Bustling and colourful Christmas markets in historic settings, treasure-filled castles and stately homes in full festive mode, carol singers, sparkling and highly decorated Christmas trees, mulled wine, mince pies and ice skating outdoors at famous London attractions. Welcome to an exciting series of tour ideas that can be gift-wrapped to generate valuable extra commission in the run-up to Christmas in Britain.

My top story brings together 5 Christmas markets in London, Winchester, Salisbury and Bath which can be given extra festive flair by adding one or more of my After Dark Tours.  December also sees the appearance of outdoor skating rinks at several famous heritage sites in London and they provide a starting point for an unusual Girls Getaway.

I couldn’t resist creating a programme where you can meet a crowd of much-loved characters at Rochester’s annual Dickens Festival, complete with visits to the castles at Hever and Leeds, both fully decorated for Christmas.

Paull’s Inside Track – it makes you think out of the box.

To all my many American readers, on 4th July, Happy Independence Day.

A Cornucopia of Christmas Markets

This truly festive experience begins with the London Belgravia Christmas Market and the Hyde Park Winter Wonderland annual gathering of festive fairground rides, ice skating, grottos and glühwein galore.  Then you’re out into the English countryside where you’ll discover the magical Christmas markets in the great heritage cities of Winchester, Chichester and Bath. Use the link and take a look.

Decorated for Christmas

Based in the Oxfordshire Cotswolds, come and see Blenheim Palace and Waddesdon Manor filled with huge Christmas Trees, festive decorations and dazzling illuminations. Add a traditional Christmas Market in Oxford, a side trip to the Bath Christmas Market, some free time in picturesque Oxfordshire Cotswolds market towns and 4 nights in London… The next step? Find some fellow travellers and start booking your flights.  Read More

Christmas At Waddesdon Manor

Discover the history of Christmas music at Waddesdon by immersing yourself in a musical world of festive, sweet-sounding nostalgia as you wander through the richly decorated 18th-century interiors. Each room will be themed around a different Christmas song, with the song in question playing continuously.  Outside, you can wander through tree trails drenched in colour and sparkling light, on an enchanted journey through the grounds.

Meet Mr Pickwick and His Pals

Between 7th December - 8th December and packed with shopping stalls, the city of Rochester becomes a feast of Victorian delights. There are lamp-lit parades, carols to be sung and even a guaranteed snowfall, framed by Rochester’s fairy tale cathedral and castle. Rub shoulders with a host of larger than life Dickensian characters, strolling players, re-enactors not to mention a few odd balls. Read More

Portsmouth's Victorian Christmas Festival

Portsmouth’s 20^th annual Victorian Festival of Christmas returns to the awe-inspiring setting of the Historic Dockyard between 29^th November-1^st December.  Home to HMS Victory and the Mary Rose Museum there will be plenty of merry making with a host of Victorian characters (including a traditional Father Christmas dressed in green) in the Dickensian-style snow covered streets and in Fagin’s Real Ale Tavern

Get Your Skates On

Here’s an unusual idea for a December Girls Getaway. Bring your skates and in addition to some serious shopping skate in style at some of London’s best outdoor ice-skating rinks at the Tower of London, Hampton Court Palace, Somerset House, The Natural History Museum, the Winter Wonderland Hyde Park and the National Maritime Museum Greenwich.  It’s also a great theme for families visiting London in December.  Read More