The best things about York Christmas Market 2025!

I did it again. I went back to York Christmas Market because after loving it so much last year I was determined to take the girls and let them in on the magic. Second time around it was just as good, maybe even better. This time I knew my way around and knew what was a bargain, which stalls had the best stuff, and most importantly I learned my lesson from last year and wrapped up extra well. There were twinkly lights, cosy smells and people wandering about with hot chocolates the size of their heads! It was an amazing day!

Here’s my favourite things about York Christmas Market this year! There was so much to love!

The festive atmosphere hits you straight away!

The moment we got into the heart of York and walked through the Shambles the festive atmosphere really hits you! The lights, the smells and then you turn the corner and see all the Christmas huts! It’s wonderful and puts you right in the Christmas mood!

York itself is the perfect backdrop!

York could stick a Christmas market in a car park and it would still look magical but the city really goes all out. Cobbled streets, the Minster peeking over rooftops, old buildings wrapped in fairy lights and all the trees too! It was beautiful! It’s one of those places where you can’t take a bad photo. I could have accidentally taken a picture of my shoe and it would still look festive. 

The food!

York knows how to feed you, they do not mess around when it comes to food! I had steak and chips last year and had been thinking about them ever since! The girls went for mac and cheese which had so much cheese, in the hut selling it there was a whole wheel of parmesan cheese. We also had apple crumble and custard! Yum! Other food highlights were the churros dusted in cinnamon sugar, giant Yorkshire puddings filled with roast dinner, German sausages the length of my arm and the most amazing brownies!

It's Family friendly!

There were loads of families with little kids running about but it didn’t feel overly kiddy so it is ideal when you’ve got older kids, teens or you’re just doing a grown ups Christmas day out. The queues moved fairly quickly, no one was shoving or stressed and there was enough space to browse without feeling like you were trapped.

Local traders make it extra special!

One of my favourite things this year was how many of the stalls were Yorkshire businesses. You can feel the pride people have in what they make: handmade candles, fudge, ornaments, gin, chutneys, wooden toys, soaps that smell better than my entire house and jewellery that looks far more expensive than it actually is! We spoke to loads of stallholders and every single one was lovely. They were happy to chat, explain what they made, give recommendations and even tell us where else to visit in York. There’s something extra Christmassy about knowing your money is going to real people and not an anonymous online cart.

It’s full of gift ideas and temptations!

I went with every intention of just looking and somehow came home with ornaments, fudge, pork pies, cookies and a few gifts for other people! There were so many unique finds: personalised baubles, handmade Christmas cards, knitted scarves, glass decorations that looked like they belonged in a stately home and those cute wooden signs that tell you to believe in the magic of Christmas!

The hot drinks situation is elite

There is mulled wine, spiced cider, Bailey’s hot chocolate, different flavoured hot chocolate and even coffee with festive twists. I always make a beeline for mulled wine. This year there were plenty of options with traditional red, apple & cinnamon and even spiced gin versions. It’s the kind of drink that makes you feel warm inside and out!

The fudge stalls are dangerously persuasive!

They always start with would you like a free sample and suddenly you’re ten flavours deep, sticky fingered and buying enough to fill a suitcase. I bought quite a few different flavours, it is my favourite sweet treat at this time of year!

There are great spots for festive photos!

Every corner is a photo opportunity waiting to happen! I took hundreds of photos, way more than I could ever put in blog posts.

We had a fantastic day and it wasn't as cold as it was forecast to be which was a real bonus! It worked out well getting the train there and the bus home even if we did get stuck in traffic and arrived back to Hull 45 minutes after we should have. I was just glad to sit down. The girls had a fantastic time too and I am so glad I took them, they are already planning a trip back to York in the summer to see all the sights.

Have you been to a Christmas market this year or are you planning to go to any?

24 Little surprises - DIY Advent Calendars!

Every year around this time I get a little excited when the shops start filling up with advent calendars. You know the ones: full of chocolate, gin, beauty products or random trinkets that make you go Ooh, I need that even though you absolutely don’t but there’s something extra fun about making your own advent calendar. It’s more personal, a bit creative and you can fill it with exactly what you like.

Here are a bunch of DIY advent calendar ideas that look great, don’t require a fine arts degree and most importantly won’t make your living room look like Santa’s workshop exploded!

The envelope string calendar!

This one’s simple, tidy and looks so cool. You just need 24 envelopes, some string or twine and a few mini pegs. You can use plain brown envelopes for that minimalist look or go for coloured ones if you’re feeling festive. Write numbers 1 - 24 on the envelopes, black marker does the job and string them up on your wall or across a window. Inside each envelope pop a little treat: chocolate coins, notes, stickers or small gifts. If you want to make it feel more thoughtful, you could include daily challenges like watch a Christmas film tonight or call a friend for a catch up. It’s a nice way to make December feel more meaningful rather than just counting down to stuffing your face with mince pies.

Mason jar magic!

If you’ve got a few spare jars lying around, this is such a cute way to make a reusable advent calendar. Line up 24 mini jars and fill them with small surprises: sweets, rolled-up notes, bits of jewellery or even mini candles. You can decorate the lids with bits of fabric or paper and stick numbered labels on top. Arrange them on a shelf or tray or if you’re really feeling crafty glue them to a wooden board in the shape of a Christmas tree. It looks surprisingly stylish once it’s done and you can reuse the jars every year.

The self care calendar!

December can be a bit of a mad rush so why not make an advent calendar that’s all about slowing down and treating yourself a bit! Instead of chocolates or gifts fill it with tiny self care ideas or little pamper treats including: A tea bag for a quiet cuppa break, a mini bath bomb, a face mask sachet, a handwritten permission slip to do nothing for an hour or a candle tealight for an evening soak. You can wrap each thing up in brown paper and tie with twine for that rustic, organised look. It’s basically a little reminder every day that you deserve five minutes to just breathe which is a gift in itself.

