best places to visit in christmas uk

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The best places to visit at Christmas in the UK

Planning a Christmas getaway? Look no further than these festive spots, from stately homes to Harry Potter cities

Some places are just made for Christmas, and we think the UK is right up there. For a couple of crisp winter months, its leading cities, castles and palaces all spread their own versions of Christmas cheer through light shows, markets, wreath making workshops and traditional fairground rides for the entire family on offer – and then some. 

Spanning Oxfordshire to The Cairngorms and Northern Ireland to Wales, our list has plenty of festive spots to add to your bucket list. For cobbled streets, wintery castles and those all-important Christmas markets, here are ten of the best places in the UK to ramp up that Christmas spirit. 

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Richard Franks is a travel writer based in Birmingham, specialising in Scotland and the West Midlands.  At Time Out, all of our  travel guides  are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our  editorial guidelines . This guide also includes affiliate links, which have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our  affiliate guidelines . 

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The best places to visit at Christmas

1.  Edinburgh, Scotland

Best for: A  festive city break

Edinburgh ’s centuries-old network of spiralling hills, cobbled streets and Hogwarts-like architecture is magical at the best of times – but it’s at Christmas when it truly comes alive. Sprawling along the picturesque East and West Princes Street Gardens, the world-famous Edinburgh Christmas Market  enchants visitors from mid-November until early January each year with its local crafts, warming gluhwein and joyous fairground rides, while Scotland’s most popular visitor attraction – Edinburgh Castle – is also lit up as part of the Castle of Light event. The city’s most famous Christmas light display is also over at George Street; more than a million lights also twinkle at Edinburgh Royal Botanic Gardens .

📍 Check out more of the best things to do in Edinburgh

2.  Harry Potter Warner Bros Studio, Hertfordshire, England

Best for:  Cinephiles

Is actual Hogwarts is on your list this Christmas? Across November and December, the  Warner Bros Studio and Hogwarts   will be transformed into a wintry wonderland, where real-life flying witches soar above in the Great Hall and a Christmas banquet with all the trimmings is laid out below. Popular sets like the common room and Diagon Alley will also be kitted out for the festivities, and the Forbidden Forest will be under a blanket of snow; on your way round you’ll also learn the filming secrets of the Harry Potter films. Who knows, you may even pick up some of Harry’s famed spells yourself. 

3.  Birmingham, England

Best for: A  German experience on UK soil

The UK’s second city welcomes in excess of 5.5 million visitors to its annual Frankfurt Christmas Market  – the largest of its kind outside of Germany and Austria. Stretching the length of New Street and spilling through Victoria Square and Centenary Square, the world-famous market in Birmingham is renowned for its ice cold stein litre beers, footlong bratwursts with comical udder-like sauce receptacles and, in more recent years, a pop-up indoor ice rink beside the city’s striking library. Boisterous festive singalongs often occur outside the city’s grand Council House on weekends, and be sure to keep an eye out for Chris the singing Moose while you’re there; he’s stuff of local legend. Prost!

📍 Check out more of the best things to do in Birmingham

4.  London, England

Best for:  Shopaholics

Where do we begin with Christmas in England and the UK’s buzzy capital? From the unrivalled Bavarian Village, family-friendly fairground rides and Zippo’s famous festive circus show at Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park , to some of the world’s most iconic Christmas lights, department stores and Santa’s grottos dotted along Oxford Street, London really is the place to be in the festive season. Throw in a quintessentially British pantomime on the West End, or a Christmas cruise along the River Thames , and you’re on to a winner.

📍 Check out more of the best things to do in London 🏨 Here are the best hotels in London

5.  Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire, England

Best for:  History buffs

England’s only non-royal residence to hold a palatial title sits pretty in 2,100 acres of parkland and formal gardens; Sir Winston Churchill was even born here. His family still own the property, which is now a Unesco World Heritage Site, and it remains a popular year-round attraction. Perhaps none more so at Christmas, where dozens of wooden chalets selling crafted wares and tasty treats take over The Great Court, and, new for 2023, an after-dark illuminated light trail with its eight-metre sphere and twinkling tunnels provide perfect photo opportunities. Advance booking for Blenheim Palace is essential.

6.  Cardiff, Wales

Best for:  Family-friendly fun

Cardiff at Christmas has a nice ring to it, doesn’t it? Each festive season the Welsh capital hosts its very own Winter Wonderland  at the iconic Cardiff Castle , with a weatherproof ice rink, extensive funfair and Santa’s grotto; there’s an alpine ski-lodge bar and an ice bar for the adults too. Meanwhile, the adjoining Bute Park is home to the most popular Christmas light trail outside of London, and the bespoke jewellery, intricate trinkets and glorious street food on offer at Cardiff Christmas Market are certainly worth extending your trip for. Make this Christmas a Welsh one.

7.  Hillsborough Castle and Gardens, County Down, Northern Ireland

Best for:  Royal Family fans

Hillsborough Castle, Northern Ireland’s royal residence, boasts 100 acres of beautiful gardens, including the gorgeous Georgian country house where members of the Royal Family regularly visit and stay. At Christmas, Hillsborough turns to festive markets and after dark light shows, including Walking With The Snowman ;  a celebration of the famed Raymond Briggs animation brings a light trail and a dozen large snowman sculptures for the kids to find. Other events include a Christmas wreath making workshop using natural materials found around the grounds, and a market selling local gifts and delicacies.

8.  Christmas at Castle Howard, York, England

Best for:  Those who don’t wish to grow up!

Tinkerbell has sprinkled her fairy dust at Castle Howard this Christmas and brought an enchanting festive Neverland to York! There’s plenty on offer here, including the Peter Pan-themed Main House where projections, installations and a few surprises await, and for afters be sure to sample toasted marshmallows in the twinkly Courtyard? The kids will also love meeting Father Christmas himself. 

9.  Manchester, England

Best for: L ight display fanatics

Manchester ’s varied festive offering gives it the north west’s Christmas crown. From the makers behind Christmas at Kew, Christmas at Heaton Park  returns this year with an entrancing after dark strobe and laser light show and funfair, while in the city centre the wooden craft and food huts of the popular Christmas Market return to St Ann’s Square – celebrating its 25th year. Visit on Sundays for free live family-friendly entertainment. The ice rink is also back in Cathedral Square, but for something a little different, why not check out a candlelight concert at The Stoller Hall?

📍 Check out more of the best things to do in Manchester

10.  The Cairngorm Reindeer Herd, The Cairngorms, Scotland

Best for:  Families and kids 

Did you know there’s a free-ranging reindeer herd in the UK? Introduced to the Scottish hills in 1952 by Mikel Utsi and his wife Dr. Ethel Lindgren from Swedish Lapland, the herd has thrived in what is Britain’s only subarctic wilderness and has now grown to around 150 in size. Guided tours to meet the herd depart near Glenmore in the Cairngorms and are particularly special from October/November onwards when there’s fresh snow to crunch on. It’s a 30-40 minute walk to meet the Cairngorm reindeer , and you'll learn their names and get the opportunity to feed one or two. Tours are weather-permitting and advance booking in the winter months is essential.

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11 Best UK Cities At Christmas

From vibrant christmas markets and fragrant mulled wine, to thrilling fun fairs and peaceful carol concerts, here’s our pick of the best uk cities at christmas..

What are the key ingredients for the best UK Christmas celebrations? Christmas markets with mulled wine and toasted marshmallows? Huge trees adorned with pretty lights? How about ice skating on a frozen rink wrapped up in warm coat and scarf, then warming up with a delicious hot chocolate? Sounds perfect!

There are so many elements that we love in the UK during the festive period. Lots of people have an annual trip to a pantomime or a funfair. Then there are the visits to see Father Christmas or spending an afternoon listening to a beautiful carol concert. Whatever you look for at Christmastime, there are some amazing UK cities to visit to celebrate this lovely time of year.

We’ve narrowed our list down to our 11 favourites. From seeing in New Year in Edinburgh, to ice skating in London and a refreshing Christmas Day swim in Weymouth, these are the best places to visit in the UK at Christmas.

Edinburgh  

Scotland traditionally celebrated Hogmanay (New Year), and Christmas Day didn’t become a Scottish public holiday until the 1950s. Despite this, Edinburgh is now one of the best UK cities at Christmas. With festive events from mid-November to early January, it’s a great place to spend Christmas, Hogmanay, or both!

The Edinburgh Christmas market is spread across the city centre. It’s a great place to spend a few hours with friends, eating and drinking some festive treats. Plus, there are plenty of market stalls to pick up some Christmas gifts. Alongside the stalls of German bratkwurst and schnitzel, look out for the local haggis and mulled Irn Bru!

Christmas in Edinburgh is known for the Christmas lights along the Royal Mile, and for its large funfair. As well as family rides, you’ll find a Christmas Tree Maze and ice-skating rink. End your evening at the Dome to see the views over the top Christmas decorations, while sipping a tasty Christmas cocktail.

The Bath Christmas market takes place in the attractive Georgian streets around Bath Abbey. It has over 150 stalls, making it one of the biggest and best Christmas markets in the UK. You’ll find everything here from presents to traditional festive foods.

Bath is rated amongst the best UK cities at Christmas thanks to its programme of family friendly activities . You’ll find an outdoor ice rink, illuminated Elf trail, wreath making workshops and winter walks. And don’t forget your tickets for the annual Christmas panto at the Bath Theatre Royal.

Cardiff is another of the best places to visit at Christmas in the UK. The market here runs from mid-November and has an emphasis on original handmade crafts. Combine it with the independent shops in the city’s Victorian arcades for an epic Christmas shopping trip!

You’ll find more things to do at City Hall Lawn which has a programme of Winter Wonderland attractions . The funfair has a ferris wheel with magnificent views across the city. Or you could head over to the grounds of Cardiff Castle for some fun on the ice rink.

Cardiff has two great destinations for a Christmas rest stop! Head for the Bavarian themed cabins on Working Street for German beer and bratwurst. Or you could book a slot at the stylish Ice Bar, an amazing venue built entirely from ice!

The Frankfurt Christmas Market in Birmingham is the largest authentic German Christmas market outside of Germany and Austria. The market runs from early November, and sells traditional wooden toys and decorations, glass lamps and other gifts. You’ll also find plenty of authentic German winter foods to wash down with wheat beer or glühwein.

This German Christmas market has a lively atmosphere, and free music concerts. As one of best UK cities at Christmas, it’s a destination for people from all over Europe! It’s an ideal place to enjoy some Christmas shopping, ice skating, or you could take a ride on the carousel or big wheel.

If you fancy adding a touch of luxury to your trip, how about visiting one of these Michelin starred restaurants in Birmingham .

If you’re looking for Christmas getaways in the UK, London offers something for everyone! Christmas lights, shopping, markets, carols, panto, ballet and circus. you might struggle to fit it all in!

The myriad of entertainment options makes London one of the best UK cities at Christmas. You’ll find everything from traditional pantomimes and the Nutcracker ballet to Christmas themed drag shows. Or how about making ice skating against the backdrop of Hampton Court your winter holiday highlight?

The Cairngorms

Although this isn’t a city trip, if you’re dreaming of a white Christmas, then statistically your chances are higher if you travel to Scotland’s Cairngorms. Even if it doesn’t snow, it’s a great place to get into the festive spirit!

As one of the best places in the UK at Christmas, Santa, Rudolph and the team are regular visitors! You can see reindeer at the wildlife centre, or at their Elf House at Cairngorm Reindeer Centre. They even pop up at Christmas street parades!

If you can’t ski, snowboard or sledge, then there are other adventure activities to try. You’ll find ice skating and curling, and even night time zip lining. Or how about joining a distillery tour and warming up with a wee dram of whisky? Sounds perfect for chilly days!

The Manchester Christmas markets take place at six different sites across the city. You’ll find hand-crafted items by local makers on Market Street. For the family area with kids’ shows and an ice rink, head for Cathedral Gardens. 

Many of Manchester’s venues also offer Christmas themed events. You’ll find shows on ice at the AO Arena, and light installations in Heaton Park. For concerts and musicals, check out the programme at Manchester Opera House. It’s a great city during the festive period, so definitely add it to your list!

If you’re looking for somewhere to stay during your trip, don’t miss our top picks for where to stay in Manchester .

If you need more ideas for the best places to visit at Christmas in the UK, how about York? The city is pretty at any time of year, but it’s even more charming when it’s lit up and decorated. It’s also home to the St Nicholas Fair, or Christmas market.

If you’re visiting York at Christmas you should definitely go to a carol concert. Held in the spectacular setting of York Minster , they connect with the spiritual meaning of Christmas. It’s popular though, so you’ll need to book tickets in advance.

The Oxford Christmas market is held from early to mid-December on Broad Street. It features stalls with decorations and unusual gifts ideas. You’ll also find festive foods and plenty of mulled wine. It’s such a pretty place during the festive season.

The Sheldonian Theatre and Christchurch Cathedral both have a programme of carol concerts.  And will you find pantomime at the Oxford Playhouse?  Oh yes you will!

The short and sweet Lincoln Christmas market takes place over just one weekend in early December. The site, right by the Cathedral and the Castle, gives the event an ‘ancient’ and traditional Christmassy feel. Look out for the ‘Lincolnshire Larder’ area, with local artisan cheeses, ciders and other regional foods. Mmm!

Over on the Lincolnshire coast, you can visit Santa on a miniature steam train. The Cleethorpes Coastal light railway run a ‘Christmas Express’, which leaves for ‘Lapland Central’ each weekend in December. The elves get very busy, so book in advance to insure your place!

Are you looking for something different to do over Christmas? Ok, so Weymouth might not have city status, but this town organises one of the UK’s largest Christmas Day swims. Register in advance, or cheer on the swimmers as they brave the cold water to raise money for charity.

You’ll find more Christmas quirks in Weymouth. In late November, there is a world record attempt for the most people dressed as elves. And in early December you’ll find a steampunk Christmas weekend and pirate party! People in Dorset definitely know how to celebrate the festive period!

There are so many amazing UK cities to visit at Christmas! Which is your favourite? We hope you have a lovely winter, wherever you pick!

If you’re looking for more fun getaway idea in the UK, don’t miss these guides:

The Best Destinations For Relaxing Breaks in England 21 Places To Add To Your Great British Bucket List This Year The Best Of Britain: 20+ Trips To Add To Your Great British Bucket List

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And Traveling the World

Lady’s 17 Best Places to Visit at Christmas in the UK

Today I want to share my guide to the best places to visit at Christmas in the UK with you. There are lots of festive destinations in the United Kingdom, from bauble-laden cities to tinsel-clad towns. Whether you’re seeking the top Christmas markets in Britain or the perfect Christmas village, there’s a place you’ll love this winter.

Best Places to Visit at Christmas in the UK

The best places to visit at Christmas in the UK range from urban spaces to towns and villages in the countryside. Some are home to famous British Christmas markets , and others are renowned for British Christmas food or festive annual events.

Whatever you’re looking for, these exciting places to visit in the UK in winter are bound to get you in the Christmas spirit.

I’ve been to all of these places, and I can personally attest to how worthwhile they are to visit. I hope my list inspires you to see one or more of them this Yuletide season.

1. Edinburgh at Christmas

Edinburgh tops my list of the best places to visit at Christmas in the UK. Not only does the city look magical in winter light, but there are also festive decorations up all over town. This might just be the most Christmassy place in the UK.

The Christmas market in Princes Street Gardens is enormous, and every inch of ground around the Scott Monument is packed with gift-laden chalets, fun fair rides, and vendors of comfort food.

Walking around the market is one of my favorite things to do in Edinburgh at Christmas (along with a lot of other fun things, of course).

Add to that Christmas shopping, ice skating, and festive entertainment, and the Scottish capital is the place to be at Christmastime.

If you can stay through New Year’s Eve, you’re in for a treat. Hogmanay in Edinburgh is one of the biggest and best celebrations in the UK.

If you want to take this trip, you can book a hotel in Edinburgh here . I’ve stayed in the city many times and my favorite is the Radisson Collection Hotel, Royal Mile Edinburgh . It’s in a great location right by Edinburgh Castle. You can book a room here .

2. York at Christmas

York is another of the best places to spend Christmas in the UK. This city in the north of England is beloved for its festive markets, of which there are many all throughout the center.

I once took a day trip from London to York to discover the best York Christmas markets . I was in awe of the size and variety of the city’s offerings.

Beyond markets, York’s shops and restaurants come alive with Christmas cheer. From festive facades to seasonal mince pies and mulled wine, there’s a lot to love about this place during the winter season.

The city is also home to Yorkshire’s Winter Wonderland, an annual experience featuring the north of England’s largest outdoor ice rink, a funfair, a Santa’s Grotto, and an alpine cafe. It’s the perfect place to get into the Christmas spirit in Britain.

It’s fun to stay in town for a night, too. There are lots of great accommodation options in the city. You can book a hotel in York here .

3. Bath at Christmas

I’ve long considered Bath one of the best Christmas day trips from London . The city is magical at any time of year, but it really comes alive with markets and decorations during the Yuletide season. A day in Bath is a great way to take it all in.

Bath has a lot of unique events and markets on offer during the season. The Bath Christmas Market takes over the city center, and it’s a great place to find unique gifts and soak up the atmosphere.

In addition, traditional Christmas celebrations take place around the Abbey Quarter, and festive lights adorn the city’s iconic heritage buildings.

There’s also an ice skating rink in Royal Victoria Park right in front of the stunning Royal Crescent, and there are lots of street performances and carol singing.

Additionally, many of the best shops in Bath go all-out for Christmas. From outdoor lights adorning the facades to twinkling ones inside the stores, the decorations are top-notch.

The seasonal gifts on offer in the shops make perfect Christmas presents for family, friends, and other special people in your life as well. They make Bath one of the best places for Christmas shopping in the UK.

If you want to take a city break , you can book a hotel in Bath here . I’ve stayed at The Yard in Bath and I adore its stylish atmosphere. You can book a room here .

4. Canterbury at Christmas

Canterbury is another of the best places to visit at Christmas in the UK. This city in Kent is famous for being the home of Canterbury Cathedral. It’s one of the most important churches in the United Kingdom, and it comes alive during the festive season.

The cathedral puts on everything from Cathedral Carol Services to family services, Choral Evensong, and a Christmas Day Eucharist with the Archbishop of Canterbury.

Outside the cathedral, a day trip to Canterbury is a great way to take in the the city’s Christmas festivities.

The Canterbury Christmas market on Whitefriars Street and St George’s Street features festive chalets rife with fun gifts and lots of food and drinks. There are also plenty of experiences for children and a Santa Paws experience for dogs.

Add to that live music events and entertainment, and there’s a lot to love about a Christmas trip to Canterbury.

If you want to stay overnight, there are plenty of options for hotels and other accommodation in the city. You can book a hotel in Canterbury here .

5. Birmingham at Christmas

Next on my list of the top places to go at Christmas in the UK is Birmingham . This Midlands powerhouse is packed with Christmas markets and other festive fun during the winter season.

I once took a day trip to explore the Birmingham Christmas markets . I was in awe of everything from the gift-laden chalets to the sizzling sausages and seasonal decorations throughout the city center.

From the lights on New Street to the carols in Victoria Square, there’s always a lot going on during the festive period.

For ice skaters, the Ice Skate Birmingham rink in Centenary Square is the perfect place to glide through the winter air. The views of it from the contemporary Library of Birmingham are great as well.

If you want to do this as a weekend trip from London or elsewhere, you can book a hotel in Birmingham here . There’s a wide variety of accommodation on offer in the city center.

6. Windsor Castle at Christmas

Windsor Castle is next on my list of the best places to visit at Christmas in the UK.

One of the most famous castles near London , it’s not only a great place to get into all things royal, but also the perfect place to immerse yourself in the Christmas spirit.

That’s because Windsor Castle has amazing Christmas decorations. From special exhibitions to festive garlands and twinkling lights throughout the halls, they’re always magnificent to see.

The piece de resistance is the enormous Christmas tree in St George’s Hall. It’s decorated with beautiful ornaments and pretty lights.

There are other Christmas decorations dotted throughout the State Rooms, too. These include the Semi-State Rooms, which are only open to visitors in the winter.

Special events take place at Windsor Castle during the Christmas season as well.

From themed activities around the castle to choir concerts and arts and crafts workshops, there’s something for everyone to enjoy on a Christmas day trip to Windsor Castle .

If you want to stay a night, you can find plenty of accommodation in and around Windsor and Eton. You can book a hotel in Windsor here .

7. Hever Castle at Christmas

Hever Castle is another of the top places to visit at Christmas in the UK. This moated fortress in Kent gets into the Christmas spirit each year as it offers visitors a range of festive activities and events.

Hever Castle has a themed Christmas lights trail visitors can follow through the gardens and around the lake, Christmas gifts and food in the cafes, and a Father Christmas experience.

Inside the castle, there are traditionally decorated rooms, log fires, and bright Christmas trees galore. They bring the interiors alive with festive atmosphere and magical surprises.

8. Exeter at Christmas

Exeter is one of my favorite places to stay at Christmas in the UK. Down in Devon, this cathedral city comes alive with exciting festivities every winter. I spent a night here once during the run-up to December 25th, and I had a great time.

One of the best things to do here is visit the Exeter Cathedral Christmas Market on Cathedral Green. It’s Devon’s largest festive market, and it’s worth a special trip.

The market features a labyrinth of winding lanes lined with chalets packed with handmade gifts, Christmas drinks and food, and fun decorations. There’s live entertainment for all to enjoy, and free entry to the cathedral.

Speaking of which, Exeter Cathedral does a lot for the occasion. It hosts carol services, concerts, events, and candlelight tours throughout the run-up to Christmas.

Elsewhere in the city, there are twinkling lights, festive decorations, and Christmas trees in Princesshay. Shops and restaurants go all-out with seasonal decor, and there are pop-up markets and bars throughout the city center.

If you want to follow in my footsteps, you can book a hotel in Exeter here . I stayed at the Hotel du Vin Exeter and I liked my spacious room and the restaurant. You can book a room here .

9. Belfast at Christmas

Over in Northern Ireland, Belfast is another of the best places to visit at Christmas in the UK. From markets to festive events, this city comes to life during the season.

One highlight of visiting in winter is the Belfast Christmas Market in City Hall Gardens. With games to play and chalets selling everything from food to local crafts, it has everything you need for a great day out.

An international market, there are things to eat and gifts to buy from all over the world. There are lots of countries represented, and it has a truly global feel.

In addition to the market, Belfast has great Christmas shopping, a Christmas Fayre with live performances and a Santa’s Grotto in Victoria Square, family events, and more.

If you want to take this trip, you can book a hotel in Belfast here . I’ve stayed at the Malmaison Belfast and I like its beautiful exterior and city center location. You can book a room here .

10. Winchester at Christmas

Out in Hampshire, Winchester is one of the best UK cities at Christmas. This historic place has been called ‘England’s Christmas Capital’, and the Winchester Cathedral Christmas Market is recognized as one of the best of its kind in Europe.

The historic grounds of the cathedral fill with wooden chalets each year to offer visitors and locals festive food, gifts, and fun. Twinkling lights and the sound of Christmas carols rounds out the scene. It’s a great place to see on a Winchester day trip .

The cathedral itself offers plenty for visitors at Christmastime, too. From carol concerts to Christmas services and events, it’s an ideal place to get into the seasonal spirit in the United Kingdom.

Elsewhere in Winchester, there’s great Christmas shopping, performances, lights, and events to enjoy. There’s even an annual Santa Fun Run in the heart of the city.

If you want to stay overnight, you can book a hotel in Winchester here . There are a lot of options for accommodation in and around the city center.

11. Inverness at Christmas

Underrated Inverness is another of my favorite places to visit at Christmas in the UK. The cultural capital of the Scottish Highlands, this city is a fun place to explore during the festive season.

One of the best things to do in Inverness in winter is go to the annual Christmas fairs at Eden Court. They feature seasonal food and a mix of art, fine textiles, and home accessories that make great gifts for family, friends, and loved ones.

The city also has lots of Christmas shopping, decorations, and lights to enjoy during the winter season.

If you want to stay for a night or two, you can book a hotel in Inverness here . There are plenty of options for accommodation in and around the city.

