Whether it's picking up unique gifts for the hard-to-buy-for, or simply soaking up the atmosphere with seasonal food and entertainment, a trip to a traditional Christmas market is essential come the festive season.
From the county's most magical, to festive wonderlands over the borders, SoGlos rounds up 13 of the best Christmas markets you can get to by bus from Gloucestershire, in partnership with Stagecoach.
Gloucester Quays Christmas market
Gloucester Quays' renowned Christmas market is a must-visit, with more than 120 traders from across the south west selling their wares from decorated wooden cabins on Orchard Square, every weekend from now until Sunday 21 December 2025.
Shop for handmade gifts including festive decorations and homewares; and artisan produce from locally produced cheese, to handcrafted spirits – while there's also festive street food and a pop-up bar serving mulled wine and hot chocolate to enjoy while you shop.
Bus services stopping on Spa Road – a three minute walk from Orchard Square – such as the 10 will get you to Gloucester Transport Hub for making connections to wherever you live in the county; or to Tuffley in the south of Gloucester.
Cheltenham Christmas market
Bringing a big dose of festive cheer to the Promenade, Cheltenham's Christmas Arts & Crafts Market is back for 13 days from Thursday 11 to Tuesday 23 December 2025.
Expect unique, handmade Christmas gifts including homeware and crafts from local artisans – from jewellery and glass, to woodcraft and original art prints – and there's hot food and mulled wine to enjoy while you browse, too.
The town's main bus hub at Cheltenham Promenade is located right next to the Christmas market.
Oxford Christmas markets
Oxford's historic Broad Street is transformed into a festive wonderland at Christmas, with lights, market stalls, food and drink and entertainment – on everyday from now until the end of December, excluding Christmas day.
Stalls feature everything from handcrafted gifts and unique artisan products, to indulgent festive food and drink, with live music including local choirs, bands, solo artists and even DJs on hand to spread the festive cheer.
Stagecoach service S2 will get you from Cheltenham and the Cotswolds to Oxford, with Broad Street a short walk away from the bus station.
Stroud Christmas markets
Coming to Cornhill Market Place over five days in December, the organisers of Stroud's Christmas markets say they'll be 'better than ever' this year – with everything from locally made textiles and ceramics, to produce like spirits, sauces and cheeses available on Thursday 18, Friday 19 and Monday 22 December 2025.
You can also pick up fresh Christmas food from sprout stalks, sweet parsnips and Christmas puddings, to apple juice, wine and real ale at the annual Christmas farmers market on Saturday 20 – along with a bonus market on Tuesday 23, for picking up those last minute ingredients.
Cornhill Market Place is a seven-minute walk from Stroud's main bus hub, Merrywalks.
Taurus Crafts Christmas markets
On every weekend in December until Christmas, Lydney's Taurus Crafts is the place to go to get your Christmas market fix in the Forest of Dean.
You'll find exclusively handmade items from some of the leading makers across the Forest, Bristol, Herefordshire and beyond including fine art and bespoke crafts, in a festive atmosphere featuring live music along with freshly made food and drink.
Taurus Crafts is a 17-minute walk from the bus stop outside Lydney Town Hall on the 22/23 route that connects Lydney with Coleford, Cinderford and Gloucester.
Cirencester Christmas markets
Renowned year-round for its markets, the capital of the Cotswolds comes into its own at Christmas, kicking off the season with over 100 stalls and live entertainment at its advert market and light switch-on Saturday 29 November 2025.
The markets then continue every weekend until Christmas, with a wide variety of goods including crafts and local produce on offer from traders, at Market Place in the town centre.
Market Place is just down the road from the Bingham House bus stop, for catching services to the surrounding Cotswolds along with Cheltenham and Gloucester.
Hereford Christmas markets
Another historic market centre just over the county border, Hereford also goes big with its annual Christmas markets, taking place in High Town and Commercial Street in the city centre.
Every Friday and Sunday, from Sunday 30 November 2025 until Christmas, there'll be between 30 and 40 traders selling everything from crafts, clothing and jewellery to decorations and stocking fillers, with hot street food and drinks to enjoy, too – all in sight of the city's giant Christmas tree!
Bus users can reach Hereford by catching Stagecoach service 33 from Gloucester via Ross-on-Wye, with High Town a six-minute walk away from the city's Old Market bus stop.
Winchcombe Christmas market
Taking place on Friday 28 and Saturday 29 November 2025, a big part of the annual Winchcombe Christmas Festival is its vibrant Christmas market, featuring more than 40 stalls packed with unique gifts.
Along with the market, visitors can enjoy festive food and drink, live entertainment from bands, choirs, carol singers and Morris dancers – with the town being lit up at night by more than 70 illuminated real Christmas trees!
Winchcombe town centre is just a short bus ride from Cheltenham on Stagecoach's W service.
Blenheim Palace Christmas market
Rated one of the best Christmas markets in the UK by The Times in 2025, it's well worth the trip over the county border to Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire during the festive season.
Free to enter – though you'll need tickets to get into the palace and its popular illuminated light trail – the market consists of a village of chalets selling a wide range of gifts along with tasty festive treats, on everyday until Saturday 3 January 2026, excluding Christmas day.
Stagecoach users can get within a 20-minute walk of Blenheim Palace via the S2 Cheltenham to Oxford service, with changes at Burford and Witney.
Dunkertons Christmas market in Charlton Kings
Meet artisan makers and chat about their craft as you shop for your Christmas gifts, at the annual Christmas market from foodie and cider destination Dunkertons in Charlton Kings.
On Saturday 6 December 2025, shop a wide range of products from greetings cards and festive decorations, to crafts including jewellery, ceramics, glass, prints and textiles; local produce including handmade chocolates; natural and organic beauty and wellbeing products; and luxury dog accessories.
The S2 bus to Oxford from Cheltenham will get you to within a five-minute walk of Dunkertons Park.
Tewkesbury Abbey Christmas fair
Hosted by one of Gloucestershire's most iconic attractions, enjoy the magic of Tewkesbury Abbey at Christmas at its annual festive fair on Saturday 29 November 2025.
It's a great place to shop for gifts and a fun festive day out for the whole family, with artisan stalls, handmade crafts, food and drink and entertainment for all ages.
The abbey is just a two-minute walk from Tewkesbury's The Cresent bus stop, for catching Stagecoach services such as the 41 to Cheltenham.
Joy! Christmas market at New Brewery Arts in Cirencester
Hundreds of designer-makers are displaying their wares at Cirencester's New Brewery Arts for its JOY! Christmas market, running until Saturday 3 January 2026.
Shop everything from handmade homewares and jewellery to beautifully illustrated cards, pick up a gift voucher for pleasing the pickiest people, or book your loved ones onto a craft course or workshop for Christmas!
New Brewery Arts is centrally located in Cirencester, just a three-minute walk from The Forum if you're arriving on the 51 from Cheltenham.
Gloucester Vegan Christmas market
With more than 50 stalls of all-vegan shopping, Gloucester Vegan Christmas Market at Blackfriars Priory is the place to go for cruelty free gifts this Christmas – with plenty of tasty vegan treats to enjoy while you're there, too.
On Sunday 7 December 2025, there's handmade jewellery and homewares; toiletries and skincare; things for pets; locally made spirits and sweet treats; and an array of vegan hot food from pizza and pies, to Indian and Sri Lankan, with entry to the market costing £3.
Gloucester Transport Hub is a ten-minute walk from Blackfriars Priory for catching onward Stagecoach services, or a two-minute bus ride from just outside.
