13 UK alternative markets for the spookiest Christmas shopping for goths and ghouls in 2025
You might think it’s a little early to be mentioning Christmas shopping, but in the small business world, we’re already deep into festive planning.
And if you lean towards the dark and macabre, or you’re going to be Christmas shopping for someone who does, you need to bookmark these alternative markets, especially as some of them are sooner than you’d think - there’s one in just a few weeks.
Christmas shopping online is really convenient, but it’s so great to go along to a Christmas market to see and feel items in the flesh, and meet the artists behind your favourite indie brands. The atmosphere can really get you in the mood and give you those lovely festive feelings too.
I’ve split these alternative Christmas markets by area, so that you can easily find one near you, and start saving your pennies for all those festive gifts for goths (and a few treats for yourself too - you deserve it for being so generous).
Let’s start with my local area.
Alternative Christmas markets in South West England
1. Fright Club Goth & Alt Art Fayre by Ghoul Gang Collective
📍 Loco Klub, Bristol
🗓 Sunday 2nd November
Don’t be fooled by the name, Fright Club Fayre is the friendliest market around. I love Dex & Goody who run this one together - it’s run by artists, for artists, and they cultivate a really brilliant inclusive atmosphere and showcase amazing local people.
This alternative market is highly curated, with a great mix of traders, and they keep their prices affordable so that new artists can showcase their work. This would be a great market to pick up some unique Christmas gifts made by emerging artists that you won’t find anywhere else.
2. The Frome Independent
📍 Frome
🗓 Every 1st Sunday of the month (March-December), 10-3
🗓 Christmas market 7th December
The Frome Independent isn’t strictly an alternative market, but it’s so good, with lots of different kinds of makers, artists, and sellers. It takes over the whole town centre, and the Christmas market is a bumper bonanza - it’s somehow even bigger and better than the regular monthly market.
Frome market is very highly curated, with a strong focus on craftsmanship and ethics. You’ll find street food, a farmers market, flea market, craft market, and more. It’s a brilliant day out for everyone (and it’s also great for cute dog spotting) - but make sure to get there early, as it can get really busy.
3. Haunt’s Curiosity Shoppe’s Moonlit Market & Book Launch Party and The All Souls Fayre
📍 Bristol
🗓 Moonlit Market - Thursday 30th October, 5-8:30pm at The Mount Without
🗓 All Souls Fayre - Saturday 1st & Sunday 2nd November, 11-3 at Arnos Vale Cemetery
Haunt’s Curiosity Shoppe runs several markets a year, and you can find out about them on their website or by following their Facebook Page, where they share their events.
I’ve done a few of their alternative markets at the beautiful Mount Without, and they’re always busy and very well curated with different artists and artisans. Find ceramics, jewellery, scents, prints, and even handmade brooms - the perfect witchy Christmas gift.
I’ll be selling at the Moonlit Market & Book Launch Party, and I might go along to the All Souls Fayre to start my Christmas shopping, as there’ll be different artists over the two days.
4. Made In Bristol Gift Fair
📍 Bristol Beacon, Bristol
🗓 Saturday 22nd November, 29th November, & 14th December
This is another one which isn’t really an alternative market, but it’s such an amazing gift fair, timed specifically for Christmas shopping. Hosted in Bristol Beacon over 4 floors, there are hundreds of local traders showcasing their wares.
Rebecca Edelmann, who makes my favourite skull mugs, is often there, and Bristol Broomworks, who make handmade traditional brooms, has been there in the past too. I’ll be there on Saturday 22nd November.
Alternative Christmas markets in London
5. Satanic Flea Market
📍 Electrowerkz, London
🗓 Samhain Spectacular - Sunday 12th October
🗓 AntiXmas - Sunday 14th December
This is the grand-daddy of alternative markets - it’s a huuuuuge market with a tonne of traders. It’s been going for over 10 years, and often takes over all 4 floors of Electrowerkz in Angel, London.
There’s always a massive variety of traders, plus live music, workshops, and other ways to get involved. It’s worth getting there for opening, as some traders sell out early.
6. Not a Phase Market
📍Signature Brew, London
🗓 Halloween Market - Sunday 26th October
🗓 Christmas Market - Sunday 7th December
Not a Phase Market describes themselves as “London’s Emo Farmers Market”. It’s a bit more lowkey, as it’s in a brewery called Signature Brew Blackhorse Road, which always makes for a great day out.
All the traders are on the alternative side, so this is a great market for doing all your Christmas shopping for the goths and emos in your life.