12. Manchester at Christmas

Manchester is another of the best places to visit at Christmas in the UK. In fact, it’s been called the ‘UK’s capital of Christmas’. From markets to lights and entertainment, there’s a lot going on here every year.

The annual Manchester Christmas markets are some of the best festive markets in the United Kingdom. They entertain visitors with hundreds of wooden chalets in the city’s squares.

From mulled wine and seasonal foods to fun gifts and decorations, there’s a lot to love about them.

Beyond the markets, the Winter Gardens at Piccadilly Gardens offer festive food and drinks plus music or live entertainment every night.

Add to that great shopping and decorations throughout the city center, and you’re all set for a festive visit.

If you want to make this a city break, you can book a hotel in Manchester here . I’ve stayed at the Malmaison Manchester , and I like its lively atmosphere and central location. You can book a room here .

13. Nottingham at Christmas

Next on my list of the best places to visit at Christmas in the UK is Nottingham. This city is known for everything from its festive markets to its ice skating and shopping.

Taking a Christmas day trip to Nottingham will allow you to explore the annual Winter Wonderland extravaganza in the Old Market Square.

It features everything from an ice rink to an observation wheel, bars, live entertainment, a Christmas market, and food and drink.

Elsewhere in the city you can enjoy great shopping, decorations, lights, events, and smaller Christmas markets.

If you want to stay overnight, you can book a hotel in Nottingham here . I’ve stayed at the Lace Market Hotel , and I’m a fan of the unique rooms and great location. You can book a room here .

14. Leeds at Christmas

One of the top cities in England , Leeds is another of my favorite places to go in the UK at Christmastime.

Leeds is known for shopping all year, but in the winter it’s one of the best places for Christmas shopping in the UK. From Victoria Quarter to County Arcade, the city’s famous 19th-century shopping arcades get all dressed up for the occasion.

Another draw is the Christmas markets. The Corn Exchange hosts a fun festive one. It’s a great place to pick up gifts and revel in the atmosphere.

Kirkgate Market has a special Christmas program with a pop-up Christmas market, trees, fairs, and live entertainment.

There’s an independent Winter Market at the Royal Armouries, too.

Add to that exciting shows, seasonal food and drink, traditional pubs, the Wheel of Light, ice skating, and artisan gifts, and there’s a lot to love about Leeds at Christmas.

If you want to stay overnight, you can book a hotel in Leeds here . There are lots of options for accommodation here.

15. Glasgow at Christmas

Glasgow goes all-out for Christmas every year, and it’s a great place to visit during the festive period. From markets to lights, fairs, and food, this Scottish city is hard to beat.

Christmas Fairs take over Glasgow’s main squares and offer visitors a plethora food, drinks, games, rides, and entertainment. They’re some of the main attractions in the city in the winter.

There are Christmas markets dotted throughout the city, too. They feature chalets with gifts, food, drinks, and festive cheer aplenty.

If that’s not enough, there are ice skating rinks, workshops, performances, comedy shows, and other events throughout Glasgow all season. Add to that Christmas shopping and decorations, and there’s a lot to get excited about.

If you want to take this trip, you can book a hotel in Glasgow here . I’ve stayed at the Grand Central and I like the convenient location by the train station. You can book a room here .

16. Chipping Campden at Christmas

When it comes to the best Christmas towns in the UK, Chipping Campden is hard to beat. Located in Gloucestershire, it offers the best of the beauty of the Cotswolds combined with the spirit of the season.

The annual Chipping Campden Christmas market is a treat to visit, and the Chipping Campden Christmas tree is a sight to behold. Together with the lights, the tree adds festive magic to the town throughout the winter.

There’s also a Christmas Carol Service where locals and visitors come together to sing the songs of the Yuletide season in the town square. With refreshments afterwards, it’s a great way to immerse yourself in the festive atmosphere.

It’s fun to stay in town for a night, too. You can book a hotel in Chipping Campden here . I’ve stayed at the Cotswold House Hotel and Spa and I loved its beautiful rooms and pretty garden. You can book a room here .

17. London at Christmas

For me, London is the most magical place to spend Christmas in the UK. The capital comes alive during the season with markets, ice skating , lights, performances, events , and more.

Some of my favorite things to do in London at Christmas include visiting the city’s Christmas markets , seeing the Christmas trees , standing in awe of the lights , going Christmas shopping , walking around Covent Garden at Christmas , and seeing London’s shopping arcades all dressed up for the season.

If you want to see the best of it, you can follow my London Christmas itinerary or take one of my free self-guided Christmas walks in London . They’ll show you the highlights of Christmas in London .

You can also take a Christmas walking tour, bus tour, or black cab tour in London if you want a guided experience. You can book one through GetYourGuide . They’re fun ways to see the highlights of the festive season in the city.

If you need a hotel, you can take a look at my guide to the best places to stay in London . It has my top picks for accommodation throughout the UK capital.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this list of the best places to visit at Christmas in the UK, and that it’s inspired you to get out and discover some of the most festive spots in the country.

I’m sure they’ll help you get into the seasonal spirit as much as they’ve helped me. Happy travels!

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2 Comments on Lady’s 17 Best Places to Visit at Christmas in the UK

I’ve just returned from the UK. Went to York on “Black Friday” and was amazed at all the people. The Christmas market was almost standing room only. The UK is simply stunning at Christmas.

Yeah, Christmas is a popular time in the UK!

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16 best family-friendly things to do at Christmas in the UK

From german-style christmas markets to rides on festive steam trains, we’ve got plenty of ideas to keep you and your family entertained over the festive period – and all in britain.

E very year, it’s guaranteed that a story pops up in the news of a winter attraction that went wrong — where customers promised a snow-covered fairytale full of reindeer and elves were greeted with a damp, empty field and a burger van. They may grab the headlines, but these are very much an exception to the rule: Britain is packed full of top-quality festive events that work their magic on every generation and children of all ages.

We’ve compiled our favourite attractions and activities the length and breadth of Britain — from the town devoted to celebrating in traditional Dickensian style to the city that’s built a winter wonderland right in its centre.

Main photo: Birmingham’s Frankfurt Christmas Market (Getty Images)

1. Enchanted Christmas at Westonbirt National Arboretum, Gloucestershire

There’s something particularly magical about a forest in winter, even without a dusting of snow, and Westonbirt National Arboretum takes things up a notch with its Enchanted Christmas experience.

From late November , a mile-long illuminated trail opens on the 600-acre site, with light displays, sculptures and woodland characters making an appearance en route. This year’s theme is “Search for the Lost Reindeer”, and young visitors are encouraged to look for clues among the trees in an attempt to reunite Rudolf and chums with Father Christmas. There are food and drinks stalls and fairground rides at either end of the trail. Kids might also like tracking down the Gruffalo statues in the Old Arboretum.

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Where to stay The Holford Arms, a couple of miles away, has B&B rooms sleeping up to four, as well as heated glamping chalets sleeping five.

• Best Christmas light trails in the UK

2. Dickensian Christmas, Rochester, Kent

Christmas and Charles Dickens go together like turkey and stuffing, so you’re guaranteed an extra festive skip in your step if you head to Rochester and its Dickens-themed celebrations.

From late November, the castle gardens turn into a Christmas market , complete with Bavarian food village and fun fair, but the highlight on the historic town’s holiday calendar takes place over the first weekend of December . The action moves to the high street, with parades, costumed characters from Dickens’ novels, carol concerts and a mistletoe ball, with all celebrants encouraged to dress in Dickensian fancy dress. If you miss out, there’s still plenty of festive cheer over December, including a Beauty and the Beast pantomime and interactive theatre and games for smaller kids.

Where to stay Centrally located, comfortable Trivelles Rochester has good room options for families.

• Best hotels in Kent

3. Christmas Afternoon Tea Bus Tour, London

Afternoon tea already has that hint of “special” needed for a festive day out, but add in a trip on a classic London bus, and you may feel that all your Christmases have come at once. Brigit’s Bakery runs Christmas Lights tours on its converted Routemaster buses, trundling through central London for 90 minutes and making a special diversion along Regent’s Street to see the lights.

You may be too transfixed by the tea to notice though: among the many delights likely to pile up on your plate are turkey finger sandwiches, salmon pretzels, chocolate cupcakes topped with snowflakes, and Christmas tree macaroons. Children will be happy to wash it down with mugs of hot chocolate, but adults have the option to add sparkling wine or champagne to their order.

Where to stay There’s the option to add extra beds for free to rooms at the Residence Victoria, and each comes with a mini kitchen.

• Best luxury hotels in London

4. Christmas carols at the Royal Albert Hall, London

If Christmas isn’t Christmas until you’ve belted out “O come let us adore him” at the top of your lungs, check out the festive events at the Royal Albert Hall. A highlight is the carol concerts, with everyone joining in (and the wearing of Christmas jumpers encouraged). There’s plenty of other things on the calendar, including big-band orchestras, gospel choirs and performances of The Nutcracker and The Muppet Christmas Carol , as well as stories in Father Christmas’s grotto and a musical adventure specifically aimed at younger kids. It’s a great option for a multi-generational Christmas day out, particularly as the rides, entertainment and food stalls of Winter Wonderland are a short walk away across Hyde Park.

Where to stay The Royal Garden Hotel is ten minutes away and has family rooms.

• Best things to do in London

5. Edinburgh’s Christmas, Edinburgh

Hogmanay steals all the attention in Edinburgh over the holiday season, but it’s well worth travelling to the Scottish capital from mid-November for some traditional pre-Christmas fun, too. At sites across the city, expect to find fairground rides aimed at all age groups, elves workshops, Santa’s Grotto, an ice rink and a myriad of food and craft markets. The famous castle is also given the festive treatment via a spectacular light installation. Edinburgh looks pretty magical at any time of year, but is especially charming on a cold winter’s afternoon, with the streets lit up and Christmas decorations up in the shops.

Where to stay The Courtyard by Marriott has family rooms, and its restaurant serves burgers, fish and chips and pizza among child-friendly options.

• Best places to stay in Edinburgh • Best things to do in Edinburgh at Christmas

6. Santa Express, North Yorkshire

Any child — and quite a few adults — who has watched the animated film The Polar Express will be hoping their journey on Yorkshire ’s heritage steam train will end at the North Pole, but they’ll just have to make do with Pickering. Throughout December, the North Yorkshire Moors Railway runs Santa specials on the hour-long train trip to/from Grosmont station, with Father Christmas putting in an appearance and dispensing gifts to every child (checking first that they’ve been good), and a merry band of elves wandering the carriages to chat to passengers and tell stories. If you’re especially lucky, a covering of snow on the moors outside will add to the festive atmosphere.

Where to stay The White Swan Inn is a lovely place to stay in Pickering, with sofa beds and interconnected rooms making it ideal for families.

• Best hotels in Yorkshire • Best Christmas train rides in the UK

7. The Lanterns at Chester Zoo, Cheshire

From mid-November, Chester Zoo will be opening its gates after hours for its annual Christmas event. The Lanterns transforms the zoo into an enchanted kingdom, with extraordinary, life-sized animal sculptures and costumed performers drawing visitors along an illuminated trail and into different worlds. The spectacle wouldn’t be complete without an appearance from Father Christmas himself — expect him to be accompanied on his sleigh by reindeer sculptures.

Where to stay Oddfellows in nearby Chester is a fun design hotel with family rooms and apartments available.

• Best kid and toddler-friendly hotels in the UK

8. Father Christmas hunt in Polesden Lacey, Hampshire

For traditional Christmas atmosphere, with lights twinkling on the trees and the smell of oranges and cinnamon hanging in the air, there’s no beating a National Trust property, and Polesden Lacey is the cream of the crop. The Edwardian house is decorated in full festive splendour. In the grounds, there are two reindeer to meet and feed, as well as an immersive experience to find Father Christmas in the woods and a winter trail with Percy the Park Keeper. It’s obligatory that every visit ends with mince pies in the café.

Where to stay The stylish Queen’s Head 11 miles away has family rooms and a kids’ menu.

• Festive Christmas market cruises in Europe

9. Ice-skating in Bath

Practise your arabesques, flips and backspins — or just try not to fall over — at Bath ’s winter ice rink in the grounds of the Royal Victoria Park. Families are well catered for here, with discounted tickets, toddler sessions and skater aids available. Once you’ve finished swooshing, rink-side Mogul’s Alpine Bar, decorated like a classic ski lodge, is a good place to warm up with a hot chocolate or mulled wine, and kid-friendly meals such as pizza and churros. You also have the choice to try a less traditional winter sport in the park — there’s a glow-in-the-dark crazy golf course next door, with 18 fairy-lit holes to tackle.

Where to stay No 15 Great Pulteney is a beautifully decorated townhouse with family rooms in central Bath.

• Best things to do in Bath

10. Frankfurt Christmas Market, Birmingham

The Christmas Market was born in Germany in the 15th century and their modern-day versions are still the pinnacle of the form — so it’s no wonder Birmingham bases its annual market on the original and the best. Taking over the city centre from early November, the Frankfurt Christmas Market is the largest outside of central Europe, and is an impressive sight, with plenty of decorated stalls selling crafts, toys and other gifts as well as traditional German food and drink, including gingerbread hearts and glühwein. The stalls on Victoria Square are looked over by an impressive Christmas tree, and there’s also a fairground, big wheel and ice-rink to entertain.

Where to stay The Radisson Blu is in the city centre and has interconnected family rooms.

• Best hotels in Birmingham

• Best UK Christmas markets

11. Winter Wonderland, Cardiff

The festive entertainment that is Winter Wonderland comes to Cardiff at two central sites, on the lawns of City Hall and in the grounds of the castle. It’s a great choice for families with teenage kids, with plenty of funfair rides such as dodgems, swing rides and a big wheel to get the adrenaline up a bit. Multiple food stalls cater to most tastes, from standards such as burgers to more unusual offerings such as Yorkshire pudding wraps and toasted marshmallows. Elsewhere, there’s an ice rink, with skate aids for little ones, plus an ice walk — a skateable trail leading around the castle grounds. When you’re done roaming, the ski lodge is a good place to settle in and warm up.

Where to stay The Clayton Hotel is a ten-minute walk away and has good room options for families.

• Best hotels in Cardiff

• Best things to do in Cardiff

12. Christmas at Legoland, Windsor

If all that’s missing from your family’s Christmas is a model of Santa Claus made from thousands of tiny red and white bricks, a 33-foot-tall Lego Christmas tree and a pantomime performed by Duplo puppets, step into the alternative universe of Legoland Windsor. Many of the existing attractions of the park have been made festive, with the addition of fairy lights and a dusting of snow on the trees, and there are Christmas-themed activities to join, too. A real human version of Santa also travels around the park in his sleigh, dispensing gifts; he can be visited in his log cabin for an extra fee.

Where to stay Legoland has a hotel right in the resort; kids will love the themed rooms and pool. Book the Festive Family Package for extra perks.

• What to do in Windsor

13. The Snowman, Manchester

If you’d like to guarantee waking up on Christmas morning with an ear-worm of Walking in the Air , book tickets to the screening of Raymond Briggs’ classic The Snowman . At Manchester’s Bridgewater Hall, the score is played live by the city’s symphony orchestra, the Hallé. The film is shown only for a few days; if you miss out, the orchestra has plenty of other special performances throughout December, including an all-singing, all-dancing family concert, and traditional carols. Once you’ve hummed along to a few tunes, hop on a tram or bus north for ten minutes to Piccadilly Gardens and Manchester’s Christmas Market.

Where to stay The stylish Kimpton Clocktower is close to the Bridgewater; it has family packages and interconnecting rooms, and kids under 12 stay free.

• Best things to do in Manchester at Christmas

14. Christmas at Paulton’s, Hampshire

Home to Peppa Pig World, Paulton’s in the New Forest does not do Christmas by halves. It’s a terrific option for families with younger kids. The theme park is decorated in festive style, with illuminations and decorations at every turn. There’s a musical Christmas tree that bursts into life every 15 minutes, and the chance to meet various characters as you explore, including Frosty the Snowman, Rudolf the Reindeer, and George and Peppa in their winter outfits. The Christmas shows are a highlight, with Santa’s Christmas Wish Show! and Santa’s Storytime likely to go down well with any little ones.

Where to stay The Holiday Inn Express Southampton has interconnecting rooms, sofa beds and roll-away mattresses. Ask about free entry to Paulton’s on your second day with your booking.

• Best Christmas trees in the UK

15. Hogwarts in the Snow, Leavesden

It’s hard to get more magical than a visit to the Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter during the Christmas season. It is the Wizarding World after all. All of the film sets on display are given a festive makeover as part of Hogwarts in the Snow, whether that’s glittering ornaments or a dusting of snow. It’s also a chance to see some seasonal behind-the-scenes extras, like how dressers stage Christmas scenes or use special effects to create fire.

Where to stay Jurys Inn London Watford has family rooms with public transport options nearby for getting to Warner Bros. Studio Tour London.

16. Christmas at Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire

Blenheim Palace’s annual Christmas event is a bit of an extravaganza — but then again, you wouldn’t expect anything less of this fine stately home. You have the option of doing a few different things here, some of which are ticketed separately. Inside the main building there’s a story trail where each room is staged to tell a different chapter of a festive story. The extensive grounds, meanwhile, are brought to life through an illuminated light trail set to music. There are fairground rides, food and drink stalls and gift chalets in the main courtyard as well.

Where to stay Combine it with a visit to Oxford by staying at the centrally-located Randolph Hotel by Graduate, where adjoining rooms are available for families.

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Looking to go on a Christmas break but yet to book your trip? Here are the best hotels from Mr & Mrs Smith and Expedia .

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12 Most Magical Christmas Towns in the UK

Trying to find the best Christmas town in the UK to visit? Whether it is cosied up next to a fire, drinking mulled wine at a Christmas market, seeing dazzling lights or the food, there are some good Christmassy places to visit in the UK.

The Christmas season is perfect for a weekend break or a day trip to get in the festive spirit. These 12 winter wonderlands don’t disappoint!

Best For: Christmas Markets

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The award-winning Birmingham Frankfurt Christmas Market is the largest outside Germany and Austria. Here you will find over 80 Bavarian-style wooden huts serving up the tastiest foreign delicacies such as succulent Bratwurst sausages and mouth-watering waffles with syrup.

Browse the fairy-lit stalls for unique handcrafted gifts and accessories before the children drag you to the funfair for a ride on the helter-skelter or the Victorian merry-go-round. The Birmingham Christmas markets are spread over one kilometre and cover Rotunda Square all the way to the top of New Street, then into Victoria Square, which is located outside the Town Hall and Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery.

Taking the train into Birmingham is advised during the festive period as the roads can be busy (not to mention the nightmare of finding a parking space!). New Street train station is just a few minutes walk away from the markets.

Best For: Christmas Lights

Known for being one of the busiest cities in the world, the hustle and bustle is truly magnified in London at Christmas . So if you are searching for a place with the best Christmas lights , look no further than Oxford Street!

Historically, Christmas lights were first featured in nearby Regent Street in 1954. The idea behind it was brightening up the town as it was deemed grey and miserable after the war. This idea quickly spread to neighbouring streets, and it was in 1959 that Oxford Street introduced its first display. However, it is worth noting that the first-ever display of Christmas lights was financed by Harry Selfridge, owner of the luxury Selfridges department store, which made the store stand out against competing shops on the street.

The Oxford Street switch-on is one of, if not the biggest event of the year. To add to the excitement, the display is usually turned on by a well-known celebrity. So don’t forget to take your notepad and pen for an autograph!

Check out Carnaby Street if you have time. The Christmas lights here are equally attractive and reflect the musical revolution of the sixties. Carnaby Street was known as the heart of ‘swinging London,’ which is mirrored in the aesthetics of this groovy area of the city.

Apart from the incredible display of lights, there is an abundance of fun to be had in London at Christmas. Another event worth paying a visit to is Winter Wonderland – trust us, the kids will love you for it! Bursting with attractions such as funfair rides, Santa’s Grotto, and an ice rink, Hyde Park Winter Wonderland is a must-do if you are spending the festive period in London this year.

Best For: Traditional Christmas Break

Winchester is one of the most picture-perfect cities in the UK. With its ancient buildings and fascinating history, this cathedral city is a place the whole family can enjoy – particularly at Christmas!

It isn’t Christmas without a pantomime. Visit the Nutshell Theatre to see a magical performance (yet to be confirmed). With original music and unforgettable characters, a trip to the theatre followed by a festive lunch doesn’t sound like a bad idea. However, if you fancy a quieter activity, a stroll around the fairy-lit streets is just as enjoyable. Take in the stunning scenery while breathing in that fresh country air. It really doesn’t get any better than this. Or does it?

It is a crime to leave Winchester without visiting the Christmas markets dubbed one of the best in Europe. Tantalize your taste buds with walnut, and raisin Stollen washed down with a creamy gingerbread latte.

Each year, the Winchester Cathedral opens its doors to the public whereby choir members sing songs of Christmas around the ethereal-looking tree. The illuminated grounds are a sight to behold and create an air of excitement all around.

Best For: Celebrating Christmas

There is so much to see and do in the Scottish capital over the festive period; you will need a second vacation to rest!  With a jam-packed six weeks of events, Edinburgh town is the best place to celebrate Christmas, and you certainly won’t be at a loss of things to do here. Take a trip on the Big Wheel and feast your eyes on the breathtaking views of this beautiful city. If it is the adrenaline rush you’re after, then maybe the Star Flyer is more your thing. But, at 60 meters high, it’s going to be a no from us!

Santa Land is probably going to be high on your list if you have children. Located in Princes Street Garden, this wonderful event will be like visiting the North Pole itself for your young ones. If you want to find the Elves’ Workshop, then a daring journey through the Christmas Maze is required. Other attractions include an adorable market where exciting toys and games can be purchased, a festive fairground, and of course, a visit to see Santa in his grotto.

When was the last time you donned a pair of skates? Well, now is the time as the ice rink at St Andrew’s Square awaits! Surrounding the Melville Monument, the ice rink is the perfect family event to ensure you go home with some (very) unforgettable memories.

The famous Hogmanay celebrations take place towards the end of the Christmas period, where revellers take to the streets with their whistles and streamers to raise a toast to the New Year. Be prepared to feel quite delicate the next day; the Scotts know how to drink!

Best For: A Cozy Christmas

For some of us, Christmas is a time of reflection, and if you are looking for a quiet corner of the Earth to visit, Keswick may be the place for you.

The Lake District is a wonderful place to visit all year round, and at Christmas, it is simply stunning! The town of Keswick is a snug spot for a chilled-out Christmas. Take an afternoon stroll through the fairy-lit streets and explore the stores for unique festive gifts and home accessories.

The mountain views and glistening lakes are surrounded by sleepy cafes and intimate pubs, so you can meet up with friends for a casual, festive tipple. You could also take a Father Christmas cruise along Derwentwater where the children receive a gift from the man of the moment, and mum and dad get to enjoy a traditional glass of sherry and a mince pie!

Best For: A Romantic Christmas Break

Known for its outstanding architecture, Bath is one of the most beautiful cities to visit in the UK. Discover the fascinating history of this place, aptly named after its Roman-built baths.

The festive period is celebrated in style in this busy Somerset town based in the south of England. Take a stroll and explore the magic of the Christmas Light Trail. This illuminated walk will take you through Abbey Green, Kingston Parade, and Kingsmead Square, to name a few. The old Royal Mineral Water Hospital building and Bath Abbey are also illuminated, creating a real sense of festive spirit.

Many of the stunning open spaces and buildings are taken over by various arts organizations over the Christmas period. Watch out for live singing, dancing, and acting with showstopping performances from the local talent. Candlelit performances are also a firm favourite, which take place annually at the Assembly Rooms. Sit back and relax as local choirs lift your spirits with their remarkable, angelic voices.

Are you a foodie? We hope so! Wandering around Bath can be tiresome as there is so much to see. There are plenty of street food vendors to raise those blood sugar levels. How does a succulent pulled pork sandwich followed by a festive chocolate brownie sound? There are many idyllic tea rooms and snug cafes dotted around Bath, just in case you want to take a break from the cold and enjoy a good old British cup of tea!

