By LYDIA HAWKEN and MARIA CHIORANDO FOR MAILONLINE
Published: 02:48 EST, 9 December 2024 | Updated: 02:48 EST, 9 December 2024
Christmas markets, once considered a cornerstone of seasonal shopping, may have lost their festive sheen a little.
Shoppers have been reporting underwhelming visits to the nation's pop-up yuletide stalls at towns and cities across the UK this year.
Consumer complaints have taken a common thread, with some saying that for every artisan seller you find, there's another type of vendor, selling 'overpriced tat' - including merchandise that might have been picked up online via sites including Amazon, Shein, Temu and Etsy.
Others have complained that the markets themselves are sparse, with little to peruse - and overpriced food items.
One TikTok user, @laura_leannne14 recently took to the platform to share a video of her trip to Glasgow Fort Market.
Accompanying her video, she shared a caption that said: 'I popped into the Fort today looking forward to having a nosey around the stalls, to my disappointment there was barely anything.'
Among the few items shown in the clip was a stall selling 'personalised' ornaments for a staggering £12 a piece.
Similar pieces can be snapped up online via sites like Not on the High Street starting at around just £3.
Here, FEMAIL highlights a few of the potential presents that might have been given a not-so-merry mark-up when compared to similar items being sold online...
Belfast: Slogan baby-gros sold with a £7 inflation
Baby onesies were spotted at one Christmas market, priced at £10 each. Very similar item can be bought online, including a £3.12 version from Temu
Pictured: A similar babygro sold on discount website Temu, bearing a similar slogan to the one at the market
One of the items on offer at St George's Market in Belfast this year is a baby onesie priced at £10, bearing the slogan: 'I drink til I pass out - like my da.'
While the comedy gift may be the perfect pressie for a newborn, similar slogan onesies can be purchased online from Temu for just £3.12.
Birmingham: Swiss style chalets more than triple in price
A photo taken from a stall at Birmingham market this winter season revealed traditional-style weather houses selling for between £30 and £85 - but similar ones can be snapped up cheaper online
This version of a 'wetterhaus', styled around a German or Swiss chalet and featuring a thermometer, is selling online at Amazon for less than a tenner
Chocolate box Swiss and German chalet decorations add an element of Alpine chic to seasonal decorations - but buying them online as opposed to at festive markets could save shoppers almost a third.
A pretty-looking stall at Birmingham Christmas market is currently bedecked with cuckoo clocks and mini chalets - the latter often featuring thermometers and known as 'Wetterhaus'.
The traditional-looking items sell for from between £40 to £85 at the market, but a similar version is available on Amazon at a cut of the cost. A weather house currently retailing on Amazon via the brand Masinies costs £9.96 before delivery.
Edinburgh:Paper stars up to £19 pricier than online
Another TikTok user who enjoyed their day out showed some of the craftier items on offer at Christmas markers, including wooden ornaments of owls and candles made in vintage teacups.
The social media user, who uses the handle @cliosarahjackson, enjoyed the occasion, accompanying the clip with a caption.
It read: '10/10 we went in the day and was nowhere near as busy! We had a walk through and seen all the stalls and as we had eaten before we didnt stop at any of the food stalls but they looked soooo good [...] Definitely recommend.'
However, while they enjoyed the market, the video showed paper stars on offer, with a price tag that appeared to read £21. While some of the decorations were very elaborate, the simpler ones are similar to ones that can be picked up via Temu for just £2.
Images from a Christmas market showed decorative stars, which a sign appeared to suggest cost in excess of £20
Meanwhile, paper star lanterns which are similar the lesser decorated stars cost just £2.54 from Temu
Key rings priced at £12 were spotted at a Christmas market in York, however, they appeared extremely similar to a cheaper version available online
Pictured: These key rings in the shape of mini ballet shoes appear extremely similar to the ones sold at the market for almost £9 more
York: keyrings sold for £9 more than online
While York's Christmas Market is now over, it is a hugely popular event that often brings in people from outside the city for a festive day out.
However, among the vendors' unique items, one stall was spotted selling ballet-themed keyrings that appeared to be the same as some available on Temu.
The pointe shoe keyrings were priced at £12 at the market stall. Keyrings that appear to be the same can be picked up from the low-priced website for just £3.12.
Belfast: £9 mark-up on mug
It comes after it was revealed that a stall at a Christmas market in Belfast was offering a 'Just a Girl' hamster meme mug for £14.
The item, which retails for £5 on Shein, was being offered alongside some illustrated reusable Starbucks cups which were priced at a staggering £20.
Meanwhile, TikTok users have also spotted near identical garlic grater plates on sale at Bristol and York Christmas markets - when they can be sourced for half the price online.
Pictured: The Belfast Christmas Market stall selling a TikTok meme mug with a £9 mark-up and Starbucks cups, which are £10 more expensive than on Etsy
Pictured: The hamster mug inspired by the 'Just a Girl' trend that took TikTok by storm earlier this year
Liverpool: £5.50 mark-up on Christmas decorations
Earlier this year, Liverpool Christmas market, which has been running for the past 18 years, opened its doors again.
In 2023, over 750,000 visitors flocked to the festive market - and its proving to be equally as popular this time round.
TikTok user Lauren was among the first guests to return to the market and filmed a video browsing some of the Christmas tree decorations on sale.
In her video, the social media user paused to take a look at some personalised 2D wooden baubles, which retail for £7 each.
TikTok user Lauren filmed a video of herself browsing some of the Christmas tree decorations on sale in Liverpool
Pictured: the £1.50 personalised wooden Christmas tree decorations that are best-sellers on Etsy
On Etsy, an incredibly similar design - which can also be personalised - can be ordered for £1.50 and remains one of the online marketplace's best-sellers.