7. Thrift Mas by DIY Art Market
📍 Abney Public Hall, Stoke Newington, London
🗓 Saturday 20th & Sunday 21st December
DIY Art Market runs a range of different events, with dates in October and December, all featuring handmade goodies by small businesses - they even do jewellery-specific markets, which I’ve done before.
Their pre-Christmas “Thrift Mas” market is for sustainable gifts on a budget and last minute gifts, with over 60 indie traders including vintage, jewellery, ceramics, and loads more.
Alternative Christmas markets in the East & South East
8. The Nightfair Market
📍 Colchester - Saturday 1st November
📍 Brighton - Saturday 29th & Sunday 30th November
📍 Norwich - Saturday 6th & Sunday 7th December
Run by Selina Grazia, this is another market run by an artist, for artists. The Nightfair Market has built up a really great following, and people really show up for it. There are different artists on different days, so it’s worth going along to more than just one market to really kickstart your Christmas shopping.
The Norwich event is the home of the Nightfair, and is hosted in a beautiful building with gorgeous orangery - it’ll be so Christmassy!
9. Others Market by Mastolf and Mastej
📍 Hastings
🗓 Saturday 4th October (daytime) & Friday 12th December (evening)
Run by a pair of self-described freaky goth hun twins, who are regulars at the Satanic Flea Market too, Others Market is high up above Hastings in a great community space.
There’s a really relaxed feel at this one, and it’s super friendly - Others Market is a bit smaller than some of the alternative markets, so it’s not too overwhelming. It also has a lovely garden space if you need a time out away from the market, as well as an onsite café.
Alternative Christmas markets in the North
10. The Dark Arts Market
📍 Nottingham
🗓 Saturday & Sunday 11-12th October & 13-14th December
The Dark Arts Market is two days of alternative fun. It’s another gothic market with different traders on different days, so it’s really worth making a weekend of it and going along to both.
This was a really great market when I did it earlier this year. The one I attended was in the Nottingham Trent Uni Student Union, so there’s a bar there for refreshments while you do your Christmas shopping.
11. Liverpool / Manchester Alternative Bazaar by Kintsugilt
📍 Manchester - Sunday 5th October
📍 Liverpool - Sunday 2nd November
Run by Jay, an experienced artist who knows exactly what traders want from an event. They’re super hot on accessibility and making sure the events are good for everyone who shows up too. Both events are on Sunday nights, in big spacious venues with onsite bars and food.
There’s a different feel to these alternative markets, because they’re done on an evening, but the atmosphere is always amazing. Jay is super picky about making sure that only the very best gothic and alternative traders are showcased, and they always curate it carefully for a balanced market.
The Alternative Bazaar is a really great northern market to start Christmas shopping for your favourite goths - I’ll be selling at the Manchester market, and hopefully Liverpool too!
12. Leeds Festival of Gothica
📍 Leeds Kirkgate Market
🗓 Saturday 18th October
The Festival of Gothica is a huge sprawling market in the centre of Leeds, in the heart of Kirkgate Market across three zones. This alternative market has a huge range of goods on sale, from stickers through to taxidermy and renovated furniture items.
This one feels a bit more old-school, soundtracked by goth tunes - it’s a real classic gothic market that will be perfect for a bit of early Christmas shopping.
Alternative Christmas markets in Wales
13. Hell on Earth Hexmas Market by Eternal Horror Art
📍 Fuel Rock Club, Cardiff
🗓 Halloween Horror - Saturday 25th October
🗓 Hexmas - Saturday 6th December
I love this alternative market over the border in Wales’ capital, Cardiff, run by Hannah of Eternal Horror Art and Mat & Ryan, and hosted in Fuel Rock Club in the heart of Cardiff.
Hell on Earth market is always super busy, with queues snaking down the street for opening. They carefully curate the line up, and have different traders for each of their 4 yearly events, and the October and December markets are a great chance to start your alternative Christmas shopping.
I apply to every one of these and I’m always so thrilled when I manage to bag a spot - I won’t be at the Halloween event, but I’ll be applying again to the Hexmas one :)
So there you go, a whole bunch of dates for your diary to kickstart your Christmas shopping at the coolest alternative markets in the UK.
Have I forgotten any amazing alt markets that I should add to my list? Drop me a DM over on Instagram and I’ll add it in, and perhaps I’ll apply to be a trader too!
And if you can’t wait ‘til these Christmas markets to shop my wares, you can shop my gothic jewellery online anytime.