Best For: Christmas Shopping

Manchester cannot be beaten when it comes to Christmas shopping. With various destinations to choose from, such as Manchester Arndale, The Trafford Centre, and The Lowry, you are truly spoilt for choice.

Shop ‘til you drop in Manchester city centre with big names such as Selfridges, Harvey Nichols, Reiss, Ted Baker and many more. Manchester Arndale is home to high street stores such as Next, New Look, and the Disney Store. Stop for a festive bite to eat at the Christmas markets on St Ann’s Square, where the gift hunting can resume. Here you will find many Alpine-style wooden chalets selling authentic handcrafted accessories and gifts for that special someone.

Explore the Chill Factore in Trafford to visit Santa, and why not book in for a ski session while you’re there? Hilton House, located in Manchester’s infamous Northern Quarter, takes you on a 60-minute journey retelling the story of Christmas. Santa and his Elves might just make an appearance too.

Scarborough

Best For: Celebrating Christmas By The Seaside

Located in North Yorkshire, this popular seaside resort is bursting with Christmas events for adults and children of all ages.

Visit Scarborough Sparkle for the chance to browse a selection of luxury festive gifts and delicious Christmas goodies. You will find the market at the infamous Scarborough Open Air Theatre, along with an ice rink and a funfair for the children.

Breathe in the fresh sea air by taking a walk along the wintry coastline, and don’t forget to wrap up! The average temperature for December in the UK is around 7 degrees celsius, so a hat and scarf are highly recommended!

Best For: Festive Food and Drink

Home to the undeniably delicious Bakewell Tart, the sleepy town of Bakewell lies in the Derbyshire Dales and is home to around 4000 inhabitants.

Christmas in Bakewell is full of festive cheer, and there is plenty to do for both adults and children. The local Christmas markets are bustling with various stalls selling sizzling Austrian sausages and steaming mugs of mulled wine. Handmade Yuletide gifts and wooden toys for children can also be purchased.

Breakfast with Santa is hosted at The Wheatsheaf Hotel, where you can dine with the man himself before receiving a Christmas gift. Advance bookings are required for this event, so book early to avoid disappointment. Discover the magic of this town by taking a walk under the twinkling fairy lights that line each street. Why not pop into a local bakery for a fresh, doughy treat paired with a festive hot drink of your choice.

The children will love the local funfair with suitable rides for the very young. Prepare yourselves for a surprise visit from characters such as Anna from Frozen, Minnie and Mickey Mouse, and the Christmas-hating fool himself, The Grinch! The air is filled daily with seasonal music from local musical bands, and if you fancy doing a bit of Christmas shopping, why not pay a visit to the local craft fair for some authentic handmade goods.

There is plenty to see and do in Bakewell with its ancient courtyards, historic buildings, and various cosy cafes and intimate restaurants. If you are looking to spend some time alone with your family this Christmas, Bakewell may be the place for you!

Best For: Endless Festive Fun In The Most Magical Town

Visit Harrogate this Christmas for a fun-filled family getaway. Indulge in festive treats while visiting countless attractions for that perfect break away from reality. Harrogate is the most magical place to spend Christmas, and here are the reasons why.

Shopping in Harrogate is like no other with its vast array of independent shops.  Frosted store windows display the finest of Yuletide gifts for the perfect present, and there are also several Christmas fairs and markets nearby. Ripley Christmas Fair is just a short, four-mile drive away. Here you will find over 150 stalls selling jewellery and accessories along with tasty baked goods and refreshments.

Discover the magical winter wonderland at nearby Stockeld Park , where the popular Enchanted Forest is blanketed with animated installations, festive music, and mesmerizing twinkling lights. The children will love it at Mother Shipton’s Cave, where they can write a letter to Santa and work as an elf by getting creative and making some traditional wooden toys.

Check out Betty’s Tea Room for a truly traditional afternoon tea with jam-filled pastries and cream tea. Treat yourself to a mince pie or two; you are on vacation after all! Clocktower at Rudding Park is the place to go if you fancy dining in style. This 2 AA rosette restaurant serves only the finest menus, so sip a festive glass of fizz under the breathtaking pink chandelier and relax!

Best For: A Relaxing Christmas

Located in the centre of the Peak District, the picture-perfect town of Buxton transforms into a place of magic and enchantment over the festive period. Buxton is deemed England’s highest town at 1,000 feet, so blow away the cobwebs by taking a walk to see the stunning mountainous sights and explore this beautiful spa town.

Relax with a coffee and a book in one of the many snug little cafes or enjoy a well-deserved festive tipple in a cosy, intimate pub. Take a candlelit tour of Haddon Hall or visit the Mercatum Winter Artisan Markets to browse, shop, and enjoy the vast array of delicious food, drinks, and gifts.

Best For: Most Scenic Town To Celebrate Christmas

This idyllic seaside town is the best place to celebrate Christmas based on its plethora of stunning panoramic views. Known for its varied culture and history, the town of Whitby is a tourist hotspot and caters to all ages.

Witness the switching on of the Christmas lights (usually turned on by the town mayor), supported by local performers and musicians. The Whitby Christmas Festival is back with a bang this year, having been cancelled in 2020 due to the pandemic. Local artists and designers display their latest pieces available to purchase, and the tasty food outlet can’t be ignored. Any excuse to indulge!

This year, an incredible drone display awaits judgment and is the first time Whitby is testing out this new and emerging technology. Other events include a Street Theatre installation consisting of colourful projections that take place on a 12 meter-high arch. Aerial artists will be seen taking to the arch for some impressive, jaw-dropping performances.  Get your tickets booked ASAP!

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20 of the UK’s best Christmas light trails

With so much Christmas fun likely to be cancelled this year, these brilliantly imaginative winter trails offer some much-needed festive sparkle and reverie

W alk-through displays of Christmas lights have sparkled ever brighter in the UK’s grand gardens over the lpast decade or so. They often include tunnels of fairy lights and themed illuminations (animal-shaped lanterns at Chester Zoo or glowing flowers at the RHS gardens). Flaming torches, lasers, glowing snowflakes and stirring seasonal music are also quite likely to feature. These events are well-suited to Covid regulations: they take place outside in spacious grounds or parkland, so it’s relatively easy to socially distance, and they always did involve reserving tickets in advance. They are not cheap, are selling out fast, and booking timed tickets is generally essential (there tend to be more slots available on weekdays and later in the evening), but these festive spectacles offer an hour or so of pure escapism, and we could all do with a bit of that right now.

Illuminated Light Trail at Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire

Stately avenues with palatial vistas? Check. Baroque architecture? Grassy slopes and natural-seeming lakes? Picturesque clumps of trees? Check, check, check. The park around Blenheim Palace is one of Capability Brown’s largest landscape designs and the formal gardens at its heart are tailor-made for the mesmerising light trail that winds through them each winter. The lights pick out the sculptural forms of a craggy old oak or elegant cedar, sweep across the lakeside woods and turn the winter-full cascade a spectrum of different colours. There are lasers, pulsing vines, a flaming-torch-lit rose garden and several new installations for 2020, including fire sculptures floating in the water garden and Blue Neuron, a kinetic light sculpture made from recycled plastic bottles, that sends blue light dancing through the branches. And, since the Christmas market is cancelled, this year’s trail ends, for the first time, with a grand light-show finale in the Great Court. Selected dates from 20 Nov-3 Jan, child/adult/family from £13/£19/£60 (£1 off for pass holders), blenheimpalace.com

Enchanted Christmas, Westonbirt Arboretum, Gloucestershire

A rainbow of floodlit trees and sparkling walkways are staple fare for winter light trails, and Westonbirt’s kid-friendly show also has flashing lights, smoke effects and a forest of candy canes. To keep Santa safe, he’s going to be performing from a distance rather than interacting, and won’t hand over any prezzies. But there will be activity packs, elves, talking trees and a suitably seasonal story about a journey to the “West Pole” to help in Santa’s workshop. Selected dates from 28 Nov-21 Dec, mostly Fridays and weekends, child/adult £8/£16 (discounts for Friends), forestryengland.uk

Christmas at Waddesdon, Buckinghamshire

Waddesdon Manor’s chateau-style turrets look like a fairytale castle at anytime of year, but they’re even more surreal bathed in iridescent colours that shift in sync with music. This year Waddesdon is revising the route of the walk-through musical Winter Light trail and staying open later to give people a chance to space out. Globes hang glowing over the driveway; the valley, which will be filled with yellow daffs by March, becomes a sea of flames for winter; and, in the stables, there’s an immersive sound-and-light installation called Parallels. Waddesdon is one of the few places that has not (so far) cancelled its Christmas fair and market, which is back with widely spaced chalet units, extra staff to manage visitor flow and contactless payment. It’s open from noon, although the lights only shine from dusk. Selected dates from 14 Nov-3 Jan, child/adult/family from £8/£16/£40 (discounts for NT, RHS, Artfund and HHA members and local residents), waddesdon.org.uk

Wish Upon a Frozen Star, Castle Howard, North Yorkshire

Previous Christmases were designed in-house at Castle Howard, but this year it has joined forces with Projection Studios, which has previously lit up York Minster, Blackpool Tower and Buckingham Palace. Members of Leeds-based theatre company Tutti Frutti will be playing enchanted animals in an epic tale of frost and festivity that complements the journey through the gardens. Malton, Yorkshire’s self-proclaimed foodie capital, is the nearest town, so expect purveyors of artisanal refreshments in festive vans along the route. Safety preparations include sanitiser, distance-monitoring stewards and mapped-out spaces on the large south lawn so people can watch the light show safely. 27 Nov-31 Dec, child adult from £10/£15 plus booking fee, castlehoward.co.uk

Christmas at Belton, Lincolnshire

Giant candles and kaleidoscopic snowflakes are the order of the season for the second year running in the National Trust’s huge gardens at Belton House. The estate is home to a herd of fallow deer, and a larger-than-life glittering deer sculpture greets visitors. Thousands of pea lights went into building the twinkling tunnel of light, and the scented fire garden provides a meditative change of pace after the frenetic lasers. Selected dates from 27 Nov-3 Jan, child/adult/family/parking £13.50/£ 19/£60/£7 (free parking for NT members), nationaltrust.org.uk

Ignite at Kingston Lacy in Dorset, and Gibside, Gateshead

The National Trust has introduced two new illuminated trails this year at Kingston Lacy and Gibside. The new Ignite trails, boasting “light, lanterns, fire and fantasy”, aim to showcase features of the individual parks and gardens. Around Kingston Lacy’s elegant estate, there will be fairies in the fernery or plants lit up alongside a “magical soundscape”, which includes everything from Jingle Bells to whale music. The Georgian landscape garden at Gibside, commissioned by coal baron George Bowes, was originally designed to impress spectators. With winding paths, large wooded grounds and views across the Derwent valley, it’s another perfect venue for the ¾-mile Christmas walk-through, featuring fiery fish and willow sculptures. Kingston Lacy 11-13, 18-24 and 26-30 Dec, child/adult/family/parking £10/£15/£45/£7 (free parking for NT members), nationaltrust.org.uk . Gibside 11-30 Dec, prices as Kingston Lacy, nationaltrust.org.uk

The Lanterns at Chester Zoo, Cheshire

The pandemic has cost Chester Zoo £5.5m and this Christmassy event is vital in starting to recoup lost income. Beside the walkways that meander through the zoo, crossing bridges into 11 themed areas, there will be – for the ninth year running – lanterns and huge illuminated animals: towering giraffes and swaying jellyfish, glowing frogs, colour-changing chameleons and a show-stopping giant octopus. Visitors start near the elephant bridge and walk through a shining cactus desert, head over the rainbow to explore the air, the savannah and the bottom of the sea on a one-way route around the zoo. Refreshments are on sale as usual and, although they won’t be given out this year, visitors can bring or buy their own lanterns. To allow for distancing, the zoo has had to reduce the number of tickets available and several dates are already sold out. Selected dates from 13 Nov-23 Dec, child/adult from £13.50/£16, chesterzoo.org

Ushaw: Historic Houses, Chapels and Gardens, County Durham

Ushaw’s huge gardens, a few miles west of Durham, have been a lifesaver for some local residents during the past few months. Now there is a Christmas tree festival and light show planned for winter. It will involve illuminating a huge rose window made from recycled bottles that previously appeared outside Durham Cathedral. The windows of the main house are to be lit like an Advent calendar and the grounds decorated with festive trees, the current exhibition of outdoor stained-glass panels and a giant reindeer. The Bounds cafe will be open and at “foodie Fridays” each week until Christmas, street food vendors under the lights at the front of the house will add to the festive atmosphere. Selected dates from 20 Nov-24 Dec (Thur to Sun), ticket prices tbc, should be available online from 1 Nov, ushaw.org

Wondrous Woods at Hopetoun House, West Lothian

Less a Christmas trail than an autumn celebration of the 300-year-old woods on the waterside Hopetoun estate, this new trail winds for more than a mile through the trees. Passing the atmospheric old summerhouse, wrought-iron gates and stately lime avenue, through some normally unseen areas of the grounds, it will end with floodlit views of magnificent Hopetoun House. If that sounds too sedate for the kids, there are lasers, naughty gnomes, mirror balls and a cool triangular walkway. Selected dates until 15 Nov, child/adult from £9/£19, wondrouswoods.com

Christmas at the Botanics, Edinburgh

Founded in 1670, Edinburgh’s Royal Botanic Garden is celebrating its 350th birthday this year, so sip spiced cider and stroll through tunnels of light while the Victorian palm houses blaze with festive brilliance. The yuletide botany-themed trail is back for a fourth time this year, on a longer-than-ever 32-night celebratory run. The mile of illuminations will include old favourites like the cathedral of light, laser garden and festive finale beamed on to Inverleith House. And there are new installations featuring 128-metre-long projections and thousands of LED stars. Selected dates from 26 Nov-3 Jan, child/adult/family £13/£19/£60, rbge.org.uk

Lightopia at Heaton Park, Manchester

Mancunians could surely do with some cheering up at the moment, so it’s lucky that Lightopia will be arriving to light up Heaton Park. With new installations, a new route, wider footpaths and 50 incandescent lanterns, the north-west’s largest park is hosting its second annual festival of light. A phalanx of dragons guards the food court and Christmas images are beamed on to Heaton Hall. Dance through the interactive music zone, gaze up at space-themed installations in the astronomy zone and pay tribute to key workers with a new local heroes series of sculptures. Selected dates from 20 Nov-3 Jan, child/adult/family from £13/£20/£60 (20% discount for keyworkers), lightopiafestival.com

Christmas at Wollaton, Nottingham

In any season, there are several landscapes condensed into wooded Wollaton Park, just west of central Nottingham: lakes full of waterlilies, avenues of purple rhododendrons and herds of deer roaming grassy parkland. New for this year, a dramatic illuminated trail uses different areas of the wintry park to create a fiery forest, a moonlit glade, a carpet of rainbows and more. From 27 Nov-6 Jan (closed Mon), child/adult/family from £12.50/£17.50/£59.50 (plus booking fee, discounts for Nottingham residents and 20% off with the code LIGHTS20 until 9 Nov), christmasatwollaton.org

Eden Project, Cornwall

This Christmas, Eden’s seasonal event will not involve the laser show of previous years, but there will be magical lights in the rainforest and Mediterranean biomes. Father Christmas and elves will be on hand in a socially distanced way, and the Eden Project also has a bookable ice rink, open until 21 Feb . Selected dates from 4-30 Dec, ticket prices tbc, edenproject.com

Christmas at Kew Gardens, London

Back for an eighth year with a new route, the wildly popular trail through Kew Gardens lights up exotic plants and greenhouses with more than a million bulbs. There are new installations on this year’s trail, which takes in the rose garden, and the spectacle includes a canopy of stars, treetop waterfall, cherry blossom walkway, neon-wrapped trees and flaming sculptures. There’s also a glowing lantern trail through Kew’s wilder sister garden at Wakehust, home to the UK’s tallest living Christmas tree – soon to be wreathed in lights. Selected dates from 18 Nov-3 Jan (mostly Wed to Sun, most weekends sold out in Nov and Dec), child/adult/family from £12/£19.50/£57, kew.org

Glow Trail at RHS Wisley, Surrey

All four RHS gardens are offering Glow Trails this Christmas, with Hyde Hall in Essex the latest to join the fun. As usual, there are incandescent greenhouses and floodlit trees with swirling festive music at Wisley, and some extra features along the garden’s longest-ever Glow Trail. The cherry trees, hung with blossom in spring, are sparkling, the dangling purple flowers along the wisteria walk in summer are replaced by mesmerising lights, and the trees in the pinetum and rock garden are lit in a rainbow of colours. The plan is for cafes and shops to be open for food, hot drinks and Christmas shopping. There’s even a bespoke Glow menu (from £20) at the Terrace restaurant, serving cranberry G&Ts, roast turkey and spiced winter fruit compote. Selected dates from 21 Nov-4 Jan, child/adult £10/£15 (big discounts for members), rhs.org.uk

Land of Light at Longleat, Wiltshire

For 2020, Longleat has replaced the annual lantern festival with a new Land of Light installation. Seven zones will present spectacular sound and light shows with displays of luminescent flowers, fountains, storms and peacocks. There’s an icy mirror maze and hazy plumes of colour. It’s one of the priciest trails on offer (even without a combined ticket for a daytime safari), but it packs a lot in, alongside food, drink and gift huts, and a laser show in the longhouse. Selected dates from 7 Nov-10 Jan, child/adult from £20.95/£27.95, longleat.co.uk

Christmas at Bedgebury, Kent

Bedgebury’s after-dark pinetum trail is back for a third year with new features. Expect artfully-lit tree canopies, neon strings of light, quicksilver stars and reflections in the lake. There is a new light maze and electric forest (pictured), as well as the usual giant baubles and fire garden. Father Christmas is due to put in an appearance too, among the pines and fir trees of the National Conifer Collection. Selected dates from 21 Nov-31 Dec, £13/£19.50/£60 for kids/adults/families (parking is extra, £1.50 off for Friends), christmasatbedgebury.co.uk

Illuminated Garden Trail at Helmingham Hall, Suffolk

Helmingham Hall is a moated brick palace, about 10 miles north of Ipswich, with exceptionally beautiful grounds. The nearly-mile-long trail, back for a third year, is less about big set pieces and more about lighting natural features as it weaves through all of the Grade I-listed gardens. It uses gourds and pumpkins that were grown in the garden this autumn and kicks off with a rare trip over the drawbridge into the ancient courtyard for complimentary mulled wine. The Coach House tearooms (and Stables gift shops) will be open and there are firepits too for toasting marshmallows. Selected dates from 18 Nov-13 Dec (not Mon or Tue), from £8/£13/£34 for kids/adults/families, helmingham.com (click “what’s on”/calendar” to book)

Leonardslee Illuminated, West Sussex

The open spaces and lakeside walks in Leonardslee’s Grade I-listed gardens have been particularly popular with local residents recently. Now, they will host colourful projections on to the historic buildings, gardens lit up with Christmas bulbs and a silver moon floating over the lake (pictured). Three December weekends will be brightened by imaginative installations, live music and family-friendly theatrical performances, employing more than 50 artists, technicians and other staff. Leonardslee gardens are known for their wallabies, first introduced in 1889. Glowing animal lanterns include the wallabies, other creatures that live in the grounds and a mythical Leonardslee forest fire dragon. The plan is for the restaurant, cafe and shops to be open. Selected dates from 4-22 Dec (mostly Fri to Sun), £8/£16 for kids/adults (small discount for members), leonardsleegardens.co.uk

Thursford’s Enchanted Journey of Light, Norfolk

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10 Most Magical Places to Go at Christmas in the UK

Written by, Bojana Atanasovska

Updated November, 26, 2021

For many, Christmas is a time of wonder, excitement, new opportunities, and brilliant decorations. While most create this winter wonderland at home, some choose to travel to far-off places that offer such marvels. You can find a myriad of fantastic places to go at Christmas in the UK , but we’ve compiled a list of the absolute best ones.

Keep reading to learn more about them!

Top 10 Christmassy Places to Visit in the UK

In 2019, over 50% of Brits said they were spending Christmas at home, which was an foreseeable change due to the pandemic. Regardless of which of the following enchanting destinations you choose for your festive escapade, you’ll definitely have a blast.

Bath, Somerset

We begin our list with arguably the best place to spend Christmas in the UK : Somerset’s Bath—the city with one of the UK’s best Christmas markets . Unfortunately, the physical Bath Christmas market is not proceeding as planned in 2021 due to Covid-19 restrictions.

However, visitors can still enjoy other festive activities to get in the Christmas mood despite the market’s cancellation. For example, the city’s iconic light trail will take you through Bath’s most symbolic landmarks. The world-renowned Museum of the Moon will also make an appearance in the Bath Abbey for a most wonderful experience.

From wandering among Abbey Quarter’s artisan stalls to skating, playing Christmassy golf, or enjoying a warm beverage in the Alpine Lodge, Bath offers you one of the best Christmas trips in the UK . Of course, when you grow tired and hungry, you can always get some festive treats and rest while enjoying the city-wide entertainment programme.

• Bath accommodation
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Edinburgh, Scotland

Edinburgh’s Christmas is set to return in full splendour in 2021. But why is Scotland’s capital one of the best places in the UK for Christmas fun? Well, aside from its Christmas market that will leave you gasping in wonder, this city offers many holiday events and attractions for festive fun without age restrictions.

The entirety of the city will be decorated in the most magnificent decorations that will enhance its Christmas-fueled activities like the Tree Maze, the ice skating rink, the Star Flyer, the Waltzers and much more! Edinburgh is even one of the best places to stay at Christmas with children with family-friendly attractions such as the Santa Land and Santa’s Grotto.

Note that the Edinburgh festive season lasts for six weeks until 4th January 2022, so you’ll have plenty of time to see all of it.

• Edinburgh accommodation
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York, Yorkshire

York, one of the best Christmas towns in the UK , is putting the most cheerful holiday festival year after year. From chocolate making workshops to the York Minster Christmas Tree Festival, this particular Christmas destination lights up the festive cheer like no other place in the UK.

To fully experience York’s Christmas, you first have to visit the St. Nicholas Fair—the city’s immensely popular holiday market. Then, after enjoying a joyful stroll among its lovely chalets, you can partake in any number of delicious foods and warm drinks while considering which engaging activity to try out next.

Whether you decide to take your family to Narnia or visit a romantic candlelit concert with your significant other, York allows you to experience a fabulous Christmas break in the UK . In case you have some more time to spare, you can choose from a plethora of other merry activities, including visits to several exhibitions, festivals, and musical events.

• York accommodation
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London, England

As the country’s capital, London has a reputation to uphold as one of most Christmassy places to visit in the UK . Even outside of the holiday season, London is one of the world’s most visited cities, so it comes as no shock that it’s the Mecca of Christmas destinations.

To begin with, you must visit Hyde Park’s Winter Wonderland—one of the biggest and most varied Christmas markets in the country. To fully embrace its festive spirit, browse through sits charming chalets, skate to live music, or gasp at the acrobatic feats of its magnificent circus.

Even if you can easily spend a whole day in Hyde Park, you should still see more of what London has to offer since it’s one of the best places to go for Christmas in England . While walking the city’s sparkling streets, you’ll discover anything from Warner Bros’ Hogwarts studio to The Nutcracker at the Royal Opera House.

What better place to do your Christmas shopping too than London—arguably the most popular shopping destination in the world. You would need a whole day just to visit all the shopping hotspots. So if you decide to visit London for Christmas, make sure you find enough time to explore all the wonders it hides.

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The Highlands, Scotland

How does Christmas look like in Scotland’s magical Highlands? Well, Nessie spends all her Christmases there, so it should be fantastic, right? Well, apart from the cheery mythical monsters, the Highlands epitomise cosy winter nights under a thick blanket with a warm drink in your hand. With their snow-capped tops, the Highlands are by far one of the best Christmas getaways in the UK .

These historic mountains are a naturally occurring winter wonderland , with breathtakingly picturesque sceneries, the island’s freshest air, and excellent hotels that offer you the time of your life. There, you can tour the region’s famous trails, visit Loch Ness, knit by cosy fireplaces, and try out as many whiskies as you can!