The for someone else calendar!

Instead of treats for yourself make an advent calendar focused on giving. Each envelope or box could include a small act of kindness like: donate a tin to the food bank, message someone and tell them why you appreciate them or bake something for a neighbour. It’s wholesome without being soppy and it’s a lovely thing to do if you want to get into the spirit of Christmas without the sugar rush. You could even get the whole family involved and make it a group challenge.

The hobby calendar!

This is one of my favourites because you can tailor it to whatever you’re into. If you love cooking you could do a spice of the day calendar with 24 mini pots or packets of different herbs and spices. If you’re more of a cocktail person fill small bottles with different mixers, syrups or recipes to try. If you’re a gardener do one with seed packets and small gardening tools. Into crafts you can pop in washi tapes, buttons mini cross stitch sets. It’s practical, but still feels like a treat.

Making your own advent calendar might sound like one of those Pinterest ideas that’s doomed to fail but it’s actually easier than it looks. So grab your envelopes, jars or boxes and maybe a mug of hot chocolate and get crafting!

Do you have an advent calendar in December?

Our weekly meal plan! 24th - 30th November! #MealPlanningMonday

Last week was a great week! Our meal plan couldn't really go wrong as there was a lot of eating out and eating from the freezer! I did cook corned beef hash, enough to last two days which served us well. We ate too much at the all you can eat place and lots of treats when we were at York Christmas Market including steak and chips, apple crumble and Yorkshire pudding wraps. Calories don’t count if you’re walking around while eating. hehehe. Later on in the day we were hungry but not hungry enough for a full meal from the pub so ordered a couple of sharing platters with chicken strips, garlic bread, duck spring rolls, cheese and potato balls and onion rings!

This week is all about getting back to a bit of normal before Christmas arrives but if this year is anything to go by Christmas will be here before we know it! This year has flown over! I don't have much planned for the week apart from a meal out with friends.

On the menu this week we have:

Monday - Stu is cooking!

It will be a surprise as Stu is doing the cooking. I am guessing it will include something with the leftover mashed potato from yesterday.

Tuesday - A help yourself evening!

I have a meal out with friends, our Christmas get together and we're having a full on Christmas feast with turkey and all of the trimmings and of course Christmas pudding! The rest of my family can help themselves to something to eat.

Wednesday - Sausage, apple and potato one pan roast!

I love a one pan roast and we all enjoy this one. The apples caramelise, the sausages brown up nicely, and the potatoes do their crispy little thing!

Thursday - Meat free sloppy Joes with potato salad!

We had this from Gousto ages ago and love it which sounds strange saying as my family are not usually keen on meat free meals.

Friday - Home made fish fingers with chips and peas!

A while ago I discovered how easy it was to make our own fish fingers through a Gousto recipe and they taste so much better than shop bought.

Saturday - Gousto meal - Hot Honey Bacon & Fried Egg Pancakes!

Breakfast for dinner, yes please! Buttermilk pancakes with crispy bacon, a fried egg and hot honey butter.

Sunday - Pie, mashed potato and vegetables.

We have pies in the freezer, I think mince and onion and steak one's so we'll have them with mash and probably carrots, peas and sweetcorn.

What are you going to be eating this week?

A photo every day for a year! 16th - 22nd November! Week 47 of #Project365

What a week! There has been so many things to love about it! I feel worn out and I feel like I could sleep until the middle of next week!

One of the big moments of the week was my blog’s birthday! Thirteen whole years of writing, sharing life and chatting away online. I am still shocked that I have stuck to it, publishing a new blog post almost every day since 2012!

The deliveries this week have been something else!! The post man probably thinks I’m running a small warehouse from the living room. hehehe. A mix of Christmas bits, decorations, gifts and a few birthday surprises from some very kind people. I felt properly spoiled and it definitely helped get me in the Christmas spirit.

On Friday we went to the York Christmas Market which was absolutely lovely. I was braced for freezing temperatures because we’d had snow earlier in the week but it wasn’t too bad at all. The stalls were gorgeous, the lights were twinkly and I had several moments of should I buy this or not!

Now for a photo every day!

320/365 - 16th November

Gingerbread Pepsi! I am not a Pepsi lover, in fact I would go as far to say I hate it but Becky had a spare can going of the Gingerbread flavoured one and I gave it a try and surprisingly I love it. You can taste the gingerbread more than the Pepsi!

321/365 - 17 November

Can anyone else remember Rainbow Brite? I saw it in B&M and was transported straight back to being a kid. I'm sure I must have watched the TV show but what I do remember clearly is the doll. That doll went everywhere with me!

322/365 - 18th November

It’s nearly 2026 and corned beef tins are still a health hazard! With everything we’ve invented like smartphones that unlock with your face, fridges that tell you when you’re out of milk but somehow the corned beef key still exists in its original form. I braced myself for the usual finger carnage but this time I made it out uninjured.

323/365 - 19th November

Snow!! Ellie came in from college half an hour before I took this photo and it was cold outside but there was no snow! I went to put some rubbish out, saw the snow and shouted snow, snow, snow! The girls didn't believe me but still came running! hehehe It lasted all of about half an hour before it was gone!

324/365 - 20th November

We went to Hull and stayed the night in a hotel because we had an early start the next morning. We went out for tea to the all you can eat place and had an early night. We were tucked up in bed watching I'm a Celeb. I do love Ant & Dec.

325/365 - 21st November

We had a day out at York Christmas Markets, I took so many photos that I need to sort out but it was a lovely day! It was the girls first time there and they loved it too!

326/365 - 22nd November

I didn't sort out all the deliveries properly during the week so everything was still sat there needing to be sorted. Ugh!

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