IT'S BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE CHRISTMAS...
Read on to find out what we love doing at Christmas...
We're beginning to get very excited as the festive frivolities start to begin! Whether you're a Christmas party animal or prefer chilled out Mulled wine time with friends, there's so much to do in the run up to Christmas. Here's some of our top tips on how to get the most from the festive time...
GET CHRISTMAS INTERIOR SAVVY
Feel like you need a decoration overhaul... fed up of silver tinsel and hand-me-down fairy lights? Time to get creative this Christmas and there's so many ways you can do. Red Magazine has lots of tips on how to make the most of festive design, such as getting crafty with making your own candles, Christmas stockings and wreath. Plus, they're not as hard as they sound! Check out the full article here.
Feel like you need a decoration overhaul... fed up of silver tinsel and hand-me-down fairy lights? Time to get creative this Christmas and there's so many ways you can do. Red Magazine has lots of tips on how to make the most of festive design, such as getting crafty with making your own candles, Christmas stockings and wreath. Plus, they're not as hard as they sound! Check out the full article MAKE IT A FOODIE CHRISTMAS
If you've pulled the short straw and are hosting this year, then don't fret. This is your opportunity to have Christmas exactly how you want... no playing by anybody else's rules - this is your day! Start by carefully planning out the menu as soon as you can and feel confident with what you're going to be cooking. If there's anything you haven't tried before, you can't beat a Sunday session pre-Christmas road-testing the recipe out on a willing partner or friend (plus, it just means more excuses to treat yourself to good food!). Nigella Lawson has some sumptuous Christmas recipes that are sure to keep everyone happy and of course, most importantly, make sure everybody brings a bottle!
If you've pulled the short straw and are hosting this year, then don't fret. This is your opportunity to have Christmas exactly how you want... no playing by anybody else's rules - this is your day! Start by carefully planning out the menu as soon as you can and feel confident with what you're going to be cooking. If there's anything you haven't tried before, you can't beat a Sunday session pre-Christmas road-testing the recipe out on a willing partner or friend (plus, it just means more excuses to treat yourself to good food!). Nigella Lawson has some sumptuous Christmas recipes that are sure to keep everyone happy and of course, most importantly, make sure everybody brings a bottle!FESTIVE FAIRS
Nothing quite beats the warm smell of mulled wine on crisp, cold nights and Christmas markets are now central to pre-Christmas buzz up and down the country. With many of them getting bigger and busier, how do you find the best places to rest your feet after a busy day's shopping? One of our favourite places in London is Belgravia. Its charming cobbles are transformed into a winter wonderland, with a handful of festive events taking place across Pimlico Road and Elizabeth Street. It's the perfect place to meet up with friends for a truly festive experience and you avoid the big crowds of Hyde Park's Winter Wonderland!
GETTING THOSE GIFTS
You can either love it or hate it but you can't escape it... Christmas shopping is part and parcel of the whole festive experience. With many of London's pavements just too much of an ordeal to deal with, try some of the hidden gems that we recommend here and you're sure to find some amazing gifts. Broadway Market is great for quirky and kitsch gifts, Camden Passage is perfect to find something special for antique and vintage lovers and in West, Marylebone High Street is only a ten minute walk from Bond Street but has an array of cool, classy shops that are sure to find you something good enough to give.
You can either love it or hate it but you can't escape it... Christmas shopping is part and parcel of the whole festive experience. With many of London's pavements just too much of an ordeal to deal with, try some of the hidden gems that we recommend here and you're sure to find some amazing gifts. Broadway Market is great for quirky and kitsch gifts, Camden Passage is perfect to find something special for antique and vintage lovers and in West, Marylebone High Street is only a ten minute walk from Bond Street but has an array of cool, classy shops that are sure to find you something good enough to give.
For the best Christmas shopping experience, make sure you sit back, relax and head over to ourChristmas Gift Guide to find your ultimate gift!
The Wardrobe is by far one of the city's gems. A firm favourite with locals who know all about where to go, this bar transforms into a live music venue at night and plays host to the likes of Soul, Motown and Jazz artists. Perfect for after-work drinks, it has a inviting and relaxed ambience and has a gorgeous array of wines. Its food is just as famous as its music with the aptly named Soul Kitchen to wet your appetite, serving classic dishes from the deep South, Caribbean and Creole. You'll end up finding yourself there all night!
If you want some fun, then Manchester's new The Wash House is definitely for you. As the name suggests, it is actually a working launderette but don't be fooled! If you know where to go and what to say, you'll actually be led beyond the washing machines and tumble dryers into the secret cocktail bar at the back. The tip is to look out for the old phone and press the button.. you'll then be led into the exclusive bar at the back. Serving an array of moreish cocktails, The Wash House is not only one of the coolest bars around, its mysterious and fun entrance makes it all the more exclusive. We dare you...
If you're after a chic and stylish place to have a catch-up with friends, then Bath's trendy Circo Bar is the perfect place to head for a post-Saturday shop drink. Mixing the old and the new, it's lush decor oozes class with cool grey tones and luxurious Chesterfields and has contemporary classics on the soundtrack for a chilled-out vibe. Having recently extended its capacity, it now includes a low-lit cellar bar and features one of the most expensive back bars in Bath.
This relatively new bar is situated in an old Victorian Pump House and is in the heart of Edinburgh's gorgeous Old Town. Bursting with character, it keeps Scottish tradition by serving the best Whiskeys for spirit lovers (over 200 different varieties!) If you'd rather not taste the burn, then they have an extensive cocktail menu with inventive creations such as Days in Velour and Rogue Trader (which we hear are tasty!) We love Edinburgh and when we're next there, we'll be heading here...