WITH a host of festive activities, Christmas shopping and top restaurants on offer, Gulf visitors to Britain will be treated to a special experience in the weeks of fun activities that lead up December’s Christmas festivities. Whether it’s a city break to London, a relaxing trip to Edinburgh, or a visit to the Welsh capital of Cardiff for the first time, the UK’s winter festive season has something for everyone, including late night shopping, traditional markets, magical fireworks, holiday cuisine, and exciting year-end events.
Carol Maddison, manager Middle East, VisitBritain, said: “Britain has always been a special place for visitors at Christmas. It is well-known as a popular shopping destination, especially with travellers from the Gulf region, and with other offerings like Christmas lights, ice rinks, and grottos, visitors will be able to experience a truly British Christmas.”
The Oxford Street lights, which sees thousands of spectators take to the London streets, welcomes the festive season into the heart of the West End. Each year, the lights are switched on by famous celebrities and the lights in London’s Regent Street and St Paul’s Cathedral are all switched on at the same time. These wonderful winter lighting ceremonies take place in most major cities across the UK. There’s also some traditional yuletide fun at the landmark Covent Garden, where the Real Food Market serves up a great variety of seasonal and delicious dishes too. For vintage goods and exclusive items, visitors would do well to head for Camden Lock and Carnaby Street.
In Edinburgh, December festivities conjure up an atmosphere that can only be described as ‘electric’. With beautiful street parades and musicians playing traditional songs on the streets, there is more than enough on offer in the Scottish capital to keep visitors returning for more.
Wrap up warm and head to the annual Cardiff fun fair in the Welsh capital to get in the festive mood. Try out your ice-skating moves or test your nerves on one of the action-packed rides. A visit to a pantomime in one of the city’s theatres is also a must and makes for a great family night out of entertainment.
To mark the end of the year, late night celebrations take place all across Britain. From the breathtaking fireworks at London’s South Bank as Big Ben chimes midnight to Edinburgh’s Hogmanay celebrations that see music and spectacular firework displays take off from within Edinburgh Castle, visitors journeying to Britain in December are in for a magical treat.
From November 19 to January 8, 2012, visitors can choose between indoor skating at Westfield London or experience Westfield Stratford’s open air ice rink which offers sweeping views of the Olympic Park. Further, from November 1 until December24, children will be treated to a brand new 3D experience at the Christmas grotto where Santa will be handing out gifts and posing for photographs with visitors.