Winchester Cathedral Christmas Market preparations underway

Winchester Cathedral Christmas Market attracted more than 400,000 people last year and returns on Friday, November 17.

This week the Cathedral grounds have started to transform into a Winter Wonderland with the market chalets being built and a Christmas tree put up.

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The Christmas market opens on November 17 (Image: Newsquest)The market will be open from 10am until 6pm through Sunday to Thursday with closing time extended until 8pm Friday to Saturday.

With stalls selling Christmas goods including clothes, ornaments and food and drink there will be more than 20 vendors making their Winchester Cathedral Christmas Market debut.

There will be products available from across the globe with a focus on local businesses with the return of the ‘shop local’ chalet. The chalet will have a rota of 19 local producers who will take over the stall for one day.

A range of businesses from Hampshire including Winchester, Andover, Basingstoke, Bordon, Meon Valley, New Forest, Petersfield, Portsmouth, Southampton, and Test Valley will be showing off their produce.

The ice-skating rink will not be returning this year and instead, there will be a community stage where local performers will have a chance to shine with The Salvation Army opening and closing this year’s community stage.

Visitors are encouraged to use the park and ride with additional buses running from the park and ride car park into the Broadway from 9am to 6pm.