Hello from The Sarky Traveller
Been back from China around 3 weeks and still not really back on track. The travel journal is written, the photos have been stored on the external hard drive and souvenirs have been distributed. But the blogs are no where near ready. It's going to be a new year start for the China blogs, with survival guides for each of the cities we visited. Cultural differences that might leave westerners flumoxed will be explained and as usual top tips, the best in cultural and historical sights and amazing places to stay and eat will be revealed.
So to tide you over before the new year exploration of china, I figured a nice edition on Christmas markets, travel and general survival of the festive season was in order.
Now, living in London there are of course lots of Christmas themed markets, craft fairs, events and festivities. Some of them run through the whole month of December and others are weekend or day specific. There will be events spread all over London in different boroughs and areas, so if you are a resident check out your local borough website. For those visiting from around the country or further afield, here's some of the best to keep you going in London:
Southbank Markets and Food Festivals: Running from mid November through to Christmas Eve, the Southbank Markets bring Germany to the Thames. With around 80 stalls filled with gifts, food and drink, it's a beautiful walk along the river and not only that but you're in the heart of the South Bank for museums, galleries and theatres. The markets are open till late every day (Sun-Fri till 9pm. Sat till 10pm) so you can have a jaunt after work, pre or post theatre, or plan the day there and sample the delights of Christmas on the Thames.
In addition to the 6 week festivities are a number of food events. The Chocolate Festival at Southbank is on from Friday 13th Decemeber till Sunday 15th December with artisan chocolatiers, chocolate themed gifts and demonstrations. Bring your sweet teeth and enjoy!
Also the Real Food Christmas Market starting on the 19th till the 22nd behind Royal Festival Hall is a treat for festive foodies. There are food gifts to buy as well as edible treats for on the go such as mince pies and the obligatory mulled wine.
For more information on Southbank and the Winter Festival 2013 check out their website and plan a trip.
http://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whatson/festivals-series/the-winter-festival
There are links on the site to all the festivals and markets I've mentioned above.
Okay moving on. Also in London is the huge and getting huger by the year, Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park. Expect queues, especially on weekends, but it really has become a staple of London Christmas over the past few years. With an ice rink, roller coaster, rides, games, stalls, food, entertainment and a certain atmosphere that really makes even those with bah humbug for a motto, sink into that festive feeling. The Winter Wonderland is a great way to wile away a few hours, be it after work or at the weekend, or of course during the day if you don't work or have some holidays free. Open late and into the new year, don't worry if you miss it before Christmas you can still keep the spirit going into the early days of January.
I would suggest booking in advance for the ice rink and take plenty of cash with you, though they do have a few ATMs scattered around. Facilities are good with toilets regularly spaced; plenty of food and drink with some bars and restaurants having inside seating to escape the cold. For tickets and more details visit the event website: http://www.hydeparkwinterwonderland.com/
Now to a couple of slightly less well known Christmas events in London and some newbies. There have been various pop-up events around town and there are more to come:
Snowy Fingers Vintage Market which is actually on tomorrow (Tues 10th). Think Christmas jumpers, old school baking and lots of retro treats. Venue: Round Chapel. Transport: Nearest Tube/Train Hackney Central/Hackney Downs.
Join the first Christmas market at Berwick Street Market in Soho. Eat, drink and be merry, whilst shopping the finest in independent fashion and gifts. Hop along anytime as it kicked off yesterday and goes on until the 24th.
Then there's the Finnish Pop up at The Finnish Institute near Holburn. Sample Finnish delicacies as well as hand made gifts and traditional glassware. Check it out.
Of course there is much more going on, I can't mention it all, so check out timeout for their rundown of the best in Christmas events and find something in your area to your taste. http://www.timeout.com/london/shopping/christmas-markets-and-fairs-in-london
Finally for London I will finish up with Handmade at the O2, which is actually number 2 on timeout's list of Christmas Markets and where I will be heading at the weekend with the parentals who are coming to visit.
In the O2 arena with over 60,000 guests expected over three days, it's all about crafts and it's all about the O2. With 100's of stalls, work shops and demonstrations, gifts, fashion, accessories, decorations, food and drink and lovely long opening hours 1pm-8.30pm (Fri and Sun) and 12pm-8.30pm (Sat), Handmade at the O2 is bound to be a great day in fabulous surroundings.
And not only that but of course you are in the heart of entertainment land with countless bars, restaurants, a cinema, music venues and the British Music Experience right under the same roof. And incidentally when you buy a ticket for the Handmade Christmas event for £5 (though they do place a handling fee or something to make it £6.50 each) you can actually visit the British Music Experience for only £2 each, instead of the usual £13. So you really can make a whole day of it at the O2 and know that you are inside escaping possible bad weather and chill.