If you need a break from this outdoors Christmas in Britain , you can always visit Inverness—the Highlands’ capital, which is marvellously decorated and full of wonders during Christmastime.

• The Highlands accommodation
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Mousehole, Cornwall

Why are we adding this small Cornish fishing port to our list of the best places to visit in the UK at Christmas ? Well, this seaside village is the home to one of the country’s most spectacular Christmas lights displays.

Mousehole’s astonishing light show has been beautifying its harbour with an array of illuminated shapes and colours every Christmas since 1963. The lights are switched on as soon as December comes, and the installation is open to visitors until early January. 

After 2020’s cancellation due to pandemic-induced financial difficulties, Mousehole is bringing back its famed Christmas lights display in full splendour. However, the organisers will gradually light up the displays instead of holding an official switch-on ceremony to avoid large crowd congregations.

Once the initial amazement of this volunteer installation wears off, you can begin enjoying a more romantic and quieter Christmas in this idyllic seaport. Grab a tasty bite from its numerous food stalls, enjoy the village choir, or walk the luminous quayside. Despite being one of the cheap Christmas destinations in the UK, Mousehole still has plenty to offer.

• Mousehole accomodation
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Oxford, Oxfordshire

If you are wondering where to spend Christmas in the UK in 2021 , how about Oxford? Surely a city with hundreds of years of colourful history knows how to organise a festive and magic-filled holiday.

Under its spire-punctured sky, Oxford welcomes you amid beautiful university buildings, fantastic shops, and festive attractions , all decorated with the most brilliant Christmas lights. You can also do some shopping at the Clarendon Centre and Westgate Oxford or explore some indie shops at the Covered Market. 

Once you get something incredible for your loved ones, visit the city’s world-class museums and attractions, such as the Story Museum or the Oxford Castle and Prison, or even grab a bite to eat and wash it down with a hot wintry drink.

• Oxford accommodation
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Birmingham, West Midlands

Suppose you are still looking for places to visit in the UK in December . In that case, Birmingham is worth considering by virtue of its fantastic Christmas market, as well as the plethora of other events and attractions.

Once you begin to unwrap 2021’s Christmas in Birmingham , you’ll be astounded by its variety of pantomime productions, trails, ice rinks , grottos, displays, shops, and much more. For instance, you can attend a lovely Christmas concert at Symphony Hall or visit the Enchanted Gardens. Then, when you grow hungry, you can stop for festive afternoon tea at The Edgbaston or visit Marco Pierre’s skyline restaurant on the top of The Cube building.

If you’re looking to do some shopping as the perfect ending to a day full of wonders, explore the famous Bullring & Grand Central mall or maybe step into the famed Jewellery Quarter. As you see, Birmingham has a bit for everyone, making it one of the best Christmas trips in the UK .

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Clovelly, North Devon

Speaking of the best Christmas holiday ideas in the UK , have you looked at Clovelly?

This scenic fishing village in North Devon is one of the most charming places you could visit in the UK, especially during Christmas! This unique little UK corner has always been privately owned (even by the Queen), which preserved its magical atmosphere.

Located on a 400-foot cliff, Clovelly’s steep cobbled streets run through flower-covered cottages and picturesque little corners that have lured poets and artists for centuries. This bewitching hamlet welcomes visitors throughout the year, but it truly shines (figuratively and literally) during Christmastime as the most enchanting place for a Christmas break in the UK .

The winter holidays are a fairytale come true in Clovelly. After the grand switch-on in the afternoon, a local brass band paves the way for a choir-led procession down its cobbled streets to the harbour. There, visitors will enjoy a feast with a hog roast, hot dogs, and other Christmassy delights. The spectacle is finally topped off with a carol service and fireworks .

• Clovelly accommodation
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Nottingham, Nottinghamshire

Last but not least, enter Nottingham: full of wonder, artisan boutiques, luminous events, warm and cosy pubs, and bustling markets—a recipe for one of the best Christmas towns in the UK .

For 2021’s winter holidays, the city council decided to put up a 60-foot Christmas tree as the focal point of the city’s joyful events. Nottingham is also placing an enormous observation wheel, so visitors gaze into the shimmering lights from a 33 m height.

If you’re not one for heights, enjoy a warm beverage in the new Après Ski themed pop-up bar or ride the colourful carousel in the main square. You can even take your family to the Christmas village to have festive fun under its glass igloos.

Make sure to find the time to thoroughly explore the centre’s Christmas market and taste all the delicious wintry treats found within.

• Nottingham accommodation 
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Before You Pack Your Suitcase

Enjoying a very merry time with your friends and family is the essence of Christmas . By travelling somewhere more festive, you can make that experience even more magical. We hope our list of the best places to go at Christmas in the UK has inspired you to pack your winter clothes and have a jolly good time in another cosy UK corner!

by Bojana Atanasovska

Bojana is my name and writing is my game. I am a content writer from Bitola who is always interested in the latest research in almost all areas of life. I have a Bachelor’s degree in English literature and a perfectionist character, both of which help me find the most accurate data and information available. Although I have my head stuck in studies and reports most of the time, I still have a bit of free time during which I enjoy knitting and watching classic 90’s Disney movies.

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15 Places for the Best Christmas Breaks in the UK 2023

Last Updated on 10/10/2023

Everyone enjoys some festive cheer! If you’re looking for a winter getaway this year, here are the best Christmas breaks in the UK. From city breaks to rural escapes, there’s a UK Christmas getaway for everyone!

This guide shares the top 15 places for the best Christmas breaks in the UK. Including unmissable Christmas attractions and how long to stay.

This post contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission, at no cost to you, if you make a purchase through a link. Find out more  here .

Best Christmas Breaks in the UK

If you’re looking for the best Christmas breaks in the UK for this winter, you’re in the right place! Here are 15 tried and tested winter getaways that you are going to love! The hardest part will be choosing which one to visit first!

Recommended by me

If you’re looking for the best Christmas breaks in the UK, Warwick won’t disappoint! The historic market town of Warwick might not be an obvious choice when it comes to UK Christmas destinations. But this pretty town has a lot of things to do and some beautiful Christmas sights.

One place not to be missed in Warwick at Christmas is Lord Leycester Hospital. This pretty, medieval building is beautiful year-round but looks especially charming at Christmas.

You can take a stroll around Lord Leycester Hospital and see the chapel adorned with Christmas décor. Plus, the grand Christmas tree in the Great Hall is incredible! To get a flavour of Lord Leycester Hospital at Christmas, it can be spotted in the 2019 BBC series A Christmas Carol, starring Tom Hardy!

Another beautiful sight in Warwick at Christmas is Warwick Castle. During the festive season, the Grand Hall and State Rooms are decked out to mark the occasion! You can also enjoy an enchanting light trail beneath glittering trees on the outdoor walk. Plus, there is an outdoor ice rink for some festive fun!

If you want to make the most of Warwick at Christmas, you could just about squeeze it in to a day trip, but a weekend break would be ideal.

The 400-year-old inn Kings Head Inn is the perfect place to stay with beautiful rooms and fine food. Alternatively, the pretty Grade II listed Park Cottage is a quaint place for a unique stay.

Find more accommodation options in Warwick here .

Recommended by Claire from Go South West England

Tourists don’t usually think of visiting Cornwall in the cooler seasons. But there is one place that is especially magical around Christmastime. 

Mousehole is a small village in southwest Cornwall, about three miles from Penzance. It is known for its charming harbour and narrow cobbled streets. But there’s much more to the village than you might expect!

It’s a particularly charming place to visit in winter. Although the weather isn’t quite as appealing as the summer months, locals have done something about it. 

One year around 40 years ago, someone decided to put a few lights in their garden to add some Christmas cheer. Community is strong in Mousehole, and it soon became a village event.

The word spread and tourists started to come at Christmastime. Before long it became one of the best Christmas light displays in Cornwall. 

Nowadays, the entire village, harbour, hillside and St Clements Island is bedecked in lights. You’ll see everything from small lanterns to a giant whale and serpent in the harbour! 

If you can, time your visit for the switching on of the lights. There will be a choir and other festivities! 

Other things to do in Mousehole include enjoying fish and chips on the harbour and walking tours to learn about its history. You can also see the memorial to the last monoglot Cornish speaker, and walk along the South West Coast Path or Mount’s Bay. 

If you are ready to book a Cornish Turkey and Tinsel weekend, find out more here.

Find accommodation in Mousehole here .

Recommended by Cristina from My Little World of Travelling

Leeds, situated in West Yorkshire , is the perfect place for a Christmas break for anyone who loves a cosy and less crowded atmosphere. Not only does it have lovely Christmas events and decorations, but many incredible attractions and hidden gems too.

The city hosts a lovely German Christmas Market in Millennium Square every year. 

The Christmas market becomes the meeting point for many friends and families that want to enjoy a Christmas experience. 

Wooden stalls filled with unique Christmas decorations and gifts, children’s attractions such as the carousel, and plenty of food options. You can find anything from German sausages and chicken gyros to churros!

Not to forget about the mulled wine to keep you warm in the cold weather! When you order a mulled wine, it’s often served in a Christmas cup. You pay a small deposit (3-4 pounds) which is given back when you return the cup. Or you can keep it as a memory of that year’s Christmas market!

For the little ones, Father Christmas is also at the market every Sunday morning.

In addition to the Christmas market, you can’t miss visiting Harewood House , located in the outskirts of Leeds. Every year, they decorate the country house with impressive Christmas decorations. But also, you can wander around its grounds where you may spot deer and eat Christmas treats – their mince pies are the best!

Find accommodation in Leeds here .

Isle of Wight

Recommended by Alice from Adventures of Alice

The Isle of Wight  is an island off the south coast of England. It’s a popular holiday location and has great beaches, family attractions and historic sites.

In winter, the beaches are beautiful, especially if you are lucky and get snow. Also, the villages are filled with thatched-roofed cottages and traditional pubs and bars giving you that Christmas feel. It really sets the mood! 

To get the most out of the island, it’s recommended to stay a minimum of four nights. This is enough time so that you can pick which Christmas activities you want to do. Plus, it gives you time to explore the island too. 

At Christmas, there are loads of festive activities to take part in, including one extremely popular option – the Garlic Farm. The garlic farm opens a pop-up Christmas shop filled with exclusive Isle of Wight made gifts. It also usually has a log fire and other festive Christmassy things available. It opens daily from the 10th November until the 24th December. 

Another thing to do is to see the Needles, which is a row of three white chalk stacks that rise above the sea. It’s in a lovely location and a wonderful place to go for a walk.

There are lots of places to stay on the Isle of Wight, such as hotels, cottages and caravan parks . A small cottage like this one is ideal during Christmas as it sets the mood perfectly! It’s nice and cosy and it’s great for couples and families.

If you’re ready to enjoy Christmas on the Isle of Wight, find out more here.

Find more accommodation on the Isle of Wight here .

Scottish Highlands

Recommended by Tracy from UK Travel Planning

If you love the idea of a cosy Christmas snuggled up with a wee dram of whisky around a roaring fire while surrounded by snow-capped mountains and rugged moorlands, the Scottish Highlands is the place to go.  

A traditional Scottish Christmas includes plenty of eating and drinking so this is not the time to think of your waistline! Whisky may be the beverage of choice to wash down your Christmas lunch of turkey and Christmas pudding. Don’t miss the opportunity to sample Haggis sausage rolls too!

Hours of daylight are fewer during the winter season, but this makes the houses decorated with lights, Christmas trees and wreaths even more welcoming. Expect to hear carol singers in shopping centres and perhaps even making a visit to your hotel.

Plan to spend at least a week and include some day trips to beautiful destinations such as the  Isle of Skye , Glencoe and at least one of the many castles and lochs that dot the Highland landscape. Just remember to wrap up warmly and drive carefully!

Experiencing Scottish New Year’s Eve or Hogmanay is worth stretching the trip a little longer though that may be the time to leave the Highlands behind and head to the Scottish capital Edinburgh where Hogmanay celebrations are legendary.

Find accommodation in the Scottish Highlands here .

Recommended by Shireen from The Happy Days Travels

Hay-on-Wye is a small town found in Brecon Beacons National Park in Wales. It is also by far one of the best Christmas breaks in the UK!

This small town is famous as the world’s first ever book town and is home to over 20 bookshops. The bookshops vary from children’s, hobbies to genre-specific (such as a crime/thriller shop and a poetry store).

You can get books for all budgets too from special editions to second-hand £1 buys in the open-air, 24-hour honesty bookshop. See  this guide  to the bookshops you must visit in Hay-on-Wye. They will be perfect for Christmas gifts and for your Christmas reads! 

You should spend at least a day in Hay-on-Wye (and start early) because as well as the bookshops there’s plenty of other things to do in Hay-on-Wye. Go Christmas shopping in the boutique and vintage stores or take scenic walks along the River Wye. You can even go canoeing or kayaking, listen to live street music and learn about the history of the town in Hay Castle.

Try and visit on a Thursday when Hay Market is held in the town square for special Christmas buys and delicious street food stalls. 

Find accommodation in Hay-On-Wye here .

North Wales

Recommended by Bec from Wyld Family Travel

If you are looking for the best Christmas breaks in the UK, a holiday in North Wales is the answer.

You can get right into the Christmas spirit with festivals in most of the local towns. Or you can escape it all and simply relax during the craziest time of the year.

While North Wales is a hot spot for tourists during the year, most of the caravan parks have been closed for the winter months, making it the perfect place to explore.

Many of the National Trust and Cadw sites will be decorated in festive colours and have activities for children. You will find a few markets in some of the towns where you can buy handmade Christmas cards or unique decorations to take home.

Plenty of local pubs and restaurants will be in the spirit with local foods hot and ready to eat (with a cup of mulled wine to go with it!) Roaring fires are as welcoming as the people themselves.

If you want to escape the festivities, you can venture into the epic natural landscape that Wales is known for. You don’t have to hike for days (although you can if you want to) you can take some short walks to take in the amazing Welsh sights.

The Llechwedd Slate Mine is a brilliant place to spend a day with tours of the mines, ziplining and mountain biking. They also have glamping tents that you can book for a unique stay.

The best way to see it all is to have your own car. Small towns like Bety-s-Coed are the perfect place for a delightful afternoon tea. Larger seaside towns like Llandudno are wonderful to wander. If you can stand the chill that comes off the water!

Find accommodation in North Wales here .

Recommended by Shobha from Epic England Travel

December is a wonderful time to visit Oxford. Not only for the festive atmosphere in the city itself but for the neighbouring areas as well.

There is an annual Christmas market on historic Broad Street which has vendors selling unique gifts and mulled wine. There is a Santa Grotto at Oxford Castle and Jail. The individual Oxford colleges are decked out in festive lights and trees.

Perhaps catch a performance of Handel’s Messiah sung by the world-renowned Queen’s College choir. Alternatively, just swing by a choral Evensong which happens every evening at the Oxford colleges. Oxford Playhouse will have a Christmas pantomime, as well as other family friendly shows.

Nearby, you can watch a Christmas Panto or show at a local theatre like the Chipping Norton theatre. Also, Blenheim Palace does an annual Christmas lighted walk through its parkland which is magical with children (and without!)

Easily one of the big Christmas highlights of the region, Blenheim’s Christmas lights are accompanied by a Christmas village and carnival rides. Finally, don’t miss Bicester Village, an outlet mall village for lots of great shopping in a festive setting.

Find accommodation in Oxford here .

Recommended by Dymphe from Dymabroad

One of the best places for Christmas breaks in the UK is the capital city of London. That’s because there are so many things to do during this time and the atmosphere of London is amazing!

One of the best things to do at Christmas is visiting Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park . This is a lovely Christmas festival where you find lots of attractions that are a lot of fun! Besides that, there are many stalls selling all kinds of food.

Another lovely activity to do during this time is ice skating at the ice rinks in the city. You can find a great ice rink at Somerset House, and there’s one at the Natural History Museum. You can even experience Christmas carols at the Royal Albert Hall for a truly magical Christmas activity!

Furthermore, exploring the Christmas markets of London is a wonderful activity at Christmas. At these Christmas markets, you can find many stalls selling food, gifts, and other items. One of the best Christmas markets takes place at Leicester Square.

Also, visiting the  pretty cafes in London  is a lot of fun during this time.  Another reason to visit London at Christmas is because of the Christmas decorations you can find in the streets.

New Year’s Eve in London amazing as well. There are many parties throughout the city where you can celebrate the new year, and there is a large firework show along the River Thames. To get the best experience of London during Christmas, three days is a good amount of time to stay in the city.

Find accommodation in London here .

Recommend e d by Ania from The Travelling Twins

There are many amazing Christmas breaks in the UK, but few are more enchanting than the medieval town of  Shrewsbury  in Shropshire.

There are plenty of wonderful places to stop for family meals at restaurants like “Riverbank Bar and Kitchen” or our favourite “La Dolce Vita” where you can try a five-star Italian Cuisine. And during the festive season be treated to such a scrumptious meal that makes you almost feel like you are in Italy.

For adults, there are some lovely bars where you can enjoy a drink or two. Our favourite gin bar is Gindifferent, which is in the Market Hall. It is a great place to chill out, stopping for some cocktails and bar food on the way! For something more festive check out “Ten & Six” on Mardol street.

It’s not just adults who will love Shrewsbury though; there’s plenty for children to do too. The city organises many Christmas workshops like lantern building, which keeps kids entertained and lets parents do some shopping. Later kids can join the lantern parade through the town.

Shrewsbury ticks all the boxes making it one of the best Christmas breaks in the UK!

Find accommodation in Shrewsbury here .

Recommended by Sinead from Map Made Memories

Historic York is a perfect destination for a winter break as it is easily accessible by road and rail with the city’s Victorian rail station a short ten-minute walk from the city centre.

York is a small, compact city and winter sightseeing is easy due to its pedestrianised city centre that is easily covered on foot.

Christmas in York  is magical. The city’s Georgian and Victorian era buildings are decorated with lights and trees. Local favourite Betty’s Tea Rooms creates a festive window display whilst festive buskers entertain shoppers and tourists alike.

The city also plays host to a six week-long Christmas Market where over 100 wooden chalets sell locally made crafts, food and drink. Christmas shoppers can warm themselves in front of the fire with a mulled wine at Thor’s pop-up tipi or take advantage of a festive themed afternoon tea at one of the city’s historic hotels.

Catch a pantomime at one of York’s three theatres or attend a candlelit carol service at York Minster, York’s iconic cathedral which is the largest Gothic cathedral in northern Europe. Take a break from Christmas shopping and visit York Castle Museum whose famous full size Victorian street recreation ‘Kirkgate’ is decorated each Christmas.

Stay at the elegant The Principal Hotel next to York rail station or for a fabulous city centre location, stay at Dean’s Court Hotel directly opposite the illuminated York Minster. 

Ready to enjoy Christmastime in York? Plan your trip here!

Find more accommodation options in York here .

Recommended by Ella from Many More Maps

For a festive city break filled with freshly baked mince pies, twinkly Christmas lights and plenty of cosy libraries to warm up in, you should definitely head to Cambridge. At just an hour away from London by train, it’s very popular to visit Cambridge as a day trip . Since it’s a small city, you can definitely see the city’s highlights in one day or a weekend.

This ancient university city is famous the world over for its breathtaking colleges, which you’re able to visit year-round. Many of the colleges charge a small admission fee. However, there are a small number that are free to wander around, such as Christ’s College.

To warm up, it’s worth heading to the Fitzwilliam Museum, which is free to enter and houses countless historical artefacts and pieces of art from around the globe. Just down the road from the Fitzwilliam Museum you’ll find Fitzbillies, a Cambridge institution known for their baked goods. Warm up over a steaming cup of tea and a mince pie before heading out to do more exploring!

Like London’s Winter Wonderland, Cambridge has its very own Christmas attraction – the North Pole. With an ice-rink, Christmas market stalls and plenty of festive rides, it’s an unmissable attraction for any festive visit to Cambridge.

Find accommodation in Cambridge here .

Recommended by Sophie from Solo Sophie

One of the most magical Christmas breaks in the UK is the city of Manchester. Boasting multiple Christmas markets, as well as some truly gorgeous illuminations, the best time to visit is during December. All the city is lit up by twinkling lights and the pop-up Christmas market stalls across the city are in full swing.

In general, one of the top highlights of Manchester includes a plethora of wonderful museums which are perfect for wandering around on cold days when you don’t want to go outside. Think the People’s History Museum and The Manchester Art Gallery- both free to visit.

Another cosy activity that is best enjoyed indoors is to check out the fantastic foodie scene that Manchester has become known for in recent years. Otherwise, the  Manchester Christmas Markets  are the perfect place to warm up with a hot drink and shop for some last-minute festive gifts. In the stalls, visitors will find everything for sale from handmade soaps to luxurious jewellery.

Lastly, it’s worth noting that Manchester is one of the largest cities in the UK and so is best explored over the course of a long weekend (as opposed to a day visit) and never has a shortage of seasonal activities, fairs, and things to do.

Find accommodation in Manchester here .

The Lake District

Recommended by Rose from Where Goes Rose?

The Lake District is a beautiful area of the UK that’s worth a visit around the year. Although the crowds dwindle outside of the summer months, making it a lovely place to escape the crowds of city Christmas markets. Cosy cabins and Christmas movies, what more could you want?

There are plenty of destinations to add your Lake District itinerary that can be visited throughout the year. Although some hikes are better during summer, there are others that can be done during winter and offer spectacular views of snowy peaks. The five-mile path around Derwentwater Lakeshore, for example, would make an excellent hike before heading for hearty winter comfort food.

Festive events that can be enjoyed in the Lake District include a trip on Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway with complimentary mince pies. Foodies can take a trip to Muncaster Castle and tuck into a Christmas-themed afternoon tea or a mulled wine while curled up in front of a roaring fire!

There are countless hearty pubs in the Lake District where you can get cosy and sample regional dishes and local ales. Afterwards, book yourself into a cosy cottage and crack on the Christmas movies. It’s a winter wonderland for sure!

Find accommodation in the Lake District here .

Recommended by Victoria from Guide Your Travel

Aberdeen is somewhat of an underappreciated city in Scotland. Most tourists head to Edinburgh or Glasgow but tend to skip the much smaller Aberdeen. However, the granite city is actually quite beautiful and there is a lot to see and do especially during the festive season.

Aberdeen always has an annual Christmas market which takes place from late November until Christmas. There are booths selling traditional foods, mulled wine, and of course some themed rides. There are also regular events with reindeer which you can feed and pet.

While the weather is sometimes a bit unpredictable Aberdeen actually gets a decent amount of sun even during the colder months. This is the perfect excuse to go on a winter hike along the beautiful coastline to places like Stonehaven, Dunnottar Castle or Newburgh.

There are also a lot of whisky distilleries you need to visit to truly appreciate Scotland. A lot offer guided tours and tastings which is a must do to warm up after a long day of sightseeing in the cold Scottish winter. The Brewdog Brewery is also located close to Aberdeen and can easily be reached by bus so put it at the top of your to do list.

Aberdeen also has a few fantastic museums to try when it rains like the Maritime Museum or the Toolbooth Museum.

Find accommodation in Aberdeen here .

Resources for booking Christmas breaks in the UK

Ready to start planning one of these great Christmas breaks in the UK? Here are some of my favourite travel planning resources to make organising your break easy!

• Book affordable accommodation with  TripAdvisor  or  Booking.com
• Get travel insurance from  Coverwise
• Hire a car through  Travel Supermarket
• Never pay international payment fees again with a debit card from  Currensea  that works with your existing bank account.
• Book a tour with  Get Your Guide  or  Viatour

15 Places for the Best Christmas Breaks in the UK

So, if you’re ready to start planning a winter escape to the best places to visit in the UK at Christmas, be sure to bookmark this page or pin it using the image below.

Are you inspired and planning one of these Christmas breaks in the UK? I’d love to hear about your trip! Let’s connect on  Instagram  and send me a DM telling me where you are planning to visit!

Until our next adventure,

Related Articles

P.S. Love it? Pin it!

If you like this guide to the best places to visit in the UK at Christmas, be sure to follow  Get Lost on Pinterest . That’s where I’ll be sharing all my great  UK travel guides .

Hello, I’m Hannah! I’m a writer and photographer who loves experiencing the wonders of Yorkshire. My guides will help you escape from your daily routine by showing you that you don’t have to go far to find an adventure.

