Best for arts and crafts: Bath

Beautiful Bath is accessible by rail and road and at Christmas, the markets make the most of the city’s walkability. Bath Abbey lights up for the festive season and it’s a good excuse to tick the Roman baths off your bucket list at the same time. Rather than the stereotypical plastic Christmas tat, Bath’s markets attract lovers of handmade jewellery, high quality arts and crafts, independent retailers and good food.

Best for food and wine buffs: Colmar, France

It’s a bit of a mission to get to Colmar – a flight to Strasbourg and a 30-minute train ride is the easiest route – but you will be rewarded with a gorgeous Alsatian experience. Colmar is picture-postcard-pretty and the Christmas market is a wonderful opportunity to try local specialities. The Gourmet Market features nine chefs cooking up a storm with delicious local ingredients, whether you’re in the mood for a start, main course or dessert. Meanwhile, the Christmas cellar events offer wine tasting experiences that you’ll never get at Wetherspoon.

Best for avoiding crowds: Wroclaw, Poland

Wroclaw is an emerging Polish city break destination and it’s a lovely option if you’re not keen on braving Christmas crowds in Krakow or Warsaw. With the Christmas markets centred around the charmingly compact Market Square, as well as locations in Salt Square, Świdnicka Street and Oławska Street, it’s easy to navigate without getting overwhelmed. Get your bearings with a free walking tour in the morning. When you’ve had your fill of markets, there are plenty of reasonably priced bars and restaurants offering respite – or you can partake in the local hobby of gnome-spotting.

Best for a bit of everything: Frankfurt

Germany is a destination for Christmas market traditionalists. If you want a total sensory overload seasonal experience, Frankfurt is the place to go. Take a deep breath, brace yourself for stalls, fairground rides and Christmas trees as far as the eye can see. As well as the traditional trinkets, there is an artists’ market for unique gifts. If you can’t look at another Christmas decoration stall or imbibe another glass of mulled wine, Frankfurt puts on plenty of cultural activities to balance out the consumerism. Seek out ecumenical carol services, a sign language choir, the ringing of 50 bells across 10 churches and historic harbourside train rides.

Best for stylish Christmas fans: Saint-Germain-des-Prés, Paris

Trust Paris to put on a classy, cringe-free Christmas market. The chic Marché de Noël on the Boulevard Saint-Germain features tastefully decorated chalets, gourmet food aplenty and luxury gifts. There are no elves on shelves to be seen here. How gauche! Instead, you can treat yourself and your loved ones to elegant jewellery, leather goods, scented candles and subtle glass ornaments that may actually become genuine heirlooms one day.

Best for Instagrammable moments: Brussels and Vienna

Brussels and Vienna are two cities that seem to look even prettier when the snow falls. And even if climate change keeps the snow at bay this Christmas, these markets offer social media stars plenty of opportunities to show off their most fabulous winter wear against gorgeous backdrops. In Brussels, the sound and light show at the Grand-Place and the ferris wheel are great selfie spots in between checking out the 200-strong stalls. Meanwhile, in Vienna, have your phone at the ready for the entrance via a candle-festooned archway, before going snap-happy among the seriously photogenic buildings, such as Schönbrunn Palace and St Stephen’s Cathedral.

Best for a party vibe: Glasgow

Sure, Edinburgh draws the crowds because of the photogenic castle and the charms of Prince Street, but if you want some real Scottish Christmas spirit, you can’t go past a trip to Glasgow Winterfest. Centred on George Square and St Enoch Square, the focus is on fun. Thrillseekers can try plenty of ridiculous rides, including a helter skelter and an 80m drop tower. That’s probably best done before tucking into churros, crepes, Yorkshire puddings, pancakes, mac-n-cheese, waffles, Scottish pies, mulled wine, beer, wine and spirits…

Best for wholesome family fun: Copenhagen

Even the hardest of hearts can melt at the sight of a kid enjoying Christmas. If you’re looking for a family friendly market experience, it’s hard to go past Copenhagen. Tivoli Garden, believed to be the inspiration for Disneyland, is a perennial winner with children and every year, this historic theme park takes Christmas very seriously. As well as the rides, Tivoli features Santa shows, an elf train, an elf hunt and fairground games. Adults might be pleased to know there are rock concerts, jazz performances, new music shows and plenty of bars.

