Along the route, our delicious independent street food vendors will offer tasty festive delights, from hot food and sweet treats to spiced winter warmers and hot chocolate. Home to Peppa Pig World, Paulton’s in the New Forest does not do Christmas by halves. It’s a terrific option for families with younger kids. The theme park is decorated in festive style, with illuminations and decorations at every turn. There’s a musical Christmas tree that bursts into life every 15 minutes, and the chance to meet various characters as you explore, including Frosty the Snowman, Rudolf the Reindeer, and George and Peppa in their winter outfits. The Christmas shows are a highlight, with Santa’s Christmas Wish Show! and Santa’s Storytime likely to go down well with any little ones. When Sophie decides to throw a holiday party at her cabin, Wolfe is the last person on her mind. But the universe has a twisted sense of humor. Not only does Wolfe show up as someone’s plus one, but a massive snowstorm blows in, stranding them both alone together in Sophie’s cabin. In early June it’s not too late to turn your mind to balmy days of summer, spent overseas. If you book almost three months before the long weekend, flights were found to be 8% cheaper on average than at any other time. When to book for Christmas Calvin’s embarked on many, many epic adventures in his short six years, both imagined and real. (Dinosaurs, outer space, and the constant escapes from a certain other six-year-old named Susie, anyone?) But perhaps none are quite as iconic as Calvin and Hobbes’ winter escapades. The snowball fights, sled rides, Calvin’s spectacular and increasingly creative trolling of the ‘rents in the snow — we could go on, but our space is short.

Christmas in London 12 of the best restaurants for celebrating Christmas in London

There will be limited capacity with timed entry to Christmas at Kew so make sure to plan now to secure the date and time of your choice. Novelist Sophia Hart (real Sophie Bartholomew-Kaur-Hughes, but try fitting that on a book cover) absolutely hates her loudest critic—Evan Wolfe, evil mastermind behind the Lone Wolfe book review column. They've never met, but Wolfe's favorite pastime seems to be dumping on Sophie's unapologetically happy, magical romances. Sophie, not one to be left behind, gets her revenge in her own ways (never annoy a writer in search of a villain). Benares has long been considered one of the finest Indian restaurants in London. Chef Sameer Taneja unites his French classical training, his knowledge of British produce and his extensive experience cooking Indian food at the restaurant. This is particularly evident in dishes such as celeriac bhatti kebab (a type of grilled Indian kebab), baked Malabar scallop, and halibut and clam moilee (a South Indian-style curry), that’ll be served on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Diners can choose from three different tasting menus in the lead-up to Christmas all the while seated in a stunning space featuring hand-crafted furniture from India, a candlelit staircase, and a decorative pool with fresh flowers. Piling your plate high with roast potatoes, red cabbage and pigs in blankets is one of the highlights of Christmas dinner. But how about adding something a little different into the mix with pork stuffing panettone, Brussels sprout gratin or hash browns in blankets? It’s hard to get more magical than a visit to the Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter during the Christmas season. It is the Wizarding World after all. All of the film sets on display are given a festive makeover as part of Hogwarts in the Snow, whether that’s glittering ornaments or a dusting of snow. It’s also a chance to see some seasonal behind-the-scenes extras, like how dressers stage Christmas scenes or use special effects to create fire.We’re just so good at the festivities and bringing families together during this magical time, you can call us the Home of Christmas - we’ve got all the flavours, fun, festive spirit and more. This furry family of five has been delighting budding bookworms for over half a century. This year, come celebrate the Christmas season with the Berenstains over in Bear Country! You’ll find Papa Bear trying his best to find the perfect tree to decorate with his cubs. There’s only one problem: every promising pine he comes across seems to be occupied, whether it’s got a squirrel in its hollow or a nest in its branches.

Festive Reads | Waterstones

Our Sleeping Beauty themed Afternoon Teas will be served throughout Christmas in the recently reopened Orangery restaurant. This children’s classic is the perfect Christmas treat for those who like their heartwarming tales served with a helping of rhyme. Think of this Dr. Seuss hit as A Christmas Carol for fans of The Cat in the Hat: the cave-dwelling Grinch, with his undersized heart, gives Ebeneezer Scrooge a run for his long-hoarded money as literature’s best-known holiday grump. As one of the highlights of the UK’s festive calendar, Christmas at Kew is an unmissable opportunity to herald the start of Christmas or welcome in the New Year.Wow your guests with a lavish spread of winter pastries, cheesy bites and our sumptuous selection of salmon nibbles, including smoked salmon éclairs and a shimmering salmon mousse. The romance in this was lovely. I really enjoyed the angst, and the slowburn. Both characters were hilarious and had such chemistry between them. But then it was like, a switch flipped. Evan Wolfe was this perfect gentleman and Sophie (a bunch of last names) saw that glimmer of something more… In another edition of “Authors Who You Probably Didn’t Realize Were Capable Of Coming Up With A Christmas Story,” we have “A Christmas Memory,” written by Truman Capote — the famous author of the true crime classic, In Cold Blood.

Christmas at Kew | Kew

There’s something particularly magical about a forest in winter, even without a dusting of snow, and Westonbirt National Arboretum takes things up a notch with its Enchanted Christmas experience. Looking for a mince pie to nibble or a pudding to share? We’ve got a sleigh full of treats to sink your teeth into – like Florentine-inspired panettone, an old fashioned-flavoured Christmas pud and oh-so-crumbly mince pies. Three months in advance marks the sweet spot for a cheap Yuletide getaway. Whether you want to visit the Christmas markets of Europe before the big day or celebrate New Year’s Eve in warmer climes, flights will be 10% cheaper on average if booked in September rather than at any other time. Enchanted Christmas at Westonbirt National Arboretum (Paul Box) 1. Enchanted Christmas at Westonbirt National Arboretum, GloucestershireWhether you prefer to escape at Christmas, Easter or during the peak summer holidays, you’ll need to book your flights in advance to find the cheapest airfares. Afternoon tea already has that hint of “special” needed for a festive day out, but add in a trip on a classic London bus, and you may feel that all your Christmases have come at once. Brigit’s Bakery runs Christmas Lights tours on its converted Routemaster buses, trundling through central London for 90 minutes and making a special diversion along Regent’s Street to see the lights. From mid-November, Chester Zoo will be opening its gates after hours for its annual Christmas event. The Lanterns transforms the zoo into an enchanted kingdom, with extraordinary, life-sized animal sculptures and costumed performers drawing visitors along an illuminated trail and into different worlds. The spectacle wouldn’t be complete without an appearance from Father Christmas himself — expect him to be accompanied on his sleigh by reindeer sculptures. It might be the last thing on your mind in mid-January or just after Valentine’s Day, but plan your May bank-holiday escapes during the depths of the British winter and you’ll make a saving. Book the early May bank holiday three months and three weeks in advance, and the late May bank holiday three months early to secure savings of up to 14% and 12%, respectively. When to book your summer holidays Plus, Kew’s retail outlets are open all evening at Victoria Plaza with a fantastic selection of presents, treats, books and toys – lots of them exclusive to Kew and perfect for Christmas gifting.