• All prices, unless stated, are based on cost per person and on two people sharing twin or double accommodation and are subject to availability.
TRAVEL / FESTIVE GETAWAYS Helsinki 9 © Jussi Hellsten
Christmas isn’t quite Christmas without a dusting or more of snow
(
www.greatrail.com, call 0800 140 4444) starts in Edinburgh on 30th December and costs £950 (single supplement £380).
Beautiful Bath
With attractively-decorated wooden chalets lining the streets of one of the UK’s most lovely cities, the Bath Christmas Market is the biggest event of its kind in the south west. Running until 13th December, handmade decorations, local artwork, bespoke jewellery, toys, clothing and much more are on offer across some 170 retailers while, new this year, is the Christmas Lodge – an indoor venue with festive food and drink, local ales and a perfect rustic setting from which to soak up the atmosphere.
Edinburgh – Hogmanay
And if that wasn’t enough, it’s all played out to a stunning backdrop of the Roman Baths and Abbey, while the city offers plenty of fine dining, history and one of the best theatres in the country. • Off-peak return rail fares start from around £55 from Paddington (www.
thetrainline.com). Bath has no shortage of accommodation to suit most budgets (
www.visitbath.co.uk).
Shakespeare’s country Innsbruck at Christmas
With events marking the 400th anniversary of his death imminent, why not spend a few days in William Shakespeare country before the commemorations get into full swing and the tourists descend? This is a part of the country that is enchanting at Christmas with markets, candlelit tours, craft fairs and carol concerts. Elsewhere, the Royal Shakespeare Company (
www.rsc.org.uk) has its production of Wendy & Peter Pan (running until 31st January), while the Bard’s birthplace will see its Tudor walls illuminated (until 19th December). There will be Tudor Christmas Talks (21st to 24th December) and, at Anne Hathaway’s Cottage, opportunities to play traditional parlour
games, listen to festive readings, make a Christmas cracker, join carol singers and enjoy the tales and anecdotes offered by Victorian costumed guides. • Off-peak return rail fares start from around £35 from Euston (
www.thetrainline. com). For accommodation suggestions, visit
www.shakespeares-england.co.uk
On the rails
If the thought of the festive season brings out industrial sized helpings of bah humbug in you then how does a 13-day trip by rail spending Christmas in Austria and New Year in Italy sound? There’s so much included in this journey it’s hard to know where to start. From a special Christmas Eve dinner, and a gala on New Year’s Eve to wine-tasting, first class rail travel (once in mainland Europe) and luxury accommodation – and then there are destinations such as Strasbourg, Verona, Venice, Lake Garda and Innsbruck. • The trip departs on 22nd December with Great Rail Journeys (
www.greatrail.com, call 0800 140 4444) and costs from £2,245.
A Cornish Christmas
The tiny fishing village of Mousehole in far-west Cornwall is rather special around this time of year. From 12th December, it wows visitors with a festive spectacular boasting more than 7,000 lights adorning its picturesque houses and beautiful harbour-side setting.
The Cuttlefish is a stylish period
property from which guests can gaze out to sea from the triple-tiered exotic garden on high and maybe try baking a Stargazy Pie (a famous local recipe made from pilchards, eggs, potatoes and pastry) in the beautiful kitchen. • Boutique Retreats (
www.boutique-
retreats.co.uk, call 01872 553491) offers a three-night stay at The Cuttlefish arriving on 18th December for £1,904 based on four people.
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