34 thoughts on “15 Places for the Best Christmas Breaks in the UK 2023”

Oh, this would be so much to touch base with all of these locations in one mega trip. I love Christmas and would love all of these destinations.

A huge UK Christmas road trip would be incredible! Sign me up!! I love Christmas too, it is such a magical time of year to travel! I hope you get to experience some of the festive fun this year!

All of these Christmas Markets look beautiful and loads of fun! I of course would love to experience all of these one day but the Mousehole, Leeds, Scottish Highlands, and Manchester would be the first ones I’d like to attend!

There are so many great places for a Christmas break in the UK, aren’t there? I want to visit them all too! The Christmas lights at Mousehole sound incredible! I’d love to see those! I hope you get to enjoy some of the festive fun this Christmas!

Love this curated list of the best Christmas breaks in the UK. Would love to spend an extended holiday at all of them!

I’m so glad you like the list! I’d love to spend all of December just visiting them all too!

We’re trying to figure out where to spend Christmas this year in Europe! Thanks for the great ideas for a Christmas break in the U.K., I’m definitely pinning them! If not Christmas, maybe spring!

Ooh I love a Christmas European break! If you don’t make it to the UK, Berlin is incredible at Christmas! Dublin is also great and Barcelona is ideal if you want somewhere slightly warmer! Christmas in the UK is always enchanting and well worth exploring if you get the chance!

They all look so lovely. I remember going to Oxford several times during Christmas when I lived in London…such an enchanting place. I haven’t traveled to Scotland but Aberdeen looks really cool as well. Any place with a castle always adds a magical feeling. 🙂

They all look like magical Christmas breaks, don’t they? I can’t decide where I want to visit first! I’d love to see more of Scotland so maybe Aberdeen will be up there on the list! We visited Edinburgh a few years ago and it was lovely there!

These pictures are really just so beautiful, and it REALLY feels like a great list of places to visit for Christmas. Is anyone else wishing they could escape internationally for Christmas/winter holidays? I want to visit these enchanting places so much! But I will be stuck here in the Sonoran Desert.

I imagine Christmas in the desert is very different to Christmas in the UK! I think the UK is such a charming place for a Christmas break and there is such a great variety of places to visit! I’m sorry you won’t get an opportunity to experience it this year, I hope you get to enjoy a UK Christmas break in the future!

So many great places I’d be happy to visit any time of year, but I’m sure Christmas is even more special. I’m actually in Cornwall right now and was thinking of visiting Mousehole so even though it’s not Christmas I think I might go there this week as it sounds lovely

I think the UK is especially charming at Christmas and is the ideal place for a Christmas break! Mousehole does sound beautiful, doesn’t it? The Christmas lights in the village sound enchanting! I hope you enjoy your visit!

oh wow these all look incredible! I would love to do a Christmas break in the UK someday. It looks truly magical. thanks for sharing these. Scotland whiskey distilleries sound incredible.

Christmas in the UK is such a charming experience! I love all of the fun festive activities. I hope you get an opportunity to experience it one day! Thanks for reading!

Manchester is one of my favourite Christmas markets in the UK since it’s enormous, but I also enjoyed going to the Edinburgh and Leeds markets too. I haven’t been to many of the ones in your list so thanks for the recommendations!

I need to visit the Manchester Christmas market again, I haven’t been for years! I love to visit the Leeds one, it’s small but so lively! There are so many great Christmas markets in the UK, aren’t there? I want to visit them all!

I love Christmas markets so thank you for putting this great list together. I go to the Manchester one every year but would love to venture out to other places too to compare them 🙂

There are so many beautiful places in the UK to visit at Christmas, aren’t there? I’ve not been to the Manchester one for years so I’d love to get back there! I love to visit anywhere that has a fun Christmas vibe – it is my favourite time of year!

I’ve never heard of Mousehole before and now Im making it my lives purpose to visit this adorably named village. It sounds spectacular!

It is an adorable name isn’t it! Locally they pronounce it like “Mauzel” which I think makes it sounds even cuter! I hope you get a chance to visit!

Hay-on-Wye seemed the most interesting to me. I mean a book tows must be so so attractive to visit. Thank you for sharing.

I agree, Hay-on-Wye sounds so magical! It has been on my list to visit forever and I’ve still not got there! A Christmas trip sounds perfect though! Thanks for reading!

Great post & as I may still not be able to see my family (in Australia) again this year, I may well take full advantage & get into the spirit at home. There are some excellent ideas & love all the light displays to explore too.

What a shame you might not be able to spend Christmas with your family again! I’m sorry to hear you might not be able to celebrate with them. There are definitely so many amazing places for a Christmas break in the UK! All of the Christmas markets and light displays sound so cozy!

Oooh I never considered visiting the Scottish highlands for Christmas, but it would be looovely to stay in a cabin in that gorgeous scenery!! These are all fabulous Cristmassy spots though. 🙂

The Scottish Highlands don’t spring to mind when you think about a Christmas getaway do they, but I bet it is a magical place to for a winter break! I want to visit them all, they all sound so beautiful!

OMG this is a lot to consider, WOW just WOW. Thanks for the info

There are so many incredible places for a Christmas break in the UK! It’s hard to choose where to start!

Christmas is my favorite time of year and I love all the pictures you shared! It’s exciting to see so many amazing places in the UK for Christmas!

Christmas is my favourite time of year too! My birthday is also in December so it is double the celebration! We usually enjoy a festive UK Christmas break for my birthday and it is great having so many lovely places to choose from!

I LOVE it! We wanted to go to the UK for Christmas but there are no direct flights from where I live and the flights are already so pricy. Have you ever been to Liverpool for Christmas? That’s where my boyfriend used to live so we were thinking of going there. Maybe next year, we will plan better and get cheap air tickets ahead of time.

Christmas in the UK is certainly magical! What a shame you’re not able to make it this year but I’ll keep my fingers crossed you can get here next year instead. I haven’t explored Liverpool very much at all to be honest but I am keen to visit. I might see if I can squeeze in a festive trip before the end of the year!

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The 12 days of Christmas: 12 places to spend Christmas in the UK

12th October 2018 in Explore Destinations by Belle Connell

Updated 2nd November 2021

It's the most wonderful time of the year, but as the holidays draw closer and the trees go up we are all wondering where to spend this Christmas. Over 23% of Brits have spent Christmas abroad with Dubai being named the most popular destination for the holidays. But, with over 50% of Brits staying in the UK over Christmas, we have racked our brains and researched the depths of the internet to find you the best destinations for Christmas in the UK. Following the COVID pandemic, this Christmas is going to look at whole lot better than last one! Whether you are on a city break staycation, or a day trip to see the twinkling lights, here are the top twelve cities to spend Christmas.

1. Edinburgh

Edinburgh is renowned for its manmade and natural beauty, from Holyrood Park to Edinburgh Castle. At Christmas, this city comes alive with dazzling lights, Christmas markets and a Christmas tree maze. From the 17th November visitors will be able to try out numerous rides including roller coasters, bumper cars, and a Santa train. An ice rink, fireworks and concerts take place from November onward.

Christmas Markets : 20th November 2021 - 2nd January 2022

The capital city has so much to offer those spending Christmas in the UK, from the Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park to the incredible Christmas shopping on Oxford Street. London hosts an array of Christmas markets, ice rinks, and events leading up to Christmas. Our favourites have to be the wintertime market at Southbank Centre, Somerset House ice rink, and Christmas by the River at London Bridge.

Southbank Winter Festival : 4th November - 24th December 2021

Leicester square christmas market : 12th november 2021 - 9th january 2022, hyde park winter wonderland : 19th november 2021 - 3rd january 2022.

Kick-starting Christmas with the Leeds Lights Switch On and becoming home to the sparkling 100ft Leeds Wheel of Light, Christmas markets, Santa's grotto, and spectacular performances from the Northern Ballet and Opera North. Guests can Christmas shop at historical arcades and being the third largest shopping destination in the UK, you are sure to find presents for the whole family, including yourself.  Discover our guide to Christmas shopping in Leeds here .

Leeds German Christmas Market : Unfortunately, the markets are cancelled for 2021, but there are other festivities to be found in the city!

York is the perfect place to spend Christmas in the UK. It's historic lanes and beautiful architecture makes it the ideal chocolate box city to spend the holidays. This year, York is hosting a new Santas's grotto and it will be the first time York has been home to a city centre Christmas tree shop. In 2017 York was named Britain's most festive city, so this city is pushing itself further than ever this year with festive events and attractions.

York Christmas Festival : 18th November - 23rd December 2022

5. nottingham.

The Nottingham Christmas tree in the centre of the city.

Spending Christmas in Nottingham is a magical experience, it becomes home to its very own Winter Wonderland, Nottingham hosts sparkling Christmas markets, an ice rink, and family pantomimes. Taking over Old Market Square in the centre of the city, this attraction is set to bring in over 2.9 million visitors over the Christmas period. The event has over 70 stalls, children's rides and is the biggest Christmas market in the East Midlands.

Winter Wonderland : 15th November - 31st December 2021

6. birmingham.

Birmingham this Christmas is becoming home to pantomimes, parties, and steam train rides. Each winter, Birmingham city centre bursts with the twinkling lights of the Frankfurt Christmas market that has run for over 15 years and is the largest of its kind outside of Germany. This year it is set to attract over 6 million visitors, making it the place to be for those wanting to experience a truly incredible Christmas event.

Frankfurt Christmas Market : 4th November - 23rd December 2022

With so much on offer, Cardiff makes it easily on to the list. From magical ballets to pantos, this city is the perfect city to do Christmas shopping in a range of fabulous shops or at the Christmas markets. Cardiff Bay sparkles under the fairy lights and becomes a gorgeous Christmassy location. Guests will be able to experience a traditional Welsh Christmas at St Fagans National Museum of History or visit the stunning Cardiff Castle home to a Santa's grotto and Christmas parties.

St Fagans Christmas : Each weekend in December

Christmas markets : 11th november 2021 - 23rd december 2022, step into christmas: 9th november 2021, 8. manchester.

An Ice Village, a giant Santa clause, and the Winter Funland at Trafford City, Manchester truly provides something for everyone during the festive season. Events are being held throughout November and through to the New Year, so guests can experience a whole range of things to do and see from a festive afternoon tea at The Monastery to the UK's biggest ice attraction in the Cathedral Gardens.

Manchester Christmas Lights Switch On: 12th November 2021

Ice village manchester: cancelled for 2021, christmas markets : 12th november - 22nd december 2021.

Even as the nights get shorter and the weather becomes colder, Christmas and its magic is something to look forward to. Bristol offer’s a Christmas like no other with an array of fairy lights, a stunning Christmas tree and just a touch of magic. From the Christmas market to its magnificent carol concerts, there is much to do in this magical Christmas city. Oh, and don’t forget to keep an eye out for Santa and his elves!

Bristol’s Christmas Market : 5th November - 23rd December 2021

Offering everything from churros to sweet roasted chestnuts, the city of Bath is just as sweet and delicious at Christmas time. While drinking a steaming mug of mulled wine, you can  truly relax and enjoy the elegance of people skating on the city’s ice rink. With a Victorian carousel and traditional pantomime shows, Bath really is marvellous at Christmas.

Bath Christmas Market : 1st November - 31st December 2021

11. belfast.

Filled with Christmas cheer and joy is the Belfast Christmas Market. With holiday cuisine from around the world, indulge in some sweet treats and delicious Christmas fare. From German bratwurst to roman mulled wine, Belfast has a delightful and refreshing Christmas market for all.

Belfast Christmas Market : 20th November - 23rd December 2021

12. glasgow.

With irresistible cuisine and ‘to die for’ shopping Glasgow city centre, at Christmas, is perfect for a trip away for the weekend. Glasgow Christmas market offers a variety of activities and stalls to participate in. From Christmas trinkets to Christmas decorations, Glasgow is full of unique and exquisite gifts at Christmas.

Glasgow Christmas Market : 21st November - 23rd December 2021

With each city celebrating in their own way, why not tour of them all? With so many of our great apartments located in each city, you can be sure to have a fantastic winter wonderland experience with some cosy and lovely accommodation to go with it. Why not check out our other festive blogs too !

https://www.statista.com/statistics/667098/holidaying-abroad-over-christmas-great-britain/

http://www.geograph.org.uk

Belle Connell

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Best Christmas breaks in the UK to enjoy as a family

Fully embrace the festive spirit and get away this Christmas season. Whether you want a magical break on a budget or an action packed adventure for the whole family, we’ve researched the best places in the UK for Christmas this year.

By Gemma Wilcock | Last updated Feb 16, 2024

Twinkling lights, giant Christmas trees, festive markets selling crafts and hot mulled wine - these are just some of the things you can expect to see and do when getting away during the winter holiday season.

With so much going on, it’s a wonderful time of the year to escape with your family and make some memories for life. You may fancy a cosy country break with long winter walks or a seaside adventure the whole family will love - thankfully, there’s something out there for every family and budget.

There are so many exciting UK cities and picturesque villages to explore, so we’ve researched the best UK winter escapes for you. As always our recommendations come from our Mumsnet forums so we know we’re getting a range of destinations that have been sampled by families just like you. We also cross-check these with travel websites to make sure we’re recommending breaks that cater for families.

Here are the 10 best Christmas breaks in the UK.

Where to travel in the UK at Christmas: a roundup

Best overall Christmas break: Adventure at Celtic Manor

Best luxury Christmas break: Spa stay at the Grove

Best budget Christmas break: Weekend in York

Best Christmas break for older children: Sightseeing in London

Best city Christmas break: Magical Edinburgh

1. Best overall Christmas break: Christmas adventure at Celtic Manor Resort

Celtic Manor Resort, Cardiff | Check availability

If you’re looking for festive celebrations combined with fun outdoor activities to keep the whole family happy - and maybe a trip to the spa when Mum and Dad need a rest - Celtic Manor Resort in Cardiff has everything you may need for a Christmas family break.

The five-star family resort sits on a lakefront in Newport and is set on more than 2000 acres of parkland. It boasts a huge range of restaurants, bars and cafes offering different cuisines, with a fuss-free children’s menu so you can try and avoid any meltdowns at mealtimes.

There’s no chance of them getting bored either, with a host of activities on offer, from swimming in the indoor children’s pool and mini golf to treetop adventures for older children, as well as tennis, biking trails, archery and air hockey. The hotel has plenty going on to help you get in the Christmas spirit too - you can order a gingerbread house to be delivered to the room, and book a Santa’s tea party or a festive afternoon tea.

If all this sounds exhausting, there’s also a kids’ club and babysitters on site, so your children can be cared for while you take a much needed rest in the spa, work out in the gym or enjoy a quiet drink in the bar. The hotel also hosts a variety of Christmas parties during the festive period. Be aware though that you have to pay for parking during your stay.

Mumsnet users say

“ Two places I have heard good things about but not been to myself are Bluestone (self-catering) and Celtic Manor (hotel). Both have a lot of Christmas activities on-site plus lots of places to visit close by .” cwtchcariad

“ Last year instead of loads of presents we took the children to Celtic Manor for a few days just before and were home for Christmas Eve. It was wonderful! ” Mumof5x

2. Best luxury Christmas break: Enjoy a family spa break

While holidays with kids are rarely relaxing, Christmas is a great time to escape with your loved ones and enjoy a bit of luxury.

Hotels like The Grove in Chandlers Cross, Hertfordshire, are family friendly and offer treats for the adults too. Children stay free and there's a kids' club on site and a babysitting service (at an extra cost), a playground and woodland and nature trails for exploring. Other activities include swimming, archery and a forest school.

Staying there over Christmas, you can expect carol singers, a chance to meet Santa’s reindeer, Christmas art and crafts, mulled wine and live music. At The Grove, parents can make the most of any child-free time to play golf, go for wintery walks or relax in the pool and sauna or have a treatment in the spa.

Other spa hotels recommended on our Mumsnet forums include Chewton Glen Hotel and Spa , a five-star luxury hotel in New Milton, and Rudding Park in Harrogate, which both offer magical Christmas escapes, action-packed activities for kids and the opportunity to take a bit of child-free time to relax or enjoy a quiet coffee - a treat in itself!

These breaks are luxury though so they come with a high price tag - and the chances are you’ll love it so much, you’ll never want to leave!

“ If you really want to spoil yourselves and experience an absolutely amazing spa, then consider Rudding Park, just three miles from Harrogate station .” Ricekrispie22

UK Spa hotels for Christmas

Located in Hertfordshire Price per night from

Located in New Milton Price per night from

Located in Harrogate Price per night from

3. Best budget Christmas break: A festive weekend in York

York | Find a hotel

We all know Christmas is an expensive time of the year, but thankfully you can get away for a few days without breaking the bank. Packed with history and character, York has so much to offer during December that you can easily spend hours just wandering around the pedestrianised city streets taking in the sights and soaking up the atmosphere.

The streets are lit up with twinkling lights and children can enjoy looking at festive window displays in the shops and restaurants, and listening to buskers. York is also well known for its Christmas market where Alpine chalets line the streets offering up stocking fillers and tasty street food and mulled wine to warm you up. If you can stretch your budget, you can watch a pantomime or take in a Christmas concert at York Minster, the city’s iconic Gothic cathedral.

Mumsnet users recommend staying at the YHA York to keep costs down. A 4-star hostel, it doesn’t offer you the same luxury, activities or amenities you’ll get at the likes of Celtic Manor but it has a restaurant and large, clean bedrooms and, at a much lower price, you’ll be left with more money for shopping and eating your way around this magical city.

“ We have had some very good deals at YHAs both York and Brighton were particularly good. You can get Premier Inn rooms from £30 a night. Big breakfast for £10, kids under 16 eat free. I'm sure there are other comparable budget hotels, we are just big Premier Inn fans, and they are everywhere, usually fairly central .” Ted27

4. Best Christmas break for older children: Sightseeing in London

London | Find a hotel

What better way to embrace the festivities than taking a trip to the capital city? There’s so much to do in London during the Christmas season, even older, sometimes harder-to-please children will find something fun to do.

You can take them skating at one of the ice rinks around the city, such as Hampton Court Palace and Somerset House . Winter Wonderland at Hyde Park has the biggest outdoor rink in the UK and there’s plenty of other stuff to do there for children of all ages. Afterwards, you can explore the Christmas market stalls, enjoy some food and drink and make your way round the rides. There’s even a circus!

Other Christmas markets can be found at the likes of Leicester Square and Covent Garden, and you can take a walk to see the famous lights and decorations on Regent Street.

If, somehow, your children get bored there’s a host of other activities and sights on offer, including taking a ride on the London Eye , visiting the Tower of London , spotting celebrities at Madame Tussauds or heading to the West End to see a show, such as Frozen .

Be warned though, you’ll need to be prepared to walk lots and expect crowds as London will be busy at this time of the year. Also, if you plan to enjoy the huge range of attractions on offer you’ll need a fair bit of spending money too.

When it comes to accommodation in London, there are so many to choose from but our Mumsnet users recommend looking for somewhere with a central location, easy access to public transport and big family rooms.

“ I stayed here [Radisson Blu Edwardian] recently on a deal. It was really pleasant. I went with my teenage daughter. Right in the centre of seven dials (Covent Garden). It will be festive around there at Christmas. I would definitely stay there again .” OnTheNatureOfDaylight

Family hotels in London for Christmas

Price per night from hotels.com

5. Best for a weekend Christmas break: Visit beautiful Bath

Bath | Find a hotel

A popular choice on our forums for a weekend getaway at Christmas is Bath. A smaller city break than London, it is beautiful and has plenty of charm and history to explore.

Stroll around Bath’s iconic streets and buildings which are lit up by magical illuminations, then pull on your boots and take to the ice rink at the Royal Victoria Park. Closeby, children can also play Glow Golf , a mini golf course which is decked out with Christmas lights.

For a bit of history and culture, you can take in the beautiful sights of Bath Abbey and visit the Roman baths. And if you need to do a spot of shopping, you can head to Bath Christmas Market, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, where there are more than 170 chalets spread across the Georgian streets selling food, drink, crafts, decorations and jewellery.

Families will also enjoy the Enchanted Garden of Light at The American Museum & Gardens , an magical after-dark light display. For somewhere to stay, check out some of our Mumsnet recommendations for family friendly hotels in Bath, including Abbey Hotel , Bath Mill Lodge Retreat and Apex City of Bath Hotel .

“ Just come back from Bath, found it absolutely delightful. We did a Treasure Trail which was great fun (solving clues etc). We stayed at Bath Mill Lodge Retreat, just outside the city centre. It offers luxury lodges for one night- worth a look .” leccybill

Family hotels in Bath for Christmas

Price shown per week hoseasons.co.uk

6. Best city Christmas break: Explore magical Edinburgh

Edinburgh | Find a hotel

Edinburgh is a city that really knows how to do Christmas and New Year. The Scottish capital fully embraces the atmosphere starting with festive celebrations and moving on to a big party at New Year.

A city break here offers so much. Wander along the historic Royal Mile and see Edinburgh Castle colourfully lit up at night. You can also check out the lights and sounds at the Royal Botanic Gardens , which offers a magical after-dark experience the whole family will enjoy.

The city is packed with culture and history with museums and galleries to visit and plenty of shops for finishing off your Christmas shopping. There’s also Christmas markets to wander around and attractions, like ice-skating, to enjoy. And who can forget Hogmanay? Edinburgh’s famous New Year celebration, with a torchlight procession and an unforgettable street party to bring in the new year.

Hotels can get booked up at this time of the year so make sure to plan ahead. Our Mumsnet recommendations include the Grassmarket Hotel , offering a central location for all your sightseeing, The Radisson Blu Hotel , close to the Royal Mile and with a spa for relaxing, and Motel One , where children stay free.

Mumsnet recommendations:

“ I can recommend the Grassmarket Hotel. Really central. One wall of the room has a large map of Edinburgh, opposite wall is made up of Beano covers. Free coffee in reception .” cdtaylornats

Where to stay in Edinburgh for Christmas

Price per night from Hotels.com

7. Best coastal Christmas break: Escape to Cornwall

Cornwall | Find a hotel

With its sandy beaches and picturesque coastlines, Cornwall may not be an obvious choice for a Christmas break but if you’re looking for long coastal works, breathtaking views mixed in with some festive magic it could be the place for you.

A popular place to visit in Cornwall is Mousehole, near to Penzance, a charming village with a harbour and cobbled streets, which comes alive at Christmas. The whole town decorates their homes, gardens and businesses, and people flock to see the beautiful twinkling lights and displays.

Falmouth and Fowey are also lovely places to visit at this time of the year and you can go for brisk, windy walks on the beach before warming in front of a fire with a hot chocolate or a mulled wine.

If you’re looking for accommodation in Cornwall that has plenty to offer for the kids at Christmas, Watergate Bay , set on a beach near Newquay, is a popular choice on our Mumsnet forums. Also in Newquay is the Bedruthan Hotel and Spa , a hotel on the cliff tops offering beautiful views and plenty for the children to do. Polurrian Hotel in Mullion is another hotel offering a good base for seaside activities and adventures.

“ Polurrian Hotel is fantastic. It has up to two hours free childcare in the Four Bears Den. We liked the extra touches, such as Breakfast Club on Sundays where nannies collect the children for breakfast while you and your DH can have breakfast in bed with the morning papers. Little children love the 'mouse safari' (little stone mice hidden around the hotel and grounds) and climbing Crocodilla! As well as indoor and outdoor swimming pools, there’s a play area with swings and a slide, tennis court, a family cinema and a games room.” Ricekrispie22

Where to stay in Cornwall for Christmas

Price per night from watergatebay.co.uk

8. Best Christmas break for babies and toddlers: Visit Crieff Hydro in Scotland

Crieff Hydro | Check availability

Family-friendly hotel, Crieff Hydro , in Crieff, Scotland transforms into a Winter Wonderland in December. Two-night Christmas breaks include daily entertainment for the kids, such as crafts, games, quizzes and movies, as well as hot toddies for the adults and gingerbread men for the kids. There’s also free daily childcare if you want a bit of time to relax.

