Christmas Market boosts local economy by £60.4m

Bath’s iconic Christmas market brought £41.5m turnover for businesses, support for more than 500 jobs and a £60.4m associated spend, a survey commissioned by B&NES Council has demonstrated.

B&NES Council’s Lib Dem administration are delighted with the excellent results for 2024. Bath’s first Christmas Market was established by @bathnesld councillors in 2000.

Approximately 444,000 visitors flocked to the 18-day event. Last year saw a record-breaking number of local stallholders taking part.

According to the survey report, average visitor spend per person per day rose more than £31 in 2024, compared with less than £27 in 2023. 73% of the overall visitors said the Christmas Market was their main reason for visiting the city.

Visitors who stayed overnight during their visit to the Christmas Market stayed in Bath for an average of at least two nights. 91% of these said they would consider returning to the city for a short break at another time of year.

B&NES residents made up 21% of the visitors, an increase on the previous two years. 58% of all visitors lived in the South West of England and 4% of visitors were from overseas.

The highest-ever number of traders were based in the South West at 85% of the 230 traders attending. 40% of the traders who signed up for first time were based in Bath and surrounding areas.

Bath Christmas Market will return for 2025 on November 27 and will run until December 14 (inclusive).