Bah Humbug – Christmas market property cost is at its highest in London
The latest research by national fast sale estate agent, Springbok Properties, has looked at the cost of buying near the best Christmas markets around Europe and how they differ between city.
Pulling house price data for cities home to 20 of the best Christmas markets around, Springbok Properties found that the property cost of some annual festive cheer is £5,128 per square metre on average.
This cost is at its highest in London, with property costing an average of £12,976 per sqm to live in the city where famous Christmas markets range from Winter Wonderland to the Southbank Centre Winter Market to name but a few.
The second highest property cost when looking for a top Christmas market was in Zurich, Switzerland, where buying close to the historic Old Town market, situated in front of the opera house and home to more than 100 stalls will set you back £9,827 per sqm.
The Village de Noel Christmas market at the Champs-Elysees maybe be world-famous but living nearby will also cost you over £9,000 per sqm, while a place in Munich so you can make the most of the cities famous market at the Marienplatz town hall comes in just under at £8,980 per sqm.
In fact, most of the cities home to a top-rated Christmas market come with a festive property premium with Stockholm (£7,450), Vienna (£5,560), Copenhagen (£5,355) and Berlin (£5,126) all coming in over £5,000 per square metre when buying a property.
But there are some more affordable options for mold wine, festive food, and merriment. Riga in Latvia is the most affordable location with an awesome Christmas market with property in the city coming in at just £1,570 per sqm.
Closer to home, Belfast hosts a famous market at its City Hall with Candy Alley also one of the main festive attractions, all with the cost of buying hitting just £1,900 per sqm.
Krakow in Poland (£2,179), Tallin in Estonia (£2,260) and Budapest in Hungary (£2,470) are also amongst some of the most affordable Christmas market property purchasing locations.
Founder and CEO of Springbok Properties, Shepherd Ncube, commented:
“As is often the case with most things, the cost of living close to anything vaguely helpful, exciting or fun is at it’s highest in London and this applies when comparing the best Christmas markets about.
It’s a high price to pay for those in England for some once a year festive cheer and it may well be more cost-effective to look further afield to the likes of Riga and book your flights early for a festive getaway instead.”
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Location
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Country
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Market Information
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Average City Centre Apartment – price per Sq M
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London
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England
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The famous and large Hyde Park Winter Wonderland – as well as the Southbank Centre Winter Market
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£12,976
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Zurich
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Switzerland
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Home to several traditional Christmas markets including the historic Old Town, the 100 stalls in front of the opera house, as well as the famous Swarovski Christmas tree at the train station
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£9,827
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Paris
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France
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Home to the ‘Village de Noel’ at the Champs-Elysees. There are also a number of other smaller markets throughout the city including Montmatre and at the church of St Germain
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£9,406
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Munich
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Germany
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A thriving centre for art and culture. The market is located near the gothic style town hall in Marienplatz
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£8,980
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Stockholm
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Sweden
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There are markets throughout the city. The main is set in the colourful medieval old town
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£7,450
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Vienna
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Austria
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The Viennese Christmas markets date back as far as 1294 and take place throughout the city. The Christkindlmarkt at Rathausplatz is a classic, the Schonbrunn Palace features festive concerts, while the historic Spittelberg quarter is home to perhaps the most authentic
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£5,560
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Copenhagen
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Denmark
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Experience traditional Danish yuletide at the markets held at Nyhavn and in the famous Tivoli Gardens. Thousands of festive lights, ice rinks, and stalls laden with gifts and traditional fayre
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£5,355
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Berlin
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Germany
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A range of markets from the romantic setting of Charlottenburg Castle to the World famous Gendarmenmarkt. Stands sell everything from stollen to handmade gifts by glass blowers, wood carvers, and doll makers.
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£5,126
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Dublin
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Republic of Ireland
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A range of smaller markets bring authentic and original handmade items
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£4,763
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Cologne
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Germany
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Six Christmas markets within the city and along the banks of the river Rhine
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£4,619
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Prague
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Czech Republic
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Two markets in Wenceslas Square and the Old Town Square. Features include carol concerts, hot wine, waffles, marionettes, straw decorations, cut glass, and wooden toys
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£4,230
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Edinburgh
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Scotland
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A traditional Scottish market and special events like ice skating and the street of light
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£4,044
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Bruges
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Belgium
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Known as the ‘Venice of the North’. A charming medieval town with traditional markets. These are located in Simon Stevinplein Square as well as Market Square which features a specially built ice rink
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£3,703
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Strasbourg
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France
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One of Europe’s oldest and largest Christmas markets, the festivities in Strasbourg date from 1570. The main market around the cathedral and surrounding squares in the medieval city boast 300 stalls. Combines the traditions of France and Germany
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£3,383
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Cardiff
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Wales
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Traditional wooden stalled market with a variety of original and handmade products
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£2,750
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Budapest
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Hungary
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The twin cities of Buda and Pest – feature great Christmas markets. Centered around the shopping street Vaci Utca and Heroes Square, they feature traditional dancing and folk music, carol singing, and stalls selling many local specialties
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£2,470
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Tallinn
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Estonia
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A fascinating destination, Tallinn hosts a daily Christmas market in the medieval Town Hall Square
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£2,260
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Krakow
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Poland
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It offers an impressive market at the large medieval town square of Rynek Glowny. This boasts colourful stalls selling traditional food and gifts as well as local handicrafts like sculptures and embroidery
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£2,179
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Belfast
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Northern Ireland
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City Hall hosts a famous market where visitors can purchase hand-painted pottery and decorations. Candy Alley is one of the main attractions
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£1,900
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Riga
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Latvia
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The Cathedral Square provides an impressive backdrop for a traditional Christmas market. Stalls feature mulled wine, smoked meats, and Latvian honey, as well as local products such as woolen accessories, wooden candlesticks, and handmade jewellery
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£1,570
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