Edinburgh’s picturesque Princes Street Gardens were recently transformed into a world encapsulating the magic of Christmas; a true Winter Wonderland set against the backdrop of Edinburgh Castle. From its array of attractions – the StarFlyer, Big Wheel, the outdoor Ice Rink – to its beloved traditional Christmas stalls, Edinburgh’s Christmas Market has been cited asEurope’s most beautiful market. In 2024, the market was worth £150m (nearly £200m combined with Hogmanay celebrations), with over 2.3 million tourists visiting, speaking both to its popularity and capacity to attract large crowds during the festive period. However, as the years pass, the enchanting atmosphere of Edinburgh’s Christmas Market becomes dull due to the soaring costs to experience it. For many students, the festivity of the market is overshadowed by the strain on their budgets.
After visiting the Christmas market, I have estimated that it costs roughly £46 to enjoy the activities and stalls on offer. This is with scarce spending and includes the 20 per cent discount on attractions for those living within the EH postcode. An experience at the Edinburgh Christmas Market encompasses a ride on the infamous StarFlyer (£13.50) or the LNER Big Wheel (£12), a browse through the stalls for handcrafted Christmas presents (which can range from £10 to £50), a Bratwurst or some macaroni (£9.50), and to finish it off, a mulled cider (£6.50) or a luxury hot chocolate (£7.50). This is excluding ice skating at the outdoor ice rink along George Street which costs £15 for an adult. To fully enjoy the experience, people are enticed to continually spend their money as they wander through the maze of traditional handcrafted and food stalls and attractions.
Many residents feel that the Christmas market no longer lives up to its reputation due to the inflation of prices and a less captivating festive and traditional Christmas atmosphere. Reviews are now circulating to discourage goers, shifting from a tone of festivity to frustration: “Less stalls, more people, higher prices and longer queues – do not go!” accompanied with “by far the worst.” The review states entire rows of stalls have vanished, with the surviving stall, attraction, and food options reaching laughable prices. Edinburgh News estimated that a family of four visiting the market would spend a skyrocketing £120. Whilst the Edinburgh Christmas Market continues to attract vast numbers of visitors, residents are convinced that the experience is declining annually.
The Christmas market is filled with an array of traders selling their products, yet the price to hold a stall ranges up to £500 per day, triggering the rise in prices. 71 Scottish artisan traders — namely Edinburgh Bow Tie co., Baa Baa Sheep, and Uplands Roast — rely heavily on the Edinburgh Christmas Market to sell their goods, as for many small makers it is the most profitable time of year. These traditional stalls are rooted in Scottish heritage, offering goods, local treats and gifts. But the mix of stall owners extends to international traders, with the Edinburgh Christmas Market opening its gates to offer diverse tastes in goods. The pressure they face to make profit is greater as they need to cover the costs to hold a stand and the transportation of their products. Upon speaking with a stall owner who travels each year from Amsterdam to sell her handcrafted ceramic dishes during the six week period, she voices how the Edinburgh Christmas Market provides the best atmosphere to make profit. The price of holding a stall and the pressure to make profit catalyses the inflation of prices annually, prompting tension with the consumers causing discouragement.
Along with prices, queues and waiting times for rides have, too, increased. Each winter, Edinburgh becomes flooded with tourists, excited for The Christmas market and Edinburgh’s extravagant Hogmanay celebrations. For many residents, this sheer volume of tourists can be overwhelming, acting as an incentive to avoid the city centre altogether once the festivities begin.
For students the opinion is split; some see it as a perfect distraction of exams in immersing yourself in the holiday spirit, while others simply cannot afford it. One student says: “I go for the vibes, but I buy nothing,” — maybe the atmosphere alone is enough.
The Edinburgh Christmas Market holds a strong emotional pull with its enticing Christmas ambiance, but behind the festive lights and cozy spirit lies business-orientated ambitions, soaring prices, and a growing sense it caters more towards tourists. For many students, the atmosphere along Princes Street Gardens remains the only thing they gain.
As the Edinburgh Christmas Market becomes increasingly commercial, it becomes clear that you can put a price on a Christmas, and this year it is higher than ever.
Image by Mark Chan for The Student