Автор: elenakolupaeva

They say there’s no place like home for the holidays, but sometimes it can be nice to spend the Christmas season abroad.  The United Kingdom is a fantastic place to spend Christmas as it originated many holiday traditions that we enjoy in the States today.  There are also a number of great modern traditions that make Britain stand out as a Christmas travel destination from winter festivals to Christmas markets.  If you’re thinking about the United Kingdom for your holiday trip, we hope you’ll consider one of these ten idyllic Christmas locations below.  If you think we’ve left out your favorite, you can share that with us in the comments.

London

London is a number one destination no matter the time of year, but there’s so much going on in the UK capital at Christmas time that we’ve dedicated whole articles to it.  From the Hyde Park Winter Wonderland to shopping districts lit up for the holiday to being a center for Christmas panto shows, London has something for everyone at Christmas time.  If you’re there on Christmas Day, you can check out the Peter Pan Cup race held by the Serpentine Swimming Club. 

Bakewell

Home to the famous Bakewell Tart, the Market Town of Bakewell is a great example of how to enjoy a country Christmas in Britain.  Riverside paths are lit up with Christmas lights, quaint cafes have special Christmas food and beverages on their menus, and the Bakewell Christmas Market is one of the top holiday markets in the North.  Not to mention, you’re smack in the middle of Peak District National Park to do some Christmas camping or hiking. 

York

The City of York has been a great place to celebrate Christmas since the Medieval Period.  The Christmas tree in St. Helen’s Square is a marvel to behold and a great place to start your York Christmas adventure.  The York Minster offers a number of Christmas concerts and worship services that aren’t to be missed.  There are also plenty of Christmas fairs and markets from the St. Nicholas’s Christmas Fair to the Piglets Adventure Farm, the latter of which will let you take a Christmas sleigh ride right to Santa’s Workshop. 

Cardiff

If you’re in Wales for the holiday, we highly recommend swinging by the country’s capital for all the great British Christmas traditions.  Including its own fabulous holiday market, Cardiff has plenty of Christmas light trails, ice skating, shopping, and plenty of shows.  The city has two major Christmas festivals including the Cardiff Christmas Festival and Cardiff Winter Wonderland.  Lastly, if you want to get some exercise in an eccentric and festive way, the Santa and Elf Dash is a race that helps raise money for heart health. 

Bath

The Bath Christmas Market has long been regarded as one of the best in all of Britain, but that’s not the only reason to visit this ancient city during the holidays.  National Trust properties throughout the city and the immediate area put on their best period-accurate decorations.  You can also head down into the caves of Wookey Hole which are done up with lights and decorations or visit the Bath on Ice winter ice skating rink. 

Mousehole

If you want a quieter Christmas away from the hustle and bustle of the city, the Village of Mousehole in Cornwall is a top destination.  Of course, even this sleepy fishing village knows how to do it up for Christmas with one of the most impressive sets of Christmas lights in the country.  The switch-on is quite the event itself, full of food and Christmas caroling. 

Edinburgh

Christmas wasn’t always the biggest holiday in Scotland thanks to the Presbyterian Church playing down its importance as “papist” during the Scottish Reformation.  However, today it’s as great as any place in Britain, especially after the Edinburgh Winter Festivals kick off on November 25.  The festivals include plenty of Christmas markets, rides, and even a Christmas tree maze.  Many ancient churches in the city also host Christmas services that are worth attending. 

Oxford

Home to one of the top universities in the United Kingdom, Oxford puts on one fantastic Christmas bash each year.  Whether you’re looking for holiday gifts or holiday food, you can check out the Oxford Christmas Fair and the Food Village.  The manor home of Wadderson puts on some lovely holiday decorations and a Christmas light show that’s worth seeing.  Of course, Oxford University also gets in on the holiday action, and its Christmas decorations are some of the best in Britain. 

Lake District

The Lake District is arguably one of the most beautiful places in the United Kingdom and only gets more so when decked out in snow and Christmas decorations.  Christmas markets dot the landscape in every village and town.  Bowness-on-Windemere, the longtime home of Beatrix Potter, puts on its own Father Christmas Tea and a show in which Santa and his reindeer save the holiday for children everywhere.  There is no shortage of events to attend during the holidays, and you’ll be within striking distance of some of the loveliest landscapes to spend Christmas. 