Best for history buffs: Strasbourg

Strasbourg’s Christmas markets date back to 1570, making it the oldest in France and one of the oldest in Europe. As a result, they’ve had a good four centuries to get it right. You can expect all the Christmas classics – spectacular lights, a sky-high Christmas tree, carol singers galore and a market infused with the scent of spices. With 300 stalls, there’s plenty for the seasonal shopaholics, along with quaint streets for winter wandering, lashings of warming mulled wine and bredele, which are delicious little butter biscuits that are a local Christmas tradition.

Best for festive winter sun: Malaga

If you want to escape the miserable British winter, but you don’t want to miss out on the yuletide fun, you can combine sunshine and Christmas markets in Malaga. With an average top temperature of 18°C, it’s not quite bikini weather, but you probably won’t need the big coat either. Christmas markets with palm trees give a summer holiday vibe, while the stunning lights, stylish stalls and plenty of delicious food and drink options mean you can be festive without freezing your baubles off.

Best for extreme Christmassing: Prague

Good King Wenceslas set things in motion for Prague as a Christmas destination back in the 10th century when he looked out on the feast of Stephen amid snow that was apparently deep and crisp and even. While he apparently gave out alms to the poor, rather than tucking into mulled wine and gingerbread, the ensuing Christmas carol does rather inspire one to jump on a cheap flight to the Czech Republic. Prague takes this tradition seriously with the main markets in Wenceslas Square and Old Town Square, along with five smaller markets all within walking distance of the city centre. Expect to sample plenty of hearty Czech food and beer.

Best for traditions: Stockholm

Christmas is not just about endless excuses to part with your money. In Stockholm, the Christmas market vibe is definitely more subdued than many other destinations, but it’s no less special. The markets themselves are cosy, rather than ostentatious, with a focus on local artisans. But Stockholm stands out for its cultural experience. A series of performances of A Christmas Carol has become an annual tradition and the Berwaldhallen Christmas Concerts uplift the spirits with music from the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra ranging from Bach to modern favourites.

Best for romance: Bruges

Bruges is good for a romantic getaway at any time of year, but if you want to feel like you’re on the set of a cheesy Christmas rom-com, it’s pretty unbeatable. Bruges’s annual Christmas programme is known as Winter Glow, which sounds like it might go pretty well with your own afterglow if you can drag yourselves out of your hotel room. Every year, two Christmas markets are set up in the compact city square. Retailers at the Simon Stevin Square market sell short chain and craft products, rather than hard-to-recycle rubbish. For smug shopping and smug selfies, Bruges is a great choice for cute couples.

Best on a budget: Deptford Market Yard, London

If you prefer a more down-to-earth Christmas market – or the European flights and hotels are beyond your budget or your carbon footprint conscience – hotfoot it down to East London’s Deptford Market Yard. You’ll have to be quick as the markets only run from 1-2 December, but it’s a great example of a sustainable, community-based Christmas event. Along with Deptford’s regular market traders getting into festive spirit, Santa’s grotto and the arts and crafts activities are free and there will be plenty of music, carolling and street food stalls. It’s a London Christmas outing that won’t leave you out of pocket.

Read more – How to deal with Christmas

Georgia Lewis

In a career that has spanned Australia, the Middle East and the UK, Georgia has written about all sorts of things, including sex, cars, food, oil and gas, insurance, fashion, travel, workplace safety, health, religious affairs, glass and glazing… When she’s not writing words for fun and profit, she can usually be found with a glass of something French and red in her hand.

The post The ultimate Christmas market guide appeared first on Silver Magazine.

As red carpet season kicks off, who better to turn to for inspiration than jazzy Jeff Goldblum, working his cool and classic on the red carpet, for some men’s Christmas party wear ideas.

Pairing black and blue takes a bit of skill, but we love what he’s got here – black coat, dark blue tie, black shoes. It’s a classy look with a bit of a twist.

GET JEFF’S LOOK

Italian Wool Overcoat, Jaeger, £299

Made from gorgeous wool and cashmere, and cut in a classic design, this sophisticated overcoat can be worn for formal events, or dressed down with jeans.

Navy Tie Set, Santoro Milan, £29.99

Not just a beautiful silk tie, but pocket square and tie pin too. Would make an excellent gift.

