- All main cities in the UK have a Christmas market. From experience, Manchester and Leeds are great and offer lots of bratwurst and cheesy garlic breads. For the real deal though, hop over to Germany. Berlin is known to offer about 50 Christmas markets per year, while Nuremberg is famous for its 180 stalls. On the Saturday before the second Sunday in Advent, visit Dresden, where a massive Christmas fruit cake is paraded through the city and then cut up and distributed to the bystanders
- Make the most of ice this winter. Go to an ice bar in Prague or Liverpool, or try your hand at the outdoor ice rink in Leeds once the Christmas Market has shut down. Is there anything more wintry?
- There’s almost unlimited choice when it comes to skiing, snowboard, or even husky sledging over the winter period. Ever fancied Canada, Japan, Italy, or Austria?
- A lot of time might have passed since you went door to door, singing for your supper and to spread the Christmas cheer, but caroling is still a great tradition in Castleton. On top of their 40 Christmas trees spread throughout the village, they keep festive by caroling in caves by candlelight. You can buy tickets to the concerts which are on until January.
- The Harry Potter Studios are great at any time of year. However, this year, you can have a Christmas dinner and a wand in the Great Hall and enjoy dessert at Platform 9 ¾ for “only” £230.
- At 10 km long and using over 1 million bulbs, the Blackpool Illuminations are a spectacle you shouldn’t miss out on. Wrap up warm!
- Enjoy the Druidic and Pagan celebrations and watch the Sunrise at Stonehenge on the shortest day of the year, a.k.a the Winter Solstice on the 22nd December at 8:04am.
- On my bucket list is New York; the Rockefeller Ice Rink, the Rockefeller Christmas tree, the window displays… everything just shouts for a magical Christmas.
- Number one on my bucket list – which I am fulfilling in January – is Iceland. Make the most of heightened chances of Aurora sightings this winter and visit one of the most well-known spots for it. Just be aware that there’s very limited day light. There are currently deals on Wowcher to visit Reykjavik.
- Finally and most importantly, make sure to visit Santa and see his reindeer in the number one spot this winter: Lapland.
Make the Most Out of Winter
By Bethan May
