� IN FOCUS l CHRISTMAS


Nottingham sets out its stalls for the festive season Old Market Square and Long Row in Nottingham will host more than 60 seasonal stalls for the city’s annual Christmas market. As well as stalls selling Yuletide gifts,


local produce and crafts, there will be live entertainment, a huge Christmas tree and an ice rink. Nearby in Holme Pierrepont Hall – a


Grade I-listed Tudor manor house – there will be a Christmas fair with local artisan stallholders on November 16. Theatregoers will be spoilt for choice


as there are two traditional pantomimes – Peter Pan at the Theatre Royal and Robin Hood and the Babes in the Wood at the Nottingham Playhouse. Elf: A Christmas Spectacular, the


DID YOU KNOW


From the end of November until


Christmas Eve, visitors to Somerset can travel on Santa specials with the West Somerset Railway, which runs between


Minehead and the town of Taunton. west-somerset-railway.co.uk


Norwich lights up for Yuletide


A 45-metre tunnel of light will again be one of the highlights for the Norwich festive shopping scene. Located in the city centre from November to January, the UK’s first tunnel of light boasts 50,000 LEDs creating moving, multi-coloured sequences. Festive lights will be seen in trees and shop windows, along with 70-foot illuminated projections on Norwich Castle. The annual Festive Fair at The Forum (November 22-25) will


have more than 50 stalls from boutiques and department stores. The Theatre Royal’s pantomime in 2018 will be Aladdin (December 12-January 13). visitnorwich.co.uk


Old Market Square,


Nottingham:


West End and Broadway musical based on the Hollywood movie starring Will Ferrell, will be at the Motorpoint Arena Nottingham (December 28-30). visit-nottinghamshire.co.uk


NEWS IN BRIEF


w Legoland builds up to a mini seasonal scenario


The Legoland Windsor Resort will feature Christmas in Miniland, where guests can spot special Lego additions to London and Scotland, including a Christmas market in Covent Garden. Visitors can also look out for a


Lego Father Christmas and an eight-


metre-tall Lego Christmas Tree. legoland.co.uk


w Chester Zoo lights up with illuminated lantern route


Visitors to Chester Zoo can follow an illuminated Lantern Route on selected dates between November 23 and December 23. There will be animal-inspired fairy tale scenes, and


the chance to book a ‘Festive Feast’. chesterzoo.org


w Steam along with Santa on vintage Great Rail trips


Great Rail Journeys has a six-day seasonal tour in the Heart of England, visiting Stratford-upon-Avon, Severn Valley Railway, Gloucestershire & Warwickshire Railway, Warwick Castle and a guided walking tour of Shakespeare’s Stratford. A highlight is the Christmas Eve


excursion on the vintage steam- hauled trains of the Severn Valley Railway. There is also a five-day Yorkshire Christmas Markets tour, which visits York’s Christmas Market, Castle Howard, Grassington Dickensian Festival and the Embsay


& Bolton Abbey Steam railway. greatrail.com


Bright lights lead the way at Beaulieu An1800s Christmas at Blists Hill Victorian Town


The grounds and gardens of Beaulieu will be illuminated for the first time with a mile-long illuminated light trail (November 23-December 30). Created by events producer Raymond


Gubbay, the path will include the ruins of Beaulieu’s medieval abbey, the scented Fire Garden Cloister and the Wishing Tree. beaulieu.co.uk/Christmas


18 TravelGBI | July-August 2018


The sights, sounds and smells of a traditional Victorian Christmas will be recreated at Blists Hill Victorian Town, near Ironbridge, Shropshire. Groups can experience the spirit of Christmas past at festive weekends (December 8-9 and 15-16), with seasonal entertainment. The townsfolk will be preparing


group leaders and coach drivers get free admission. Coach drivers will be given a free refreshment voucher. ironbridge.org.uk


travelgbi.com


for a 19th Century Christmas, and visitors can see Father Christmas’ reindeer, traditionally decorated shops, brass bands and carol singers. There is free coach parking and


©Jason Batterham/Shutterstock.com


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