Birmingham

Birmingham is the best place in Northern England to visit at Christmastime.  The Frankfurt Christmas Market is the largest German-style Christmas market outside of Germany or Austria with a large Christmas tree that towers over shoppers.  In addition to hosting its own Christmas services and concerts, Birmingham Cathedral also has its own Christmas festival that takes place in the square every year.  Enjoy the winter lights trails throughout the city, or the Big Wheel lit up in holiday colors.

The designs for banknotes featuring images of King Charles III have been unveiled by the Bank of England ahead of their circulation by the middle of 2024.

The Bank said the King’s portrait will be the only change on existing designs of its £5, £10, £20, and £50 polymer plastic notes.

The image of the King will appear on the front of the banknotes, as well as in the see-through security window.

But the Bank confirmed that all existing plastic banknotes featuring Queen Elizabeth II will still be accepted as legal tender, with the public able to carry on using them as normal.

It added that following guidance from the royal household to keep the environmental and financial impact of the change to a minimum, it would only print new banknotes to replace those that are worn and when needed to increase notes in circulation.

This means that notes featuring Queen Elizabeth II and King Charles III will “co-circulate,” according to Threadneedle Street.

Bank governor Andrew Bailey said: “I am very proud that the Bank is releasing the design of our new banknotes, which will carry a portrait of King Charles III.

“This is a significant moment, as the King is only the second monarch to feature on our banknotes.

“People will be able to use these new notes as they start to enter circulation in 2024.”

Fifty pence coins featuring the image of King Charles III are entering circulation this month, with 4.9 million coins being distributed across 9,452 Post Office branches nationwide.

The first Bank of England note to feature Queen Elizabeth II’s portrait was a £1 note issued in 1960.

This was followed by a 10-shilling note in 1961.

The Princess of Wales has planted a tree in memory of the late Queen as part of a global green initiative to commemorate the monarch.

She gave a sapling a start in life at Westminster Abbey, one of more than a million trees planted under the Queen’s Green Canopy (QGC) project across the UK and Commonwealth.

The QGC was established to mark the Queen’s 70-year reign with the public invited to “Plant a Tree for the Jubilee.”

The project was due to conclude in December at the end of the Jubilee year but, following the wishes of the King, the initiative’s patron, it has been extended to the end of March 2023 to give people the opportunity to plant trees in memory of the late monarch who died in September.

More than a million trees have been planted in the Queen’s name during the October 2021 to March 2022 planting season.

Kate planted a wild cherry tree, a gift from the Duchy of Cornwall, last Wednesday during final preparations for her carol concert held at Westminster Abbey for the second year.

The festive event was staged the following day, and the princess and her family were joined by the King and Queen Consort for traditional carols.

The first images of Ncuti Gatwa as the Doctor and Millie Gibson as his companion have been released by the BBC.

Gatwa is shown in pictures and video wearing brown check trousers and a matching long coat with bright orange top underneath, while Gibson is dressed in dark blue shorts and a short jacket.

Gibson was announced as the latest companion when she stepped out of the Tardis live on Children In Need.

The Coronation Street actress will star opposite Sex Education star Gatwa, who takes over as the Doctor in 2023.

The 15th Doctor’s companion, who will be called Ruby Sunday, will travel alongside him as they embark on a new set of adventures.

The BBC said Doctor Who will return in November 2023 with three special episodes to coincide with the 60th anniversary – with David Tennant as the 14th Doctor.

Gatwa, will then take control of the Tardis, with his first episode airing over the festive period in 2023.

The King has danced with Anne Frank’s stepsister while visiting a Jewish community center in north London.

At 93, Eva Schloss has survived Nazi concentration camps, spent decades promoting peace among humanity, and now has danced with a King during a celebration of Chanukah.

She said: “He was sweet, he really took part, he seemed to enjoy it but it is unusual for him not to make a speech. But he was very relaxed and he enjoyed it, I was trying to get a dance with him.

“They are so easy to talk to, they are not standing on a higher level where you have to make an appointment, they are human beings and want to be part of the community and part of the British people and help everybody.”

Charles toured the JW3 community center on Finchley Road speaking to school children packing presents and food hampers for families around Camden, refugees baking gingerbread biscuits, and survivors of the Holocaust.

In a speech during which she presented the King with a Chanukiah of eight candelabras, Dame Vivian Duffield said she founded JW3 to give the Jewish community in London a place to gather to protect and celebrate their heritage.

Eva said: “Unfortunately, there is still antisemitism, people say Jewish people should go to Israel, this is England, but I hope we are getting over these prejudices.

“England is one of the rich countries in the world and we have to struggle with poverty I hope King Charles will be able to manage this situation a little bit.

