The Oxford Christmas Market takes over Broad Street for around six weeks each year. Wooden chalet stalls run down both sides of the carriageway between Balliol College and the Sheldonian; a small fairground sits at the eastern end with a carousel and a Ferris wheel; an Alpine Lodge bar serves mulled wine and beer; and a small stage hosts choirs, bands and DJs through the evening. Admission is free.

The 2026 edition opens on Saturday 21 November and runs through to Thursday 31 December. The market is closed on Christmas Day and closes early at 5:30pm on Christmas Eve.

What it is

The market is organised by Keston Events and sits within the wider "Christmas in Oxford" programme. The chalets sell handcrafted gifts and artisan products — soaps, candles, jewellery, prints, leather goods, decorations — alongside festive food and drink: mulled wine, hot chocolate, churros, German sausages, crepes, and international street food. The line-up of stalls changes year to year, with a mix of returning regional traders and new ones.

Opening hours

Market stalls	Sunday–Wednesday: 10am to 6pm Thursday–Saturday: 10am to 8pm
Bar / food / entertainment	Sunday–Monday: 10am to 8pm Tuesday–Saturday: 10am to 10pm
Christmas Eve (24 Dec)	Closes at 5:30pm
Christmas Day (25 Dec)	Closed

Hours from the official Christmas in Oxford site (Keston Events). Subject to change in poor weather.

What to expect

Broad Street is one of Oxford's widest central streets, with the Bodleian, the Sheldonian Theatre and the Clarendon Building on its north side and Balliol College on its south. The market fits comfortably along the carriageway without spilling onto the pavements, so the surrounding bookshops, colleges and cafes remain accessible.

The fairground end — nearer the Cornmarket junction — tends to draw families. The Alpine Lodge bar towards the eastern end becomes the main evening gathering point, with the stage programme building from late afternoon. Father Christmas appears at advertised times for meet-and-greets (check the official site for the schedule).

Weekends are the busiest periods, particularly the first weekend after opening and the two weekends before Christmas. Weekday afternoons are noticeably quieter and a better choice if you want to browse rather than queue.

Getting there

Walk. Broad Street is in the middle of central Oxford, two minutes' walk north-east of Carfax via Cornmarket.
Train. About 10–12 minutes' walk from Oxford station via Hythe Bridge Street, Worcester Street and George Street.
Bus. Most central Oxford services stop on Magdalen Street, George Street, or in the High Street — all within five minutes' walk.
Park-and-ride. Pear Tree (north), Water Eaton (north), Thornhill (east), Seacourt (west) and Redbridge (south) are the practical options. Central car parks fill quickly on December weekends.

Nearby food and drink

If you want a sit-down stop nearby:

The Turf Tavern — a short walk through the Bridge of Sighs passage; a useful warm refuge.
The White Horse on Broad Street itself, between Blackwells and the Sheldonian.
The Bear Inn — a short walk south through Wheatsheaf Passage off the High Street.
The Covered Market — a short walk down Cornmarket; cheaper and out of the wind.

What else is on while the market runs

The market overlaps with Oxford's wider Christmas period — the Broad Street Christmas lights, college carol services (notably at Christ Church and Magdalen), and the Christmas Light Festival's lantern events at various points across November and December. Christmas in Oxford publishes a combined programme each year.

One fact worth knowing

Broad Street is permanently pedestrianised at its central section, which is why a market of this scale can sit on the carriageway for six weeks without major traffic disruption. The street has been gradually given over to people rather than cars over the last decade, including the "Broad Meadow" green space initiative that has used the same stretch in summer months.

Sources

Christmas in Oxford — official market site (Keston Events): christmasinoxford.co.uk (2026 dates; opening hours; closure on 25 Dec; early close 24 Dec; Broad Street location, OX1 3BS; chalet stalls; live music programme)
Ultimate Christmas Markets aggregator listing for Oxford (carousel, Ferris wheel, Alpine Lodge bar)