Wooden huts are glittering with golden fairylights as groups of friends gather in woolly hats, warming their hands on mugs of mulled wine.
Signs written in German are dotted about - Glühwein (mulled wine), Bratwurst (grilled sausage), Kinderpunsch (non-alcoholic punch).
This isn't Germany - it's Birmingham's Frankfurt Christmas Market. Organisers say it's the largest authentic German Christmas market outside the country and Austria.
Christmas markets are thought to have originated in Germany in the 14th Century, and their appeal has grown significantly. But how do the UK’s offerings measure up to these traditional sites?
A Taste of Germany... in Birmingham?
On a cold Thursday afternoon in Birmingham, we meet Nina Adler and Till Rampe, 27-year-old German students in the city.
As we stroll through the market near Birmingham New Street railway station, they reminisce about home, noting the wooden huts, food, and handicrafts as positive indicators of authenticity. I could swear the chocolate-coated marshmallows are from my hometown, Till, from near Frankfurt, remarks.
Our Visit to a Christmas Market in Berlin
With Birmingham's Christmas market hailed for its authenticity, we also explore markets in Berlin, which only recently opened for the season.
These markets are deeply symbolic to Germans and are filled with joyful events, featuring live performances and unique festive foods that capture the spirit of the holiday.