“I hope he will help make things easier for everybody and fight racism. I think he is a very good King.”

As Charles visited the kitchen where a group of young refugees were baking biscuits for the Christmas hampers, one of the cooks, Sefinat, fell to her knees with giddiness.

She said afterward: “To be honest, I can’t explain the feeling. To see him live, I was like oh my god, it was a nice feeling and I’m happy I was able to meet him.”

JW3’s chief executive Raymond Simonson, who accompanied the King on his tour of the center, said the King turned up with a car boot full of rice and tinned tuna to go into the donation packets.

He said: “The volunteers came and took it out of the car and packed it up. That will stay with me for a while.

“There are 200 households we support around the Camden area and they don’t have enough food at Christmas and now they have food from the King as well as from our volunteers.

“Most people in the British Jewish community come from refugee stock and the fact of being accepted and meeting the Monarch, it’s an endorsement of the community’s place in British society.

“When you see the King visiting and saying happy Chanukah it says to people that the person in the highest seat accepts us.

“It has been 365 years since we were readmitted after being expelled and to know that we are secure here and not in danger… That means so much to people.”

For a lot of people, money can get pretty tight. Some people can even have trouble paying for some of their lower-tier Maslovian needs. Naturally, for these people, tickets for concerts or theatre shows would normally be right out. And it looks like this is starting to change, with London creating a new sceheme called the Ticket Bank. Under the Ticket Bank, venues will give unsold tickets (about 1,000 per week) to people struggling with money. 

The Plan

According to Chris Sonnex, director of homeless theatre troupe Cardboard Citizens, and the originator of the Ticket Bank: “There are brilliant people putting together food banks and heat banks, but that doesn’t give humanity its basic needs from a soul point of view. People who are suffering as a result of the cost of living also need access to community, entertainment and things that warm the soul. Art is a human right. And the tighter things get with people’s finances, the more they will be squeezed out of art.”

It was inspired by a practice called “Papering.” With papering, theaters might keep hold of unsold tickets and offer them to certain people. Maybe they’re connected to the show, maybe they’re just related to the arts. But, if all goes well, they at least end up with a full house, which leads to more positive word of mouth, leading to more ticket sales.

They are working with multiple charities. Food banks like Trussell Trust. Housing charities like Centrepoint and Positive Action in Housing. Even the Longford Trust, which works to support ex-cons. All of these organizations will provide the have-nots with access codes to book tickets. And where do these tickets come from? 

The Venues

Seven different organizations have already signed up to provide tickets for the Ticket Bank: The National Theatre, The Roundhouse, The Barbican, and four smaller theatres: Almeida Theatre, Gate Theatre, Bush Theatre, and Tara Theatre. And that’s just the ones who’ve currently been announced. They plan to announce seven more venues in January, and are even “in conversations” with cinemas to potentially participate.

These tickets will be available either for free, or a “pay what you can” donation. Quoth Caroline McCormack, chair of the Cultural Philanthropy Foundation, “Even 10p will be welcome, and a way of maintaining the dignity of people receiving the tickets.” And for anyone who’s wondering how these venues are going to pay for this scheme, well, the tickets in question would otherwise be unused and unsold anyway. They have nothing to lose but ticket revenues that weren’t even coming in anyway.

Chris Sonnex’ testimony.

Chris Sonnex pointed out that when he grew up, he lived in a Council Estate in Inner London. He explained: “I don’t think I went to a museum unless the school told me to go there. I lived five minutes from a renowned theatre, but I didn’t even know it was a theatre. So it’s important to reach as many people as possible to say: this is for you. That never really happened with me. If you reach out to people who have never gone to the theatre, and can’t afford it, then in years to come you might find they come back and say I really liked that and now I’ve got some money so I’m going to spend it [on tickets]. It’s future-proofing in a world where audiences are dwindling and getting older.” 

And, as I look at ticket prices, I see that they can get pretty expensive. I look up tickets for the current Broadway in Chicago production of The Lion King. While they say tickets can be as low as $33, tickets that I can see routinely go above $200 even in the nosebleeds. Tickets below $100 are only slightly more common than hen’s teeth. No wonder it’s the highest grossing play in history with those prices.

Caroline McCormack says she hopes the Ticket Bank can spread out to other cities, and if it works out, I can only see this as a good thing. 

