The UK at Christmas Time

A Christmas holiday in the UK can be something dreams are made of!  We may not always get the fluffy white snow you see on Christmas cards, but we do love to decorate our homes and shops to look beautiful during this special time of year.  Here are some ideas for a festive break in the UK.

The Christmas holidays in the UK are usually anytime during the two weeks either side of Christmas day.  Most schools finish for Christmas around the 20^{th of} December, and do not return for the New Year until around the 5^th or 6^th January.  This can be a great time to enjoy a well-earned festive holiday with your family.  For UK Christmas breaks, we recommend you look to book your accommodation early, as spaces can be booked up very quickly.  Park homes and holiday parks tend to be quieter over the winter months, so these can be a good choice and work out very affordable compared to other holiday accommodation.  Most parks are nearby to local attractions and are decorated for the Christmas period.  Away Resorts offer a wide range of accommodation grades and you could even have your own private hot tub to enjoy while you stay!  Perfect for those chilly winter evenings. You won’t get bored either, as all the holiday parks offer an extensive entertainment package, with live shows, singers, and comedy to look forward to.

Spending Christmas in the UK means you get to partake in some of the festive traditions we enjoy every year.  Most families sit down on Christmas day to a big roast dinner, like a fancier Sunday roast!  Usually we eat turkey, sometimes beef or even salmon as the main dish, with plenty of roast potatoes, vegetables, stuffing, pigs in blankets and gravy.  For dessert, we often enjoy Christmas pudding, which is a boozy fruitcake style dessert served with custard or brandy butter.  For those who prefer chocolate, a chocolate log is a traditional treat. If you still aren’t completely full after all that, there’s always extra sweets and chocolate to enjoy throughout the day too.  Don’t forget the drinks too – mulled wine is a popular festive drink, much like the German gluhwein.  Mince pies might make an appearance too.

Once Christmas dinner is done and dusted, it is time to enjoy presents!  Christmas presents are gifted between family members. Gifts from Father Christmas are given to children, and many hang their stockings up the night before ready for the visit of Santa!  A classic tradition for many families is also watching the Queen’s speech, broadcast at 3pm every Christmas day.

If you are spending the Christmas holidays in the UK, you can look forward to enjoying some of these classic traditions and fun experiences of the festive time.  Why not look to make your own traditions too while you are here? We are sure that once you have spent the Christmas holiday in the UK you will want to return year after year!