Follow jewel-coloured trails through Birmingham's Botanical Gardens, meet Santa on board a train in the North York Moors, buy local at Bath's vast Christmas market and dine in style at Brighton's Royal Pavilion Christmas Banquet. From enchanting illuminations to merry markets via family festivities and all-important adult-only advent-ures, there's something to entertain everyone across England this holiday season.

Enchanting illuminations

Longleat's Christmas Festival of Light, Wiltshire
Selected dates from 5 November - 2 January 2018
The theme for Longleat's 2017 Christmas Festival of Light is the magic of storytelling and visitors will see the iconic Wiltshire estate transported to a whimsical fairy tale land of imagination through a series of giant, awe-inspiring illuminated lantern displays. Walk among dazzling scenes of tales including Cinderella, Snow White, Little Red Riding Hood and Rapunzel. 
Fridays to Sundays from 5 November and daily from 1 December - 2 January (excluding Christmas Day). Adults £30.55, children £22.90 (online price)
www.longleat.co.uk/festival-of-light

Birmingham Botanical Gardens Christmas Trail, Birmingham
29 November – 1 January 2018
A spectacular new Christmas trail at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens is set to transform it into a magical illuminated wonderland. The jewel-coloured trail will lead visitors through the Gardens, highlighting its rich Victorian history and heritage trees, and telling stories through installations. Journey through The Twelve Days of Christmas, a tunnel of lights, a mistletoe moment, a scented fire garden and the incredible Singing Tree! Using the latest technology this single coppice will appear to magically belt out a tune as visitors wander past. 
Advance Non-Member Adult from £14.00 - £16.00, Child from £8- £10; Advance Family Ticket £40-£48. 
http://birminghamchristmasgarden.co.uk

Hull lights up in December, Hull
1 December – 7 January 2018
Hull is set to shine as 2017 comes to a dazzling finale in the UK City of Culture – helped along by guiding lights from interactive robots and stunning projections played out on one of the city's best-known landmarks. World-renowned, award-winning art collective Jason Bruges Studio will create 'Where Do We Go From Here?' – the UK City of Culture's last major commission for 2017. Meanwhile in Hull's Marina area, Marshmallow Laser Feast will stage A Colossal Wave (1-10 December), a virtual reality installation, while over the second weekend of December, 'Look Up: The Deep' (8-10 December) will shine a fresh light on one of Hull's most iconic buildings, The Deep aquarium. 
Free
www.hull2017.co.uk, www.visit-hull.com

Merry markets and stress-free shopping

Living Crafts, Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire
16 – 19 November
Gift-getting doesn't have to happen in a stuffy shopping mall; the Churchill and Marlborough Pavilions in Blenheim Palace's Great Court are the setting for over 150 British designer-makers to showcase high quality contemporary crafts. Discover perfect presents for all the family from special commissions to simple stocking fillers; millinery, ceramics, studio glass, leather work, sculpture, textile crafts, photography, toys and puzzles, fashions, soaps, designer jewellery and more. 
Adult £15.30 Concession £11.50
www.livingcrafts.co.uk

Bath Christmas Market, Bath
23 November – 10 December
At the heart of the city, Bath Christmas Market has gained a reputation for being one of the best in Europe. Over 60 of the 200+ chalets will be new this year and more than 80% represent businesses from Bath and the surrounding region, offering a Christmas market that is truly unique to the South West of England. Local artwork, handmade Christmas decorations, bespoke jewellery, homewares, festive food and drink, toys, accessories and gifts for pets will give plenty of inspiration for presents! 
Free
www.bathchristmasmarket.co.uk 

Victorian Christmas Market, Kelham Island Museum Sheffield
2- 3 December
Enjoy festive family entertainment and a warm Dickensian welcome at the 25th edition of Kelham Island Museum's Victorian Christmas Market. Find over 120 market stalls, food stalls, festive family entertainment, fairground, music hall, traditional crafts and skills, Santa Industries Co. Grotto and reindeer. 
Free
www.simt.co.uk/kelham-island-museum/whats-on/25th-victorian-christmas-market