Lauren captioned the post: 'Only in the Liverpool Christmas markets!'
Bath: Paper lanterns £13 more expensive than Temu
Edinburgh was not the only market spotted selling star-shaped paper lanterns at high prices - some were also on offer at a stall in Bath.
There, the ornaments were being sold for £15 - despite the similar designs that can be found on Temu for as little as £2.
Giving the market one star out of five last year, one TripAdvisor user wrote: 'The items for sale (if you could actually access the sheds) were generally very expensive.
'The impression gained is that Bath is not a big enough location to host this type of tourist attraction.'
Pictured: The £15 paper lanterns on sale at Bath Christmas Market, which has been criticised for being 'overpriced' and 'overcrowded'
The star-shaped paper ornaments are sold for £15 in Bath - but similar designs can be found on Temu (pictured) for as little as £2
After the lanterns appeared in a TikTok last month, one local commented: 'As someone who lives in Bath I can’t go out on weekends bc the whole centre is gridlocked with people coming from everywhere to the Christmas market.'
Another added: 'It's so crowded you can't move or actually see any of the stalls.'
Belfast: £15 TikTok meme mug that can be bought for a fiver on Shein
In Belfast, one stall appeared to be making a killing selling items you can buy on Amazon and Etsy for an inflated price point.
Last month, the TikTok user Northern Ireland Traveller posted a tour of the Belfast Christmas market - which ended with footage of the stall selling slippers, key chains, mugs and Starbucks cups.
Pictured: the Belfast Christmas Market stall that is selling 'viral' presents, like the 'Just a Girl' hamster mug
Pictured: an almost identical Starbucks cup design can be purchased on Etsy for as little as £9.99
Pictured: these £16 Etsy slippers can also be personalised and also feature a seam running down the front
Among the items on sale was a pair of £23 pink monogrammed slippers. A near identical pair - with a seam running down the middle - can be purchased on Etsy for £16.
On top of this, the stall - which was also selling a £14 hamster mug based on a TikTok meme - was flogging illustrated Starbucks cups for £20.
Again, almost identical designs can be purchased on Etsy for £9.99.
What's more, the stall also capitalised on the popular 'Just a Girl' TikTok meme by putting the 'sad hamster' illustration on a mug, which they're selling for £14.
On Shein, shoppers can pick up the same version - complete with matching text and baby pink inside - for £5 on Shein.
Edinburgh: Pricey chalet ornaments that appear in other markets
TikToker Dave Mani showcased how Edinburgh Christmas market also has a stall selling chalet ornaments of varying sizes
This Amazon Christmas chalet ornament (pictured) retails for £13 - while the Edinburgh market offerings seem to start from £27
Meanwhile, TikToker Dave Mani showcased how Edinburgh Christmas market also has a stall selling chalet ornaments of varying sizes - just like Belfast and York's.
In Edinburgh, the cheapest ornament appears to be around the £27 mark. In contrast, a very similar version of the Christmas chalet is only £13 on Amazon.
Writing on TripAdvisor, one Edinburgh local moaned the market has changed beyond all recognition.
They wrote: 'I've lived in Edinburgh all my life (30 years) and the Christmas market used to be one of my favourite events of the year in Edinburgh, it was truly magical and so much fun right through until my early 20's.
'In the last 5-10 years it's changed a lot, much more expensive, the stalls feel less independent and more tat and the main issue is the crowds. Makes it honestly unbearable to visit, you queue for 20 minutes for 1 cup of overpriced mulled wine and don't bother with any of the rides because you'll wait all day to get on.'
Since Christmas markets have been opening, people have been sharing videos of the overwhelming crowds that have gathered in city centres for the festivities.
Last month, one TikToker called Rachel shared a video of her walk into York when she found herself in the hoards of people trying to get to the market.
She wrote: 'Every year, I make the mistake of going into York centre on a Saturday in Xmas season.'
'Literally forget how stressful it is every year,' she added in the caption.
One viewer replied: 'I simply do not go into town on weekends once the markets start. Weekdays and evenings only.'
'I live in York,' another added. 'This time of year is a nightmare.' 'Imagine trying to get to work on time and having to walk through that,' a third said.
Social media users have also threatened to 'boycott' their local markets in York and Birmingham
During a visit, X user Jack spotted a stall serving steak and chips for £14 - while a single portion of chips with a sauce was £7.
He fumed: 'Christmas markets need to be stopped. It's a shameless money grab from families (usually) and there's f*** all traditional about it anyway!'
And Jack isn't the only former Christmas market fan who is now pledging to boycott them entirely over the food prices.
Kristina from Hereford eating a half-a-metre long Bratwurst sausage at Birmingham's Frankfurt Christmas Market
Pictured: Birmingham Christmas market, where visitors can pay £9 for a hot dog or £4.50 for a bag of roasted almonds
Around the same time, X user Alice fumed: 'I never want to go to a Christmas market in the UK. Stand around a grotty high street and pay £10 for a cup of lukewarm wine? No thank you.'
Meanwhile, Birmingham Christmas market - which has enforced a one-beer rule for visitors - was slammed last month for its 'rip-off' £9 hot dog and £4.50 bag of almonds.
John Beard, 35, from Birmingham, said: 'This will be the first time in ten years I'm not going to bother [going].
'It's a combination of the rip-off prices and that one beer rule is just daft. You can queue for half hour there easily so sometimes you want to double up.
'People are watching the pennies more than ever and don't want to spend nearly a tenner on a sausage. You can blow about £50 in ten minutes.'