The best Christmas events in the UK
From illuminated festivals to icy wonderlands, we round up the best Christmas events all around the UK
Silent Light: Edinburgh's brand-new Christmas party
George Street is hosting up to five silent street parties a day in the build-up to Christmas. Join the dancing and singing underneath a stunning architectural installation of archways, festooned with thousands of lightbulbs and synchronised to music. For the second year running, Silent Light teams up with One City Trust to fight inequality and exclusion in Edinburgh, donating 50p to the charity from every ticket sale.
Read more ...Frozen: Liverpool's Christmas Ice Festival
Liverpool's festive festival is all about ice, and includes the UK's longest real ice slide. This year, there are three different 30m slides, with panoramic views over the park. Other highlights include dodgems, a penguin party, helter-skelter and a giant snow globe – not to mention festive food and drink.
Read more ...Nottingham: walking in a winter wonderland
Nottingham is hot on the heels of Hyde Park's Winter Wonderland. This festive season, Nottingham's Wonderland features a nine-metre toboggan ride and 70 Bavarian-style stalls to search for the perfect Christmas gift – from handmade jewellery to wooden crafts and woolly winter-wear. With a helter-skelter and three on-site bars, to top off the experience there's a 750sq m ice rink.
Read more ...Lightopia: lighting up the skies of Manchester
Manchester is launching a brand-new Christmas light festival, the first of its kind in the UK. Lightopia visitors follow light trails around Heaton Park towards six interactive installations by Ava Moradi, each inspired by the theme 'harmony'. Gaze at these immersive light displays and visually dramatic lanterns to light up your Christmas calendar. Local musicians, acrobatic performances and family rides add to the festive fun.
Read more ...Winchester Cathedral's enchanting Christmas market
One of Europe's largest cathedrals provides a stunning backdrop to Winchester's infamous Christmas market. Skate around a fabulously festive Christmas tree before a cup of hot chocolate in the café, peruse through Hampshire's finest pop-up food court, and browse over 100 boutique chalets selling festive and other artisan products to tick some presents off your Christmas list.
Read more ...Thursford Christmas Spectacular: Norfolk's festive fantasy land
Nestled in the beautiful Norfolk countryside, Thursford Christmas Spectacular is celebrating 43 years as Europe's largest festive extravaganza. With music, variety and dance acts, this year's line-up includes Britain's Got Talent finalist, ventriloquist Steve Hewlett, and an international roller-skating double act.
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