The best UK Christmas craft markets to visit virtually

With lockdowns in place across Britain, many Christmas markets have migrated online. With our recent survey showing that fairs are the main earner for 84% of craftspeople, it's more important than ever to support them by buying handmade this year. Here’s our pick of some of the best online offerings.

Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair Online

Manchester’s ever-popular Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair has gone digital for 2020. GNCCF Online – as it’s now known – will host a website showcase of over 150 makers, from jewellers to furniture makers, during the weekend of 21-22 November.

London Makers Market

This online marketplace strives to give a platform to eco-conscious makers – those using compostable or recycled packaging, buying from local suppliers, working with recycled materials and making pieces to order. Live events will take place on Instagram between 21 and 22 November, with work available to buy on the London Makers Market website for another week after that.

Christmas at Blackthorpe Barn Online

Celebrating the festive season at Blackthorpe Barn usually means visiting the picturesque 500-year old site in Suffolk. Now, however, the team has put together Virtual Crafts: an online event featuring familiar faces alongside makers new to the Barn, open until 22 December.

Cockpit Makers’ Market

This fixture in the capital’s craft calendar sees makers at Cockpit Studios’ Deptford and Holborn sites throwing open their doors to visitors. This year, however, the festive fun is going online, with its 150 makers offering their work for sale via the Cockpit website from 26 November 2020.

Digital Craft Festival

If you’re after a jam-packed schedule of virtual events, the Digital Craft Festival is here to help – offering demonstrations, films, talks and more from 27 to 29 November. Whether you’re metal-mad or crazy for clay, the online shop allows you to browse work according to discipline.

Solo Craft Fair

Named to reflect the fact that it prides itself on promoting individual, independent creatives and giving them a platform to grow their business, the Solo Craft Fair is holding 12 weekly virtual Christmas night markets, which started on 5 October. Each time, they share Instagram stories by participating makers, who are asked to make a £1 donation to support the event.

The Hepworth Wakefield Online Christmas Fair

Dubbed ‘one of Britain’s best Christmas markets’ by the Guardian, the Hepworth Wakefield’s fair is now operating via social media. Buy directly from virtual stallholders via the museum’s Instagram Stories over the weekends of 27-29 November and 4-6 December, and explore their work across Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.

Made Makers Online

Run by the people behind Made London, Made Brighton and the Brighton Art Fair, who also founded a travelling puppet theatre, Made Makers Online will showcase craftspeople working with a variety of materials. Log in between 4 and 6 December to pick up unique works and watch the artists discuss their practices.

Anglian Potters Exhibition

Anglian Potters has held a Christmas exhibition in Cambridge for more than 30 years, giving all profits from tree decorations to charity. This year you can buy ceramics from more than 60 exhibitors online from 20 November to 18 December.

Virtual Craft Fair

On 5 December, the Virtual Craft Fair will hold its Christmas event, including everything from pottery, jewellery and crocheted toys, to vegan accessories, eco-friendly cosmetics and Christmas decorations.