That's The Spirit! Christmas Market Coach Breaks for 2025

Christmas Market breaks by coach are a simple, fun and social way to mark the season. Leave the car at home, settle into your reserved seat, and enjoy the build-up with fellow travellers.

Our Christmas Market coach trips include comfortable hotels and free time to explore, with departure points across Scotland and the North of England. Here's a small selection of some of the popular Christmas market breaks we offer...and we've got loads more besides...!

York Christmas Market

Heading into Yorkshire from Scotland or the North East, the fields and market towns give way to York’s historic streets and the glow of St Nicholas Fair. Coach breaks to York Christmas Market put you among the chalets, where passengers compare gift ideas, sample local bakes and warm up with a mulled wine in St Sampson’s Square. The city feels close-knit at this time of year, with friendly stallholders and the Minster never far from view.

Many like to wander the iconic Shambles, pause for a hot chocolate or a quick photo under the lights, then loop back past the independent shops to tick a few names off the list.

Back on the coach, there’s that happy end-of-day chat about who found the best stocking fillers before a relaxed ride to the hotel and a comfortable night’s sleep.

Edinburgh Christmas Market

For those joining in the Borders or North East England, it’s a straightforward run to the Scottish capital, for a day or two away that always feels worth the journey. Making new frends on the coach, you can swap stall tips with each other while families plan a Santa visit and a whirl on the ice. In East Princes Street Gardens, the market is alive with food, crafts and small makers, and there’s always time to step aside for a sit-down and to enjoy something warm.

As daylight turns to night, the Big Wheel offers wide views across the rooftops, and Castle of Light brings shifting colour to the skyline. It mixes simple traditions with stand-out moments: kids comparing decorations, couples sharing a cone of roasted nuts, and groups arranging a meeting spot before heading back together.

A classic choice for Christmas Market breaks by coach when you want festive energy without a long haul.

Liverpool Christmas Market

As you cross the Pennines into the North West, talk turns to street food, souvenir hunts and where to meet later for a festive drink. Coach breaks to Liverpool Christmas Market arrive beside the grand frontage of St George’s Hall, where 40-plus stalls line the plateau with gifts, crafts and seasonal treats. The setting adds a bit of theatre to the day, and there’s space to move at your own pace.

Little ones make a beeline for Santa Land and a turn on the carousel, while the older one gather at the Alpine bars for a warm drink and a quick catch-up. Choirs drift in and out, people buy scarves, sweets and wooden toys, and there’s time to slip away for a bite before another lap of the stalls.

With everything close together, it’s easy to regroup and head back to the coach content and unhurried.

Birmingham Christmas Market

As you head down to the Midlands, the chat on the coach often centres on where to start among the 180-plus stalls. Coach breaks to Birmingham Christmas Market cover Victoria Square, New Street and Centenary Square, so you can wander between areas picking up wooden toys, hand-made decorations and jewellery as you go. Traditional German bites are part of the rhythm here, from a quick bratwurst to a slice of stollen on the move.

Groups share a glühwein before comparing finds, families tick off lists and tuck small gifts safely into bags, and solo travellers enjoy an easy day with plenty to see. It’s busy without being difficult, well-signed, and designed for browsing.

When you’ve seen enough, the coach is close by for a comfortable ride back and a chance to trade stories about the best stalls of the day.

Bruges Christmas Market

Crossing the Channel adds a little extra to your festive plans, with the coach-and-ferry journey giving time to settle in and get to know fellow travellers. In Bruges, the old town opens out into cobbled squares and gabled roofs, with a market threaded between cafés and chocolate shops. You’ll find crafts, warm drinks and winter snacks, plus plenty of spots to pause and people-watch when you want a breather.

Some head straight for the rink, others choose a horse-drawn carriage or a quiet loop along the canals before diving back into the stalls. It’s an chilled kind of day: simple purchases, lots of memories, and a steady stroll back to the coach as the lights reflect on the streets.

An easy, must-pick within our Christmas Market coach trips when you fancy a continental flavour without the faff.

Aachen and Other German Favourites

If a traditional German market is on your list, why not explore our range of German coach holidays with Caledonian Travel. Expect classic wooden stalls, seasonal baking and warm drinks served the way they’ve been enjoyed for years, with time to browse at your own pace and space to sit when you need it.

These breaks keep things straightforward: a relaxed journey, central drop-offs where possible, and free time to find the bits that matter to you. Think simple decorations that last, good food shared between friends, and a steady wander back to the coach when you’re ready.

What’s Included

Every Caldeonian Travel Christmas coach break with an overnight stay includes coach travel with reserved seating, so you can relax from the moment you join the coach.

Your hotel stay is on a bed & breakfast or dinner, bed & breakfast basis (as shown on each break), giving you time to unwind after your day out.

We also include excursions to the featured Christmas markets and festive destinations, with plenty of free time to browse the stalls, pick up gifts and enjoy a seasonal bite or warm drink before heading back in comfort. There and back, all with us. Simple!

Departures and Easy Planning

With convenient pick-ups across Scotland and the North of England, our Christmas Market breaks by coach keep things straightforward. Enjoy the scenery, get in the festive mood with fellow passengers, and arrive ready to make the most of it.

Take a look at all the Christmas Market coach trips that we offer, and start planning dates and pick-up points. Whether you’re hunting for gifts, topping up traditions or simply after good festive feeling, there’s a Christmas Market coach break with your name on it.