in the country. We are also keeping you up to date on all the latest Christmas news, including exactly where you can find the Coca-Cola truck.
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