A Bit of Shakespearean context

I could go on about how there’s a lot of artistically inclined people, dreamers who paid thousands in college degrees in the hopes that it would bring them a career in the arts, but still can barely afford to keep the lights on. But I’ll go on about something a bit further removed from current events. In the original Globe Theater, the audience was segregated into two groups. The first consisted of wealthy people who could afford to sit in the balcony, maybe even hobknob with the queen. But on Terra Firma, the common people of London stood around on the ground to watch the plays. Maybe they’d leave these shows and get drunk or take bets on whether a bear could outlast a pack of dogs in some bloodsport. 

How much did it cost for these groundlings to get tickets to history being made before their eyes? A single penny. I looked up how much a penny’s admission to the first production of Hamlet in 1601 would be. Depending on how you calculate that cost, it’s anywhere from 94 pence to £26.26. I can easily imagine the Bard spinning in his grave if he found out that the groundlings of today were so priced out of the theater. If nothing else, who else would laugh when he made jokes about country matters?

The King was impressed by a demonstration of “fantastic” blind football when he visited a unique college preparing students for the world of work.

Charles visited the Royal National College for the Blind (RNC) to mark its 150th anniversary and was shown the training given to those enrolled – from learning braille and business skills to massage techniques.

He watched as staff and students played football using a ball that made a noise as it rolled, with instructions shouted out to a defender to help them close down the attacker taking shots at goal.

At the end of the demonstration at the further education college in Hereford, the King said, “it’s fantastic” before adding: “Hearing the ball – it’s amazing.”

In a speech marking his visit and a plaque-unveiling ceremony, Charles said: “But can I just say that in everything I have been shown today, it’s been clear to me that the college is fully committed to the values represented in this motto: education, employment, empowerment.”

He added: “And I think all this has been very apparent in the impressive personal confidence and skills demonstrated by the students, particularly the ones I’ve met, and it is hugely encouraging to see how the ethos of the college provides a real preparation for life.”

During his visit, Charles spoke to students learning Braille from a decades-old machine and also saw a modern version that created the raised dot patterns of the tactile reading and writing system on the machine itself.

At one point, the monarch spotted Billy the guide dog lying under a table as its owner, Orla Rafferty, explained the special equipment she uses in maths.

It’s not much of an exaggeration to say that A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens is one of the reasons we still celebrate the holiday today.  Published in 1843, it helped bring the holiday back into prominence in the United Kingdom after years of subdued celebrations following the English Civil War and the Commonwealth Period.  Its massive success as a book has turned it into a Christmas classic since the days of silent films and many a movie and television adaptation has been made since the advent of these media.  We’ve outlined five of our favorite adaptations below, and you can share some of your own favorites with us in the comments.

The Man Who Invented Christmas

While not an adaptation per se, The Man Who Invented Christmas is a great fictional retelling of how Charles Dickens wrote one of the best Christmas stories around.  Dan Stevens stars as Dickens, who is staring poverty in the face unless he comes up with a new hit and fast.  The movie explores his creative process as the people and events around him help to inspire A Christmas Carol and teach Dickens himself the true meaning of Christmas. 

A Christmas Carol (1984) 

My personal favorite is the 1984 made-for-TV adaptation starring George C. Scott as Ebeneezer Scrooge.  In addition to being a very close adaptation of the original book, it has one of the largest all-start casts of any Christmas Carol adaptation.  Besides Scott, the movie features David Warner as Bob Cratchit (one of his rare good guy roles), Roger Rees as Scrooge’s nephew Fred, Angela Pleasance as the Ghost of Christmas Past, Edward Woodward as the Ghost of Christmas Present, Joanne Whalley as Scrooge’s sister Fan, and also Michael Gough and Mark Strickson. 

Blackadder’s Christmas Carol

Blackadder’s Christmas Carol certainly makes the list for turning the classic story on its head.  Rowan Atkinson stars as the Victorian Age member of the Blackadder Clan, Ebeneezer Blackadder, who is a kind, generous man—the absolute opposite of his ancestors.  In a reverse of the classic Dickens story, the Christmas Spirit shows him his past lives to show how much better he is, but on viewing a Christmas future where he’s subservient to Baldrick, he opts to become as mean-spirited as any of his forebears.  The show also features a “who’s who” of comedic actors, including Hugh Laurie, Stephen Fry, Miriam Margolyes, Nicola Bryant, Jim Broadbent, Miranda Richardson, and Robbie Coltrane. 