House of Cavani Seeba Navy Regular Three Piece Suit, Santoro Milan, £289.97

Look sharp with this slim-fit, elegant three piece. Transition from day to night, with or without the waistcoat. A must for any wardrobe.

Glasgow Black Hi-Shine Brogues, Barker, £175

You can tell a lot about a man by his shoes. These shoes say you’re stylish, classy, and ready to party.

Pure cashmere scarf, Autograph, £55

Luxurious, warm and soft. Just the thing to keep the chill off your chest.

Lucky Sixpence Cufflinks, Hersey & Son London Silversmiths, £108

Those of you too young to remember sixpennies might not know this, but a sixpence is a very lucky charm. Keep the luck, and the charm, with you at all times.

Men’s Full Leather Gloves, The House of Bruar, £34.95

Soft leather and fleecy lining, perfect for when the weather is freezing but your fashion sense is still hot.

Collection Long Sleeve Ultimate non-iron shirt, Russell, £54.99

Ah, the term ‘non iron’ is so alluring! This elegant shirt looks sharp, but is definitely low maintenance. 

Bering Ultra Slim Watch, The Watch Hut, £149

Watches are a big deal, but not everyone can afford a Rolex. This elegant, simple design gives off all the right signs, and all the right times.

More Goldblum – The Jurassic journey an interview with Jeff Goldblum

Lana Hall

Lana can usually be found spinning her collection of records, or writing odd poems in her phone notes. Her mixer of choice is a ginger beer, and you’ll never find her away from the sea for more than a few weeks.

The post Jeff Goldblum’s red carpet look – men’s party wear appeared first on Silver Magazine.

Fancy a holiday with all generations of your family? Bluestone National Park Resort is a great base for exploring the stunning Pembrokeshire coast, and has plenty to offer. There’s tons to do, but even if you don’t stray too far from your digs, you’ve still got more than 500 acres of woodland, fields, lakes and more at your disposal.

We got the train to Narberth, which is the nearest town and station. It’s about 15 minutes’ drive from Bluestone, but my non-driving partner and I took a taxi. As well as being a handy spot to do a big shop before going to Bluestone, it’s a great spot to check out Skomer Island. Hailed as “exceptional” by Sir David Attenborough, the island is littered with puffins at certain times of the year.

But what about the resort itself? We were mostly surrounded by families, but with good planning, especially at busy times, we found we weren’t too bothered by the noise and bustle. There are a lot of buildings at Bluestone, but they’re set out so that most of the cabins, shops, restaurants, and activity areas are fairly close together. This means that if you venture off for a walk, you don’t have to walk far before you feel fully immersed in nature.

One of my favourite areas to explore was the rather obviously named Steep Ravine, a criss-crossing staircase that takes you down into a massive pine forest, full of dirt tracks and secret areas. We visited in September amid a massive storm, so while we didn’t get too lucky with the weather, there was plenty for us to do onsite.

Bluestone’s spa bliss

Well Spa Retreat

There are plenty of activities that are better suited to adults than kids, such as the spa, which suited me and my partner just fine.

At the Well Spa Retreat, you can book treatments that come with a two-hour pass to the spa itself or, you can get a two-hour pass to simply chill out at the spa, which might be all you need.

There are so many different rooms for you to explore at the spa, including two steam rooms, each pumping out different herbs and two saunas, a Celtic sauna and a brick sauna. The Celtic sauna was bigger and hotter and illuminated in green, while the brick sauna was smaller, but still lovely with wooden benches, so you weren’t perching your bum on bricks.

There’s also a salt room, ice pod, meditation room, reading room, waterfall showers, a hydrotherapy pool and, a big chill-out room with free tea and coffee and lots of comfy chairs.

By far our favourite experience was flitting between the saunas and steam rooms, then covering ourselves in ice in the ice pod. It really gets your heart going and is great for your skin!

Getting active, despite the weather

Gorgeous outdoor spaces to explore

Wales in September is always a gamble with the weather, but we tried out mountain biking, which was one of Bluestone’s WYLD off-resort adventures. We were lucky enough to be the only ones doing it in the pouring rain (I wonder why…), so we got to spend time with Declan, who heads up the WYLD activities. He is very passionate about his job and clearly cared a lot about what he was doing.

