A visit to Bath Christmas Market turned into a frustrating experience for 23-year-old student Gizem Taslicay, who described the event as ‘chaotic’ and overcrowded. On Sunday, November 30, despite hoping for a quieter afternoon, Gizem found herself struggling to navigate through dense crowds packed shoulder to shoulder.
“I thought it would be less busy around 1pm, but it was still extremely difficult to move between the stalls,” Gizem explained. She ultimately left the market within an hour, unable to reach many vendors due to the throngs of people. Despite some stalls catching her eye, the long waits and congestion made her decide not to buy anything.
“People were pushing through the crowd, and it just didn’t feel comfortable,” she added.
READ MORE: Bath Traffic Alert: A4 London Road Blocked Due to Crash
READ MORE: Calls Mount to Reduce Bath Speed Limit to 20mph Following Fatal Collision
The overwhelming atmosphere wasn’t unique to Gizem’s experience. Numerous attendees shared videos and voiced criticism on social media, with some calling it “the worst Christmas market I’ve ever been to.” Content creator @chasingthedream.hj described the market as overcrowded, overpriced, and lacking festive cheer. Another local visitor lamented the absence of Christmas music and a genuine holiday atmosphere amid the sea of visitors and stalls selling what they considered low-quality goods.
Bath Christmas Market, normally a celebrated seasonal event, clearly faced challenges with crowd management and visitor experience this year.