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Britain's best Christmas destinations
  • Edinburgh offers a magical backdrop for Christmas shopping, nights out and exceptional winter events if you're looking for a lively break. The Christmas markets bring festive cheer to the city until 4 January and grown-ups can enjoy mulled wine and mince pies while the kids get excited about toys and treats. Head for St Andrew Square to get your skates on and glide all the way round the Melville Monument's ice rink before enjoying the Virgin Money Street of Light, a specially-designed architectural installation of 60,000 lights stretching along the Royal Mile, from the City Chambers to the Tron Kirk.

  • A wonderfully festive place for a Christmas mini-break, Snowdonia boasts a magical landscape and an array of events. This Christmas, the world's biggest underground trampoline plays host to Santa's grotto, where families can meet the man himself and have a bounce at Bounce Below's trampoline surrounded by twinkling lights and festive decorations. From 6 to 21 December, the Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railway welcomes Father Christmas and his elves on a festive train ride. Passengers can take photos with Santa and his helpers and the adults can enjoy sherry and mince pies on the scenic ride. Christmas shoppers visiting Snowdonia should head for Portmeirion's annual food and craft festival from 6 to 7 December to marvel at the festive treats and entertainment on offer. 
  • As if the chocolate box Cotswold village of Broadway didn't look perfectly Christmassy enough, visitors to this stunning spot in Worcestershire are treated to a whole host of festivities in December. Carol singers, horse and carriage rides, street entertainers and the Christmas Tree Festival are some of the most delightful things to enjoy from 4 to 6 December, the late night Christmas shopping on 4 December includes double decker bus rides, mulled wine and music.

  • Each year, the cobbled streets and square between beautiful Bath Abbey and the Roman Baths become a shopper's paradise at Bath Christmas Market. From 26 November, more than 170 traditional wooden chalets line the streets of Bath, each offering bespoke gifts, decorations and edible goodies. Peruse locally-produced items and sip on hot mulled wine accompanied by the sounds of Christmas carols. For those in the mood for dancing, the Christmas party nights at the Roman Baths and Pump Room are always a hit Jack and the Beanstalk at the Theatre Royal makes for a fun day out for the kids.
  • Nottingham's Winter Wonderland features a Christmas market with over 50 Victorian-style trading cabins, two themed winter bars and a bandstand. Festive outdoor ice skating is at the heart of the festivities in the Old Market Square until 3 January and in addition to this fun day out, you won't want to miss 13 December at Nottingham Castle when there will be a Christmas craft fair and a children's trail around the castle to claim a prize.
  • With plenty to see and do this Christmas, Norwich will leave you spoilt for choice. The Dragon’s Hall Medieval market is filled with costumed stallholders and period musicians for something a little quirkier. There is a day dedicated to the First World War, inspired by the Christmas Day truce, at Norwich Castle Museum and entitled ‘Christmas in the Trenches’. Visitors to the city can also take part in the NORWICHRISTMAS Real Tree Trail, discovering narrow streets and winding paths, cobbled hills and medieval alleys while searching for the beautifully decorated trees adorning Norwich’s iconic buildings. Outside the city, you won't want to miss a visit to beautiful Blickling Hall, where there is a whole host of Christmas events, including family weekends, Blickling by candlelight, a Christmas fair and the chance to meet Santa.

  • Known as the 'perfect English city,' Winchester offers an authentic winter experience and plenty of fun throughout the festive period. Each Christmas, picturesque Winchester Cathedral is integral to the celebrations, hosting Winchester's renowned Christmas market. Pretty wooden chalets are set around the Cathedral, brimming with high quality festive treats, mulled wine and plenty of German-inspired food. Winchester also hosts the farmers market, famous for being featured on Rick Stein's food programme and providing an abundance of Winchester's finest produce. The kids will love Marwell Zoo at this time of year when it turns into a winter wonderland. Join the elves in their magical woodland and meet Mrs Claus for the heart-warming tale of The Snowman. Children can also create their own festive cracker before being called to meet Santa in his sparkling grotto and receive a special gift.
  • From the annual Christmas Tree Festival to a Festive Fun Day in the North Yorkshire market town, Helmsley is a lovely place to visit for a pre-Christmas getaway. Held in the historic All Saints Church, the Christmas Tree Festival begins on 6 December, with 30 locally sourced 6ft trees put on display. The theme for this year is 'An Iconic Christmas' and you can expect creative takes on everything from the Queen’s Speech to Christmas Dinner. The local businesses in Helmsley will take part in the Festive Fun Day on 6 December and a pop-up ice rink will appear at The Black Swan on the town’s picturesque Market Place from 4 to 7 December with room for 50 skaters at a time. For those who prefer to watch, wintery refreshments will be served from an Alpine-style log cabin. Other fun things on the day include acts as varied as a Bavarian accordionist to a Swinging Santas jazz band, a suitcase circus, a visit from Santa, the Dog Fancy Dress Show, live music and entertainment and children’s arts and crafts, as well as plenty of great Yorkshire food, drink and hospitality.

  • From elf trails to ice, Chester has everything to entertain the whole family this Christmas. Chester Racecourse transforms into a snow-covered fantasyland, with attractions including an open-air ice rink, Santa's North Pole village Grotto, real reindeer and a vodka ice bar. Around the city's shops, the Chester's own elf, ChELFie, will be on hand to guide festive shoppers around the historic streets, giving away prizes for those who spot him in shop windows, and families can enjoy movie time at the Grosvenor Museum’s Kidsmas Family Film Screenings. Lantern Magic returns to Chester Zoo from December, where families can journey through the magical gardens complete with life-sized animal lanterns and visit the elephant house and Fruit Bat Forest while enjoying festive tasty treats. For the first time ever, The Snowman will make an appearance at Chester Cathedral on 13 December, accompanied by a live 25-piece orchestra. And don't miss the cathedral's 40 majestic Christmas trees lit up at the Christmas Tree Festival.

  • Set on the River Dart, Totnes in South Devon is a delight for foodies and shoppers at Christmas. On 9, 16 and 23 December, the night time Christmas market and late night shopping takes place, with food and gift stalls and entertainment filling the town's main street. Nearby, there are great family events and the chance to meet Santa. Train fans will love Santa by Steam at the South Devon Railway in Buckfastleigh, when the man in red rides on a special Grotto train, giving everyone a gift (there's even mulled wine and mince pies for the grown-ups). Christmas at Pennywell Farm, near Buckfastleigh, offers the ultimate festive day out. Enjoy breakfast with Santa, feed the reindeer and take part in nativity plays at the farm.

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