Christmas Artisan Market
14 – 15 November 2026 | 10am–4pm
The Bishop’s Palace, Wells
The sights, sounds and flavours of Christmas will fill The Bishop’s Palace this November as around 70 local makers, craftspeople and food and drink producers gather for a weekend packed with festive shopping, seasonal treats and Christmas cheer.
Get ahead with your Christmas shopping and browse unique, handmade gifts sold by local artisan sellers whilst soaking up the early festive cheer in the spectacular surroundings of a medieval Palace.
In attendance, stallholders will be selling everything from ceramics, pottery and silver jewellery to stained glass, lino-cut prints, pressed flowers, wooden toys and Christmas garlands. It’s the perfect opportunity to find gifts with a meaning and support small businesses in the run-up to Christmas.
New for 2026!
Enjoy our dedicated food and drink marquee, bringing together a tempting selection of local and specialist producers and giving visitors the chance to stock up for the festive season, or enjoy a few treats there and then.
The marquee will be packed with Christmas larder inspiration, including locally produced cheeses and meats, cakes, brownies, chocolates, apple juice, preserves, marmalades and jellies.
There will also be artisan drinks including gin, rum and cream liqueurs, alongside vinegars and Lebanese specialities.
Live Music
Adding to the atmosphere on Saturday 14th November, Wells City Band will perform from 12 noon until 2pm, bringing the sound of Christmas to the Palace as visitors browse.
Admission
Tickets cost £9 and include entry to the Christmas Artisan Market, plus the medieval Palace and the 14 acres of RHS Partner Gardens, giving visitors plenty of opportunity to make a day of their visit.
Please note that the Christmas Market can get very busy between 11am-1pm, so if you’d prefer a more leisurely experience browsing for gifts, we’d advise visiting from 2pm onwards. There will still be plenty of gifts, food and drink available for you to enjoy! A reduced-price ticket for admission to the market from 2pm onwards will be available for £7.50.
The Christmas Artisan Market is also a fundraising event for The Bishop’s Palace and Gardens. The historic site is operated by The Palace Trust, a registered charity which receives no statutory funding. Income from events and visits helps the charity care for the Palace, gardens and collections so they can continue to be enjoyed for generations to come.
Tickets available soon.