The mountain bikes are super fancy e-bikes with some real power. This meant that going up steep hills felt like a breeze and three hours of intense distance didn’t feel all too bad. This activity is not for the faint-hearted though. Some of the hills we went down almost had me flying off, even though I cycle most places and ride a motorbike, and have pretty good balance.

Storms ahoy!

Blue Lagoon Waterpark

Even though we were unfortunate with the weather, we weren’t easily put off from exploring. The only bummer was that during a storm, when the winds were really high, a good chunk of the resort was shut off for our safety. We were a little annoyed, but when we went walking the next day and saw that a large tree had come down, we understood why.

Our planned canoeing trip was cancelled, but we weren’t too upset. Looking out at the grey sky and seeing the pouring rain, we didn’t really fancy it. If you’re wondering what else there was to do when everything outdoorsy was shut, the short answer is: plenty.

Between The Hive, The Blue Lagoon Water Park and Serendome there’s always something to do indoors. The Hive is definitely aimed at kids, but has a bar and neon bowling to keep the adults happy. Likewise, Serendome is kid-friendly, but has takeaways for the adults and a bar, so you’re never, er, parched.

Being a water baby, The Blue Lagoon Water Park was my favourite, and we spent a lot of time there. It was a giant domed building with a massive pool, wave machine, outdoor lazy river, outdoor and indoor jacuzzis, a shallow pool for small children, a pirate-themed sensory pool with lots of jets and streams and the four, fairly fast paced, flumes, which we loved. There were two pitch-black total thrill rides, one being super-fast and long and one open-top ride for two people that went outside with two hidden pools along the way. Tons to do for all generations.

What about the accommodation?

Ramsey Lodge

Our cabin was bliss. it was unattached and so, if the windows were closed, you would have no idea you were in a resort with thousands of other people. We stayed in Ramsey Lodge in Forest View, which was close to the village, but far from the entrance and the three main indoor activity centres. This is definitely a better choice if you’re arriving by car, unlike us. We had to get down there on foot with all our stuff, which was not so great. There is a guest transport bus that goes around the resort every half an hour, but for the five days we were there, we never managed to work out the timings. Plus, it didn’t run on a Monday, which was the day we arrived, of course! But, epic walks aside, having our own cabin in the woods to snuggle up in after being out in the rain was really nice.

Dining at Bluestone

Grilled vegetable gnocchi at The Farmhouse Grill

We were never short of things to eat. Even though we arrived with snacks and lunches from our big shop in Narberth to save a bit of cash, we ate more food from the resort than we intended. This is because they had deliveries to the lodges. For a couple who lives off grid in an old converted caravan in the woods just outside the Devon moors, this was a total luxury for us!

We ate out for dinner one evening at The Farmhouse Grill. This seemed to be fairly popular and had cosy vibes. There was a separate bar for drinks and chips. Despite the meaty sounding name, I was happy to see they had a good selection of vegan and vegetarian dishes.

I asked the server what she’d recommend for a veggie and after a rave review of the grilled vegetable gnocchi, I decided to go for that at £16. And I wasn’t disappointed. It was rich and filling. My carnivorous partner decided to get a frankly ridiculous hunk of braised beef short rib for £24. For the sheer size of the tender slab of meat, we didn’t mind paying that price. His glowing review was total silence while eating it, a brisk hobble home, and straight to bed after he’d finished it. I think that means it was good, right?

And as for takeaway, we felt spoiled! There was a good selection of options for eating in front of the telly on the wet nights. The menu was categorised into different cuisines, fish and chips, curry, pizzas, sides, and desserts, as well as alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. For both of us, a main, drink and dessert worked out at about £25. It was pretty reasonably priced, it came quickly and arrived with a good range of sauce sachets.

If you plan to do a lot of self-catering, make sure you stock up on a few pantry basics, like oil and condiments as there are no ingredients in the cabin, not even tea bags. There are cleaning products and bin bags, but no food to cook with, so I would definitely recommend ordering in one of their hampers before you arrive. I’d personally recommend the Standard Family Hamper.

