CHRISTMAS IN THE UK > UK > INDEX


Christmas Markets & Christmas Fairs

Regions : England, London, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales


Christmas in England

 Bournemouth - see Bournemouth
Bournemouth town centre will be transformed into a winter wonderland with the arrival of a traditional German market and festive live entertainment. Up to fifty traditional wooden huts will be transported from Germany and set up in the Square, selling German products and delicious food and drink, including bratwurst (sausage) and gluhwein (hot red wine); perfect for hunting down unusual Christmas gifts.
 City of Lincoln - Lincoln Christmas Market
Lincoln Christmas Market is based on an idea from Lincoln's German twin town Neustadt an der Weinstrasse, The Market is now the biggest in Europe, and after Lincoln Cathedral, is perhaps the attraction for which Lincoln is best known.
 Leeds Castle - Christmas at the Castle
 The Castle and the giant Christmas trees will be beautifully bedecked with traditional decorations. Children may snatch a glimpse of Father Christmas as he wanders around the stable courtyard handing out Christmas goodies and follow the trail of 'The Twelve Days of Christmas'. local choirs singing lunchtime carols or visit the Fairfax Restaurant and enjoy some seasonal favourites.
 Peterborough City Council - Advent Street Market & Arrival of Father Christmas
Shoppers at the markets can expect to discover stalls from Germany, Holland, Spain, France, Belgium and Italy intermingled with stalls from around the country all offering some really exciting items for that special treat or gift. The variety of foods will be complimented with a fantastic selection of wines and ciders from across Europe.
 Rochester, Kent
An hour south-east of London, this compact city beside the River Medway, celebrates its links with Charles Dickens - he lived and wrote there for years - with a Dickensian Christmas celebration. The free annual event includes a High Street parade of his fictional characters, with top-hatted gents, ladies in bonnets, chimney sweeps and the ultimate Dickensian character: the street urchin. There are also carol singers, ice-skating, roast chestnuts and mulled wine to enjoy.
 Tynedale - South Tynedale Railway - Santa Special
The South Tynedale Railway operates narrow gauge passenger trains along a 2¼ mile line along the scenic South Tyne valley between Alston, in Cumbria and Kirkhaugh, in Northumberland. Train services operate "Santa Special" trains on certain dates in December each year.
 York - Yuletide York
York is magical at Christmas time with its cobbled streets and snickleways, welcoming inns and restaurants and its candlelit churches. Christmas events around the city are diverse and offer something for everyone. If you're in need of some retail therapy, enjoy an excellent variety of quality shops in York's historic streets and bustling market place or combine your visit to one of York's three out-of-town shopping parks featuring the best in designer clothing and high street names.
York boasts some of the best specialist markets in the country, starting with St Nicholas Fayre. This four day Fayre across the city offers an array of markets ranging from gifts, craft, medieval, antiques to the best in local produce. Newgate Market is open 7 days a week and the city centre will fill up with more market stalls every weekend leading up to Christmas.
The enchanting Festival of Angels will take place in The Quarter - experience a winter wonderland of ice sculptures, snow and a true festival atmosphere. York's venues, museums, theatres and churches come alive throughout the season with a variety of festivities along with the city's many cafés, pubs and restaurants - bringing Christmas cheer to everyone.
St Nicholas Feyre | Christmas Markets | Christmas Shopping | Christmas Lights | Festival of Angels etc.

Christmas in London

 London
London is famous for its Christmas lights and you can now see the Oxford Street lights, Regent Street lights and the unusual display at Carnaby Street. There's also the chance to see switching on the Christmas lights in Marylebone High Street.
 Trees and Treats: Christmas at Kew [ 26 November 2005 - 2 January 2006 ].
This Christmas the Gardens will glisten and sparkle as it celebrates a Crystal Christmas. 
Throughout the festive season Kew is also hosting a range of traditional family activities; from horse and carriage rides, to Santa in his spectacular ice cave.
Don't worry about the cold, the stunning glasshouses at Kew cover over 4 acres. They'll take you to tropical rainforests and arid deserts, you'll be sure to warm up in there. See Royal Botanic Gardens 
 Santaland 2005
With a captivating interactive story, stunning set design, loveable characters and engaging pantomime, Santa Land gives children the opportunity not only to meet Santa, but to explore his magical land, become one of his little helpers and help save Christmas!
Santa Land will bring to life the true magic of Christmas, it's an experience your children will never forget. The only real question is have your children been good enough?
Opening at 'Elves Court' (a.k.a Earls Court!)

