Media Release: Christmasmarkets.com Reveals Top 10 Festive Markets

Croydon, Surrey, UK – Thursday 19 November, 2009; Christmasmarkets.com, the only comprehensive internet directory, has revealed Europe’s Top 10 Christmas markets according to the site’s 2008 visitors in which no fewer than six UK markets topped the leader board.

London’s Hyde Park Christmas market came out favourite with visitors rating the atmosphere, quality and variety of goods, surrounding attractions and ease of access, while the Cologne Christmas market at London’s Southbank Centre ranked second. The Leeds Christkindelmarkt Traditional German Market came third, immediately followed by the Bath event. Birmingham’s Frankfurt Christmas Market and Craft Fair ranked sixth and the Canterbury Traditional Christmas Market eighth. European markets are also proving increasingly popular to British visitors who combine stress-free travel via Eurostar, or cost effective airlines such as BMI, with a weekend break and a spot of Christmas shopping in traditional surroundings. The Brussels Winter Wonderland proved the most popular event in wider Europe, ranking fifth overall. Of the 83 French markets featured on Christmasmarkets.com, the Lille event was placed favourite in seventh. Christmas markets are thought to have originated from German speaking parts of Europe and the country’s events are still considered to be some of the best on offer with Cologne and Berlin completing the Top 10 listing in ninth and 10th place respectively. Over 400 markets held across 22 countries, including 150 UK events alone, are featured on www.christmasmarkets.com. The Top 10 list has been formatted through visitor traffic and search patterns from January to December 2008, when the site boasted over 500,000 unique visitors and 1.5 million page views. Also taken into consideration to formulate the Top 10, Christmasmarkets.com considered visitor reviews and hotel/holiday bookings via the site’s commercial partners. Christmasmarkets.com Top 10 Christmas Markets 2008 1 – Hyde Park Winter Wonderland, London (21 November ‘09 to 3 January ‘10) Hyde Park’s Winter Wonderland features Europe’s largest outdoor ice rink with a capacity for 400 skaters per hour. Featuring a German style Christmas market with 40 wooden chalets situated around the bandstand area on Serpentine Road, the market sells a variety of festive goods and culinary specialities that will appeal to all ages. 2 – Cologne Christmas Market, Southbank Centre (20 November to 23 December ‘09) The Cologne Christmas Market at Southbank Centre/London Eye proves particularly popular with the younger visitors offering a carousel in the centre, while parents can relax with a glass of glühwein (German mulled wine). A visit with Santa in his secret village makes a trip to the Cologne Christmas Market particularly enjoyable for the children, but tickets must be booked in advance. 3 – Leeds Christkindelmarkt Traditional German Christmas Market (13 November to 20 December ‘09) The Leeds Christkindelmarkt Traditional German Christmas Market is one of the largest and most established German Christmas markets in the UK and is set in the stylish civic setting of the award winning Millennium Square. An adjoining festive funfair provides amusement for all the family including a traditional Christmas carousel, a large scale dodgems and a selection of small children's rides and attractions. 4 – Bath Christmas Market (26 November to 6 December ‘09) The Bath Christmas Market, an internationally renowned festive gift market entering its eighth year, can be found in the heart of the beautiful and historic City. All the retailers sell unique, handcrafted items, many of which are made in the local area which gives the event a very individual identity. 5 – Brussels Winter Wonderland (27 November ‘09 to 3 January ‘10) Although a very busy Christmas market, the Brussels Winter Wonderland proves very popular with British visitors. For the first time this year there will be a separate skating rink for children while the holiday atmosphere afforded by the festive lights decorating the Grand Place should not be missed. 6 – Birmingham Frankfurt Christmas Market & Craft Fair (12 November to 23 December ‘09) Birmingham Frankfurt Christmas Market and Craft Fair combines a traditional Christmas market with the craft fair and offers ease of access to all 180 stalls. With a great atmosphere and a high quality and variety of goods available, this market has proved popular with both locals and visitors travelling into Birmingham. 7 – Lille Christmas Market (18 November to 30 December ‘09) The Lille Christmas market offers entertainment for children in the shape of theatre and games and of course provides the chance to sample traditional French Christmas delicacies. Held for a month, the market also offers younger visitors the opportunity for photographs with Father Christmas and features a spectacular show when he "falls" from the Chamber of Commerce's 80 metre-high Belfry. 8 – Canterbury Traditional Christmas Market – (19 November to 23 December ‘09) The Canterbury Christmas Market, situated in the centre of the medieval city, offers a variety of traditional German fayre including bratwurst and glühwein. The market features unusual Christmas gifts such as silver jewellery, hand crafted toys, fragile glass tree ornaments, tin toys, and candles in all shapes and sizes. 9 – Cologne Christmas Markets – (27 November to 23 December ‘09) The Cologne Christmas Market scored highly on atmosphere, quality and variety of goods and ease of access, with over two million flocking to the six markets which make up the Cologne Christmas market. A small train is available to take you between the main sites and markets and with a variety of surrounding attractions too, a visit to Cologne comes highly recommended. 10 – Berlin Christmas Market – (23 November to 31 December ‘09) Although listed under one banner, there are in fact a number of small interconnecting markets that make up the Berlin Christmas market. Among the highlights of these are trumpet ensembles, children's choirs, jazz and Dixie players performing on stage at the Weltbrunnen fountain every weekend during advent. The Christmas markets and festive feel of Berlin makes it a great place to go to get into the Christmas Spirit. Further information on each of the Top 10 Christmas markets can be found at www.christmasmarkets.com including detailed market descriptions, including open times, ticket prices, and transport tips. New for 2009, visitors can effortlessly locate their market of choice and then search for holiday deals, hotel accommodation and travel information in one easy visit. -Ends- Please click on the thumbnails below to download images or visit http://www.christmasmarkets.com/press.aspx Notes to Editors Christmasmarkets.com was created in 2006 by the Croydon-based company Fathom Business Solutions. Since then it has rapidly become the number one industry site. In 2008 the site attracted 500,000 unique users and 1.5 million page views. For further information visit www.christmasmarkets.com or email press@christmasmarkets.com New Media Site - Visit the new Christmasmarkets.com Media section where journalists can find the latest industry and site news and download copyright free images for editorial use only. Simply log on to http://www.christmasmarkets.com/press.aspx Username: christmas Password: press Media or publishers utilising Christmasmarkets.com to build editorial features are requested to list www.christmasmarkets.com and suggest that their readers access the site direct to plan their Christmas market trips. Contact Details Emma Spearing, Hazel PR Tel: +44 (0)1202 862411 Mobile: +44 (0)7736 341828 Email: emma.spearing@hazelpr.com

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