Littledown Christmas Market 2026: Stay and Visit Guide
Littledown Christmas Market returns on Sunday, 22 November 2026 with a day of independent shopping, festive food and family entertainment.
The indoor market takes place at BH Live Active Littledown from 11am until 4pm.
It is a useful addition to a Christmas weekend in Bournemouth, particularly if you want something smaller and more locally focused than the main town-centre festive market.
Admission is £1 for adults, 50p for children aged five to 15 and free for under-fives.
No advance booking is required.
What is at Littledown Christmas Market?
The market focuses heavily on independent traders and makers.
Stalls include handmade crafts, jewellery, fused glass, Christmas cards, decorations and wreaths.
There will also be local artwork and photography.
For food lovers, the line-up includes preserves, chutneys, fudge, artisan gin, seasonal cakes, chestnuts, cheeses and hampers.
It is the sort of market where you can find several Christmas presents without relying on high-street shops.
Family entertainment
There is entertainment alongside the shopping.
Sing-People-Sing will perform festive music from the main hall balcony.
Children can meet Giggles the cheeky elf and have their faces painted.
The market is indoors, which makes it particularly useful for families during unpredictable November weather.
Food and drinks
The Terrace café will be open during the event for hot drinks and snacks.
Visitors can also buy food products directly from traders, including seasonal cakes, fudge, cheeses and preserves.
If you are planning a longer visit, Littledown also has other food and drink facilities within the wider complex.
Littledown Christmas Market prices
ADULTS: £1
CHILDREN AGED 5–15: 50p
UNDER-FIVES: Free
BOOKING: Not required
The low entry price makes it easy to include the market as part of a wider Bournemouth weekend rather than building the entire trip around one event.
Parking at Littledown
BH Live Active Littledown has 360 parking spaces.
Littledown parking is free for up to three hours, with charges applying after that.
Because the market runs from 11am until 4pm, anyone planning to stay for most of the event should check the parking terms displayed on arrival.
The car park uses ANPR.
Getting there without a car
Several Morebus services stop around Royal Bournemouth Hospital.
The relevant stops on Deansleigh Road are roughly a four-minute walk from Littledown.
This can be useful for visitors staying elsewhere in Bournemouth who would rather avoid moving their car during a busy festive weekend.
Where to stay for Littledown Christmas Market
Flexiestays operates serviced apartments and aparthotels across Bournemouth, including several properties around West Cliff.
Littledown is not directly beside the main seafront accommodation area, so visitors should plan to drive, use public transport or take a taxi to the market.
The advantage of staying closer to central Bournemouth is that the rest of the festive weekend remains easy to explore.
Bournemouth Square, the Lower Gardens, seafront and main Christmas attractions are all closer to the West Cliff area.
Make a Christmas weekend of it
A simple weekend could look like this.
SATURDAY
Arrive in Bournemouth and check in.
Walk into Bournemouth town centre.
Visit the main Christmas Market and festive attractions around the Lower Gardens.
Spend the evening around the town centre or seafront.
SUNDAY
Have breakfast at your apartment.
Travel to Littledown for the Christmas Market.
Browse the stalls between 11am and 4pm.
Return towards the coast for an afternoon walk or an early dinner before heading home.
Why the Littledown market is different
Bournemouth has several Christmas events, but Littledown offers something slightly different.
It is indoors.
Admission is inexpensive.
The focus is on makers, local food and gift shopping rather than large-scale rides or nightlife.
For families, it is easy to manage in a few hours.
For visitors already staying in Bournemouth, it gives you another part of the town to explore during the festive season.
Littledown Christmas Market 2026 at a glance
DATE: Sunday, 22 November
TIME: 11am–4pm
LOCATION: BH Live Active Littledown
ADDRESS: Chaseside, Bournemouth BH7 7DX
ADULTS: £1
AGES 5–15: 50p
UNDER-FIVES: Free
BOOKING: Not required
PARKING: Free for customers for up to three hours
ENTERTAINMENT: Festive music, Giggles the elf and face painting
SHOPPING: Crafts, jewellery, art, food, Christmas decorations and gifts
A simple festive day out
Littledown Christmas Market does not need a complicated itinerary.
Arrive around lunchtime, browse the independent traders, find a few Christmas gifts and stop for something warm.
Families can stay for the music and children's entertainment before heading back towards central Bournemouth.
If you are already spending the weekend on the coast, it is an easy way to add a more local Christmas event to the trip.
Littledown Christmas Market is straightforward to enjoy. Arrive around lunchtime, explore the independent stalls, pick up some Christmas gifts and enjoy a warm drink. Families can stay for the music and children’s entertainment before returning to central Bournemouth or continuing their festive weekend.
For visitors staying on the coast or in town, the market adds a local, indoor Christmas shopping experience to a broader seasonal visit.
For official details and updates, visit the Littledown Christmas Market page.
Explore more festive events and things to do in Bournemouth on our What's On page and plan your visit with our Where to Stay guide. For family-friendly activities during the winter season, see our Beaches and Attractions sections.