Getting the best out of Bluestone

Serendome

The best thing about Bluestone is the site itself. Apart from all the free activities, the best part for us was the acres of woodland and grassland. We’re lucky enough to live surrounded by nature on the outskirts of Dartmoor, but at Bluestone, we found ourselves wandering around in awe of the breathtaking beauty, even when it was pouring with rain.

It’s a great place for anyone who lives in the city, or anyone wants to be surrounded by beautiful landscapes, but still wants loads of indoor entertainment and creature comforts, such as takeaways.
The site is much better if you have a car. Most people coming to the site are families, so presumably at least one person in most groups would have a driving licence. But for us, we had to do a lot of walking.

Once we arrived by taxi from the train station at Narbeth, we were the only people on foot. We found the transport bus timetable baffling, so we did a lot of cycling. There are buggies for rent, but these require a driving licence. We found ourselves very jealous of people driving, albeit slowly, up the resort while we walked or cycled.

But overall, we had a fantastic holiday and it was well worth a visit. For the festive season, they’re offering special ‘Christmasland’ breaks, where you can save up to 35% on activities and stays start at £18pp per night. Seasonal highlights include shows at The Cloud Theatre, Christmas film screenings, hot chocolate and popcorn, and a chance to visit Santa’s Workshop and Rudolph’s Breakfast Barn. The Serendome will be turned into a Christmas wonderland, The Blue Lagoon pool will be transformed into The Elf Lagoon, kids can enjoy a VR sleigh ride, and the village park will turn into the reindeer village!

Christmasland runs from 6 November 2023, to 4 January 2024

Lili Lowe

Lili works across all the channels; writing articles, taking photographs, creating content, and designing eye-capturing imagery. She’s an animal-lover who cries just seeing a picture of a baby sloth.

The post A Welsh wonder: Spas and spectacular scenery at Bluestone Resort appeared first on Silver Magazine.

There’s only a week of November left and advent is nearly knocking on the door. In case you haven’t thought of how you’re going to countdown to the festive day, we’ve got you. 

We’ve whipped up a collection of what we think are the best advent calendars on the market so you can treat yourself (or a loved one) throughout December. 

Food & drink calendars

Hotel Chocolat Dark Advent Calendar, £11.05

Love a sweet treat? Want something indulgent for the festive season? Hotel Chocolat’s dark chocolate advent calendar ticks both those boxes.

English Tea Shop Pyramid Advent Calendar, £8.67

From Gingerbread, to Tropical Lemongrass. This calendar has a variety of tea bags for you to find your next favourite herbal tea flavour.

Whiskey Advent Calendar, £149.95

24 samples of whiskeys from across the globe, so your December evening tipples are sorted. *Obligatory drink responsibly message*

Wine advent calendar 24 days, £95

Achieve your wine-iest dreams with this advent calendar. We hope you’re not picky, because this box has Chardonnay to Malbec, and everything in-between.

Beauty Calendars

Clarins 12 Day Women’s Advent Calendar, £65

A mix of full size and sample size products from Clarins so you can feel your best, all December long.

Rituals Classic Advent Calendar, £87.90

Wrapped up in a stunning festive building box, filled with Rituals most loved and best selling products. 

Joules Starry Night 24 Days of Gifts Advent Calendar, £28

Luxurious body products and little extras, like a sleep mask, thrown in makes up this colourful advent calendar. 

Jo Malone London 25 Day Advent Calendar, £350

Gingerbread inspired and jam packed with luxurious Jo Malone products – fragrances, bath and body samples, and more.

A little something different

Yankee Candle Wreath Advent Calendar, £19.50

25 christmassy tea light candles to burn throughout the festive month. A nod to traditional pillar advent candles.

Pringle 12 Day Sockvent Calendar, £50

Pimp up your sock draw with 12 quality cotton socks in classic colours in this Pringle advent calendar. 

Artisan Coffee Bag Advent Calendar, £28.99

Perfect if you’re a coffee aficionado, or you need that boost of energy to get you through the busiest month of the year.

Just Spices Large Calendar, £99.99

With 24 quality spices and a recipe book to guide you on what to cook with them, your December meals will be flavoursome as ever. 

Lana Hall

Lana can usually be found spinning her collection of records, or writing odd poems in her phone notes. Her mixer of choice is a ginger beer, and you’ll never find her away from the sea for more than a few weeks.

The post Christmas advent calendar roundup appeared first on Silver Magazine.