Following on from Christmas Season Events, we have more in 2018:
Christmas at Kew 2018
Christmas Season Events: A mesmerising trail illuminated by one million glimmering lights
Thursday 22 November 2018 – Saturday 5 January 2019 5pm – 10pm (timed entry every 30 minutes)
- Kew’s spectacular after-dark landscape transformed by a host of newly commissioned artworks of light and sound
- Highlights include a Cathedral of Light, 300 glowing origami boats on Kew’s glistening lake and a show-stopping Palm House finale
Marvel at the outstanding natural beauty of the Gardens, particularly Kew’s incredible heritage trees. See them from a totally different perspective, festooned with lights,as their majestic forms are a reminder of the importance of trees to all our lives.
Christmas Season Events extras… including Santa! Spot Santa and his helpers performing along the trail, and White Peaks becomes a festival fairground with a Victorian carousel and other rides for the little ones. Enjoy the scent of mulled wine, mince pies and other festive foods from a variety of enticing stalls at Victoria Plaza.
Leeds Castle Presents ‘Once Upon a Time at Christmas’
24th November to 1st January 2019
More Christmas Season Eevents as Paddington Bear will join a selection of festive stories told through illustration as Leeds Castle presents ‘Once Upon a Time at Christmas’ from the 24th November to 1st January. See the magnificent Castle rooms beautifully displayed with glittering decorations and fragrant pine trees styled around a selection of well-known and much loved traditional winter tales.
Children and adults alike will recognise characters from ‘The Nutcracker’ and ‘The Snow Queen’. Be careful not to wake ‘Sleeping Beauty’ as you explore the Castle and lookout for Scrooge in the depiction of Charles Dickens’ ‘A Christmas Carol’. Don’t miss the showpiece 20ft Christmas tree in the Inner Hall – but beware of the chill Jack Frost has cast over it!
The annual Christmas Market is 10am to 5pm on selected dates in November and December with a splendid array of seasonal
gifts, toys, festive decorations, specialist food and drink and a chance to meet the reindeer and birds of prey. In the centre of the market, enjoy nostalgic fairground rides on the Victorian carousel or take a leisurely trip on the big wheel for a spectacular view of the Castle.
The gift shops will be stocked with beautiful decorations and gift ideas, plus a series of events including wreath-making and visits from Father Christmas.
Leeds Castle is located near Maidstone in Kent just off Junction 8 of the M20 and only one hour’s drive from London.
E.M Forster Theatre! Tonbridge
JACK AND THE BEANSTALK Saturday 15th December – Sunday 6th January
A GIANT of a pantomime. Scale new heights on this enormous adventure for the whole family, where
they guarantee some hilarious Fe Fi Fo FUN!
Join Jack on the adventure of a lifetime as this grounded dreamer is forced to swap his bovine best friend for a seemingly useless bag of beans – which soon turn out to be decidedly
more magical than your average can of Heinz! Things really hot up for poor Jack when he has to climb into the sky and face the evil Giant lurking above.
Ticket Prices and full schedule at www.emftheatre.com
The Black Horse’s Christmas Market in Kingston
Friday 30th November to Sunday 2nd December and set in the historic pub’s spacious beer garden at The Black Horse on London Road. offers the ideal one-stop shop for all your Christmas essentials, including that all important tree.
Stocking Fillers
There are more stalls than ever before, including the likes of Black Cow Cheese, Children’s publisher Usborne Books and Lush Cosmetic Company and The Body Shop. Find something special for your loved ones with a range of independent local producers from family favourites to health and beauty products.
Ableforth’s outdoor gin bar will offer hot serves as well as traditional mulled wine and cider. Other top tipples come from The Park Brewery, with local beers and a traditional English ale from Hogs Back. To top it off, there will be a hidden ‘Golden Bauble’ for guests to find, entitling the lucky winner to a £100 bar tab. The Black Horse’s delicious winter menu is available.
The Black Horse 204 London Rd, Kingston upon Thames, KT2 6QP
www.blackhorsekingston.co.uk
Telephone: 020 3637 6199 Email: info@blackhorsekingston.co.uk Instagram: blackhorsekingston
Bluewater Shopping & Leisure
More Christmas Season events as Bluewater’s magical Santa’s Grotto is open!
Santa, Mrs Claus and Reggie the reindeer welcome families on a unique and unforgettable 4D Christmas adventure.
15th November – 24th December 2018.
Bluewater, located by the beautiful lakes at The Village, Greenhithe, Kent, DA9 9ST.