Family festivities

A Magical Wedgwood Christmas at World of Wedgwood, Stoke-on-Trent
11 November - 7 January 2018
Wedgwood's 2017 Christmas Story 'A Magical Wedgwood Christmas' will be showcased at World of Wedgwood for children and adults alike to enjoy. Set in 1911 the story takes place at Wedgwood's Etruria Factory, taking Daisy Makeig-Jones on a creative adventure inspired by her famed 'Fairyland Lustre' collection. The Wedgwood Flagship store will be transformed with a series of enchanting displays depicting Daisy's adventures through fairyland with gift ideas and inspiration and World of Wedgwood will have a full calendar of events from children's pottery painting and museum trails to 'How to' demonstrations and Afternoon Tea.  
www.worldofwedgwood.com/content/christmas-–-discover-daisy's-journey

Enjoy your'elf at the North Yorkshire Moors Railway, Yorkshire
Selected dates from 2 December
Families' ho-ho-hoping for a memorable Christmas should look no further than the North Yorkshire Moors Railway's annual Santa Special Services. Departing from both Pickering and Grosmont stations, this event gives children the chance to meet Santa in his festive grotto on board the train! With it being the time for giving, children will receive some treats from the railway, including a Christmas Activity Bag and a gift from Santa, with adults enjoying a delicious mince pie, a hot drink and an alcoholic tipple. Passengers experiencing the magical adventure aboard the Santa Express, departing from Pickering, will also have the chance to take selfies with Santa's 'real life' reindeers. 
Adults £21, child £21.
www.nymr.co.uk/Event/santa-specials-pickering  

Step into the fairy tale, Hinton Ampner, Hampshire
2 – 24 December
With spinning wheels whirring, glass slippers lost and gingerbread crumbs left behind, step into the magical world of the Brothers Grimm fairy tales at historic house Hinton Ampner. Its ground floor will be transformed to tell classic fairy tales, such as Rapunzel, Cinderella and Hansel and Gretel, linking to the tradition started by former owner Ralph Dutton when village children enjoyed Christmas shows and tea at Hinton. Alongside the sparkle will be Hinton's famous floral displays. Outdoors, there's a family trail featuring 25 fairy tale secrets hidden behind Advent Calendar boxes. 
Entry to house £12 adult, £6.60 child (excl. Gift Aid); advent trail £2 per trail.
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/hinton-ampner/features/christmas-at-hinton-ampner-2017

Blists Hill Victorian Town, Ironbridge Gorge, Shropshire
9-10 and 16-17 December
Mr Morton's Christmas Celebrations will see the magnificent Iron Rolling Mill transformed into a place for a 'workers' Christmas party'. Enjoy festive food and seasonal entertainment, including Christmas songs and Punch and Judy, and enjoy a good old sing-a-long with the carol singers. The town will be festooned with traditional Christmas decorations as the townsfolk prepare seasonal goodies and make traditional Victorian presents. 
Adult £16.25 (excl. Gift Aid), child £10.75 (excl. Gift Aid).
www.ironbridge.org.uk/events/family-events/victorian-christmas

Advent-ures for adults

Christmas at the Spiegeltent, Bristol
24 November – 23 December
The vintage Spiegeltent returns to Bristol's Waterfront Square on the Harbourside with fine food, live entertainment, music, dancing, cabaret, comedy and much, much more. There are a number of family-friendly events (including Baby Disko on 2 and 16 December), but certain nights at this stylish speakeasy are strictly for over-18s. Snap up tickets to White Mink – a glamorous night of live jive and jazz (25 November) – and get your costume ready for the decadent Masquerade Ball on 16 December. 
Masquerade Ball £24 plus booking fee; White Mink £20 plus booking fee.
www.christmasspiegeltent.co.uk

Christmas Banquet at the Royal Pavilion, Brighton
Fridays 8, 15 (sold out) & 22 December
There's no better time than Christmas to get dolled up and dine in style: Brighton's Royal Pavilion invites you to celebrate Christmas in regal splendour. Step into the past and enjoy a drinks and canapé reception followed by a three course dinner with wine and coffee in the palace's magnificent Banqueting Room. Private tables of 10 are available; smaller groups will be asked to share a table. Dress code: Black tie or optional period dress (Georgian/Regency). 
£99, members £89, book in advance
www.brightonmuseums.org.uk/discover/events/event/christmas-banquets

For more holiday inspiration check out www.visitengland.com

Ends

For further press information and images please contact:
Evelina Andrews/ Louise Ferrall
VisitEngland Press Office
Tel: 020 7578 1446 / 020 7578 1437
Email: vepr@visitengland.org