Book a Christmas cottage break in the East Midlands
Don't follow the wise men - go east.
Another Christmas, another year. Some people measure their lives in Christmasses. We don't have that many in a lifetime so make each one special.
There are certain places that embrace Christmas passionately and create a beautifully festive atmosphere. Castleton in the Peak District is one such village. Almost every shop stands a Christmas tree with colourful lights outside. Aurora Christmas Lights are a spectacular illumination involving sculpture and music in Rufford Park, Nottinghamshire. These take place from Friday to Sunday until the 22nd of December. Santa is also present at Rufford Abbey until Christmas Eve.
Most east Midlands towns and cities host a panto, carol singing concerts, the usual Christmas fayres and glitz. Decide on a cottage in the East Midlands, in Nottinghamshire or Lincolnshire and look forward to a good family self-catering break over Christmas at the end of December.
A special Christmas in the East Midlands
Take that all important camera to record precious family moments and those looks of delight on Christmas morning when Santa has been.
Many families try to book a cottage between them and spend Christmas together. Very few people own a home or dining table large enough to invite the whole family round. The rental is a fair cost for everyone to share but not so bad if you stay somewhere really nice in the East Midlands and treat a week in self-catering cottage as a proper holiday with days out and fun activities with the children.
The old fashioned seaside resort of Skegness in the Lincolnshire coast is a good place to stay with young children. The Skegness Winter Festival runs all the way up to the 23rd of December with appearances from Santa, food festivals and more. Go to the clock tower if you're still in Skegness on New Year's Eve for the firework display.
Fireworks are becoming a traditional way of seeing in New Year and organised displays can be watched at various venues in the East Midlands.
Something worth travelling to Newark in the East Midlands for is carols played by a brass band. Kirkby Colliery plays seasonal music in Sherwood Country park on the Sunday before Christmas. There are lots of happenings in Sherwood Forest. A Christmas Eve walk looks at the ancient forest and history of Robin Hood. A Boxing Day revival walk wakes everyone up after a day of overeating.
The town of Newark is full of ancient buildings and a sense of history. Have a drink in one of the old beamed pubs, browse in the antique shops or walk along the river past the castle ruins.
The photograph on the right shows the indoor part of Newark Christmas Market. There is also a large outdoor market with many stalls.
