Despite preparing for his busiest night, Santa is making a few visits – no doubt to see if there are any last minute additions to the naughty list! Here are ten places you can take your little angels to meet him:
1
Windermere Lake Cruise, Cumbria. St Nick will be
sailing in the Lake District on 10-11 and 17-18 December. While on board he will give each child a present. See windermere-lakecruises.co.uk. Stockfield Park, Yorkshire. Visit the ‘Christmas Adventure’
2
with Nordic skiing, a snowflake maze and Father Christmas in his grotto. Throughout December till 8 January, thechristmasadventure.com. Santa’s Christmas Wonderland at Paulton’s
3
Park, Hampshire. See singing reindeer and Santa’s elves before meeting the jolly man himself. Until 23 December, paultonspark.co.uk.
4
Lapland UK, Kent. Children will feel like they’ve been
transported to the North Pole! They’ll get an ‘elf passport’ and have a personalised meeting with Santa. Until Christmas Eve, laplanduk.co.uk.
5 Drayton Manor’s Magical Christmas, Staffs. In a land
where it ‘snows’ three times a day, a talking tree will guide you through an enchanted forest. 26 November- 2 January, draytonmanor.co.uk.
6 7 8
Hyde Park Winter Wonderland, London. A
sprawling attraction with a giant wheel and chalets selling Christmas goods. 19 November-3 January, hydeparkwinterwonderland.com.
Edwardian Christmas at Ickworth, Suffolk. Lantern
making, carol singing, pass-the- parcel and stories with Father Christmas. 3-4, 10-11 and 17-18 December, nationaltrust.org.uk. Swanage Railway Santa Specials, Dorset. Ride on
a steam train and meet Santa aboard this magical service, where children will be given presents. Various dates in December, swanagerailway.co.uk.
9 10
Magical Christmas at Florence Court, County
Fermanagh. Children can meet Mr and Mrs Claus as adults enjoy a glass of mulled wine and a mince pie. 10-18 December, 028 6634 8249. Santa’s Grotto at Dean Castle Country Park, East
Ayrshire. Kids can have their photo taken with Santa, will be given a present and see a cartoon show. 3-18 December, deancastle.com.
present to open on Christmas Day – plastic chicken anyone? CANDIS.CO.UK | DECEMBER 2011 11
84% say an expensive gift doesn’t mean more to them
40% of people
prefer to choose their own gifts
42% admit they often spend more than they can afford
47% don’t feel their gifts are always appreciated
95% say they would prefer a present that’s more thoughtful than expensive
Waste not,
want not We’ve all received a bad present. Now a survey confirms what we all knew… it’s the thought – not the price tag – that counts. So before buying, bear these facts in mind*:
44% of us
have returned a gift
66% of shoppers spend more on a gift than they intended to