The Muppet Christmas Carol

The Muppet Christmas Carol is honestly considered one of the best adaptations for its use of Dickens as a narrator (even if he’s played by Gonzo the Great).  It stars Michael Caine as Scrooge in one of his favorite roles, along with most of the Muppets filling in as other characters, including Kermit as Bob Cratchit, Miss Piggy as Mrs. Cratchit, and Robin as Tiny Tim.  Despite the usual Muppet silliness, it sticks very closely to the story and features some great songs including “When Love is Found.” 

A Christmas Carol (1951) 

Many would rank this 1951 adaptation starring Alastair Sim as the best one of all.  The film expands on the story to show what a truly despicable person Ebeneezer Scrooge is, helping to make his ultimate turn towards good all the more rewarding for the viewer.  Of course, it’s not all doom and gloom and there are some genuinely comedic moments to break up the Scrooge’s dourness.  If you’re looking at other lists ranking Christmas Carol adaptations, you’ll find this one at the top, if not close to it.  This film essentially set the bar for every adaptation that followed. 

The King, Queen Consort and members of the royal family will spend Christmas at Sandringham for the first time in three years, Buckingham Palace has confirmed.

They will celebrate Christmas Day at the late Queen’s former Norfolk Estate with members of the monarchy, marking a return to traditional royal festivities.

The gathering at Sandringham will be the first time the royal family has spent Christmas at the private royal residence since 2019, and it will be a poignant period following the death of the Queen in September.

Buckingham Palace said in a brief statement: “Their Majesties The King and The Queen Consort accompanied by Members of the Royal Family will attend the Morning Service on Christmas Day at Sandringham Church, on Sunday 25th December 2022.”

It is likely Charles and Camilla will be joined by the Prince and Princess of Wales and their children, Princess Royal and her family, the Earl and Countess of Wessex and their children – but it remains to be seen if the disgraced Duke of York will make a public appearance.

Christmas at Sandringham follows a break, when, due to the Covid pandemic, the late Queen spent the festive period at Windsor Castle two years in a row – the first with the Duke of Edinburgh, separated from her wider family in lockdown.

Royal Christmases feature a morning trip to St Mary Magdalene Church, the greeting of well-wishers, and a family lunch with turkey and all the trimmings.

Charles has reportedly pre-record his historic, first Christmas Broadcast as monarch, when he will no doubt reflect on the loss of his mother and her legacy.

Traditionally, members of the royal family sit down to watch the televised address when it airs after lunch, usually at 3pm on December 25.

Sandringham House has been the private home of four generations of British monarchs for more than 160 years, and now belongs to the King.

The late Queen celebrated the eve of her Platinum Jubilee there just seven months before her death.

It was bought in 1862 by the then Prince of Wales, who later became Edward VII, as a private country retreat.

The house was rebuilt in 1870 to ensure it was big enough for his growing family.

George V, the Queen’s grandfather, described the house as “Dear old Sandringham, the place I love better than anywhere else in the world”.

George VI, the Queen’s father, wrote: “I have always been so happy here and I love the place.”

In the aftermath of Queen Elizabeth II’s death, the Prince and Princess of Wales viewed floral tributes left by members of the public at the gates of Sandringham.

The return of a festive train hopes to put families into the Christmas mood as they get the chance to open presents and enjoy mince pies and mulled wine alongside Santa Claus.

The Santa Steam Express, which is in its second year, allows families to explore London in a magical way alongside Santa and his “merry helpers,” with children set to battle the cold winter air with a drink and festive treat given to them on arrival.

Juliet Soley, head of marketing at Steam Dreams Rail Company – which offers the experience, told the PA news agency: “We have Christmas music playing, it’s a lovely atmosphere on board. The adults, depending on which class they’re in, they get mulled wine, mince pies, sausage rolls, coffee and tea.

“We look after everyone and there’s presents for all the children.”

She added that the steam locomotive is the highlight for many passengers, with the majority posing for pictures alongside it to cherish the experience.

With the journey lasting around one hour and 45 minutes, there are plenty of activities on board for families to enjoy.

“We’ve got an activity sheet for the children to do, which has loads of different activities, spot the difference, join the dots to make a picture, Christmas jokes, a wordsearch,” Ms Soley added.

“All the kids get that, we’ve also got a little song sheet on all the tables so the elves go through, they’ve got little bells and we do singalongs so they’ve all got song sheets.”

The Santa Steam Express departed from London Victoria on December 19, offering three departure slots – 8:45am, 11:12am and 13:45pm.

It is also set to welcome aboard passengers again on December 21 at the same times.

Ms. Soley added that the company took 792 passengers over the three trips on December 19, with the same number expected on December 21.