Christmas Specials
Coach Touring gives some seasonal suggestions for this year’s festive period
Enjoy a Victorian Christmas at Kelham Island Museum
Kelham Island Museum’s Victorian Christmas Market returns on Saturday 30 November (10am - 7pm) and Sunday 1 December (10am - 5pm) bringing a sprinkle of Christmas cheer to the steel city.
Now in its 21st year, the Dickensian themed event attracts over 16,000 visitors to its ambient market quarters with over 120 stalls bearing seasonal goods to suit every pocket, from ‘Sheffield, Made’ crafts to ‘All that Glitters’ treasures.
Shoppers can enjoy festive food and entertainment experiencing tastes from around the world and live music performances on stage and around their atmospheric museum grounds where their Dickensian Living History folk will be raising spirits and warming hearts.
Kids go free and so families will love their Santa Industries Co. workshop and Grotto and traditional fairground with gallopers. See www.simt.co.uk for prices and further detail. Please contact them in advance for group booking incentives on 0114 272 2106 or events@simt.co.uk
CHRISTMAS STARTS on 1st October at HAYES GARDEN WORLD in AMBLESIDE
The spectacular Christmas Displays at Hayes Garden World are renowned throughout the North of England and will be open from Saturday 1st October. Group Visitor Manager, Julie Wray, and her team, offer a personal “meet-and-greet” service for all pre-booked visitors, who can then browse among the many themed Christmas displays and extensive shopping halls, full of Christmas gift ideas for all the family. Coaches now enjoy free on-site parking in the new designated areas which have been created right outside the spectacular new steel and glass shopping arena at Hayes.
Santa himself will be visiting on selected dates later in the season – please contact Julie Wray for full details.
Great Value Festive Catering Options at Hayes
The Four Seasons Terrace Café can seat well over 200 people and their Group Catering Packages offer delicious home-cooked food and reserved seating at very competitive rates, with catering options starting from only £3 per person. As usual, drivers and guides are well catered for with free refreshments and a £25 gift voucher for all drivers escorting a pre-booked “meet and greet” party of 30 or more.
For more information or to make a booking please contact Julie Wray, on 015394 33434
or E-mail: julie.wray@hayesgardenworld.co.uk
Taurus Crafts
Are you looking to include in your tour a Christmas experience that has a slower more traditional feel than the high street? If so Taurus Crafts is the place for you.
December starts with the smell of traditional Christmas trees, when lots of trees arrive fresh cut from the local estate. Norway Spruce is the fragrance of Christmas. They decorate the site with baubles and branches and lights. This is the sparkle of Christmas. The food shop is crammed with local and continental treats - the taste of Christmas. The 11 artisan businesses and their own Gift Shop, are temptingly full of the Christmas gifts and decorations they have chosen especially for this year’s festivities.
They hope to make Christmas at Taurus Crafts about smiles, laughter, companionship and a chance to experience a slower, more traditional time as the stonemason chips, the leather worker carves, the knitter knits, the potter throws the clay, the jeweler makes her sparkle and the chocolatiers work their magic.
Open daily. 10.00-17.00. Free coach parking
For further information call: 01594 844 841 email: enquire@tauruscrafts.co.uk www.tauruscrafts.co.uk
Haynes International Motor Museum
The prestigious Haynes International Motor Museum at Sparkford in Somerset offers fantastic family fun whatever the weather. With more than 400 cars and bikes displayed in stunning style, dating from 1885 to the present day, it is the UK’s largest exhibition of great cars from around the world.
For those interested in a nostalgic trip down memory lane, the museum offers a host of familiar names such as Austin, MG, and Morris. Those who are seeking something more exotic will be pleased to find a vast array of performance cars, from modern classics such as the Dodge Viper RT10 and the Jaguar XJ220, to the more historic Jaguar E Type and AC Cobra. Also on show is a large collection of American cars, including the jewels in the crown of Haynes – the V16 Cadillac, and the multi-million-dollar Duesenberg.
For the children there is racing cars, Volkswagen campers, ice-cream vans, diggers, and even a full-size double decker bus are all waiting for youngsters to enjoy as Haynes International Motor Museum opens Haynes Motorland, a new £250,000 motor themed family entertainment zone within the grounds of the museum. Complete your visit in the café, serving a variety of freshly made snacks and drinks all day.
The museum is open 7 days a week, and is easily accessible, being situated just off the A303 north of Yeovil.
For further details phone 01963 440804, or visit the website at www.haynesmotor
museum.co.uk
AUSTRIAN FESTIVITIES AND CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS IN THE MANOR. SPECTACULAR AND EXCLUSIVE LIGHT INSTALLATIONS IN THE GARDENS BY LIGHT ARTIST BRUCE MUNRO
The decorations in the house at Waddesdon this year will have an Austrian theme, which is appropriate as Baron Ferdinand de Rothschild, who built Waddesdon, was from the Austrian branch of the family.
Edelweiss and waltzes, crystals, red ribbons and Gustav Klimt’s’ ‘The Kiss’ are some of the treats in store as you visit the East Wing of the house at Waddesdon. The Coach House at the Stables will magically resemble a Tyrolean Log Cabin. Here children will write their letters to Father Christmas.
Early Bird Special Book your group into the East and Bachelors’ Wing and Gardens between 13 and 30 November and take advantage of our early bird rate £12 instead of £13 per adult, valid if you book before Tuesday 31 July. There are a number of special packages which involve touring the trail at 6pm, after food/shopping when the instillations can be seen at their best – you can see the details for these in the PDF I have attached to the email. Reservations for groups can be made by phoning the Group Bookings Team on 01296 653226 Mon-Fri 10-3. Or email Deborah.read@nationaltrust.org.uk or visit www.waddesdon.org for more information.