The hotel offers some Christmas activities too which you can do at an extra cost - children can meet Santa at his grotto and also enjoy a reindeer experience. You can also stay over Christmas for three nights starting from Christmas Eve or a New Year escape to bring in 2023.

Set on 900 acres, the hotel has plenty of other family-friendly amenities too, with over 60 activities, including rock climbing, zip-lining, swimming, golf, hiking and archery, for keeping everyone busy. There’s also a fun adventure playground, childcare (at an extra cost) for children aged 2-12, as well as a spa for some child-free time.

Some customers claim the hotel looks a bit tired in parts and, if you want to use the pool, make sure to check if you need to book first as it may get fully booked during busy periods.

“ Crieff Hydro is family oriented and ticks all your boxes. It's a really lovely place and there is the option of the hotel or self catering houses .” StarryNightSparkles

9. Best Christmas break for animal lovers: A festive Safari in Kent

Port Lympne Hotel and Reserve , Kent | Find a hotel nearby

Imagine waking up on Christmas Day to see lions roaming outside your room. Port Lympne Hotel and Reserve in Kent offers a special Christmas break that you and your family will remember for a long time.

You can choose to stay in one of 11 different accommodations, including a luxury four-star hotel, a treehouse high in the woodland or in one of the special lodges set within the animal’s habitats, allowing you to see some of the animals up close, including the resident lions, tigers, wolves and rhinos. Set in 600 acres on the Kent coast, there are 700 rare and endangered animals to see during your stay. Some of the accommodation comes with its own golf buggy too for getting around!

The two night festive break starts on Christmas Eve and once you’re done exploring the estate, taking in the incredible views and wildlife, there’s a sunset choir and a special guest from the North Pole arrives.

Throughout your stay you will enjoy delicious meals in the restaurant and you can personalise your break to add your own special touches. Before you leave, your children can get to experience some incredible animal encounters.

Costing from £2995 for four guests, it’s an expensive break, especially when you may have to pay extra for animal experiences, but it will be a Christmas your children will be sure to remember forever.

“ Port Lympne zoo in Kent springs to mind. If you stay in the accommodation with the private viewing areas of the wolf/lion/tiger enclosures they are very luxurious (some of the other accommodation is more basic), and you also get two days access to the park with a gold buggy to drive yourself round. It's absolutely amazing, but does cost around £1000 per night! I thought it was worth every penny though .” SantaSue

10. Best countryside Christmas break: Visit the cosy Cotswolds

Cotswolds | Find a hotel 

Picturesque towns and villages, gorgeous landscapes and cosy pubs make the Cotswolds a beautiful place to visit over Christmas. You can wrap up warm for long winter walks around the gorgeous countryside and cosy up in front of a log fire at one of the many charming hotels.

There’s plenty of stuff to keep children happy too. Sudeley Castle in Sudeley is lit up colourfully at Christmas time, with lights hanging off the trees and an enchanting light trail leading you through the grounds. If you want to venture a bit further, Blenheim Palace , which sits on the edge of the Cotswolds, also has a Christmas lights trail and a market.

You can enjoy a festive afternoon tea in one of the little villages and if you want to do a spot of shopping there are plenty of independent boutique shops for picking up something unique. For a big Christmas market, you could head to Bath or Cheltenham, but some of the villages also put on their own, including Burford and Bourton-on-the-Water.

Christmas can be a busy time of the year for the Cotswolds - and parking in the little villages and towns can be tricky - so make sure to plan ahead and book any meals or activities.

For something a bit special at Christmas, our Mumsnetters recommend staying at the Calcot Manor & Spa , a luxury spa hotel suitable for families near Tetbury, or Woolley Grange , which is another great family friendly hotel with a spa, a free children's club and babysitting services. For self-catering, Lakes by YOO offer lakeside woodland cabins set on the Lechlade Upon Thames.

“ Calcot Manor, Watergate Bay, The Alexandra, Polurrian Bay, South Sands, Chewton Glen, Lime Wood should all fit the bill. At a slightly lower price point you could try Ickworth, Woolley Grange, The Elms, Moonfleet Manor .” Sleepthieved

Where to stay in the Cotswolds for Christmas

Price per night from calcot.co

Price per night from thelakesbyyoo.com

Where’s the best place to celebrate Christmas in the UK?

For all round fun for the whole family at Christmas, head to Celtic Manor Resort . There’s a huge range of activities that will keep kids of all ages entertained and plenty of festive fun to be had too, including a Santa’s tea party or a festive afternoon tea.

“We took the children to Celtic Manor for a few days... It was wonderful!”

Celtic Manor Resort

Located in Wales hotels.com

For a city escape, stroll around a Christmas market, take in beautiful light displays, visit Santa and take to the ice in London. The city has everything your whole family could need - children both young and old will enjoy the huge variety of sights, lights and attractions on offer.

"I've been to London a couple of times over Christmas and my favourite part is always just walking around looking at the lights."

Iseeyoulookingatme

Find a hotel in London

Prices from £125 per night hotels.com

What to do with kids during the Christmas holidays

Thankfully, there’s plenty of options for entertaining kids during the festive season, just make sure to think ahead as some places need booking in advance. Some of the most popular activities include:

visiting a Santa's grotto

going to see a Pantomime

gliding around an ice-skating rink

taking a walk around a magical light trail

going on a Christmas train ride

As it’s already an expensive time of the year, you can fill the rest of the Christmas holidays with cheap activities like playdates at the park, baking and decorating festive gingerbread men or, if there are lots of houses locally that go to town on their Christmas lights, why not take a walk or drive around to see the magical displays? A great free activity to get you in the festive spirit.

Which city has the best Christmas market in the UK?

When it comes to Christmas, who doesn’t love browsing around stalls looking for gifts and stocking fillers, eating street food and sipping on Glühwein? We love a good Christmas market in the UK, and we have lots of great ones to choose from.

Bath Christmas market comes up a lot on our Mumsnet forums, while others recommend the bigger markets in Birmingham and York for getting into the festive spirit.

Best Christmas markets in the UK: editor's picks

24th November - 11th December Hotel prices from

3rd November - 23rd December Hotel prices from

17th November - 23rd December Hotel prices from

How we chose our recommendations

Recommendations by real parents.

We always start our research at the Mumsnet forums. With over 10 million users a month, we know we’re going to get a host of suggestions for great destinations and hotels that will cater for a range of needs and budgets. And, best of all, they’ve already been there and done it.

Expert guidance and traveller reviews

We then consult the experts to make sure we’re recommending a destination that is suitable for families. This means cross-checking hotels with travel sites like Hotels.com, TripAdvisor and Booking.com to ensure they cater for a family’s needs.

We also check what consumers say, including the negative comments so that we can give a balanced review.

Celebrated destinations

Finally, to make sure we were finding the best UK Christmas breaks we looked out for destinations and hotels that won awards and came highly recommended, until we were left with a list of ten UK getaways to suit every budget this Christmas.

Why you should trust us

We work hard to provide unbiased, independent advice you can trust. We do sometimes earn revenue through affiliate (click to-buy) links in our articles. This helps us fund more helpful articles like this one.

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TravelAwaits

Our mission is to serve the 50+ traveler who's ready to cross a few items off their bucket list.

6 Magical Christmas Towns To Visit In England

• Destinations
• United Kingdom

Festive steam trains, Victorian markets, charming light displays, and Santa Claus, are just some of the things that make towns in England magical at Christmastime. These small communities go all out to make their market squares and shop-lined streets feel as festive as any big city, perhaps even more so. They can’t guarantee you snow, but they can promise a warm cozy pub with a real fire and some genuine Christmas cheer. To get you in the festive spirit, here are 6 towns in England that are magical places to visit at Christmas.

A small town near the East Sussex coast, Rye is picturesque at any time of year, but even more so at Christmas. The most perfectly preserved medieval citadel in England, the town is packed with independent shops and eateries. With whispered tales of ghosts and smuggling, the historic town of Rye is even more atmospheric in the darker winter months and without the high-season crowds of the summer. Perched high on a hill with distant views across the Romney Marsh, the town is a labyrinth of winding cobblestone streets, mysterious passageways, and hidden nooks and crannies, which look stunning when all lit up for Christmas. To really blow away the cobwebs take a brisk stroll around the Rye Harbour Nature Reserve where the beaches, grassland, saltmarsh, and lakes host a vast array of wildlife. Stay at the newly rebranded and refurbished The Lookout Rye — sister hotel to the George in Rye, which is currently undergoing refurbishment after fire damage 2 years ago. Rye is well known for its fantastic boutique B&Bs, which all bring a small town Christmassy atmosphere to your stay.

Have a go at a festive cookery course at Webbe’s Cookery School, starting in early December. Bring a guest for lunch, which is included in the price of the class. Then amble off to A Rye Window Wanderland and late night shopping in the town center.

2. Cheltenham

Embrace tradition in both history and style this Christmas by celebrating at the iconic Queens Hotel in Cheltenham . Queens Hotel Cheltenham is offering a sumptuous three-course Christmas Eve dinner, followed by a five-course Christmas Day dining experience in Victoria’s restaurant. The menu includes a duck parfait and hazelnut bonbon, with langoustine and smoked trout terrine to start. This will be followed by a silicon lemon sorbet to cleanse the palette, before the traditional roast turkey with festive stuffing. For dessert, guests can enjoy a delicious traditional Christmas pudding, mince pies, and coffee. The next day you can party away that post-Christmas overindulgence, at the Queens Hotel’s Boxing Day Gala Dinner where guests dress up for a Black Tie event with a three-course dinner followed by dancing and entertainment in the Regency Suite. The festive menus can be enjoyed throughout the winter season, from a private party to a festive meal for the family. The dishes provide a taste of the local area, with fresh, quality produce sourced from local farms and recognized artisans. Guests can also indulge in Queens Hotels’ Tiffin Afternoon Tea served in the Duke’s Tea Room, which will be offering a special seasonal twist this winter. Christmas attractions in town include the Christmas markets, Panto at Everyman Theatre, Christmassy steam train rides around Cheltenham and the Cotswolds, and the amazing Spectacle of Light at Sudeley Castle with a brand new illuminated light trail.

This year Cheltenham is embracing the Christmas spirit with the introduction of an ice rink at the Imperial Gardens for the first time.

3. Chipping Campden

The picture-perfect town of Chipping Campden in the Cotswolds hosts its annual Christmas Market and festive lights switch-on at the beginning of December. Stalls featuring local produce and Christmas food and drink will be in attendance for unique gifts alongside local entertainment and choir performances. The tree is lit up at 4.30 p.m., and the town’s lights are switched on 30 minutes later. After the festive fun, head to The Pudding Club at The Three Ways House Hotel in Mickleton. Every Friday evening, visitors are offered a choice of three modest main courses but the main business of the evening begins when seven traditional puddings are served, including favorites such as Sticky Toffee as well as more unusual desserts such as Sussex Pond and Lord Randall’s Pudding. It might even offer a Christmas pudding!

Just outside Chipping Campden, Goose Green Cottage offers everything you could wish for in a festive retreat — a wood-burning stove, freestanding bath, and cozy rooms to curl up in and drink mulled wine. With its period features of charming wooden beams, flagstone floors, and thatched roof, the property oozes the same rural bliss that captivates viewers of The Holiday and is perfectly located in the middle of the rolling Cotswolds countryside. The cottage sleeps two people in a large king size bedroom and offers guests use of a beautiful garden with well-kept flower beds and a vegetable patch full of produce they’re welcome to help themselves to.

The royal town of Windsor is a magical place to be at Christmas time. The castle looks like something from a fairy tale, lit up with Christmas decorations and images of Christmas gifts and angels projected onto its outer walls. The quaint streets and small shops all have lots of Christmas cheer on offer and you can pick up some mince pies and mulled wine as you wander around. Castle Hotel Windsor , established as one of Windsor’s finest boutique hotels, is the perfect setting for anyone looking to experience Christmas-like royalty. Guests visiting Castle Hotel Windsor this Christmas can be sure to expect a truly traditional festive season. Guests can enjoy a multitude of festive occasions, including Festive Afternoon Tea at the hotel with live carols to sing along to. Christmas lunches and dinners will be served daily in the hotel’s new restaurant Leaf. With a strong botanical theme throughout and radiating laid-back luxury, the restaurant will transform into a magical winter wonderland. 

For Christmas day itself, the restaurant will serve an extra special five-course meal with all the trimmings, including a blood orange palette cleanser and traditional Christmas plum pudding. With 108-rooms and offering a prime location at the heart of Windsor, the hotel is just a short distance from the famous Long Walk, Windsor Great Park, Savill Garden, and the River Thames, all of which are beautiful when glistening with wintery frost — there really is no better place to dream of a white Christmas. For more to do in Windsor, take a look at 8 Things To Explore In Windsor After You’ve Seen The Castle .

5. Kirkby Lonsdale

The market town of Kirkby Lonsdale is on the fringe of the Lake District and the Yorkshire Dales. This beautiful ancient town is home to a magical Christmas Market each year. The town twinkles with myriad lights and plays host to a German-style market in the square, with stalls selling gifts, hot food, mulled wine, and more. The Christmas Fair takes place in early December and is a great opportunity to mingle with locals and really feel like you’re part of the community. There’s a lot of history in this charming old town and you get the feeling that Christmas here is done just as it’s been done for hundreds of years.

Stay over at Absolute Suites and you can have a luxurious Christmas break in these town center apartments. For a real small-town Christmas experience, spend the festive period right here. Bring all your Christmas treats with you, or nip out to the shops and you’ll get everything you need right there in the town.

In the town of Ashford in Kent you can experience a community Christmas parade unlike any other you’ll ever see. This town does something every year that’s completely unique — The Carnival of the Baubles . It’s held in mid-December to get everyone into the festive spirit and in the run-up to this unusual event, the town’s schoolchildren get busy designing their own lanterns and baubles. The town’s locals then carry these decorated illuminated lanterns and baubles through the streets. Everyone is welcome to make their own lantern and bring it along and there are workshops held a few weeks before the event if anyone needs some inspiration. When the parade reaches its end, there’s a local makers market where you can do a little Christmas shopping.

Head to nearby Frasers, an eco-farm with a restaurant and luxury rooms. In December, Frasers will be running two-hour wreath-making workshops that include afternoon tea or for the evening sessions, grazing boards. It has recently launched its new menus and a feasting option for group dining and is open over Christmas. The accommodation comprises a choice of oak-beamed rooms in The Oast or Pond Cottage and stylish, contemporary rooms in Stag’s Barn, all of which provide stunning views of the surrounding landscape crisscrossed by 6 miles of walks across the countryside.

Consider visiting these other England towns when you vacation:

• 8 Friendliest Towns To Visit In England
• The Adorable English Village Perfect For A Cozy Holiday Getaway
• My 6 Favorite Unique Places To Visit In England

Travel writer, author, and playwright, Samantha loves historic buildings, quirky hotels, woodland walks and literary trails, specializing in food and drink, luxury travel, retreats, spas, and anything arts based. Samantha is based in Yorkshire, the UK, where she lives with her artist partner. Learn more on her website .

Best UK Christmas light trails 2023: From Kew Gardens to Blenheim Palace

Here’s a bright idea, this Christmas why not try one of the UK’s best light trails? From the lanterns at Chester Zoo to the sparkling lights at Bute Park, these experiences will leave you beaming.

• Olivia Garrett
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From our own experience, we at the RadioTimes.com can confirm that Christmas light trails are a truly magical way to spend the festive season. When you walk through those twinkling drops of light and the tranquil music begins to filter through the trees, it’s easy to feel as if you’ve left the real world and stepped into the pages of a fairy-tale.

Whether you’re with children, your partner, or by yourself, these after-dark experiences are a perfect way of getting into the Christmas spirit. And even if you’re not a Christmassy person, we defy you not to feel enchanted as you wander through tunnels of light and watch the colours dance around you.

So, as an early present, we’ve listed for you the best Christmas light trails across the UK. From County Durham to Cardiff to Kent, these experiences can be found all around the country, whether that be in a grand country house or your local park.

They’re also a relatively cheap evening out, with most ticket prices starting at £13 and not going higher than £25, so even if you’re looking to spend less this Christmas, you can still spend an evening surrounded by breath-taking beauty. See Tickets has a particularly good range of festive events on offer, including light trails at Dunham Massey, Blenheim Palace and Kew.

Now, get ready to say "ooh" at these top Christmas light trails.

More like this

Tis' (nearly) the season! So make sure you're prepared with the best Christmas experience gifts . Plus, you can check out the best Christmas shows in London and the best UK Christmas markets .

Best Christmas light trails at a glance:

• Christmas at Belton, from £10
• Christmas at Eltham Palace, from £11.50
• Glow Wild at Wakehurst, from £12
• Lanterns and Light at Chester Zoo, from £12
• Windsor Great Park Illuminated, from £12.10
• Christmas at Bedgebury, from £13
• AGLOW at Auckland Castle, from £13
• Christmas at Leeds Castle, from £13
• Christmas at the Botanics, from £13.50
• Christmas at Bute Park, from £13.95
• Christmas at Blenheim Palace, from £14.50
• Christmas at Kew, from £15
• Christmas at Kenwood, from £17.50

Best UK Christmas light trails to visit in 2023

Christmas at kew.

15th Nov 2023 – 7th Jan 2024

Christmas at Kew is a highlight of the UK’s festive calendar. Every year the light trail draws in thousands of guests who come to see the gardens’ over 12,000 trees lit up in stunning technicolour. This year, the trail is bringing in new installations like the Hive, which uses 1,000 LED lights and a musical score to recreate the patterns of bees, or LILI, a series of illuminated flowers that stand over three metres tall. Plus, there’s displays scattered along the lake, Temperate House, and Christmas Cathedral.

Buy Christmas at Kew tickets from £15 at See Tickets

Christmas at Bute Park

24th Nov 2023 – 1st Jan 2024

Everyone in Cardiff, from the residents of Splott to the students of Cathays, has a fond memory linked to Bute Park. The gardens sit just outside the city centre and stretch on for 130-acres of fields, woodland and walking trails, and there’s no better time to see all of this than at Christmas. Now in its second year, Christmas at Bute Park is the biggest light trail in Wales and is packed full of gorgeous illuminations, fire effects and choreography.

Buy Christmas at Bute Park from £13.95 at See Tickets

Christmas at Bedgebury

17th Nov – 31st Dec 2023

If you’re stationed in Kent, you might want to try the light trail at Bedgebury National Pinetum and forest. With tunnels of light, twinkling birds and the “liquid sky” to wander through, you’re in for a beautiful evening surrounded by nature. Plus if it’s a bit nippy, you can walk around with one of the trail’s festive drinks or snack on a toasted marshmallow.

Buy Christmas at Bedgebury tickets from £13 at See Tickets

Christmas at Belton

24th Nov 2023 – 31st Dec 2023

Head over to Belton House in Lincolnshire if you’re looking for a festive evening packed full of larger-than-life flowers, glowing lanterns, and maybe an early glimpse of Santa Claus. With all the colours of the rainbow on display, Christmas at Belton is a vibrant treat for children and adults alike.

Buy Christmas at Belton tickets from £10 at See Tickets

Lanterns and Light at Chester Zoo

Lions, dolphins, and even woolly mammoths line this captivating light trail at Chester Zoo. Now in its 12 th year, the trail brings the magic of Christmas and the zoo’s diverse wildlife together into one spectacular evening. This year however, Chester Zoo is also partnering up with Sony Music to bring the world premiere of Lanterns and Light, which promises to be bigger and brighter and better than ever before.

Buy Lanterns and Light at Chester Zoo from £12 at See Tickets

Christmas at Blenheim Palace

17th Nov 2023 – 1st Jan 2024

Blenheim Palace is known for its all-year-round entertainment and family friendly events like the Paddington Experience, but at Christmas they take things to a whole new level. Each year, the 300-year-old building is transformed into a magical Christmas experience. Outside, you have the after-dark light trail and a Christmas Market packed full of crafts, textiles, and gifts, as well as food and drink vendors. Then inside, the halls are decorated to follow the story of Sleeping Beauty, with each room representing a different part of the fairy tale – doesn’t that sound magical?

Buy Christmas at Blenheim Palace tickets from £14.50 at Blenheim Palace

Windsor Great Park Illuminated

16th Nov 2023 – 2nd January 2024

You’ll have a royally good evening wandering through the illuminations at Windsor Great Park. Located in Berkshire, just a short drive from Windsor Castle, the park comes alive each winter with dazzling displays and projections. As you stroll through the woodland, mythical creatures such as fireflies and dancing fairies will blaze the way, and as you pass the lake you’ll see flood-lit fountains and breathtaking patterns projected onto the surface.

Buy Windsor Great Park Illuminated from £12.10 at See Tickets

Christmas at Leeds Castle

Christmas at Leeds Castle is returning for its second year and will give the perfect picture-taking opportunities for families and couples. With sparkling chandeliers, a laser garden a path of twinkling mirrored hearts, you’ll feel enchanted from start to finish. Plus, if you purchase daytime tickets as well, you’ll be able to go into the castle and see the wonderful world of The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe brought to life in their Narnia exhibit.

Buy Christmas at Leeds Castle from £13 at See Tickets

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AGLOW at Auckland Castle

22nd Nov 2023 – 31st Dec 2023

Auckland Castle in County Durham is home to one of the biggest and brightest light trails in the north of England. The 1.5-mile walk is packed full of incredible moments, such as the 100-metre light tunnel, the interactive illuminations featuring real fire, and the 30-metre-tall Christmas tree. Plus, little ones will be captivated by Santa’s Village where Mr Claus himself will put on a show with his mischievous elves.

Buy AGLOW at Auckland Castle from £13 at See Tickets

Christmas at Kenwood

1st Dec 2023 – 1st Jan 2024

Head over to Hampstead Heath for the gorgeous Christmas at Kenwood light trail, featuring 13 brand new installations and a whole new look that includes surprises around every corner. Plus, festive cocktails, food and plenty of picture perfect moments.

Buy Christmas at Kenwood from £17.50 at Christmasatkenwood.com

Christmas at Eltham Palace

Another London-based light trail is the one at Eltham Palace, which features a glorious array of light and colour. Found just outside of Eltham and Chislehurst, the grounds of the palace make for a perfect romantic evening.

Buy Christmas at Eltham Palace from £11.50 at Christmasatelthampalace.com

Christmas at the Botanics

7th – 30th Dec 2023

For our Scottish readers, this light trail at the Royal Botanic Garden in Edinburgh is the perfect evening out. With a fabulous floral theme that includes seed heads floating into the sky, a lawn of crocus glowing in the dark, brightly coloured pampas and more, you'll come away feeling in awe at the garden's beauty.

Buy Christmas at the Botanics tickets from £13.50 at See Tickets

For more Christmas present ideas, check out the best murder mystery experiences and best steam train experiences .

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The 5 Best UK Cities To Visit At Christmas With Kids

Wondering where to go this Christmas with the kids to really help you get into the festive spirit? If you can’t stretch to the ultimate Christmas experience of visiting Santa in Lapland , you’ll be pleased to know there is so much on offer in the UK.

From Christmas markets to Christmas lights and Santa’s Grottos, a Christmas city break in the UK offers a wealth of Christmas activites for families.

With 2020 being the year of the virtual Christmas , we’re really hoping that Christmas 2021 will see things open up again so that we can enjoy some of these fabulous Christmas things to do with our loved ones. But with so many top cities in the UK, which are the best UK cities to visit at Christmas with kids?

It feels like 2021 will be the year of staycations in the UK , but if you’re visiting the UK from abroad, you can check out any visa requirements you might need for visiting the UK at Byevisa.

If you are planning  more than just a weekend break at Christmas, you might want to also check out these Christmas breaks in the UK for families.

This post contains affiliate links. If you click on one and book something, we may earn a small commission but this is at no extra cost to you.

Covent Garden at Christmas

Which are the best UK cities to visit at Christmas with kids?

It really is hard to narrow the choice down to the best UK cities to visit at Christmas with kids. There are more and more UK cities with Christmas markets these days so if that is your thing, make sure to check out these best UK Christmas markets.

If you’re looking for outdoor Christmas activities for families, then we have a complete guide to the Christmas light trails in the UK. It’s one of our favourite Christmassy things to do.