Treat the kids to a wonderful experience in the beautiful grotto. The festive journey begins with a traditional Christmas story presented in 4D, they’ll then join Mrs Claus for crafts, meet Santa and receive a lovely toy to take home.
Click here to book now. Photographs can be purchased upon leaving the grotto. More information at bluewater.co.uk
SANTA CLAUS IS COMING TO TOWNS NATIONWIDE, WITH SIX WEEKS OF FAMILY FUN AT WYEVALE GARDEN CENTRES
Christmas Season Events: Saturday 17th November and throughout December, Wyevale Garden
Centres transform into a winter wonderland, with six whole weeks of festive fun and Christmas cheer for all the family.
Choose your perfect real tree, meet Santa in his Grotto, discover the decorations to make your home sparkle or enjoy a festive lunch with friends, the Christmas magic begins with a day out at Wyevale Garden Centres.
In over 100 centres across the UK, visitors can enjoy breakfast and tea with Santa, and children receive a present, tuck into a delicious meal, decorate their own Christmas biscuit and take part in a whole host of festive activities. They create magical memories.
For a full list of what’s taking place in centre, along with times, prices and how to book, please visit: www.wyevalegardencentres.co.uk/events/
Father Christmas returns to Belgravia with a festive, forest cabin on Elizabeth Street
Father Christmas returns to Belgravia, by popular demand, for two weekends in December 2018- Guests will have the opportunity to explore a magical, winter world before visiting Father Christmas for a story and photo
- Bookings are essential, tickets are available here
A magical experience the whole family will enjoy. Father Christmas has re-located to a cosy log cabin hidden within a festive, winter forest. A Little Helper greets children and guides them across the snow-covered forest and through the front door of a charming cabin nestled amongst greenery. Guests experience the sights and smells of a real forest.
Father Christmas’ living room has a roaring fire, lavish sofas and Victorian Christmas tree. Father Christmas will read one of his favourite Christmas tales, before posing for photographs. Images will be shared with children, their parents or guardians, and guests are gifted a deliciously festive treat to take home and enjoy.
Tickets are £7.50 (plus booking fee) per person, with free admission for adults accompanying children, and can be booked via
https://storytimewithfatherchristmas.eventbrite.co.uk
Belgravia Christmas Sunday – Elizabeth Street is a winter wonderland on Sunday 2 December from 11am to 5pm.
Pimlico Road Farmers’ Market Christmas edition on Saturday 1 December, with carol singers and Christmas treats.
Belgravia Christmas Windows – Belgravia retailers compete to animate their windows. Visitors can vote for their favourite windows on social media. Follow Belgravia’s Instagram account for details.
Instagram: @Belgravia_LDN Twitter: @Grosvenor_LDN Facebook: @BelgraviaLDN
Nottingham Christmas
Find out more about all Christmas events and book tickets at www.visit-nottinghamshire.co.uk/Christmas
Christmas Season Eevents: 15 November until 31 December, Old Market Square transforms into Nottingham’s very own Winter Wonderland.
At 70 traditional, Bavarian-style stalls, search for the perfect gift among handmade jewellery, woolly winter wear and wooden crafts as well as sampling the delicious homemade and artisan cheeses, chutneys and chocolates on offer. Enjoy the traditional rides and helter-skelter, and the whole family can show off their skating skills on the real, 750m² ice rink.
After all that, chill out with a drink (or two) in some pretty cool surroundings—the UK’s biggest mobile ice bar and the ski lodge-style bar, Sur La Piste, with live entertainment.
Tickets for the ice bar and skating are now available via www.whatsonnottingham.com and www.nottinghamwinterwonderland.co.uk.
Just outside the city, head to A Storybook Christmas at Newstead Abbey (every weekend in December) for an enchanting 
fairy-tale experience. Lord Byron’s ancestral home is transformed by Christmas trees, floral displays, fairy-tale decorations, lights and Christmas music. Take a festive tour of the House or enjoy a wintry trail around the Gardens. Afterwards, meet real fairy-tale characters and browse the craft stalls in the Cloisters—all topped off with a Christmas afternoon tea in the Victorian kitchen (available to book through www.whatsonnottingham.com ).
There’s a whole host of festive events at Wollaton Hall and Deer Park this Christmas, including Steampunkalia at Nottingham Industrial Museum (8–9 December) and the Santa Paws event (15–16 December) – four-legged friends welcome!
Christmas in the Courtyard (15–16 December) features Christmas readings, carols, a brass band, festive food and Christmas games and activities for all the family, and don’t miss Stories with Santa or the Family Christmas Tour (every weekend in December).
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