Which Christmas Markets are best for EV drivers?

If you’re an EV driver and you’re looking to visit a Christmas market, the best locations have been revealed.

Based on accessibility from the 15 most populated cities in the UK, how many public charging points are within a three-mile radius of the centre, the charging speeds available, and accommodation options that offer free charging, the winner is… Manchester. Birmingham Frankfurt Christmas Market and Leeds’ Winter Favourites were placed second and third.

The research by Peugeot UK firstly compared how many of the 14 most popular markets, as assessed by Visit England, could be driven to using the 225-mile (WLTP) range of the Peugeot e-208 from the 15 most populated cities in the UK.

All top 10 Christmas Markets apart from Padstow’s Christmas Festival, located in Cornwall’s north coast, were accessible from at least nine of the UK’s most populated cities. Manchester’s Christmas Market was found to be the most accessible, with the market being within 225 miles of 14 cities in the UK. Manchester also had the highest number of charging stations within a three-mile radius of the city centre, with 69 available, including 16 rapid chargers with speeds above 50kW.

Leeds was home to the second highest number of charging stations, with 62 available, including 17 rapid chargers. Leeds could also be reached from 13 of the UK’s most populated cities using the 225-mile range of the Peugeot e-208.

The research also considered the number of accommodation options within three miles of the city centre that offer free charging for EV drivers, such as hotel chains and B&Bs, with York topping the tables, offering 19 different accommodation options with free chargers.

Top 10 (actually 12!) Christmas Markets in England for electric car drivers

1. Manchester Christmas Market (M1 1AF)

2. Birmingham Frankfurt Christmas Market (B2 4BA)

3. Leeds' Winter Favourites 2022 (LS2 3AD)

4. York St Nicholas Fair (YO1 7DT)

5. Lincoln Christmas Market (LN1 3AA)

6=. Winchester Cathedral Christmas Market (SO23 9LS)

6=. Bath Christmas market (BA1 1LN)

7. Norwich Christmas Market (NR2 1TF)

8. Chester Christmas Market (CH1 2HJ)

9=. Rochester Christmas Market (ME4 4TR)

9=. Stratford-upon-Avon Victorian Christmas Market Festival (CV37 6AB)

10. Padstow Christmas Festival (PL28 8AQ)

The two Christmas markets in London were excluded from the research as both are most accessible via public transport, with visitors unlikely to drive to the markets.