Maybe a Christmas Panto is more your thing? Rest assured, each of these top UK cities has something for everyone.

We have picked 5 of our favourite UK cities to visit at Christmas with kids as they all offer so many family-friendly things to do at Christmas. They truly stand out as the best Christmas cities in the UK.

Tower Bridge at Christmas

As you would probably expect from the UK’s capital city, London is the best Christmas holiday destination in the UK. It is also one of the best Christmas cities in Europe.

There are so many amazing things to do at Christmas in London with kids. There is usually something new and different every year as well as all of the traditional Christmas things to do with kids.

If you’re looking for a Christmas show, book ahead as these can sell out early.

London Christmas shows

• The Snowman – an absolute must-see when in London at Christmas with kids.
• Elf – The Musical.
• The Nutcracker
• Christmas Actually
• Peter Pan Goes Wrong

Make sure to check out some of these hidden gems if you want to get away from the crowds.

One of our favourite things to do at Christmastime in London is to take the kids ice skating . Some of these London ice rinks have the most amazing backdrops like Somerset House or the Tower of London – two of the best attractions in London for kids .

If you visit the latter, warm up afterwards with a hot chocolate at the Coppa Club – one of London’s best igloo restaurants .

Winter Wonderland in London’s Hyde Park is one of the best Christmas markets in Europe. Don’t miss the other London Christmas markets while you are wandering around seeing the sights.

You’re bound to see some of the spectacular London Christmas lights on your travels too.

These are some highly rated Christmas lights tours you might want to look into are:

London Christmas lights by open top bus.

London Tootbus Christmas lights tour .

London Christmas walking tour

London Christmas lights private tour by black cab

We’re not forgetting the Harry Potter fans visiting London .  Warner Bros Studios transforms at Christmas into Hogwarts in the Snow. It’s a truly magical experience. See here to book your tickets and read our Harry Potter Studio tour review here.

Break up your days with lunch and dinner at one of these child-friendly restaurants (including kids eat free restaurants ) or treat yourselves to a Great British afternoon tea . Some of them are even Christmas themed.

Last but not least, remember to book your place at one of these fabulous Santa’s Grottos in London . And check out our suggestions of the best family hotels in London, family hotels with pools in London or Premier Inns for families in London if you are looking for accommodation.

Christmas lights on London’s Regent Street

The Scottish capital city, Edinburgh, is one of the most beautiful cities in the UK. Wander the cobbled streets of the Old Town including the famous Royal Mile and the beautiful Victoria Street.

Soak in the Christmassy vibes over the Christmas period. Edinburgh is simply magical and up there with the best European cities for Christmas.

Edinburgh’s Winter Festival puts on a great show over Christmas with the star of the show being the Edinburgh Christmas markets which are a huge draw for so many people.

The Christmas stalls and fairground rides sit nestled below the beautiful Edinburgh Castle and it is a truly spectacular sight at night when it is all lit up.

There is usually a six week programme of events on the run up to and over the Christmas period, much like the famous Edinburgh Festival with a variety of Christmas themed shows.

Get away from Edinburgh city centre to the Royal Botanic Garden in Edinburgh’s New Town where you’ll find a beautiful Christmas light trail or enjoy Christmas Nights at Edinburgh Zoo where you might have a chance of seeing Santa.

Edinburgh really is a fantastic UK Christmas destination but it gets even better at Hogmanay (New Year). Stick around if you have the time. It’s the biggest celebration of the year in Scotland.

With so much going on, you can check here what’s on in Edinburgh over Christmas and New Year .

Looking to fly to Edinburgh? Check out the cheapest fares on Skyscanner .

Fireworks over Edinburgh Castle

Manchester is one of the best cities for Christmas markets in the UK. It has the largest Christmas market in the UK which is spread over several markets around the city.

The largest of them is located in Albert Square next to the Town Hall. Make sure to climb the steps of the tower (all 173 of them) for the best views of the market.

The Manchester Christmas lights include a giant Santa as well as other light sculptures around the city centre. Take a walking trail to spot them all.

Other Christmassy things to do in Manchester city centre include the Ice Village where you may want to pay a visit to the Santa’s Grotto or the in-store Christmas events at Selfridges department store as well as the UK’s largest indoor fairground, Winter Funland .

Just a little way out of the city centre you will find  Lightopia at Heaton Park. A little further still but just as worthwhile are the Lanterns at Chester Zoo and the Christmas light trail at Dunham Massey .

For steam train enthusiasts there is the Santa Train ride on the East Lancashire Railway.

Manchester Christmas markets

Birmingham is home to the largest authentic German market outside of Germany and if that’s not a reason to visit Birmingham at Christmas, what is?

You can browse the multitude of Christmas stalls selling everything from handmade Christmas trinkets and decorations to Gluhwein and Bratwurst.

If you are visiting the market with kids, there are also fairground rides and an ice rink. To take the winter theme one step further, head to the Tamworth Snowdome where little ones will enjoy a true winter wonderland. There’s a Christmas snow trail, Christmas village and a Santa show.

If you’re a fan of the Polar Express movie, you need to check out the Birmingham Polar Express train ride which aims to recreate the magic of the movie on a steam train.

An hour’s drive from Birmingham (but well worth the drive) you will find Blenheim Palace. The Blenheim Palace Christmas light show is truly spectacular (like Christmas at Kew).

Due to fast train connections, Birmingham is ideal for a family day trip from London .

Birmingham at Christmas

York is one of the prettiest cities in the UK with York Minster at its heart. It is one of the best UK cities to visit at Christmas and has been named the UK’s most festive city. It’s also very easy to visit on a day trip from London by train .

There is a distinct medieval charm to York at Christmas with York Cathedral, the largest of its kind in northern Europe, dominating the skyline.

Head down the historic, narrow lanes and enjoy the shop windows with their Christmas displays and twinkling lights.

Just a stone’s throw from the cathedral is where you will find the York Christmas market. Thor’s Tipi at the end of Parliament Street is the place to go to rest your weary legs after a day wandering around York.

Grab a mulled wine and enjoy the festive atmosphere. The Yuletide Village in the Shambles Market is also worth popping into to see some beautiful local arts and crafts.

If you still have more energy left, head to Yorkshire Winter Wonderland which is home to the largest outdoor ice rink in the north east.

To experience a bit of Christmas past, visit York Castle Museum and wander around Kirkgate, their beautiful recreation of a Victorian street. There is usually a performance of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol and an opportunity to visit Santa.

Heading out of York city centre you will find the elegant Castle Howard and its Illuminated Trail.

These are our recommendations for the best places to visit in the UK at Christmas. Do you have any you would like to add?

Other highly rated places to spend Christmas in the UK

You might also like….

Things to do in Suffolk at Christmas

Things to do in Norfolk at Christmas

Things to do in Essex at Christmas

Things to do in Cambridgeshire at Christmas

Things to do in Hertfordshire at Christmas

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5 Best Places To Visit At Christmas In The UK

Snow way its nearly Christmas! Christmas is fast approaching and everyone is getting into the Christmas spirit, putting up their Christmas decorations, buying presents, sitting in front of the fire and drinking hot chocolate. This time of year is a great excuse to go out with the family, drink lots of mulled wine and prosecco and eat lots of great food.  Everyone already knows about the popular Winter Wonderland at Hyde Park in London and the Manchester Christmas Markets. Here are five best places to visit at Christmas in the UK that you probably don’t know about!

1. St Nicholas Fair – York, Parliament Street

In the beautiful town of York, home of the shambles and York Dungeons and at Christmas the hosts of the St Nicholas fair. The fair brings you the ultimate Christmas experience – soak up the festive atmosphere and drink some mulled wine. Spend the day sat round the log fire with friends and family drinking hot chocolate and Christmas cocktails and don’t forget to shop at the stalls that sell locally made gifts.  

Market opening times:

Sun – Weds: 10:00 – 18:00

Thurs – Sat: 10:00 – 20:00

2. St Albans Christmas Markets – Adjacent to St Albans Cathedral

Start the day off with savory and sweet waffles at the famous waffle house followed by a stroll around the 60 wooden chalets set up outside the Cathedral in the beautiful town in Hertfordshire selling Christmas gifts, mulled wine, cider and hot chocolate. Also don’t miss out on the carols, every hour from 11am!

Mon – Wed: 11:00 – 18:00

Thurs – Fri: 11:00 – 20:00

Saturday: 10:00 – 20:00

Sunday: 10:00 – 18:00

https://www.instagram.com/p/BGT7BmFsx7P/?taken-by=mackenziebrook

3. Winchester Christmas Markets – Winchester Cathedral

Winchester Christmas Markets are inspired by the traditional German Christmas markets from the pretty wooden chalets to an open-air ice-rink.  The Chalets sell festive favorites, like mince pies, bratwursts and Hot Choco, alongside unique gifts and decorations, jewelry, paintings and more.

Thurs – Sat: 10:00 – 19:30

4. Leeds Christkindelmarket – Millennium Square

Leeds is home to one of the best traditional German Christmas markets in the UK. The markets include festive greenery, a carousel ride, traditional colourful lights and wooden stalls creating a festive atmosphere in the heart of the city. Tuck into a hearty bowl of soup or goulash, or treat yourself to some gingerbread and candied fruit. You will leave feeling cheerful and full of Christmas spirit.

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Mon – Sat: 10:30 – 21:30

Sunday: 10:30 – 18:30

5. European Christmas Markets – Edinburgh, Princes St Garden

In the heart of Edinburgh sits a traditional and romantic Christmas market, which is host of bespoke and traditional Christmas items. A perfect place to get into the Christmas spirit!

Mon – Sun: 10:00 – 22:00

https://www.instagram.com/p/BNpBr-MjJ9G/?taken-at=49046970

SEE YULE THERE!

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Where to See the Solar Eclipse: The 15 Best Cities to Watch the Event

By Katherine McLaughlin

If you’re a fan of astronomy or otherwise interested in unique natural phenomenons, you may be wondering where to see the solar eclipse today—or if the big event will be visible from your home. Today, a number of cities throughout Mexico , the United States, and Canada will experience brief moments of dawn- or dusk-like darkness right in the middle of the day. Officially described as a total solar eclipse, the occurrence happens when the moon passes between the sun and the Earth and blocks the entirety of sun’s face.

Because it’s not something that happens everyday, the marvel has been prompting locals and travelers alike to scope out the best viewing locations, but fear not if you don’t have your spot figured out yet. Todays’s eclipse will travel along a wide, densely populated path. NASA estimated that 31.6 million people live in an area that will see the total solar eclipse and another 150 million are within 200 miles of it. What’s more, there won’t be another total solar eclipse visible from the contiguous United States until 2044, according to NASA , making it all the more important to catch this one.

For most of the United States, the eclipse won’t happen until the afternoon, meaning there’s still time to figure out how you’ll watch it. Here, AD covers everything you need to know about the upcoming event, including the 13 best cities to see the eclipse.

What is a total solar eclipse?

There are a number of different types of eclipses, which offer different views of either the sun or moon. As NASA explains it, “A solar eclipse happens when the moon passes between the sun and Earth, casting a shadow on Earth that either fully or partially blocks the sun’s light in some areas.” A total solar eclipse means the moon will completely block the sun’s face, and if you’re in the path of the eclipse, you’ll be able to see the sun’s corona and outer atmosphere, weather permitting. Other types of eclipses, like a partial solar eclipse, occur when the moon covers only some of the sun, resulting in a crescent shape.

A total solar eclipse is seen on a partly cloudy day.

How do you safely watch the total solar eclipse?

Not only are solar eclipses special because of their relative rarity, they’re unique in how they’re watched. For the few minutes when the moon is fully blocking the sun—know as totality—viewers can look directly at the sun without any eye protection. Any other time, including the hours before and after totality when you’ll see a partial eclipse, it’s important to wear protective eye gear, such as solar eclipse glasses. “As soon as you see even a little bit of the bright sun reappear after totality, immediately put your eclipse glasses back on or use a handheld solar viewer to look at the sun,” NASA explains.

How often do solar eclipses happen?

Solar eclipses, of one kind or another, happen between two and five times a year. Total eclipses happen about once every 18 months. However, this doesn’t mean one will be visible from your home this often. According to the Natural History Museum, London , a total solar eclipse is viewable from any one place about once every 400 years. For example, the last total solar eclipse visible from the United States happened in 2017 and followed a track from Oregon towards South Carolina. This year, the solar eclipse’s path will start in Texas and move northeast towards Maine. The next total solar eclipse will happen in 2026 and will be visible from the Arctic, Greenland, Iceland, and northern Spain.

How long will the 2024 solar eclipse last?

Total solar eclipses can last anywhere from a few seconds to several minutes. The difference in totality length has to do with how far apart the sun, moon, and Earth are at any given time, since the latter two bodies both orbit in elliptical paths.

When the Earth is furthest from the sun—making the star appear smaller—and the moon is closest to the Earth—which makes the moon look big—totality can last for over seven minutes. As Astronomy Mag reports, these circumstances will line up in about 160 years, when a solar eclipse on July 16, 2186, will see almost seven-and-a-half minutes of totality. On the other extreme, if the Earth is at its closest point to the sun and the moon is at its furthest point from Earth, humans won’t see a total solar eclipse, even if all of the celestial bodies are in line. Since totality is all about the perspective of the viewer, this is also why each city will experience the 2024 eclipse differently.

This year, totality will last for a little over four minutes in some areas, which is significantly more than the two minutes that people experienced during the 2017 eclipse. As NASA notes, “During the 2017 total solar eclipse, the moon was a little bit farther away from Earth than it will be during the upcoming total solar eclipse, causing the path of that eclipse to be a little skinnier.” Seven years ago, the path of totality—which shows which parts of the world will be able to see the total solar eclipse—was only about 62 to 71 miles wide. This year, that path ranges from 108 to 122 miles wide. “Meaning at any given moment this eclipse covers more ground,” NASA explains.

How to read maps showing the 2024 solar eclipse

As noted, this year’s path of totality is about 110 miles wide. Cities closer to the center of the path will sustain total darkness longer than those on the edges. In addition to longer totality than in 2017, this year’s path of totality covers more densely populated areas than the previous one. This means more people should be able to experience the total solar eclipse.

The 2024 solar eclipse map from NASA shows where totality will occur on April 8.

Any part of the country that is not within the path may see a partial eclipse, and the closer a location is to the strip, the smaller the crescent of visible sun will be. In these locations, it won’t be safe to look directly at the eclipse without protective glasses or a viewing device. NASA has put together an interactive map , which allows viewers to see the eclipse timing in their city.

Where to see the solar eclipse

According to NASA , cities in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, and small parts of Tennessee and Michigan will experience the total solar eclipse. Parts of Mexico and Canada will also fall within the eclipse’s path. Read on for the best places to see the 2024 total solar eclipse.

Mazatlán, Mexico

By Katie Schultz

By Gabriela Ulloa

Mexico’s pacific coast will be the first place in continental North America to experience the eclipse. Mazatlán, a popular resort city, is an ideal location to see the occurrence, as it is directly in the eclipse’s path. Totality will begin around 11:07 a.m. local time and last for 4 minutes and 17 seconds. Because it’s such an optimal place to see the 2024 solar eclipse, NASA is hosting a viewing event at Vidanta Mazatlán . Here, visitors will be able to watch screens showing telescope views of the eclipse in addition to other hands-on activities, such as projects for kids and touchable moon rocks.

Torreón, Mexico

Located more centrally in the country, the solar eclipse will also be visible from Torreón. Totality will start just before 12:19 p.m. local time and last for 4 minutes and 12 seconds. A partial eclipse will also be visible before and after totality, starting at 11:44 a.m. and ending at 1:54 p.m.

Texas Hill Country

Part of Texas Hill Country, Kerrville is a prime location to watch the 2024 eclipse. Near the Mexican border, it will be among the first US cities to experience totality, which will begin at 1:32 p.m. and last for almost four and a half minutes. Austin and Dallas are also in the path of totality, but will only experience the darkness for about two minutes and a little under four minutes, respectively. NASA is also hosting an event here, which will take place in Louise Hays Park and include live music, speakers, and programming for kids.

Dallas, Texas

The Dallas-Fort Worth area is among the most densely populated places from which the eclipse will be visible. Totality will last for 3 minutes and 51 seconds and begin at 1:40 p.m. The city has put together a list of ideal places within the city to watch the event, including the Dallas Zoo, Dallas Museum of Art, and White Rock Lake Park.

Russellville, Arkansas

Russellville, about 85 miles east of Little Rock, will experience 4 minutes and 12 seconds of totality, starting at 1:50 p.m. The city has planned a number of exciting programming for the historic event, including a solar eclipse festival and a concert with Grammy-winner Rhonda Vincent.

Cape Girardeau, Missouri

Located along the Mississippi River, Cape Girardeau is one of the best places in Missouri to watch the 2024 solar eclipse. According to NASA’s map, totality will last for a little over four minutes, beginning at 1:58 p.m. Head to Old Town Cape, where the city is hosting a block party on the day.

Carbondale, Illinois

Informally known as Little Egypt—possibly because the area delivered grains to northern parts of the state during the 1800s famine or because the southern tip of Illinois is similar to the Nile delta region in Egypt—Carbondale will experience 4 minutes and 10 seconds of totality, beginning at 1:59 p.m. The city also experienced totality during the 2017 eclipse, though it will see a longer dark period this time around. Home of Southern Illinois University, the school is hosting public viewing at its football stadium.

Bloomington, Indiana

Much of central and southern Indiana will experience totality during the 2024 solar eclipse, but Bloomington, largely a college town and home to Indiana University, will be among the best places in the Hoosier state to watch the event, since totality will last for about four minutes. The town is home to Indiana University, which is among our list of the most beautiful college campuses in America. Spend the afternoon strolling through the campus’s Gothic- and Romanesque-inspired buildings, and then catch the eclipse at 3 p.m.

Indianapolis, Indiana

They don’t call Indianapolis the crossroads of America for no reason: The state capital is at the intersection of four major US highways, Interstate 65, Interstate 69, Interstate 70, and Interstate 74. This means it’s a relatively accessible location for those in surrounding areas and among the best places to travel to for the solar eclipse. Here, totality will last for about 3 minutes and 47 seconds and start at 3:06 p.m. NASA is hosting an event at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and will have experts on-hand to answer all questions about the eclipse. The city has also suggested White River State Park as an ideal solar eclipse viewing location, where a number of food trucks, local vendors, and other activations will be set up.

Cleveland, Ohio

Cleveland won’t be in a solar eclipse’s path of totality again until 2444 , making it a once in a lifetime experience for any locals hoping to watch the eclipse from their hometown. The city will experience maximum darkness at 3:15 p.m., which will last for just under 4 minutes. To commemorate the moment, the Great Lake Science Center is hosting a Total Eclipse Fest on April 6 through April 8. The free outdoor event will include speakers, concerts, performances, and hands-on science activities.

Erie, Pennsylvania

Only a small portion of northern Pennsylvania will be within the path of totality. Erie, located along the shores of the lake of the same name, will be one of the best places in the state to see the eclipse. Totality will last for 3 minutes and 42 seconds, starting at 3:16 p.m. The local government has put together a map of public parks and other viewing locations to watch the spectacle.

Buffalo, New York

Buffalo, New York, will see 3 minutes and 46 seconds of total darkness, beginning at 3:18 p.m. There are a number of public “ watch parties ” happening in the city, which the government has compiled for visitors and locals. Midcentury-modern architecture fans may want to use the day to visit Graycliff, a Frank Lloyd Wright–designed estate, which is hosting a special open house on April 8, allowing guests to watch the eclipse from the property.

Niagara Region, Ontario

Small parts of Canada will also witness total darkness during the 2024 eclipse. The Niagara region is the best place to see totality, which will start at 3:19 p.m. and last for 3 minutes and 15 seconds. Montreal will also experience totality, but only for a little over one minute.

Burlington, Vermont

Much of New England will miss out on totality during the 2024 eclipse, as the path will only cover parts of northern Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. Burlington is among the best places for those in the region to travel to, as it will experience 3 minutes and 19 seconds of darkness, starting at 3:26 p.m.

Houlton, Maine

Maine is the northern most place in the United States to see the total eclipse in 2024, also making it the last place in the country to experience totality. Houlton will be among the best places in the state to watch the sight, and darkness will begin at 3:32 p.m. and last for 3 minutes and 20 seconds.

How will weather impact visibility?

Geographically, the cities listed above represent the best places to see the 2024 solar. However, weather will play a major role in just how well those on the ground will be able to see the phenomenon. It goes without saying that cloudy conditions or rain will impact visibility and make it harder to see the eclipse. Currently, meteorologist are forecasting worse conditions in the south-central United States, which could affect those in Texas and Arkansas. Those in the Midwest and northeast have better odds, where conditions are presently forecasted to be sunny and with clear skies.

What will I see during the solar eclipse if my city isn’t along the path of totality?

Though not every city will see a total solar eclipse, most of the United States will see at least a partial eclipse. For example, as NASA’s map shows, Seattle, which is one of the furthest metropolises from the eclipse’s path will still see about 20% of the sun covered by the moon. Here, peak coverage will happen around 11:29 a.m. On the south side of the country, Miami, which is also quite far from the eclipse’s path, will see 46.2% of the sun covered around 3:01 p.m.

On the other hand, cities which are not along the path of totality but are very close will see a greater percentage of the sun covered. St. Louis, for example, which is just outside the path of totality, will see the moon covering 99.1% of the sun during peak totality, which will happen at 2 p.m. For detailed information about your city, see NASA’s interactive eclipse map .

Can I watch the 2024 solar eclipse virtually?

If you won’t be within the path of totality, a number of organizations are live streaming the monumental event (This may also come in handy if a city experiences cloudy weather or rain on eclipse day). To start, NASA is offering live broadcasts in both English and Spanish and live streams from telescopes that will capture the eclipse as it moves across the country. Scientific American will capture the event with jets that have been converted into flying telescopes to chase the eclipse, offering a view that one simply can’t find on the ground.

ABC News and National Geographic are also teaming up to produce “Eclipse Across America,” a live special hosted by David Muir and Linsey Davis. Coverage starts at 2:00 p.m. ET on ABC, ABC News Live, National Geographic Channel, Nat Geo WILD, Disney+, Hulu and Network Social Media Platforms and will broadcast from 10 cities along the path of totality, including Mazatlán, Mexico; Russelville, Arkansas; and Houlton, Maine.

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Total solar eclipse: What can I see in the UK? Timings and locations of what will be visible for Britons

Where exactly will it be spotted from, what will be seen and what makes this solar eclipse particularly special?

News reporter

Monday 8 April 2024 21:53, UK

A total solar eclipse will dazzle people tonight in what's been described as "our planet's greatest spectacle".

The perfect alignment of Earth, the sun and the moon will be seen later - meaning people in North America will experience a total solar eclipse, which will plunge much of the continent into darkness.

Here in the UK, there's a chance we'll see a partial eclipse - and unfortunately, that's the best we'll get in a while - because our next total eclipse isn't due for another 57 years.

So where can you see it, why is this one so special and is there anything you need to be aware of? Here's everything to know.

Although North America will enjoy the full spectacle of a total eclipse, people in parts of the UK will get to see a partial eclipse.

Dr Edward Bloomer, senior astronomer at the Royal Observatory Greenwich, said the UK is only going to get "a small grazing" of the eclipse in the West and North of the country.

The start of the partial eclipse will be at 7.52pm (BST) and it will end by 8.51pm.

Here's where you might see it - weather permitting:

In Glasgow , about 12% of the sun will be obscured at around 8pm (BST).

Edinburgh could see a 6% obscuration.

Liverpool will only see a maximum of 3.1% coverage at 7.57pm when the sun is right on the horizon - the window is very small as the start and end times are 7.55pm and 8pm.

Belfast will be treated to more of an eclipse with a maximum of 28.1% coverage at 8.10pm - the full window in which people might see it here is 7.55pm until 8.14pm.

Stornoway in Scotland will see 33.7% maximum coverage at 8.13pm. Here it will start at 7.53pm and end at 8.23pm.

It may also be slightly visible in parts of Wales - mainly in the northern city of Bangor , where there will be a 3.95% obscuration from 7.55pm until 8.01pm. There will also be 2.19% obscuration in Aberystwyth from 7.56pm to 7.59pm.