Christmas in Northern Ireland

 Christmas Lights Switch On Ceremony Bangor, County Down
 Christmas Craft Fair Down County Museum
Yuletide fair with local crafts, plus festive music, seasonal food and a visit by Santa!
Down County Museum, The Mall, Downpatrick, County Down
 Twas the Night Before Christmas
A magical tour of Christmases past and present. Visit Santa and see his elves at work in his enchanting wonderland. Festive art and craft activities for all ages
An Creagan Visitor Centre, Creggan, Omagh, Co Tyrone

See further Discover Northern Ireland and search for Christmas

Christmas in Scotland

 Edinburgh - Capital Christmas - from late November
One of Europe's finest Christmas festivals with a month-long programme bringing warmth and festive cheer to Edinburgh as the city transforms itself into a magical winter wonderland with lots of activity centred around the world-renowned Princes Street Gardens.
 Glasgow on ice - from late November - see Glasgow On Ice 2005
With George Square's famous Christmas illuminations as a sparkling backdrop, you'll be able to show off your ice-dancing moves on one of the largest outdoor ice rinks in Europe, all set to non-stop music.
 Spectacular Christmas Light Switch-Ons - From mid November 2005 across Scotland
Take the family to see one of Scotland's spectacular Christmas light switch-ons. These vary in size from major celebrity events in the big cities to more local, community-based affairs.
See Visit Scotland and look for 'Events Calender' and click on 'December'.
There are vents all over Scotland : Aberdeen & Grampian, Angus & Dundee, Argyll, the Isles / Loch Lomond, Stirling & the Trossachs, Greater Glasgow & Clyde Valley, Highlands of Scotland, Kingdom of Fife, Perthshire, Edinburgh & the Lothians, Ayrshire & Arran, Scottish Borders
 The Land, The Light and The Locals - late Dec 2005 - early Jan 2006; various venues, Scottish Borders
Over 100 musicians and performers from all over the Borders, in sessions, concerts and ceilidhs, as well as the numerous informal afternoon music sessions and other daytime events. See The Scottish Borders New Year Festival

Christmas in Wales

 Bath - see also Wales
 Dickensian Christmas Market Day - Ruthin, North Wales
 Ironbridge, Shropshire - see Shropshire Tourism 
Shropshire is on the border of North Wales and is surrounded by Cheshire, Staffordshire, Herefordshire & Worcestershire. Shropshire is approximately 3 hours from London, an hour or so from Manchester and only 40 minutes from Birmingham.
 Swansea, Wales - City of Swansea 

Lonely Planet Great Britain
by David Else (Author)
Paperback: 1020 pages; Publisher: Lonely Planet Publications; 7th edition (May 2007); Language: English; ISBN-13: 978-1741045659
Rick Steves' Great Britain 
Paperback: 552 pages; Publisher: Avalon Travel Publishing; Rev Ed edition (December 20, 2006); Language: English; ISBN-13: 978-1566918145

 Canal & Riverboat Magazine - voice of the waterways

Travel Agents / Tour Operator

 Gate 1 Travel - Escorted Tours, Travel Packages, Discount Travel and Tour Packages
Gate 1 Travel was founded in 1981 with a staff of two in Glenside, PA. Gate 1 still operates from Glenside, but today has a worldwide staff well into the hundreds.

Travel Guides / Related Books

Christmas in Britain by Corinne Ross (Author)
Each 80-page Christmas Around the World book includes full narratives explaining the customs of the region covered, photography and illustrations, special sections of native songs, recipes, and fun-to-do crafts.
Hardcover: 80 pages; Publisher: World Book (June 1978); Language: English; ISBN-10: 071660874X; ISBN-13: 978-0716608745
Joy to the World: A Victorian Christmas
by Cynthia Hart (Author), John Grossman (Author)
The Christmas we love today sprang from the festive parlors and bedecked halls of a century ago, where it lives still in the lush pages of Joy to the World. A specially embossed and die-cut jacket wraps the book like a precious gift.
Hardcover: 96 pages; Publisher: Workman Publishing Company (January 11, 1990); Language: English; ISBN-10: 0894808257; ISBN-13: 978-0894808258

Lonely Planet Great Britain
by David Else (Author)
Paperback: 1020 pages; Publisher: Lonely Planet Publications; 7th edition (May 2007); Language: English; ISBN-13: 978-1741045659
Rick Steves' Great Britain 
Paperback: 552 pages; Publisher: Avalon Travel Publishing; Rev Ed edition (December 20, 2006); Language: English; ISBN-13: 978-1566918145

Transport / How do I get there

 London Airports [ London Gatwick, London Heathrow Airport, London Stansted Airport ] 
 London City Airport
 Aberdeen Airport
 Edinburgh Airport
 Glasgow Airport
 Southampton Airport

 Airline Tickets / Bargain Flights - Flights to Great Britain

 Multimap.com - street-level maps, road maps; door-to-door travel directions; aerial photographs; and local information.
 Online Maps Great Britain [ Uni Texas - Perry-Castañeda Library - Map Collection Europe  ]


Links

 Absolutely Crackers
 Advent Christmas
 BBC Lifestyle - Christmas
 Christmas Jokes
 Christmas Joy - Christmas decorations
 Christmas UK

 Christkindlemarkt - Christmas markets in Germany
 Kerstmarkt - Christmas Markets in the Netherlands
 National Christmas Tree Organization - dedicated to the christmas tree
 North Pole - specially for children
What do you want for Christmas, chrismas cards, advent etc.


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