Ho, Ho, Ho in the West Country
With Christmas rapidly approaching there are still plenty of opportunities to visit some of the many Christmas sights and sounds close to our Superfast drop off points as well as enjoying a taste of the festive season. One amazing location is Longleat Park where you will be blown away by the Festival of Lights.
Just a short ride from Warminster and Frome the lights and lanterns are put up by a team from China who are experts in their craft. This year you will have the opportunity of experiencing Narnia through the book The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe as well as the incredible singing Christmas tree and Santa’s Grotto. Also, on display are some of the characters from Peter Pan and Wind in the Willows. The light show is on until 7th January 2024 and is a spectacle worth considering in your lead up to Christmas and the New Year.
Another location which is on the border of Wiltshire and Somerset is Stourhead where once again they will be putting on a Christmas light display. This involves walking through the woods and pathways of this spectacular National Trust property with its lake and impressive house. The whole woodland is awash with lights and Christmas music. The walk takes around 90 minutes and during this time you will probably get the chance to meet up with Father Christmas. Hot drinks are available on the route, but you will need to wrap up warm and wear a good pair of walking shoes. To book your slot go to their website now. Closer to Taunton are Hestercombe Gardens and their Christmas lights where you can experience the coloured fountain, a walk to the Great Cascade and the Christmas Tree Grove. There will also be high jinks at Wookey Hole in the caves with Santa and his elves. There are over 100,000 lights and the Christmas extravaganza includes a light show, special grotto and Christmas movie.
Another popular attraction are the illuminations at Frogmary Green Farm and the display at the Bishop’s Palace in Wells. The light show is included in the price of the entrance to the palace and for a hot drink or something to eat you may like to try the Bishops Table Café.
If you are looking for some Christmas bargains then you should make for the city of Bath which has an excellent selection of shops and delights There is always lots to do at this time of year in the city which will be awash with colour, and the hustle and bustle of the festive season along its picturesque streets and squares.
Look out also for the many Christmas fayres that abound around the county and into Wiltshire. Taunton has a Christmas craft fair along its main street however do check the dates and times of this so that you won’t miss out on anything.
Another great favourite at Christmas is the traditional pantomime. You will find these at various points along our route and close by. The Theatre Royal in Bath is staging Sleeping Beauty starring Jon Monie, Nick Wilton, the guy who used to be the market inspector in Eastenders, together with West End star Neil McDermott and Sarah Jane Buckley from Hollyoaks. The Bristol Hippodrome are putting on Peter Pan starring David Suchet and Fay Tozer from Steps. At the Westland Centre in Yeovil, you will be able to see Cinderella written by Paul Hendry and produced by Evolution. The sets are superb and there is lot of fun and frolics built into the show. Taunton Tacchi Morris Centre is running Robin Hood up until 21st December whilst Strode College in Street will be showing Andre Rieu’s White Christmas on several dates over the festive season.
There are plenty of places to go shopping in the area including Clarkes Village in Street where you will find an array of outlets and stalls selling Christmas goodies. Taunton has plenty to offer in its many shops and if you are stopping in Yeovil you might like to make a short trip to Sherborne which has a range of independent outlets all ready to provide just what you need. Sherborne Abbey puts on some impressive carol services at this time of year as does Bath Abbey and many of the town and village churches in both West Wiltshire and in Somerset.
Wells Cathedral is organising a number of carols by candlelight services whilst Taunton Minster has a programme of festive events.
Christmas in Glastonbury is an experience and this year there will be a cornucopia of delights taking place in the Market House and elsewhere.
Many of the towns and villages in Somerset and West Wiltshire will be lit for Christmas period with several Christmas events planned at The Newt close to the Wincanton drop off point.
Finally, Santa will be in his Grotto at the Museum of Somerset in Taunton and at the Rural Museum of Somerset, Glastonbury you can join the reindeer trail, make some festive food and get to grips with making your own Christmas decorations.