Anything in London?

Dr Bloomer said: "I'm afraid the South and the East are out of luck this time around.

"We won't ourselves get to see anything from the observatory, which we're a bit sad about."

However, you can watch our live coverage of the total eclipse on the Sky News channel, the Sky News app or on our YouTube channel.

NASA will also be providing a live stream of the celestial event, providing telescope views from several sites along the eclipse path.

You'll be able to watch that on NASA's official YouTube channel or on its site here .

As well as Belfast and Derry in Northern Ireland, people in the Republic of Ireland will have a chance to see the partial eclipse.

The best opportunities will be in the West. The town of Belmullet , in County Mayo on Ireland's west coast, could be treated to an eclipse which covers 44% of the sun, according to UK Weather Updates on X.

The account also says Galway will be a good spot to catch the partial eclipse, where it's estimated more than 35% of the sun will be covered.

It will also be possible to watch in Ireland's capital, Dublin . But here it's thought only around 15% of the sun will be covered.

Even if you're in a prime viewing location, the weather may put an end to hopes of seeing anything but a cloudy sky.

Check your local forecast by putting your postcode in here .

In the US, Mexico and Canada

The US , Mexico and Canada will be in the totality path of the eclipse, meaning more than 31 million people across 15 states will be treated to the mesmerising sight of the sun being obscured by the moon.

The time it will last in each area varies from just under four-and-a-half minutes in Zaragoza in Mexico to around a minute in Montreal, Canada.

According to NASA, the first location in North America where people will be able to view the eclipse in totality will be Mexico's Pacific coast at around 11.07am PDT.

The eclipse's path will then enter the United States in Texas and travel through Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine .

Small parts of Tennessee and Michigan will also experience the total eclipse, before the path moves on to Canada in Southern Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Cape Breto . Its last sighting will be in Newfoundland .

What exactly do people see during a full solar eclipse?

The event will see the sky fall dark as if it were dawn or dusk, and a halo form around the sun as its light is blocked out by the moon.

If there is clear weather, people along the eclipse's path will see the sun's corona, or outer atmosphere, which is usually obscured by the bright face of the sun, according to NASA.

NASA urges viewers to wear specialised eye protection during the eclipse, as it's not safe to look at the sun apart from at the very brief moment when it's completely blocked by the moon.

"A total solar eclipse is one of the grandest sights in nature - and may be very rare anywhere in the galaxy," Chris Lintott, professor of astrophysics at the University of Oxford, told Sky News.

"I get a shiver down my spine every time," he added.

Partial solar eclipses are known to make the sun appear to have had a bite taken out of it, because the moon only covers part of the sun rather than the entire thing.

Why is this one so special?

This one's a bit of an anomaly because total solar eclipses are only meant to happen once every 375 years in any one place in the world - yet people in the US state of Illinois will see it for the second time in seven years.

The 21,000-strong city of Carbondale in Illinois saw a total solar eclipse in August 2017 and the fact people there will now see one again so soon afterwards is incredibly rare.

It's earned the state a new nickname - the 'eclipse crossroads of America'.

"Southern Illinois is considered the eclipse crossroads of America because it was in the centreline for the path of totality in 2017 and will be again in 2024," the Illinois Department of Natural Resources said.

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Why scientists are excited too

Both professional and amateur scientists plan to carry out experiments and observations as Earth falls dark.

NASA's deputy chief Pam Melroy says it will give an "entirely different" opportunity to study the interaction between the Earth, moon and sun.

The US space agency and others will focus much of their work on observing the corona, the sun's outer atmosphere, which can't normally be seen because the sun is too bright.

During an eclipse, though, the corona's white halo can be seen bursting out from behind the shadow. It's hundreds of times hotter than the sun's surface and it's the source of solar wind.

It's also a complete enigma. Scientists still don't know how the corona is heated to such extreme temperatures.

NASA's scientists will be hoping to get more data on it, as well as answers to other questions when they send research planes as high as 50,000ft (9.5 miles) to conduct a series of experiments on 8 April.

Some of the things they're hoping to observe include:

• How fast particles are moving when they are flung out into space
• Photographing in both infrared and visible light to try to identify new details in the middle and lower corona
• Using a spectrometer to study light from the corona, hopefully learning more about the temperature and chemical composition of the corona and the particles it emits
• Studying a dust ring around the sun. Dust is the leftover remnants from when the solar system was forming
• Searching for asteroids orbiting nearby.

Hundreds of citizen scientists are also expected to get involved in Monday's eclipse, looking at things like the quietening of birds and other wildlife, the dip in temperature as the sun is blocked, and what effect there is on communications.

US university students will be releasing hundreds of weather balloons to monitor atmospheric changes.

Are there any health warnings?

Yes. You could permanently damage your eyes if you try to watch the eclipse with normal sunglasses.

If you are planning on looking directly at it, you need proper eclipse glasses, which are "thousands of times darker" than sunglasses, according to NASA.

But you need to make sure they work, as bogus retailers capitalise when an eclipse is due and you may be duped into buying a counterfeit pair.

The American Astronomical Society advises these three steps to check if your glasses are safe.

1. "Put them on indoors and look around. You shouldn't be able to see anything through them, except perhaps very bright lights, which should appear very faint through the glasses. If you can see anything else, such as household furnishings or pictures on the wall, your glasses aren't dark enough for solar viewing."

2. "If your glasses pass the indoor test, take them outside on a sunny day, put them on, and look around again. You still shouldn't see anything through them, except perhaps the Sun's reflection off a shiny surface or a puddle, which again should appear very faint."

3. "If your glasses pass that test too, glance at the Sun through them for less than a second. You should see a sharp-edged, round disk (the Sun's visible "face") that's comfortably bright. Depending on the type of filter in the glasses, the Sun may appear white, bluish-white, yellow, or orange."

If you feel your glasses pass all these tests, they are "probably safe", says the AAS.

When will a full solar eclipse next be seen in the UK?

A partial eclipse will be viewed across 90% of the country in 2026, but it won't be a total one until 2081 in the Channel Islands or 2090 in the South West.

The last full solar eclipse seen in the UK came in 1999, which was spotted over Cornwall and parts of Devon. Unfortunately, clouds covered it from view in most other areas it should have been spotted over.

Total solar eclipses generally occur every 18 months or so, but whether or not you can see one depends on where you are in the world and, of course, the weather. Partial ones take place between two and five times a year - with the same caveats.

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Where to go on holiday in Morocco, from Marrakech to Fes

Bustling cities, surf-battered coastlines and a riot of colourful medinas await, article bookmarked.

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With the  Atlas Mountains  and sections of the sprawling  Sahara Desert , natural beauty dominates  Morocco ’s map. Yet, it’s also the atmospheric alleys, snake charmer squares and tiled riads of this  North African  country’s ports and towns that beg to be explored.

Infused with blends of tradition and art, cities in this land of coastlines, festivals – religious and musical – and full-flavoured cuisine are both diverse and enchanting. And it’s not just the charms of up-and-coming capital Rabat or the palm and parasol-fringed beaches of Agadir that deserve to draw in tourists.

From the lively  Marrakech  medina to the medieval mosques of Fes and the Atlantic breeze-swept coastlines of Essaouira and Taghazout, there’s shopping, surfing and ancient crafts to be discovered.

As the country enters another sizzling spring, here are six of the best holiday hotspots and where to stay – all less than a four-hour flight from the  UK .

Read more on Morocco travel :

• The best things to do on a Morocco getaway
• The best all-inclusive Morocco holidays
• This Moroccan mountain town should be your next short break

Marrakech is a vision of dusky terracotta buildings in the shadow of the towering Koutoubia Mosque and the Atlas Mountains . A web of alleys, riads and spice-scented souks lie inside the medina walls, and the vibrant atmosphere that buzzes from dawn to dusk doesn’t dull until you reach the palm grove oasis and luxury holiday resorts of Palmeraie to the north of the city. Enjoy a charcoal-cooked merguez sausage in the central square Jemaa el Fna, wander around the Bahia Palace, or immerse yourself in Moroccan history at the Maison de la Photographie, before relaxing with a sweet mint tea at one of the rooftop cafes or hidden gardens.

Where to stay

There’s a cool minimalism to Riad UP’s six relaxing rooms amid the Medina’s splashes of colour. Complete with a patio, plunge pool and roof terrace studded with sun loungers, wrap up in a Berber blanket for nights spent overlooking the city.

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Hotel Amenities

Health & wellbeing.

Morocco’s second city is a blend of influences from Arabs, Moors, Ottoman Turks and the French. From the Mediterranean flair of Fassi cuisine to steamy private hammams and craft workshops, including bookbinding and leather embossing, Fes fascinates with its modern edge to ancient ways of life. The city is home to the world’s largest medieval medina district – with 9,000 alleyways to meander, you’re bound to find a shop or souk to while away the hours.

Hillside on the edge of Ville Nouvelle, contemporary Hotel Sahrai oozes luxury. Stays in neutral suites accented with stone and wood have access to an infinity pool overlooking the medina, a zen spa and a French brasserie for seriously suave steak frites.

Surf-seekers are in for a treat if they follow the tide to Taghazout on Morocco’s Atlantic coast just 20 minutes from the fly-and-flop resort city of Agadir. The fishing village in the foothills of the Atlas Mountains is blessed with powerful point breaks, staggering swells and barrel waves off a beachfront scattered with blue wooden fishermen’s boats. Think surf-centric hostels within the tangle of pastel houses, Brit-run camps for lessons on the board and communal meals with your wave comrades complete with authentic plates of tagine and paprika fish.

Dar Surf  hostel hugs the swell-battered coastline of Taghazout Beach with a shared kitchen for refuelling after surf sessions and free wifi to document days on the waves. The surf camp offers rooftop yoga, home-cooked Moroccan meals and beach bonfires for guests.

Bohemian Tangier is much more than the gateway from Europe to Africa . Though times have changed since Tangier’s louche past lit up writers, hippies and musicians, the cafe culture and people-watching posts remain. With one of the most diverse populations in Morocco, the commercial port attracts domestic weekenders to the city’s fortified kasbah walls, Roman ruins and Sixties-style boutiques. Take your spot at a storied coffeehouse or the legendary Cafe Baba to see Tangier as the Beat writers, Jimi Hendrix and Mick Jagger did.

For authentic, spacious rooms, a sublime rooftop terrace and delectable breakfasts punctuated with mint tea, visit  Riad Al-Qurtubi . Sat less than 2km from Tangier Beach, the riad is ideally situated for exploring the sands, museums and medina of northwestern Morocco.

Casablanca is Morocco’s largest city with a Hollywood heritage, beginner-friendly waves and bars built for nursing a cocktail. On its coast, Africa’s second largest mosque, Hassan II Mosque, dominates the waterfront and inland, the souks of Quartier Habous, stalls of the old medina and central market are mazes of international sweet treats, lamps, ceramics and spices. Keen to experience Casablanca as seen on screen? Head to Rick’s Cafe inspired by the movie for a jazzy gin cocktail at the roulette table.

Each of the 25 vibrant suites at Art Palace Suites & Spa is inspired by a celebrity or international icon including Marilyn Monroe, Charlie Chaplin and Cleopatra. The hotel in Gauthier also has a spa pool in the basement and a tiled Moroccan hammam for a scrub-down.

On Morocco’s Atlantic coast, the windswept port city of Essaouira is a hotspot for kitesurfing, French fusion feasts and walking the walls of the pocket-size medina. Look out for 18th-century ramparts and  thuya  wood carvings as you weave through the fragrant Unesco-listed grid of boutiques selling argan oil, carpets and leather. Stretch out on the sands of Essaouira Beach with a cup of  a la menthe –  a sugary mint cocktail – when taking a break from surfing the famed winds known as  taros  in Berber.

Blanketed in technicolour Moroccan zellige tiles, Salut Maroc is in the heart of the medina with eccentric bedrooms, freestanding copper tubs and enviable views out to the ocean from the rooftop terrace.

Want to holiday like Mick Jagger? The hedonistic, boho-luxe of 1970s Marrakech is back

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Solar eclipse: Best time and place to see the 'magical' cosmic event in the UK

• solar eclipse
• Monday 8 April 2024 at 12:29pm

Parts of the US will be in darkness due to a total solar eclipse, Sangeeta Kandola explains

People in parts of the UK may be able to see a partial solar eclipse on Monday, as the final moments of the total eclipse in North America will be visible.

The cosmic event will plunge much of North America into darkness, turning the day skies into night.

Millions of spectators along a narrow stretch from Mexico to the US to Canada are eagerly waiting to spot the moment, when flares of the Sun’s corona will appear like a diamond ring in the sky.

As the Earth is plunged into darkness, planets and comets may even be visible to the naked eye.

What is a total solar eclipse?

A total solar eclipse happens when the moon completely covers the sun, and observers are within the darkest part of its shadow.

Areas covered by partial shade will witness a partial eclipse, and this is what some sky-gazers might see in the UK tonight.

Total solar eclipses occur every 18 months but the visibility path of seeing the full total eclipse is only around 80 miles, so if you are not located within that track it will not be visible.

The next total eclipse of the sun visible from the UK is in 2090.There is another in 2026 that is visible in northern Spain, tracking up to Iceland.

Where and when is the best place to see the eclipse in the UK?

The total solar eclipse will not be visible from the UK and Ireland, however, a partial solar eclipse – where a small segment of the sun is blocked out by the moon – may be visible close to sunset.

The eclipse will start at 7.53pm and end at 8.23pm (BST).

The path of the total eclipse will end west of Ireland, but after sunset around 20 per cent to 30 per cent of the sun will be obscured by the moon.

Professor Don Pollacco, from the University of Warwick’s Department of Physics, said from Glasgow about 12 per cent of the sun will be obscured at around 8pm (BST).

Under clear conditions, people in Edinburgh could see a 6 per cent obscuration.

Liverpool will only see a maximum of 3.1per cent coverage at 7.57pm when the sun is basically right on the horizon – the window is very small as the start and end times are 7.55pm and 8pm.

Belfast will be treated to more of an eclipse with a maximum of 28.1% coverage at 8.10pm

Stornoway in Scotland will see 33.7% maximum coverage at 8.13pm.

Dr Edward Bloomer, senior astronomer at the Royal Observatory Greenwich, said the UK is only going to get “a small grazing” of the eclipse in the west and north of the country.

He said: “I’m afraid the south and the east are out of luck this time around."

What's the forecast?

There are fears cloud cover will spoil the view of the eclipse in the US.

Clouds are forecast for much of the eclipse route through the US with some possible patches of clear skies in some spots, according to the latest forecast from the National Weather Service.

Tonight the UK will mostly be covered in cloud, which could impact the visibility of the eclipse.

The sun sets at around 7.45pm meaning the window will be very short to see the solar event.

What will it look like?

The path of totality – meaning where the total solar eclipse will be fully visible – will start shortly after 11am local time in Mazatlan, Mexico.

From Mexico the total eclipse will last four and a half minutes, and while this does not seem long, the maximum eclipse length possible is about seven to eight minutes.

Prof Pollacco, who is travelling to the US to view the total solar eclipse, said: “Total eclipses of the sun are amazing and feel quite magical.

“From the right vantage point, you can see the moon shadow rushing towards you at 1,000 miles an hour as totality approaches.

“When almost obscured, as the sun’s light shines through valleys on the moon’s limb, you see the famous Baily’s Beads (beads of sunlight emerging from the eclipse shadow).

"When the final valley is lit up, you can see the Diamond Ring (which appears as a faint corona around the sun, as a glittering ring).

“At this time, turning off the sunlight has effects high up in the Earth’s atmosphere, which may impact communications, and produce the strange shadow bands on the ground – making the ground swirl around as you look at it.”

”The phenomenon itself will last two hours, with the eclipse starting in North America shortly after 2pm EDT (7pm BST)."

Is it safe to look at the total eclipse?

The usual rules about not looking directly at the sun apply, as looking directly at the star could cause blindness.

Experts say the eclipse can be viewed safely through real solar eclipse glasses – not 3D glasses or anything similar.

The safest, cheapest option is to view the event is by pinhole projection – make a hole in a piece of card, hold it under the sun, and hold a piece of paper behind the card.

Using this method, people should be able to see the shape of the sun projected on to the paper, taking away the need to look directly at the sun.

Prof Pollacco warned: “With no protection you will at best damage your eyes, or you could blind yourself.

“Going west the obscuration is greater, east less. Either way you will need some eye protection."

Want a quick and expert briefing on the biggest news stories? Listen to our latest podcasts to find out What You Need To Know...

Watch CBS News

Solar eclipse maps show 2024 totality path, peak times and how much of the eclipse people could see across the U.S.

By Aliza Chasan

Updated on: April 9, 2024 / 5:00 AM EDT / CBS News

A total solar eclipse  crossed North America Monday with parts of 15 U.S. states within the path of totality. Maps show  where and when astronomy fans could see the big event  as skies darkened in the middle of the day Monday, April 8.

The total eclipse first appeared along Mexico's Pacific Coast at around 11:07 a.m. PDT, then traveled across a swath of the U.S., from Texas to Maine, and into Canada.

About 31.6 million people live in the path of totality , the area where the moon fully blocked out the sun , according to NASA. The path ranged between 108 and 122 miles wide. An additional 150 million people live within 200 miles of the path of totality.

Solar eclipse path of totality map for 2024

The total solar eclipse started over the Pacific Ocean, and the first location in continental North America that experienced totality was Mexico's Pacific Coast, around 11:07 a.m. PDT, according to NASA. From there, the path continued into Texas, crossing more than a dozen states before the eclipse enters Canada in southern Ontario. The eclipse exited continental North America at around 5:16 p.m. NDT from Newfoundland, Canada.

The path of totality included portions of the following states:

• Pennsylvania
• New Hampshire

Small parts of Tennessee and Michigan also experienced the total solar eclipse.

Several major cities across the U.S. were included in the eclipse's path of totality, while many others saw a partial eclipse. These were some of the best major cities for eclipse viewing — though the weather was a factor :

• San Antonio, Texas (partially under the path)
• Austin, Texas
• Waco, Texas
• Dallas, Texas
• Little Rock, Arkansas
• Indianapolis, Indiana
• Dayton, Ohio
• Cleveland, Ohio
• Buffalo, New York
• Rochester, New York
• Syracuse, New York
• Burlington, Vermont

Map of when the solar eclipse reached totality across its path

The eclipse began in the U.S. as a partial eclipse beginning at 12:06 p.m. CDT near Eagle Pass, Texas, before progressing to totality by about 1:27 p.m. CDT and then moving along its path to the northeast over the following few hours.

NASA shared times for several cities in the path of totality across the U.S. People could have also  checked their ZIP code on NASA's map  to see when the eclipse was to reach them if they were on, or near, the path of totality — or if they saw a partial eclipse instead.

How much of the eclipse did people see if they live outside the totality path?

While the April 8 eclipse covered a wide swath of the U.S., outside the path of totality observers may have spotted a partial eclipse, where the moon covers some, but not all, of the sun, according to NASA. The closer they were to the path of totality, the larger the portion of the sun that was hidden.

NASA allowed viewers to input a ZIP code and see how much of the sun was to be covered in their locations.

Could there be cloud cover be during the solar eclipse?

Some areas along the path of totality had a higher likelihood of cloud cover that could interfere with viewing the eclipse. Here is a map showing the historical trends in cloud cover this time of year. 

You could have checked the latest forecast for your location with our partners at The Weather Channel .

Where did the solar eclipse reach totality for the longest?

Eclipse viewers near Torreón, Mexico, got to experience totality for the longest. Totality there lasted 4 minutes, 28 seconds, according to NASA. 

Most places along the centerline of the path of totality saw a totality duration of between 3.5 and 4 minutes, according to NASA. Some places in the U.S. came close to the maximum; Kerrville, Texas, had a totality duration of 4 minutes, 24 seconds.

What is the path of totality for the 2044 solar eclipse?

The next total solar eclipse that will be visible from the contiguous U.S. will be on Aug. 23, 2044.

Astronomy fans in the U.S. will have far fewer opportunities to see the 2044 eclipse they had on April 8. NASA has not yet made maps available for the 2044 eclipse but, according to The Planetary Society , the path of totality will only touch three states.

The 2024 eclipse will start in Greenland, pass over Canada and end as the sun sets in Montana, North Dakota and South Dakota, according to the Planetary Society.

Aliza Chasan is a digital producer at 60 Minutes and CBSNews.com. She has previously written for outlets including PIX11 News, The New York Daily News, Inside Edition and DNAinfo. Aliza covers trending news, often focusing on crime and politics.

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Where and when to see the total solar eclipse in every u.s. state.

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Times of the beginning of the partial phase of the solar eclipse on Monday, April 8, 2024.

A total solar eclipse is coming to the U.S.—but not everyone is invited. On Monday, April 8, the moon will be close enough to Earth to appear just larger than the sun as it crosses its disk, casting a shadow that will move across the planet at about 1,500 mph.

About 90% of the U.S. population will see only a partial solar eclipse on April 8, with only those in a narrow, 115-mile-wide path of totality set to experience sudden darkness in the day for a few minutes—and the brief chance to gaze naked-eye at the sun’s corona.

It's an unmissable experience, but you need to get yourself to the path of totality to see it (and stay well clear of the worst places to watch on the edge of the path).

Here are the 13 U.S. states significantly touched by the path of totality—which includes a whopping 32 million people and multiple big cities—and the times to watch the eclipse, in order of how the moon's shadow will move from southwest to northeast across the nation:

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Local time and maximum duration of totality: 1:27-1:49 p.m. CDT, 4 minutes 26 seconds

Key locations in the path: Austin, San Antonio (northwestern suburbs only), Dallas, and Waco.

2. Oklahoma

Local time and maximum duration of totality: 1:44-1:51 p.m. CDT, 4 minutes 21 seconds

Key locations in the path: Broken Bow, Idabel, Hugo and Antlers.

3. Arkansas

Local time and maximum duration of totality: 1:45-2:00 p.m. CDT, 4 minutes 19 seconds

Key locations in the path: Texarkana, Hot Springs, Little Rock and Russellville.

4. Missouri

Local time and maximum duration of totality: 1:53-2:02 p.m. CDT, 4 minutes 12 seconds

Key locations in the path: Cape Girardeau, Poplar Bluff and Perryville.

5. Kentucky

Local time and maximum duration of totality: 1:58-2:01 p.m. CDT, 3 minutes 16 seconds

Key locations in the path: Paducah.

6. Illinois

Local time and maximum duration of totality: 1:58-2:06 p.m. CDT, 4 minutes 9 seconds

Key locations in the path (and links to eclipse websites): Carbondale.

Local time and maximum duration of totality: 3:01-3:12 p.m. EDT, 4 minutes 5 seconds

Key locations in the path: Vincennes, Indianapolis, Bloomington, Muncie, Richmond and Wayne County and Terre Haute.

Local time and maximum duration of totality: 3:08-3:19 p.m. EDT, 3 minutes 59 seconds

Key locations in the path: Dayton, Toledo, Cleveland, Bowling Green and Akron.

9. Pennsylvania

Local time and maximum duration of totality: 3:15-3:20 p.m. EDT, 3 minutes 44 seconds

Key locations in the path: Erie, Erie Bluffs State Park, Lake Erie.

10. New York

Local time and maximum duration of totality: 3:16-3:29 p.m. CDT, 3 minutes 42 seconds

Key locations in the path: Buffalo, Niagara Falls, Rochester, Syracuse and Plattsburgh.

11. Vermont

Local time and maximum duration of totality: 3:25-3:31 p.m. CDT, 3 minutes 33 seconds

Key locations in the path: Burlington, Montpelier, St Albans City, Williston, Newport and St Johnsbury.

12. New Hampshire

Local time and maximum duration of totality: 3:28-3:31 p.m. CDT, 3 minutes 29 seconds

Key locations in the path: Colebrook.

Local time and maximum duration of totality: 3:28-3:35 p.m. CDT, 3 minutes 27 seconds

Key locations in the path: Jackman and Houlton.

For the latest on all aspects of April 8’s total solar eclipse in North America, check my main feed for new articles each day.

Wishing you clear skies and wide eyes.

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