Christmas Markets in Heaton

Heaton does not have a Christmas market of its own. What it does have is the Ouseburn valley at the bottom of the hill, where artists and makers open their doors every winter, and a short Metro or bus ride into the city centre, where Newcastle's main Christmas market fills the streets around Grey's Monument for five weeks.

Put those together with the independents on Heaton Road and Chillingham Road and you can do most of your Christmas shopping without going near a retail park. Here is what is on, and what has and has not been confirmed for 2026.

Ouseburn Christmas Market

The Ouseburn valley has run a weekend Christmas market since 2020, when the first one set stalls up outside The Cluny, Seven Stories, the Lime Street studios and Ouseburn Farm, with road closures around the village green to make room. It has become a fixture since, with handmade crafts, independent makers, vintage clothing and festive food. In 2025 it ran on the weekend of 6 and 7 December.

No dates have been published for 2026 yet. On past form it falls on a December weekend, so check the Ouseburn Trust and the valley venues' social media from November.

From Heaton it is a downhill walk via Stepney Bank or Byker, and the climb back up is the price of a good afternoon. The Cumberland Arms on its hilltop above the valley is the natural place to stop on the way home.

Best for:

Best for: handmade presents from people who made them, and a market that feels like a neighbourhood event rather than a shopping trip.

36 Lime Street Open Studios

36 Lime Street is the artists' co-operative in the old flax mill that also houses The Cluny, and it is one of the oldest and largest studio groups in the North East, with more than 50 artists, designers and makers. Each winter it opens its studios to the public as part of Ouseburn Open Studios, and the timing makes it an ideal early Christmas shop.

In 2025 the winter open studios ran on Saturday 29 and Sunday 30 November, 10am to 5pm, with free entry, over 30 studios open across five floors, demonstrations, children's activities and a raffle of limited-edition prints. You buy directly from the maker, and many will take commissions.

The 2026 winter dates have not been announced. The group says its open studios take place in November each year, so expect late November and check the 36 Lime Street website.

Best for:

Best for: original art, ceramics, prints and jewellery, bought from the person at the bench.

The Biscuit Factory

A few minutes' walk away on Stoddart Street, The Biscuit Factory is not a market, but in December it does the same job. It is the UK's largest independent contemporary art, craft and design gallery, free to browse, with work from hundreds of artists and makers at a wide range of prices. It usually runs a seasonal programme of workshops and shopping events, so check its website for this year's details and winter opening hours.

Newcastle Christmas Market

Newcastle Christmas Market runs from Thursday 19 November to Wednesday 23 December 2026, confirmed by organisers NE1. It spreads along Grey Street and Grainger Street, around the Monument and on Nelson Street, with over 70 traders, most of them from within 20 miles of the city centre. The Christmas Village on Old Eldon Square brings back the vintage carousel, Ferris wheel and stage shows, and the Christmas lights switch-on is on 12 November.

From Heaton, Chillingham Road and Byker Metro stations are a few stops from Monument, and the buses along Heaton Road and Shields Road go straight into town. Weekday evenings are much quieter than Saturday afternoons. Full details are on Newcastle's Christmas website.

North Shields and Tynemouth

North Shields Christmas Market is on Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 December 2026, in and around Northumberland Square, with free entry, according to Visit North Tyneside. Expect street food, mulled wine, fairground rides and choirs; the 2026 programme and opening times are still to be published.

Tynemouth Market, one stop further along the coast, trades every Saturday and Sunday, 9am to 3.30pm, under the Victorian roof of Tynemouth Station. It is fully indoors, which counts for a lot in December. Both are on the same yellow-line Metro that runs through Chillingham Road, so you can do the two in one trip.

Shopping locally in Heaton

The independents on your own doorstep are worth a December look too. Artichoke on Heaton Road has cards, candles, books and small homeware, Heaton Flora does flowers and plants, Clough's Sweet Shop, family-run since 1934, fills a stocking with weighed-out sweets, and The Honey Tree Wholefoods covers the organic end of the Christmas food shop. Our guide to the best independent shops in Heaton has the full run.

What is not confirmed yet

As of mid-October, these have not been published for 2026:

• Ouseburn Christmas Market dates
• 36 Lime Street's winter open studios dates
• North Shields Christmas Market opening times and stall line-up

We will update this guide as they are announced. For pantomimes, light trails and the rest of the region's festive calendar, see Christmas in the North East.

Know a Heaton Christmas fair or makers' market we have missed? Get in touch.