In all the holiday madness, it can be hard to imagine being able to enjoy the season’s “peace on earth”. So, with the holidays fast approaching, you may already feel that you will need to recharge your seasonal sparkle before the big day. Come for a festive break and stay at one of our gorgeous New Forest Cottages and capture that magical Christmassy feeling.
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Here’s a selection of just some of the wonderful events taking place this Christmas in and around the New Forest…
Christmas Markets
If there’s one way to feel that lovely, fuzzy excitement on the run up to the 25th December, then a trip to a Christmas market comes top of the list. Cute wooden cabins bulge with handmade arts, gifts, decorations and lots of festive fare. Wander through the stalls to the sounds of those famous seasonal songs and the familiar fruity, spicy, festive scent combinations of mulled wine, roasting chestnuts, eggnog and crumbly gingerbread.
Just half an hour from the New Forest is Winchester Christmas Market, now hailed as one of the best in Europe, attracting over 350,000 visitors. There’s a huge ice rink and cabin stalls wrap around the mighty cathedral. It’s a picture-perfect fairy tale scene – cue the Christmas carol sing a longs!
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Southampton Christmas Festival has more than 40 stalls selling festive treats, trinkets and presents ready for the big day. There’s fun-filled entertainment from talented musicians as well as a flying Santa! Go hungry, as the smell of sizzling sausages, mince pies and spiced wine will soon beckon your attention.
The forest’s marine town of Lymington has a weekly year-round Saturday market on the pretty high street which adopts a festive atmosphere on the run-up to Christmas. Go along to shop for artisan produce, beautiful gifts and more scrumptious festive nibbles than you can shake a branch of berry laden holly at! Shopping in Lymington is well worth the visit in its own right, being home to a plentiful selection of gorgeous shops and beautiful independent boutiques.
Bournemouth Christmas Market centres around the shop-lined town square. There’s a popular ice rink in the adjacent gardens, and a huge open-air Alpine Bar for some late night carolling around the candy canes. Music and entertainment flow both day and night along with a bevy of festive food offerings, from sizzling bratwursts to indulgent chocolate delicacies. The atmosphere is super Christmassy with festive stalls laden with goodies and gifts.
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Christmas days out in and around the New Forest
Beaulieu, home of the National Motor Museum and Beaulieu Abbey, presents a Victorian Christmas. Go back in time to see how the stately Palace House was decorated over one hundred years ago. Admire beautiful handmade decorations and twinkly rooms filled with dazzling Christmas trees and huge roaring logs fires. Explore the lovely illuminated garden trail and finish off with a mug of hot chocolate.
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Children absolutely love the joyful spirit of Paultons Park – home of Peppa Pig World. Expect musical Christmas trees, thousands of fairy lights and Father Christmas in his enchanted grotto. Peppa Pig and her family, plus all the parks wonderful characters, will be dressed to impress. The park has rides and attractions providing plenty of smiles from the kids.
Nearby Marwell Zoo is going topsy-turvy this Christmas with ‘wonderland’ themed activities. Join Jingle the elf and his friends for crafts, storytelling by Mrs Claus, and a chance to meet Father Christmas in his grotto! Plus of course, see all the animals in this amazing zoo!
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When the stars come out, head over to Bournemouth Christmas Tree Wonderland and follow the pine-scented Christmas tree trail through Bournemouth’s Lower Gardens. See some super sweet illuminations and over one hundred huge sparkling neon trees from countries around the world. Tie your visit in with the Christmas market and a drink at the Alpine Bar for an awesome evening.
What better way to feel festive than a trip on Exbury Garden’s Polar Express? The miniature steam train gets a magical makeover with sparkles and lots of festive cheer. Little ones can go to the craft cafe to write a letter to Santa before climbing aboard for a chug through pretty landscaped gardens. Elves are on hand to sing Christmas songs and hail a stop at the North Pole letterbox for the children to post their Christmas letters to the Man in Red.
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Take a trip to Romsey and spend the day at the National Trust property, Mottisfont Abbey. This year, the abbey celebrates Christmas showcasing the enchanting Winter Flower Fairies by the famous early-twentieth-century artist, Cicely Mary Barker. Go to see exquisite decorations, lots of beautifully decorated Christmas trees, Cicely’s original artworks, a flower fairy trail through the woodlands and the impressive stately house beautifully dressed in traditional festive colours and evergreens from the gardens.
Stay in the New Forest for a Christmas break, and you’ll soon get that festive feeling. Explore the chocolate box villages in twinkly fairy lights and pop into the National Park’s cosy pubs for a tasty bite to eat. When not visiting the markets and attractions, wrap up warm and don your walking boots for a wander through winter woods and frosty heathlands before heading ‘ home’ to one of our super comfy New Forest Cottages.
Find your New Forest Christmas Cottage