It's only on this weekend starting Friday 13th at 1pm and going through till Sunday 15th at 8.30pm. So get your tickets whilst you can and buy something Handmade for Christmas. http://www.handmadechristmas.co.uk/
Okay, so if you're not in London this festive time what about heading to Manchester or Birmingham or York or Edinburgh. There is a huge selection of well established Christmas Markets and Festivals up and down the country, some bigger than others and some ever increasing. www.visitbritain.com
Every time I visit the Manchester markets (as I did a couple of weeks back) they seem to have added an extra street or square of shops and activities. In fact, only being slightly biased as I used to live there, the Manchester markets are just fab! Taking you on a lovely walking tour of the city centre, snaking through streets and squares and leading you to Albert Square and the impressive Town Hall, where the large twinkly Santa awaits, there are staples of the market that have been there for years but there are always new stalls and ideas, gifts and food. Incidentally it is the 15th Anniversary of the Manchester Markets this year so go check them out if you're in the North or can easily get there by train/car. http://www.manchester.gov.uk/info/500241/
Again they have been up and running since mid November and will be there till around 22nd December and are open till late most days (8/8/30pm) closing a little earlier on Sundays (7/7.30pm.) If you do visit and wind up at Albert Square, take a peek inside the Town Hall as they now have a cafe in the sculpture hall and also Afflecks Palace, the world famous alternative institution of Manchester has a pop up market in there too. http://www.afflecks.com/ And you can take tours of the Town Hall now, which I would have loved to do when I lived there.
If driving there, there are tonnes of car parks just out of the centre and by that I mean literally 5 minutes walk to the markets/Arndale Centre (main shopping centre) and they are ridiculously well priced and manned. So well worth it, rather than going for a NCP or multi storey car park. Prices start from around £1.50 at the weekend for all day up to £3/4 during the week. Though if you plan to be there longer than 6pm you may need to look around as some car parks close at 6pm. (Head towards the centre of town and they are all sign posted.)
Oh and check out the newest little square on the border of Salford and Manchester, in plain sight of the markets and incorporating a lovely bridge, market stalls, an amphitheatre and fountains that do a beautiful night time performance. It's Greengate Square and it's wonderful! http://www.visitsalford.info/greengatesquare.htm We stayed to watch the fountains and their light show for some time. Bellagio eat your heart out, this is fountains Salford style. Brilliant!
If you can, please explore the UK and see something new as well as taking in a Christmas market or festival of some kind. The UK has a lot to offer with vibrant cities, bustling markets and huge heart so go and support your local town/city, or take a trip, explore somewhere new.
Now briefly because I have already waffled on for quite some time, I will give you a few tips and survival techniques for travelling at Christmas as it can be the ultimate ball ache of the the festive period.
Expect cancellations to services both train and plane. Expect queues, expect high ticket prices and no where to put your luggage.
So: Book early. Obvious but still a classic. If you know those tickets go on sale three months before but you only book two weeks before you will be lucky to find something affordable, unless of course I am blogging to a load of rich people, although they probably wouldn't be taking the train in the first place.
Also sticking with trains, find out about planned engineering works as they usually go on before and after Christmas and into the new year and can be ridiculously disruptive. I once had a supposed three hour journey to London for New year which became about an 8 hour, bus, train, bus, train and final bus journey, which got me there about five hours before midnight. So to avoid these things, check ahead and be aware. You may have to alter your plans by a day or so but it will give you a much nicer journey.
Also between Christmas and new year there are reduced services with some train services cancelling all services or just operating a one an hour service. And if you can avoid travelling on bank holidays then I would advise it because they are usually rammed and quite often over subscribed so you have people and luggage everywhere and it is not fun.
If taking the train I would advise taking at least one book, bottle of water, snacks and perhaps something to listen to or watch. You never know when your train could be delayed, lose power or have to be diverted. Also in terms of luggage, the big luggage racks are taken up very swiftly as they can only fit on about four cases, so if you can manage with one or two smaller bags that fit in the above seat storage you will have piece of mind and also a free aisle.
Most things completely shut down on Christmas Day and very little goes on Boxing Day but it's often Christmas Eve you have to watch out. Bus, train and tube services finish earlier than usual and that can leave you stranded with only taxi as a possibility and they are double time on Christmas Eve. I've been duped by this before. Check out your local transport site or town site and you'll be able to find out how long your bus and train services are in operation around the festive time.
Well, I think that's the main survival aspects covered. Be prepared, just like the scouts. Find out what is happening and expect the worst. Take additional snacks and drinks on journeys, especially trains and buses and provide yourself with some form of entertainment, be it books, notepads, cards, tablets or computers, phones and ipods, because delays can be lengthy and tiredness/boredom will kick in.
All that said, you could have a lovely travel experience. There could be no delays and everything could run smoothly, but this is Britain and we are not optimists as a whole. Enjoy the run up to Christmas and all it's twinkling, jingling chaos and if you can check out some local festivals or markets then go for it. Support the UK. It's ace!
Keep travelling and until next time......Merry Christmas!
