Manchester Christmas Markets 2014 are back and bigger than ever!

There are two new Christmas markets in Manchester this year - bringing the total number to nine.

Manchester Christmas Markets have been running for an amazing 16 years in the city centre.

The biggest one is in front of the town hall in Albert Square.

Click on the gallery below to get a taste for this year with images from 2013's markets.

It features bar, dozens of shops selling food, drinks, hats, gloves, toys and just about everything Christmas related.

See below for a map of the market locations suppled by Manchester City Council.

The two new locations include expansion into Cathedral Gardens and Market Street.

The well-known windmill bar which was previously in Albert Square has relocated to Cathedral Gardens.

The new Market Street site will feature 28 stalls selling quality arts and crafts, along with superb Christmas gift ideas.

Last year more than 9,000,000 people visited the markets and while they are bigger than before, the old favourites are all returning.

Despite the city centre transformation currently underway, Exchange Square will remain a busy Christmas Market site with a range of food and drink stalls.

St Ann’s Square – the original market site – is the traditional German heart of Manchester’s Christmas Markets, while the French Market will return to King Street.

Close by, Exchange Street and New Cathedral Street will welcome back the coffee house and covered German beer house for a successful third year.

Finally, Albert Square will once again be presided over by the much loved giant LED lit Santa.

The markets now run until Sunday, December 21.

Opening times and locations for 2014

European Christmas Market, Albert Square 10.00am – 9.00pm daily

Opening times and locations for all other markets

November 10.00am – 7.30pm

December 10.00am – 8.00pm

Christmas Market, Market Street ***NEW FOR 2014***

Christmas Market, Cathedral Gardens ***NEW FOR 2014***

Christmas Market, Exchange Square

Arts and Crafts Market, Exchange Street

Christmas Market, New Cathedral Street

French Christmas Market, King Street with rotating weekend stalls.

German Christmas Market, St Ann’s Square

World Christmas Market, Brazennose Street

ALL BAR AND FOOD AREAS OPEN UNTIL 9.00pm

If you need to know any more, why not check out the special section for Manchester's Christmas markets on our sister website the Manchester Evening News?