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This festive season, Britain will play host to numerous magical events and activities specially catered to bring to life the true Christmas spirit. Visitors who have never experienced Christmas in Britain will be spoilt for choice judging from the line-up of festive highlights sure to leave visitors wishing every day was Christmas. In the run-up to Christmas this year, VisitBritain, presents 12 great ideas for making the most of this holiday season.

On the first day of Christmas, VisitBritain gave to me� Ice skating at the Natural History Museum � Among the wide range of places where you can ice-skate in the capital, for the first time the Natural History Museum in South Kensington will have an ice-rink on its east lawn. Inspirational gifts will be on sale at a Christmas Fair beside it (November 16-January 22). Admission charge. Website: www.nhmskating.com

On the second day of Christmas, VisitBritain gave to me� Shopping at Harrods � There is no place like Harrods at Christmas time. Each year the store metamorphoses into a sumptuously decorated wonderland of lavish food, the most glorious gifts and magnificent gowns that make Christmas at Harrods simply magical. Harrods� Christmas World department has been open since August, a breathtaking spectacle with 16 themed areas including Traditional Christmas, White Christmas and London Christmas � a total of 15,000 square feet of festive colour.

This year Father Christmas and his nine reindeer will take you on an exciting journey throughout Harrods� seven floors to find the perfect gifts for good boys and girls (no matter what age).

On the third day of Christmas, VisitBritain gave to me� Crystal Christmas at The Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew � The Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew, West London, plans to celebrate a Crystal Christmas this festive season (Nov. 26 � Jan. 2). An ice-rink will be set outside the Temperate House and open daily until 10 p.m. Santa Claus will be waiting at his ice cave every weekend and, on Dec. 16 and 17, the gardens remain open until 8.30 p.m., with seasonal decorations and carol concerts, and mulled wine and roast chestnuts on sale. www.kew.org

On the fourth day of Christmas, VisitBritain gave to me� A Christmas feast at Hampton Court Palace � Tantalise your taste buds and hear your tummy rumble at Hampton Court Palace this Christmas as our famous food archaeologists turn their hand to the preparation of Georgian festive culinary delights. Sponsored by chocolatiers Green & Black�s, visitors to this event will also be invited to sample the company�s delicious hot chocolate whilst they watch the chefs at work.

For the last time this year the palace�s Tudor kitchens play host to the preparation of an historic Georgian Christmas feast. Step in from the icy cold and see what�s cooking over the roaring fire - smell the ingredients and see haute cuisine in the making, Georgian-style. The palace historic chefs will create an entire Christmas dinner typical of the royal table in the 1730s which you can compare to your own traditional Christmas feast. See how dining has changed, as period recipes, ingredients and techniques will be on show, before the busy kitchen staff sit down to eat their meal in this unusual royal setting.

Our chefs will also be creating Georgian hot chocolate � see how the now popular drink was made nearly three hundred years ago, starting with rolling out the raw cocoa beans which are mixed together with other ingredients to make this Georgian delicacy. As the sound of that tummy rumbling gets louder and louder, you can give in to temptation, sampling the modern equivalent by indulging in Green & Black�s luxury organic hot chocolate drink. Whilst watching the palace chefs hard at work, relax and enjoy as the chocolate drink warms you through!

If you dare to pull yourself away from the kitchens, your Green & Black�s experience will not end though � a free bar of their fabulous chocolate awaits those who make a purchase in the palace�s Tudor Kitchens Shop.

On the fifth day of Christmas, VisitBritain gave to me� Festive Pampering at New Park Manor � Enjoy the pre-Christmas �Winter Warmer� package which includes two night�s accommodation, breakfast in bed on one morning and a spa breakfast on the other, lunch in the spa�s Juice Bar and two candle-lit suppers, which can be taken either in the hotel�s elegant dinning room or in the comfort of your room. The �Winter Warmer� also includes a range of holistic spa treatments including a warm sea salt and oil body scrub, a deluxe mud therapy in a private Rasul treatment room and a choice of massage. The two night package costs �329 per person and is based on two people sharing.

Alternatively, begin the year with the luxurious pampering of the �New Forest, New You� package. Focusing on cleansing, detoxification and pure and unadulterated relaxation the package offers treatments including a herbal foot bath with essential oils and aromatic herbs, a reflex point massage, a detoxifying marine wrap and a soothing head massage. The two night break costs from �340 per person and is based on two people sharing. The �New Forest, New You� break also includes breakfast on both mornings, two evening meals and a light lunch in the spa�s Juice Bar.

Open to all hotel guests the spa is housed in an impressive ranch style building and features a hydro-pool, foot-spa, traditional Finnish sauna, Eastern-style steam room and Sanarium heat room. More vigorous exercise is provided in the techno gym fitness suite, while the yoga studio offers the ultimate in relaxation and wellbeing.

Offering stunning and uninterrupted 270� views over the surrounding paddock and national parkland, the 16-metre swimming pool is the perfect place to take a dip, while a hand crafted Canadian Hot Tub provides the perfect place to unwind and relax.

