Top Destinations for an English Christmas
The festive season is approaching, and soon we’ll be hunkering down with our eggnog and Christmas carols. We’ll be making sure we’ve got all the trimmings prepared before the extended family descends at the end of December.
But wait - what if you want to do something a bit different this year? Maybe the kids are with partners or living away from home, you’re not hosting for the first time in years, or you simply fancy a change of scene over the festive season.
More and more people are making the decision to go away for Christmas. Spending the holidays in a pretty city somewhere completely different can really allow you to refresh and give some much needed time either to your spouse/partner or even just to yourself. A Christmas trip away from home, taking in the bright lights of another city, could be just the tonic you need.
Here are a few suggestions for pretty English locales that you could easily call home for Christmas 2019.
Tattershall, Lincolnshire
Not an obvious one, maybe, but if you’re looking for a festive countryside break we can’t recommend this little corner of Lincolnshire highly enough. There’s the famous castle, of course, but did you know there’s also a Christmas market in the grounds? The pretty city of Lincoln, with its own festive market, is only a short drive away, and after all your crafty browsing is done, you can bed down for the night in a lodge inside Tattershall Lakes Country Park. Blissful.
Bath, Somerset
The Roman city of Bath is beautiful in its own right, and at Christmas, it really comes into its own: Christmas shopping galore, a fab festive market, and numerous hotels that can offer a relaxing way to unwind. Did we mention the spas that it’s famous for, too?
York, North Yorkshire
Another top tip for a festive Christmas is the city of York. Indeed, there must be something about these ancient cities that make them particularly magical at this time of year. Outdoor ice-skating rinks, ice sculptures and more than one dedicated Christmas fair make this a tempting choice. The countryside is right on your doorstep for that much needed Boxing Day walk too, making this the perfect city/country retreat for those who want the best of both worlds.
Windsor, Berkshire
Windsor is a short hop from London on the train, but can really make you feel like you’ve been away. Visit this royal enclave for cosy pubs, festive light shows, castles (sometimes with theatre taking place inside), brisk walks in the park, and independent shopping galore. One of our favourites.
Richmond, South West London
Richmond is another pretty village, easily within reach of the bright lights of Central London that can offer a hugely cosy festive retreat. Book into one of the many delightfully comfortable hotels on the edge of the eponymous park, and spend your days exploring the crisp nature that surrounds you. Richmond has some great restaurants too, so your festive gastronomy is sure to be taken care of.
Southwold, Suffolk
Who says the seaside has to only be for the summer? Not us. The picturesque town of Southwold in Suffolk does the festive season beautifully, with historic hotels, seasonal dining, and a central Christmas market in the town square. For a cosy and quiet Christmas getaway (with the waves crashing outside, no less) we can’t recommend Southwold highly enough.
Cornwall… pretty much all of it!
We couldn’t complete this list without giving a shout out to England’s very own riviera. Whether you’re looking for an on-site spa in St Austell in which to hide from the cold or a harbour-side Edwardian getaway in Penzance, the country’s most southwesterly corner has got you covered. Why not make an extended break of it and check out the carols and gastronomy in Padstow, or have a bracing walk along the cliffs at Newquay? Chances are, you won’t want to come home once Boxing Day rolls around…
Wherever you choose to spend this Christmas, we hope the break from routine does you good and offers up some long-lasting memories.