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It's that time of year for some Glühwein, Frankfurters, and Black Forest Berliners, and of course, the German Christmas Market is the place to be for those European holiday delights. And while it's logical to think one must travel to Germany to experience an authentic market, they're actually all over the world! The largest one outside of Germany is, in fact, the Birmingham Christmas Market.

The UK is home to many Christmas Markets, but Birmingham's, which runs until the 23rd of December, is considered an authentic German version with from-Germany and Austria vendors, German holiday foods, and traditional gifts and trinkets. Spanning across Birmingham's city center, there's plenty to do and see while visiting this market, so much so that people from all over the United Kingdom and Europe travel to this industrial city to attend. Want to join the Christmas crowd? Follow these tips for more Christmas cheer and fewer travel tears!

Related: This City Is Home To The Biggest Christmas Market In The Entire World

How to Get to Birmingham

Birmingham is the second-largest city in the UK, so there are several modes of transport one can take in order to get to its city center. Serviced by its own international airport, several train stations, and extensive coach bus routes, traveling into Birmingham is actually quite a breeze.

Flying In Straight To Birmingham

Birmingham International Airport (airport BHX, not to be confused with its American counterpart, BHM in Alabama) is located only a handful of miles outside the main city. A combination of city buses and over-rail trains can get the Christmas Market goer from the terminal to the center of town. If looking for the former, the X1 or X2 city buses drop off right in the city center. If choosing the train, one can depart from Birmingham International Station (via a 3-minute, complimentary Air Link tram from the airport terminal) toward Birmingham New Station. Both options will get you into the city in under 45 minutes; the trains get you door to door in less than a half hour sometimes!

Traveling From London

If flying into London and then heading up to Birmingham, there are two primary ways to get to the Midlands. First, there's the coach option--referring to larger charter bus-like vehicles rather than city buses. Some companies, like National Express, operate services directly from London-based airports to Birmingham Coach Station, located in the Digbeth neighborhood of Birmingham. Other companies, like Megabus and Flixbus, operate from coach stations/stops in London, like Victoria Coach Station, and drop off at coach stops throughout Birmingham. Trains also run from London Euston Station or London Marylebone Station to Birmingham New Street or Birmingham Moor Street, respectively. The easiest way to locate which train is the most optimal is via the Trainline website or app. Travelers can choose from the most up-to-date routes and timetables and can purchase tickets directly via Trainline.

Depending on the time of day, route, provider, etc., the coach and rail options can take the same time, and tickets can be similar prices, so travelers should choose the best mode of transport based on place of origin in London and schedule.

Related: 5 Reasons To Choose An Airplane While Traveling in Europe (& 5 To Use A Train)

Where To Stay In Birmingham

Since Birmingham is home to many industries and a number of universities, short-term rentals and apartment lets rule the rental market for stays in the city. The Rotunda (averages $200+ per night), an apartment complex in the city (and near New Street Station), houses many of the more popular and luxe rentals and can be booked by different property managers via Booking.com and Airbnb. Hoping for the apartment experience (kitchens and washing machines really are game changers when traveling) but with a smaller price tag? Then the Adagio Aparthotels (averages $95+ per night) located right near the Birmingham Coach Station, is a great option. It's still walkable to the Christmas Market and away from the bustle and the crowds.

Prefer a traditional hotel stay? The Hyatt Regency (averages $250+ per night) and the Crown Plaza Birmingham (averages $200+ per night) are located near the end of the Christmas Market and are very close to the other sites famous in Birmingham.

Christmas Market Highlights & Tips

Whether visiting a Christmas Market in Europe, the UK, or the US, there are definitely some highlights not to be missed. Birmingham's offerings of these traditional Christmas delights are exceptional, as well! The Market is quite extensive, with plenty of food, drink, and trinket shopping options; however, it can appear deceivingly overwhelming and large, given its size. However, some of the stalls repeat (meaning there are several of the same mulled wine, frankfurter, and candy stalls), so don't be tricked into thinking one must stand in a long queue for a red sausage because it's the only one around! Walk further into the market toward Victoria Square (where most of the lights are) to avoid the lines that often form around the first stalls near the beginning of the Market on New Street. Also, consider visiting on a weekday and earlier in the evening (beginning at around 3:30-4 pm to still enjoy the lights!) to avoid even longer queues and crowds since Friday and weekend nights can reach uncomfortable overcrowding levels. Using these tricks, a couple of hours is more than enough to enjoy the Market extensively.

The traditional German/Austrian desserts are particularly tasty and well done but do come at the cost of around £4.50-£8 (approximately $5.50-$10); the Frankfurters and Bratwursts come in at a more reasonable £6 (approximately $9). Non-alcoholic drinks are priced in the same range as desserts, while alcoholic beverages, namely the famous mulled Glühwein, clock in at £6 as well. While there are other food and drinks available, the sausages, desserts, and Glühwein are the standouts and worth the coin.

If on the hunt for some Christmas souvenirs, be sure to stroll on both sides of the street; while the food/drink stalls may repeat, the souvenir vendors do not! The way the stalls are organized, it's easy to miss vendors if sticking to one side of the street, so be sure to alternate sides in order to maximize shopping.

Other Things To Do In Birmingham

Spending more time in Birmingham and looking for other things to do? Well, here are some ideas! The first stop before or after the Birmingham Christmas Market for the history buff traveler should be the Central Library of Birmingham. While on the surface, it looks like a futuristic, newly built facility that's more sci-fi than Shakespeare, there's actually some rich history hidden inside. Speaking of Shakespeare, the library is home to the Shakespeare Memorial Room on its top floor, a re-assembled 19th-century research room dedicated to one of the most impressive collections of Shakespeare materials in the world.

Traveling with family? Then a visit to Cadbury World, right outside the city center, is a fantastic way to spend a day out with the children. Home to the world's largest Cadbury shop and exhibitions and workshops about chocolate making and its history, Cadbury World often runs deals for family tickets. If hoping for a more educational pursuit, then try Birmingham's Think Tank, a family-friendly science museum located on Birmingham City University's campus, where visitors can learn about the world's first steam engine or play in the outdoor science garden.