Liverpool & Manchester Christmas Art Gift Guide

Christmas shopping can be hard work. Like, really hard work. That’s why we’ve scoured Liverpool and Manchester’s independent shops, craft fairs and markets to bring you a roundup of the best places to buy truly individual presents this Christmas.

Best Christmas Craft Fairs in Manchester

Start your Christmas gift hunt at The Little Northern Contemporary Craft Fair at Altrincham Town Hall on Sunday 6 December. With more than 40 carefully selected designer-makers and artists, it’s the perfect place to find unique gifts for Christmas. And with a huge selection of homemade jewellery, fashion accessories and beautiful things for the home, you’ll find everything you need for a truly bespoke Christmas.

Homemade gifts are always the most thoughtful, and if you head over to MadLab’s Crafty Christmas Workshop at Bolton Central Library on Friday 11 December, you’ll be taught how to make your own Christmas tree decoration that twinkles with LED lights. There’s a morning and afternoon session available, and children are welcome but they must be accompanied by an adult. Head over to Eventbrite to buy your ticket.

As Christmas fast approaches, head out of the city centre to The Vintage Village in Stockport for The No Sleep Til Christmas Fair on Sunday 13 December. Expect festive fun with a vintage twist along with dozens of independent traders selling vintage clothing, jewellery, vinyl and other unique trinkets. Entry is £2.

Alternatively, pop into the Off the High Street Christmas market in Radcliffe for a range of unique artisan gifts, arts and crafts and the best of local food and drink. It’s held in a big marquee to protect visitors from the winter weather and takes place every Thursday, Friday and Saturday for the last three weekends before Christmas, so even the most last-minute of last-minute shoppers needn’t miss out!

If you’re on the lookout for unique Christmas presents in Manchester city centre, pay a visit to SWAG, a brand new pop-up shop on the corner of Oldham Street and Hilton Street in the Northern Quarter. SWAG stands for 'Shop Workspace Art Gallery' and all the clothing, artworks and gifts are handmade by local creatives. The shop’s open Tuesday to Sunday up until Christmas but if it does well, there’s a good chance it’ll be sticking around much longer.

And don’t forget the Manchester Craft and Design Centre, home to two floors of studio boutiques selling contemporary jewellery, ceramics and art. Just a stone’s throw from the hustle and bustle of Market Street and the Arndale Centre, it’s the perfect place for an altogether different shopping experience.

Best Christmas Craft Fairs in Liverpool

If you’re based in Liverpool, don’t miss the Winter Arts Market in one of Liverpool’s most iconic buildings – St George’s Hall. Taking place on Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 December, it’s Merseyside’s largest arts and crafts market and the perfect place to pick up unique handmade gifts for hard-to-buy-for family and friends. Featuring work from over 200 artists, designers and makers, you’ll find everything from homemade jewellery and vintage clothing to paintings, decorations and cards in a stunning setting.

Constellations is Liverpool’s go-to place for independent fare, and you’ll find Capstan's Bazaar’s Free Pop-Up Festive Arts and Crafts Market there on Sunday 13 December. This family-friendly winter market will play host to a wide selection of intriguing and artistic stalls with a diverse selection of makers selling creative clothing, creative crafts and seasonal gifts, making it the perfect opportunity to find a Christmas present like no other.

Or perhaps you’re looking for unique gift for a bookworm close to your heart; head to Reid of Liverpool, an old-fashioned bookshop in Liverpool city centre, for old books on a variety of subjects and a lovely selection of Christmas treats laid out for the customers.

Some final shouts: in this time of consump- tion and waste, why not make your present eco- friendly? BEEcycle on Albert Dock offers a great selection of beautifully designed green gifts, from the educational (a Wiggo Composting Pod, perfect for kids curious about what happens to their leftovers) to the decorative (undeniably cute Mr Turf grass-hair-growing figurines) and the clever (if you've a friend who loves to garden but lives in a pokey flat, the Grote Wall Garden Pouch is a neat and tidy compromise).

If the Baltic Triangle is one of your regular hangouts, don’t miss the Winter Wonderland event at the Great Baltic Warehouse. Run by Independent Liverpool, it takes place on 11, 12 and 13 December and will be a haven of festivities from the city’s best mince pie bakers and fake snow to Christmas hampers and unique gifts made by local artists and makers.

And as a final suggestion, pop into the Bluecoat Display Centre while you’re shopping in the city centre for homemade jewellery and ceramics by local artists. And if you’re still stuck for a gift idea, there’s always the Liverpool Christmas Market!