Although the festivities surrounding Christmas and New Year provide a pinnacle for many people’s winter activities, there’s much more to winter than these celebrations.
So here’s a quick look ahead to see what dazzling UK events are going to help us fight the winter blues in 2016.
Museum attractions
Winter’s the perfect time of year to stay indoors and enjoy some of the best British museums. And New Year is the key time of year where many famous art museums unveil their latest exhibitions, and foremost amongst these must be the World Goes Pop exhibition at the Tate Modern that will provide a much-needed dose of colour and humour to the bleak winter months.
Those looking for a little luxurious inspiration for their Christmas presents would be well-served by a quick visit to the jewellery section of the Victoria and Albert Museum that unveils thousands of beautifully-crafted jewels with fascinating histories and astronomical price-tags!
Whereas the whole family would enjoy rediscovering the magic of Alice in Wonderland courtesy of the exhibition at the British Library that celebrates the 150th anniversary of Lewis Carroll’s famous creation. Amongst the key features will be interpretations by artists as far-ranging as Mervyn Peake and Salvador Dali, as well as the original manuscript by the acclaimed author that will be on display until April 2016.
The great outdoors
Of course, most of us will suffer a touch of cabin fever at some point during the cold months of the year. But the arrival of a new horse racing season provides the perfectly British way to get out there and enjoy some great sporting action. The Cheltenham Festival in March in particular offers a celebratory way to greet the coming of the warmer months, and you can look ahead in the horse racing betting markets at the Coral site that should provide an extra dose of adrenaline to the affairs.
Those looking to get a touch of the Christmas spirit in some royal surroundings might want to pay a visit to the Lapland UK attraction that features a snowy winter wonderland on the prestigious Windsor estate.
For those free sprits, the Rambler’s Festival of Winter Walks in December and January should deliver a little encouragement to try over 2,500 carefully selected walking routes that will get the blood going and help us enjoy the fantastic British countryside.
New Year shopping
And finally, although anyone with Christmas shopping still to do may balk at the idea, the New Year’s sales provide the perfect opportunity to enjoy our cities as crowds pack out the shopping arcades and high streets.
Although London’s Oxford Street has traditionally held the most frenetic shopping activities, those with more adventurous tastes may prefer to sample the boutique shopping arcades in cities such as Leeds and Cardiff. Whereas Edinburgh has traditionally offered some spectacular sales for those who have managed to survive the city’s famous Hogmanay celebrations.
Main image at the top of the article credit: FreeImages.com/anarki
