The English market town dubbed ‘Christmas capital of the North’ with ice rink, Ferris wheel and Santa’s Grotto 

BISHOP AUCKLAND is simply a historical marketplace municipality successful County Durham that's been named 1 of the champion marketplace towns to sojourn successful England for a festive getaway.

Not lone is Bishop Auckland described arsenic the gateway to the Durham Dales, but it's accelerated becoming known arsenic the Christmas Capital of the North.

Research from holidaycottages.co.uk precocious revealed the apical 10 festive marketplace towns successful England.

Bakewell successful Derbyshire took archetypal spot with Stow-on-the-Wold successful Gloucestershire ranked second.

Norfolk's Holt came successful astatine third, portion Keswick successful Cumbria took 4th place.

Meanwhile, Bishop Auckland ranked 5th acknowledgment to its scenic winter walks, cosy pubs, festive lights and different Christmas attractions.

A squad of question experts astatine holidaycottages.co.uk wrote: "Bishop Auckland brings a captivating blend of history and vacation tone to the festive season.

"Also known arsenic the Christmas Town of the North, it shines agleam passim the festive period, attracting visitors anxious to acquisition its charming streets, Christmas ambience, and galore vacation events".

Located successful the Vale of Durham, Bishop Auckland volition soon big Christmas Town 2024 - a 10-day festive lawsuit that features an crystal rink, a ferris wheel, elephantine tipis and a grotto.

Other attractions see a Christmas bandstand, a Christmas market and a vintage carousel.

Christmas Town volition instrumentality spot from November 29 until December 8 successful Bishop Auckland's municipality square.

Several different Christmas events volition besides instrumentality spot successful the English marketplace municipality implicit the festive period, including AGLOW - a Christmas airy trail featuring 22 displays, immoderate of which volition beryllium the largest successful the country.

The Christmas airy trail volition instrumentality spot astatine Auckland Palace with big tickets starting from £21.75 and children's tickets from £14.75.

Christmas astatine the Palace volition besides instrumentality spot astatine Auckland Palace, with 12 rooms decorated for the festive season.

Holidaymakers volition beryllium capable to sojourn the State Rooms, St Peter's Chapel and the Private Apartments, each of which volition beryllium adorned with Christmas Trees, twinkling lights and garlands.

Christmas astatine the Palace volition instrumentality spot connected acceptable days successful November and December during mean opening hours.

Entry tickets commencement from £20 for adults and £12.50 for children nether the property of 16.

Nearby, Weardale Railway's festive Christmas train volition depart from Stanhope Train Station.

The festive bid travel volition diagnostic unrecorded onboard performances from a Christmas-themed cast.

Journeys volition run for 22 days passim November and December, with tickets from £36.20.

Bishop Auckland is simply a 25-minute thrust from Darlington and a 47-minute thrust from Newcastle. ​​

Earlier this year, we revealed our favourite towns and villages to sojourn crossed the UK.

Another tiny colony successful the UK has been compared to a retro 1940s movie set.