A Visitors Guide to the Lincoln Christmas Market
Mayhem ensues at the city…
This weekend sees my home city engulfed with Christmas tourists and road rage. From Thursday through to Sunday the city centre becomes a no go area for the locals as shoppers invade the old part of the city next to the Cathedral in search of festive goodies.
There’s no doubt that the market provides a most welcome boost to the local economy and especially on the back of this last year when many speciality shops have faced real hardship but in recent years the event has lost some of its charm in the face of cheap consumerism and that has upset many of the locals. This year however, the organisers have said that they want to return to the market tradition of old and if that is the case then I welcome it.
There are sure to be stalls from our European neighbours, especially the German wurst sellers who are always popular and doubtless the odd cheap and cheerful amongst them but hey ho! What it does mean however is a nightmare for the local residents and anyone trying to commute through the city or get on with daily life in general. The city becomes gridlocked for much of the day and I for one tend to stay well away. I should make the effort I suppose but being stuck in traffic and then searching all over the city for a parking space isn’t my idea of a day off! That said I do like Christmas markets, I have been to some lovely small ones in Germany over the years and now, sadly because of the flooding will miss the one close to where I sometimes work in the lake District.
So if the weather is lousy I might stay in and have a mulled wine instead, but then I’m not drinking for a few weeks (well, until I see a band with my brother next week!) so maybe not.
Merry Christmas!
Miles,
I used to go to the Lincoln Cristmas Market, I suppose as a tourist.
When visiting Lincoln I always used to drive but for the Xmas Fayre I always used to go by coach - the only way to do it.
Be there early as well because later on it really does get packed.
I wish I had a picture looking down the hill at the crowds - I always thought it was an accident waiting to happen
Great atmosphere though and if he’s still there I recommend The Red Baron
He did ‘proper’ German bratwurst - cracking !
Cheers
Rod
December 4, 2009 @ 7:27 am
Rod,
I’m struggling with the concept of you (international superstar, hot chick magnet, bachelor king) on a bus to anywhere let alone a Christmas market. I was once (long, long ago) accosted by someone in full festive guise at said fayre… wasn’t you was it, dressed as one of Santa’s little helpers with a tell tale whiff of mulled wine? Needless to say it was a life changing experience which has since led to a natural wariness of beards in general and all men in pointy jingle bell shoes (a sad result, ruling out three quarters of the eligible men in my locality as I recall
)
Cid
December 4, 2009 @ 11:57 am
In DC we get the commercial “X-mas Atmos” (thank you, Hugh Laurie) with our own outdoor Christmas Market. I’ve been watching the white and red-trimmed tents going up for days and have been getting very excited about it!
It features all sorts of crafts international vendors and ethnic jewellery etc - at prices that have been especially increased for the season! Pit fires are lit and people sell roasted chestnuts - its nice - even if it is still 65 degrees F here.
It is right near my office and I’m hoping that I can pry myself away from the desk early at least one night over the next couple of weeks to visit.
Laura
December 4, 2009 @ 12:33 pm
Miles,
.
Last time I went to Lincoln Christmas market it was a Girlie trip on a coach. They were well organised and in my view the only way to go. The Round Table had an excellent mulled wine in their hut and the pork stuffed rolls and german sausage went down a treat.
Some of my german friends are going in a group on the train to Trier (the oldest roman town) that has a very atmospheric, traditional market. A good mulled wine is a must
Happy Advent
Anne
December 4, 2009 @ 4:14 pm
Laura,
Sounds nice! Love the line about the price increase-all in the festive spirit!! You be careful about bunking off work early, big brother is watching you
Miles
December 4, 2009 @ 10:34 pm
Anne,
You can’t beat Germany for the markets, I loved Trier, wish I’d seen the market there.
Miles
December 4, 2009 @ 10:35 pm
Rod,
The Red baron? Are you having me on?
Miles
December 4, 2009 @ 10:36 pm
Miles,
no - he was there every year I went, I know the name hardly inspires confidence in terms of authenticity but the bratwurst were spot on !
Best Rod - Bandits at 4 O’Clock
December 5, 2009 @ 8:08 am
Cid,
I’m a man of many parts - one being a man of logic
Tickets to Lincoln Xmas Market via a luxury air conditioned coach were £5 each
Going in my car costs twice that in petrol, I cannot park anywhere when I get there, if I can find a spot it costs more than the coach ticket, I cannot have a drink, the coaches are given police priority which means they don’t get stuck in traffic jams etc etc
I rest my case m’lud
Cheers
Rod
December 5, 2009 @ 8:12 am
Rod,
I understand completely, being a woman of many parts… one of them just happens to be a personal parking space close to the festive market
Did you go this year? Thought of you because for the first time they put some stalls in the Bishop’s Palace, fabulous setting…. people were dressed in Medieval gear with bows and arrows for sale etc. I looked out for knights templar stuff but all I could find was a dotty old woman selling highly suspicious herbal remedies (naturally I bought some) and another selling olde English mead. May I say that you’d have been something of a crowd puller dressed in full chainmail, rescuing damsels in distress so I put your name forward for next year’s £5 ‘extras’ (thinking to myself, that’ll cover the cost of his bus fare
).
Cid
December 5, 2009 @ 11:04 am
Cid,
Did you go this year?
No it fell victim to the Credit Crunch - economies have to be made somewhere and the big loser this year was The Lincoln Christmas Market !
I’m sure they muddled along without me though !
Cheers
Rod
December 5, 2009 @ 1:15 pm
Miles, et al — very entertaining post with equally entertaining comments! The imagery that goes with this post is electric. I thought I had Rod pegged in my mind, but Cid throws in chain-mail and weaponry and now I’m lost again. Who is that mystery man at Table #5?
Thank you all for bringing a warm smile to my face on a cold, snowy day here in Colorado!
Melissa
December 6, 2009 @ 6:44 pm