Booked for Christmas: A Short Story

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Once home to the Metropolitan police, this five-star hotel fuses history with modernity. The Parlour, one of the hotel’s restaurants, is the place to go for a celebratory afternoon tea. Delight your tastebuds with Christmas-inspired sweet and savoury treats, choose from a selection of nine teas and add a glass of Champagne if you’re in the mood. The Parlour serves as an excellent pit stop for shoppers browsing through Covent Garden or those taking a stroll along the River Thames’ north bank. Our new Christmas illuminated light trail for 2023 brings together a multitude of twinkling lights, seasonal sounds and festive fun. Now firmly established as an unmissable diary date, our after-dark trail makes for an unforgettable time, with a glimpse of Father Christmas along the way! The father of modern fantasy might not be the first author that springs to mind when you think about the cheery Christmas books niche. But Tolkien deserves a place on the mantle with Letters from Father Christmas: a gorgeous collection of the notes that Tolkien (ahem, we mean “Father Christmas”) sent to his kids every Christmas.

Toby Carvery | Christmas Dinner 2023 Toby Carvery | Christmas Dinner 2023

Executive chef Dominic Teague brings 30 years of experience to the seasonal tasting menus at Indigo. The special Christmas Day menu features dishes such as smoked salmon custard and caviar, served with a glass of champagne, Cornish turbot served with mussels, leek and saffron; and mushroom consommé with truffles from the Périgord region. Teague developed his passion for truffles while training under acclaimed chef Roger Vergé, and he’s brought that expertise to his menu at Indigo. Finish off with a stellar homemade Christmas pudding served with plum compote and warm brandy custard. Discover glittering tunnels of light, dancing lakeside reflections and trees drenched in jewel-like colour.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. The beginning of this short was so cool and different. Plus it was halfway through the book and they still hated each other (besides the obvious attraction they both clearly felt). Bicycles, tricycles, roller skates, skateboards, micro-scooters, balance bikes and other vehicles (except powered wheelchairs) aren't permitted at this event and must be left at the gates. For traditional Christmas atmosphere, with lights twinkling on the trees and the smell of oranges and cinnamon hanging in the air, there’s no beating a National Trust property, and Polesden Lacey is the cream of the crop. The Edwardian house is decorated in full festive splendour. In the grounds, there are two reindeer to meet and feed, as well as an immersive experience to find Father Christmas in the woods and a winter trail with Percy the Park Keeper. It’s obligatory that every visit ends with mince pies in the café.

Cheapest times to book your flights - Which? Cheapest times to book your flights - Which?

The Christmas Market was born in Germany in the 15th century and their modern-day versions are still the pinnacle of the form — so it’s no wonder Birmingham bases its annual market on the original and the best. Taking over the city centre from early November, the Frankfurt Christmas Market is the largest outside of central Europe, and is an impressive sight, with plenty of decorated stalls selling crafts, toys and other gifts as well as traditional German food and drink, including gingerbread hearts and glühwein. The stalls on Victoria Square are looked over by an impressive Christmas tree, and there’s also a fairground, big wheel and ice-rink to entertain. Just because you have to travel during the peak summer season doesn’t mean you can’t still take advantage of early bird savings of up to 7%. Try to secure your flight six months and one week in advance of your trip. Brighten up the first week of the year if you have your heart set on a July break, and leave it until March if you prefer quieter shoulder-season travel in early September. When to book for the August bank holiday But after analysing two years of flight-booking data from Skyscanner and looking at the cost of return economy flights from UK destinations worldwide, we can give you a good estimate.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. It’s a botanical world brimming with seasonal cheer as twinkling lights and seasonal sounds fill the air.

Christmas at Kew | Kew

This beautiful lakeside lodge rests in Halling, Kent. Smart TV. Astounding lake views. Lazy Spa hot tub. Rochester 4.9 miles; Maidstone 9.4 miles; Canterbury 34 miles. Experience a MICHELIN-starred Christmas feast created by executive chef Sameer Taneja at Benares. Credit: Benares Flight prices change based on demand, so it’s impossible to give a definitive answer to how far in advance you should book to always get the cheapest fare. Our Sleeping Beauty themed Afternoon Teas will be served throughout Christmas in the recently reopened Orangery restaurant.The Father Christmas hunt in Polesden Lacey (National Trust Images/Eddie-Hyde) 8. Father Christmas hunt in Polesden Lacey, Hampshire When it comes to suspense, David Baldacci is one of the biggest names in the game. His books thrill with traumatic brain injuries, million-dollar scams, and Secret Service agents committing murder to cover up presidential affairs. If you see his name on the cover of something called The Christmas Train, you might expect that train to be full of sleeper agents and mob bosses, each determined to ruin the holidays unless the CIA can stop them in time. But don’t worry — this isn’t that kind of book.