A snowman glistens in the fading light, his carrot nose and coal eyes staring across a winter white landscape. The noise of children squealing with delight as they dodge snowballs, filters through the air. Add a robin singing its final song before morning and you have the popular notion of a traditional Christmas. If you want to recapture this Christmas of old, then why not visit one of the many Christmas markets and fairs across the UK and even further afield. With hundreds to choose from there’s something for everyone. And some even have their own roots in centuries past.

London

Take for instance the Bankside Frost Fair outside Tate Modern and Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre. Resurrected in 2003 this fair has become one of London’s largest free winter events. With music, street theatre, workshops, ice sculptures, food and mulled wine, it even pays homage to the past with its display of Thames Clipper boats. And this is fitting as the original Frost Fairs went back to Shakespearian London when Clippers were a common sight. The fairs then, which continued until 1814, took place on a frozen Thames. To this day the Museum of London holds posters advertising those early fairs and even cards that were printed on the ice.

For those who want to make their Christmas shopping count, there’s the Macmillan Christmas Market raising funds for the Macmillan Trust that offers support to people with cancer. Held in London at the Royal Horticultural Halls, there will be over 150 stalls offering everything from organic produce to cashmere. It’s a chance to do a one-stop Christmas shop and come away with a good conscience.

But if you fancy the outdoors then Hyde Park’s Winter Wonderland is the place to celebrate. From late November to early January there’s the chance to enjoy a German style market selling festive goods and culinary specialities. Add to that Europe’s largest outdoor ice-rink, a big wheel, fairground attractions and much more. You’ll find there’s something here for all the family.

Bankside Frost Fair 14 – 16 December, Bankside river walk outside Tate Modern and Shakespeare’s Globe, London. Free.

Macmillan Christmas Market, 5 -6 November, 5 ^th 6pm – 9.30pm, 6 ^th 10am – 4pm. Monday Gala Evening to include sparkling wine, nibbles and entrance for both days £25. Tuesday £7 – free entry after 3pm. Royal Horticultural Halls, Westminster, London.

Hyde Park’s Winter Wonderland, 24 November – 6 January, all day every day. Hyde Park, Westminster, London. Free.

“If you fancy a chilly Christmas season to remind you of days gone by, then you might want to travel further a field to France and try out two large, popular markets, one in Strasbourg and one in Lillie.”

North of England

Britain’s grand houses also get in on the Christmas theme. Burghley House in Stamford, Lincolnshire, is holding an Arts and Crafts Christmas Market. And Chatsworth House, at Bakewell, is running a Christmas season. For further sumptuous offerings check out the National Trust who will be holding seasonal events at various houses across the country.

The city of York’s popular St Nicholas Fayre Market will be selling a wide variety of gifts and food. Everything from Russian dolls, jewellery, to arts and crafts, makes for a bewildering choice. And chestnut sellers and carol singers complete the Christmas picture.

Burghley House Crafts for Christmas, 6 – 9 December, 9am to 5pm, Burghley House, Stamford, Lincolnshire, PE9 2LH. Adults £6.50, Seniors £5.50.

St Nicholas Fayre, 29 November – 2 December – Parliament Street, St Sampson’s Square, Kings Square, and Coppergate Square, York. Free.

Chatsworth House Christmas Season, 3 November – 23 December, Chatsworth, Bakewell, Derbyshire, DE45 1PP. Visit www.chatsworth.co.uk (LINK) for further details and prices.

Edinburgh

Travelling further north, Edinburgh, just voted the best city to live in Britain, is celebrating the season in style with a wide range of events. Alongside its Christmas market is an ice-rink and lots of children’s activities. With something for everyone, there’s a traditional market featuring all things German, a Polish market and a Scottish fresh food market. Everything kicks off with Edinburgh’s Light Night on 22 November when the lights on the 13.5m tree, gifted from Norway are lit up and Prince’s Street’s 200,000 lights switched on.

Edinburgh’s Light Night 22 November – Prince’s Street, Edinburgh, Scotland. Visit www.edinburghschristmas.com for details of all events.

“Everything kicks off with Edinburgh’s Light Night on 22 November when the lights on the 13.5m tree, gifted from Norway are lit up and Prince’s Street’s 200,000 lights switched on.”

West of England

Bath is beautiful all year round but at Christmas even more so. Since its beginnings in 2001, the Bath Christmas Market has grown in both size and stature and has now established itself as one of the highlights in Bath's annual events calendar. With the famous Bath Abbey and Roman Baths providing an amazing backdrop to this event, you will know that the festive season has really arrived.

Bath Christmas Market, next to the Abbey. 29 November to 9 December.

Midlands

Birmingham’s Frankfurt Christmas Market has enjoyed much success in recent years. With over 90 stalls filling Victoria Square and the upper part of New Street, this year’s market will be the largest authentic German Christmas market outside of Germany or Austria.

It is an ideal place to find unusual and handmade gifts, including ceramics, candles, glasswork, jewellery and Christmas decorations. A number of stalls also feature traditional German items such as wooden toys, nativity scenes and marionettes.

Frankfurt Christmas Market, Victoria Square and New Street, 15 November to 23 December

France

If you fancy a chilly Christmas season to really remind you of days gone by, then you might want to travel further a field to France and try out two large, popular markets, one in Strasbourg and one in Lillie.

Like the Frost Fair, Strasbourg’s Christmas market has its roots in the 16 ^th century. And having an evening of mulled wine in the shadows of the beautifully lit Cathedrale Notre-Dame will evoke a sense of tradition. With stalls stretching from Place Broglie through to Petit France, a wonderful cobbled area steeped in history, this is a market that features all things Alsatian. Here you can shop for local produce, gingerbread, art and crafts, hand-made decorations and much more against a backdrop of singing choirs.

Lille’s market is held in the historical Place Rihour. With its quick Eurostar link to London, it’s a great place to sample traditional fair and get in the holiday spirit.

Strasbourg Christmas Market 25 November – 23 December, Mon/Tues/Weds/Thurs/Sun 10am to 8pm, Fri/Sat 10am to 9pm, Place Broglie and Rue de la Comedie, Strasbourg, France. Free.

Lille Christmas Market, 21 November – 24 December, all day every day, Place Rihour, Lille, France. Free.

It may seem that Christmas has been submerged under the weight of commercialism, but Christmas markets and fairs that focus on local produce and individual, often hand-made gifts, are a good way of reclaiming a bit of that childhood magic, snowman or not.

By Michele Nevard