Gift-off! Fairs, gifts & fun

Round & About

Handmade & heartfelt gifts are the best choice to spread the love. Here’s our guide including markets, fairs & fun, offering hidden gems & lots of sparkle 

Joy is the fuel that fires up the festive sparkle, and nothing stokes the joy like a thoughtful, handmade gift.  

“It’s so lovely to use things for years and years that have been made by the hand of an individual maker,” says potter Harriet Coleridge. “Any of us who enjoy using and looking at handmade objects must buy from the artisans or they’ll stop making!” Ewelme Pottery will open 10am-1pm on Wednesdays between now and Christmas (except 12th November); visitors welcome but please get in touch at harrietcoleridge.co.uk 

Also find Harriet at the Modern Makers Collective fair, 10am-4pm on 29th & 30th November in Yattendon, RG18 0UE. Famous for its Christmas trees (and pubs!), the beautiful village is the perfect setting for mindful shopping, food, and more. Browse gifts from star makers including textile artist & straw worker Penny Maltby, paper artist Kate Hipkiss & jewellers Charlotte Berry and Kate Wilkinson. modernmakerscollective.co.uk 

Between 14th November & 21st December, Blenheim Palace transforms into a dazzling festive village. Shop for goodies from 50+ local makers, including The Ramsden Weaver and don’t miss the illuminated trail and open air ice rink! blenheimpalace.com 

The Oxford Etsy Christmas Market on Sunday, 16th November, at the University’s Examination schools, OX1 4BG (artweeks.org/christmas) will star lots more local legends, as will Oxford Indie Book Fair, at the same location on Sunday 23rd; oxfordindiebookfair.co.uk  
And three cheers for Indie Oxford Christmas Market, back for its fourth highlight at Tap Social’s Taproom in Botley, 11am-5pm on Saturday, 29th November, with pizza and kids’ fun. “It’s all about celebrating Oxfordshire’s vibrant independent businesses, a chance for the community to shop small and make a positive impact,” says Rosie Jacobs. independentoxford.com 

Our prettiest local towns take on a wondrous sparkle about now, including Henley with the Christmas market and lights turn-on 29th November, plus Living Advent, a Grinch visit, decorated tree and retailers offering lots of cheer, fundraising for great local causes. Also supporting local charities, the Spirit of the Vale Christmas Fair, 10am-7pm on Wednesday, 19th November at the Barn in Sparsholt, OX12 9PJ. Shop for funky fudge from Marsdens Fudge, award-winning Spanish balsamic and savoury jams from Oxford’s Fino Olive Oil & much more. 

South Oxfordshire Christmas Fair at The Oxfordshire Golf Club near Thame on 18th November features 60 stalls including Pied Beauty Flower Farm,  Memara Jewellery, goodies from Jacobs Field Lavender and lots more, helping great local charities Style Acre & SeeSaw. south oxfordshire christmasfair.com 

Dame Mary Berry DBE is the special guest at Maggie’s Christmas Artisan Market in Wallingford, in aid of Maggie’s Cancer Centre, with an exclusive preview evening on Thursday, 27th November, and the market with star talks, original gifts and more, 10am–4.30pm on Friday 28th; maggies.org. Find more festive shopping and cheer on Saturday, 29th November, at the School of St Helen and St Katharine in Abingdon and The Earth Trust market in Little Wittenham, OX14 4QZ, on 5th & 6th December. Between 14th November & 21st December, Blenheim Palace becomes a dazzling festive village. Shop for goodies from 50+ makers, including The Ramsden Weaver. And enjoy the illuminated trail & openair ice rink; blenheimpalace.com 

Help Santa find his missing reindeer at Didcot Railway Centre’s 21-acre site, culminating in a visit to meet the big man himself in the grotto (selected dates in December). And you can join Charles Dickens’ great great grandson Gerald for his unique telling of A Christmas Carol on 16th & 17th December. Booking essential; please visit didcotrailwaycentre.org.uk 

Copas Farm Shop near Cookham offers award-winning turkeys (whole or in boxes for pick-up or delivery); copasfarmshop.co.uk And, if you’d rather not cook, OX’s Courtyard Marriott in Milton, offers great hospitality, especially catering for Christmas Day lunch and New Year’s Eve; theoxen.co.uk 

“Handmade gifts are so much more personal than mass-made items,” says glass artist Jan Fennelly “Supporting local artists enables them to continue making beautiful things. I remember the fun we had when I was a child decorating our Christmas tree. I still have some of these decorations: bringing them out makes me smile every year. I hope some of my decorations may last long enough to be passed down.” Find Jan & more at the Art & Craft Fair in Faringdon Corn Exchange 1-5pm on Saturday, 29th November; faringdonartsociety.co.uk 

“Unlike mass-produced items, handcrafted gifts carry a soulful touch,” says bellows maker Anne Mills (firesidebellows.com). Shop for these, Cloelea Jewellery and more at Cogges Christmas Market, 10am-4pm on 29th & 30th November; cogges.org.uk and also visit the Artweeks events & fairs, 13th-23rd December; artweeks.org 

Find more festive shopping on Saturday, 29th November, at the School of St Helen & St Katharine in Abingdon and The Earth Trust market in Little Wittenham, OX14 4QZ, on 5th & 6th December; earthtrust.org.uk