Bishop Auckland's Christmas Town

Four days of free-entry Christmas fun in Bishop Auckland's Market Place: a Christmas market, festive food, fairground rides, giant tipis and Santa's Grotto.

Each December the Market Place and the streets around it in Bishop Auckland become Christmas Town, a four-day festival that has run every year since 2021. It is put on by the local arts organisation Baccanalia, with Bishop Auckland Town Council and Bridge Creative.

It is free to walk in, browse the Christmas market, find something to eat and drink, and enjoy the roaming entertainers and festive installations; there's also a Christmas tree festival, a giant snow globe and marshmallow toasting. The rides are paid for with a Golden Pass, booked for one day: unlimited goes on a Ferris wheel, helter skelter, twister and fun house, plus a curling lane, a mystery attraction and entry to the giant tipis, which have live music and 10% off at the bars.

Santa's Grotto is an extra ticket on top of the Golden Pass. Passes are cheapest booked in advance and may cost more on the day. The tipis stay open late, but under-18s aren't allowed in after 8pm. The nearest car park is North Bondgate (DL14 7PG).