Christmas is coming

It's still autumn but Christmas events are just around the corner and there's certainly a lot happening both on our doorstop as well as further afield. Ideally, we would like to go to all of them.

Henley's Christmas Festival runs from 5pm on 25 November to 5pm on 27 November. There's late night shopping, a farmers market and a craft fair during the course of the weekend. Oxford's Christmas Market gets under way on 1 December and will continue until 18 December. There'll be choirs singing Christmas carols and stalls selling beautiful gifts and decorations as well as hot food and drinks.

Just a few miles along the road from us, Watlington is holding its Christmas Fair on Saturday, 3 December, from 10am to 2pm. There'll be food and craft stalls in the High Street and in the Watlington Club. The fair of all Christmas fairs is in Birmingham which is easily accessible by train from Haddenham Thame Parkway, just 15 - 20 minutes away from The Laurels. Birmingham's Frankfurt Christmas Market starts on 3 November and runs until 23 December.

Stonor Park is hosting the Henley Christmas Fair between 24 and 27 November. The exhibitors are independent artisans showcasing their unique products. There's a Christmas Market at Blenheim Palace as well as Christmas Afternoon Teas (available between 18 November and 2 January 2023) and an After Dark Illuminations Trail.

Waddesdon Manor has wonderful Christmas events on offer including a Christmas Fair between 12 November and 18 December, Christmas in the House from 12 November to 2 January 2023 (excluding 24 - 26 December) and Christmas Afternoon Teas from 12 November until 22 January 2023.

Sudeley Castle is having a Spectacle of Light from 25 November to 30 December on selected evenings where you can follow an illuminated trail around the castle grounds.

Booking is required to attend these events and tickets can be bought online from each of the above hosts.

Shops are opening earlier and staying open later during the months of November and December at Bicester Village Retail Park where you can indulge in some Christmas retail therapy. The recently-revamped Westgate Centre is open daily and is home to over a hundred stores from the British high street and beyond.

Oxford's Covered Market is open Mondays to Saturdays where you'll find individual clothing and gift shops as well as florists, food stores and cafés. Gloucester Green Market is a wonderful outdoor market, open from Wednesdays to Saturdays, comprising mainly local businesses who are either food producers, jewellery makers or talented artists.

After visiting Oxford's numerous retailers, revive yourself at one of the many independent restaurants, pubs or tearooms in the city of dreaming spires.

Enjoy the next couple of months of events and festivals!

For booking information for The Laurels, call us now +44 (0)7472 492443 or email us at: info@thelaurelsoxford.com

We look forward to welcoming you to our stylish barn conversions at The Laurels.