Here’s How to Spend the First Weekend of December
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas!
Here are our top picks…
Get into the festive spirit…
Head to Lotherton for their wonderful Christmas experience. Visit Santa under the Wishing Tree and get an early gift from him – but don’t forget to bring your Christmas wishes (providing you’re on the nice list). Replacing the old 12 Days of Christmas walk, the all-new woodland walk means children can discover the fairies in their secret hideaway and marvel at the Edwardian House in its festive finery. Also new this year, meet Mrs Claus who will be decorating gingerbread people (there’s plenty of elf crafts to get involved in too).
Over on the Raby Estate, follow the path through the Walled Gardens, which have been transformed into an Enchanted Festive Forest full of magic for Christmas. Stop for a delicious hot chocolate from the Stables Café – and if you find all the items hidden on the trail, you’ll collect a Christmas present at the end. Plenty more ideas for festive fun can be found in the pages of our December issues, out now.
Richmond’s award-winning aromatherapy company Kiss The Moon are hosting a festive extravaganza this Saturday (10am–3pm) at The Riding School, Aske in celebration of Small Business Saturday where you can browse the amazing gifts they have on offer, while discovering more from pop-up stalls: Diana Kaye Florist, Kate Parkington, Kefi Store, Love Sewing, Hannah Harriet, Ellenware Cermaics and Lisa’s Nail Bar will all be there. There’ll be hot drinks and baked treats from The Coffee Porter too.
See a movie…
One of this year’s most anticipated films has had a Marmite reaction so far, so we’ll let you decide what to think of Ridley Scott’s House of Gucci, which is in cinemas now. If that’s not your cup of tea, don’t forget No Time To Die is still screening if you missed all the earlier James Bond hype. Boxing Day, a new rom-com starring Little Mix's Leigh-Anne, is coming out in cinemas on 3rd December – and it’s set to be a popular watch, in which a British author returns home to London for Christmas to introduce his American fiancée to his eccentric British-Caribbean family.
Indulge in sweetness…
Saturday 4th is National Cookie Day and Will Torrent’s PBJ cookie sandwiches are the perfect choice. Give this recipe a go, team with a cuppa and curl up by the fire this weekend.
Open your advent calendar…
Sure you may have got your hands on a chocolate, beauty or gin box of treats to open as you count down to Christmas – but we’re giving you the chance to win 12 amazing prizes with our own special advent calendar. Simply head to our Instagram @living_north to be in with a chance of winning something amazing – and a new prize is being revealed every day for the first 12 days of December.