On the sixth day of Christmas, VisitBritain gave to me� A Ritzy gala dinner dance at the Ritz London � This year at the Ritz London, their traditional Christmas and New Year programme includes a special celebration to launch the hotel�s centennial year in 2006. The Centennial celebrations will begin at New Year with a black tie gala dinner dance in The Ritz Restaurant on 31 December. For �1906 a couple (1906 being the year the Ritz opened!), the evening offers a seven course gourmet dinner accompanied by a bottle of Laurent-Perrier Grand Siecle Chanpagne; dancing to a ten piece band, fireworks in the Italian Garden, The Central Band of the Royal Air Force regimental marching band and a lone Scottish piper at midnight. Website: www.theritzlondon.com

On the seventh day of Christmas, VisitBritain gave to me� A Christmas pantomime at London Zoo � London Zoo is to hold its first ever Christmas pantomime (a traditional comedic stage show aimed mainly at young people). �Dick Whittington and his Magical Cat� will entertain audiences in a purpose-built theatre at the heart of the zoo (Dec. 23 � Jan. 8, 2006). Bookings, tel. 0870 013 0654. Website: www.pantoatthezoo.co.uk

On the eighth day of Christmas, VisitBritain gave to me� Jewellery, art and chocolate bazaar at Blenheim Palace � Visitors to Blenheim Palace, the Duke of Marlborough�s stately home near Oxford, will enter through an avenue of sparkling Christmas trees and see decorations on the theme of the 12 days of Christmas in the state rooms (Nov. 12 � Dec. 11). For three days in November, Living Crafts for Christmas (Nov. 18-20) will be an opportunity to buy jewellery, art, ceramics, chocolates and other seasonal gifts in the Great Court. Tel: 08700 111 912. Website: www.blenheimpalace.com

On the ninth day of Christmas, VisitBritain gave to me� Free festive events in Birmingham � Birmingham, a city growing in popularity among shoppers, diners and culture lovers, is planning a lively lead-up to Christmas this year. A bumper programme of free events starts with a Switch on the Christmas Lights concert, featuring chart-topping acts, at Millennium Point (Nov. 12). The Frankfurt Christmas Market, with 75 stalls, is the largest of its kind outside Germany and Austria (Nov. 17 � Dec. 21).

An illuminated Canal Boat Light Parade (Nov. 20) features 50 decorated canal boats and pyrotechnic effects progressing along the city centre�s canals; while the Birmingham Christmas Grotto, featuring Father Christmas, takes place from Nov. 19 � Dec. 24. The events programme culminates with a fireworks display at midnight on New Year�s Eve (Dec. 31). Website: www.birmingham.gov.uk/christmas

On the tenth day of Christmas, VisitBritain gave to me� Carol singing at the Christmas Market in Bath � The Georgian city of Bath stages its fifth Christmas Market (Dec. 1-11) featuring more than 116 traditional wooden chalet stalls selling a wide variety of items, the market is bordered by the Abbey and Roman Baths. Carol singers, strolling players, a Victorian carousel and mulled wine are all promised and admission is free. Tel: 01225 477761. Website: www.visitbath.co.uk

On the eleventh day of Christmas, VisitBritain gave to me� A trip out to Portsmouth Historic Dockyard � For those who fancy a trip out of London, Portsmouth Historic Dockyard on the South Coast has a Festival of Christmas (Dec. 2-4). Set around great ships such as HMS Victory and HMS Warrior it will feature 100 stalls selling a vast array of seasonal and special gifts. There will be street entertainment, live music, festive food, a real ale tavern and an ice-rink. Admission charge. Website: www.christmasfestival.co.uk

On the twelfth day of Christmas, VisitBritain gave to me� Christmas in Shakespeare country � Shakespeare Country in the Heart of England will have a particularly festive atmosphere this December. Visitors will be able to experience the magic of a medieval Christmas at Warwick Castle�s Frost Fair (Dec. 10 � Jan. 2). The castle courtyard will be transformed into a winter wonderland with an outdoor ice-rink.

In Stratford-upon-Avon, Christmas Fairs take place on Dec. 1, 8, 15 and 22 and William Shakespeare�s Birthplace will be dressed-up using hand-made decorations -- it will open until late on selected days. Charles Dickens�s masterpiece �Great Expectations� is staged in a new Royal Shakespeare Company production at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre (Nov. 25 � Feb. 4). Christmas Markets are also held in elegant Royal Leamington Spa every Sunday (Oct. 2 � Dec. 20, except Nov. 13). For more details, call South Warwickshire Tourism on 0870 160 7930. Website: www.shakespeare-country.co.uk

ENDS

About VisitBritain VisitBritain markets Britain to the rest of the world and England to the British, building the value of tourism throughout Britain and throughout the year by creating world-class destination brands and marketing campaigns. It also builds partnerships with - and provides insights to - other organisations that have a stake in British and English tourism.

VisitBritain works in partnership with the national tourist boards in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales to promote an attractive image of Britain. It provides impartial tourism information and gathers essential market intelligence for the UK tourism industry. www.visitbritain.com/hk.

Media Contact: Racquel Chung Email: racquel.chung@visitbritain.org Ph: (852) 3515 7890