What's on around the UK this weekend

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Yes it's November and colder and darker and wetter but the holiday season is just around the corner and there are many events around the country to get you into the Christmas spirit. Here’s travelbite.co.uk’s pick of what’s on this weekend around the United Kingdom...

festive food

Leeds Castle Festive Fair, Kent

The Leeds Castle Festive Fair offers Christmas shopping whatever the weather in heated and carpeted marquees with a host of Christmas gift ideas, stocking fillers and fabulous festive food and drinks.

There will be more than 100 stalls overflowing with traditional and innovative gifts on the Cedar Lawn. There’s even a free “carry to car” service available. This year the fair runs from November 21st to 22nd and adult entry tickets to the castle are £15.00 per ticket.

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Hyde Park Winter Wonderland, London

Many have been waiting for the 2009 Hyde Park Winter Wonderland since the hugely successful inaugural event last year and this Saturday the wait will be over.

This is London’s largest and most dazzling winter event and over 1.5 million visitors are expected to attend during the six weeks of festive fun. With no admission fee, Winter Wonderland offers a whole day-out from 10am to 10pm with beautifully themed attractions set out under thousands of twinkly lights.

Once again the event features London’s largest ice rink, and the iconic 50m Observation Wheel, with 40 heated pods offering truly spectacular views across the city. The German Christmas Market, Zippo’s Christmas Circus and the free Father Christmas visits are also bound to be popular.

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Brighton Marina Christmas Market, East Sussex

Enjoy a German style Christmas market at the magnificent Brighton Marina every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from now until December 20th. The market offers a wide selection of handmade decorations, Christmas gifts and gastronomic delights.

There’s also an inflatable blizzard beach where parents can let the kids enjoy themselves before taking them to meet Santa in his Christmas Lodge Grotto.

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Slow Food Market, London

This weekend the Slow Food market gets into the groove alongside the London Jazz Festival on London's Southbank.

Feast with the top British food producers, here to offer the best of seasonal flavours as well as more exotic items from the Caribbean, India and the Middle East. Other culinary features include gourmet vegetarian food and hand dived oysters. Buy produce from our most selective farmers, fishermen, cheese makers, bread bakers, cake bakers, vineyards and breweries.

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Christmas events in London

Also in London, Trafalgar Square is currently host to the incredible ‘Ghost Forest’, an original and ambitious art installation highlighting deforestation and climate change.

There are 10 real rainforest tree stumps positioned around the square, overlooked by Nelson’s Column, which stands at the approximate height these trees would have been in the wild (169 feet). This free event runs from November 16th to 22nd.

Other festive fun this weekend includes the annual Christmas bazaars at the Swedish Church in Marylebone and the Finnish Church in Bermondsey. A number of ice rinks open this weekend, including in the gorgeous 18th-century courtyard at Somerset House and at the Tower of London.

There’s also a Christmas market on Oxford Street this year from November 20th to January 3rd, with traditional crafts, toys and jewellery, as well as bratwurst and gluwhein.

Rochford Beer & Cider Festival, Essex

The Rochford Beer & Cider Festival runs from November 17th to 21st and is an opportunity to attempt to enjoy over 200 Real Ales.

The offering includes 70 Lancashire ales on Thwaites Taste of Lancashire Bar, 70 ales from Essex Bar and 60 plus ales from Best of the Rest Bar. There will also be over 35 ciders/perrys plus thousands of bottles of foreign beer and specialised English bottled beer.

Admission to the venue at Freight House is free and food and seating will be available at all sessions.

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Totterdown Art Trail, Bristol

The deliciously quirky Totterdown Front Room art trail celebrates Bristol art and design from the abstract to the figurative. Established in 2001, Front Room is Bristol's oldest art trail and now attracts nearly 200 artists, 60 venues and over 4000 visitors.

Front rooms, basements and gardens are transformed into mini galleries where artists and visitors can enjoy, discuss and purchase art in the most comfortable surroundings.

The event takes place from Friday November 20th (18:00 to 21:00) to Sunday November 22nd (12:00 to 18:00). Join in the party at the Thunderbolt on Friday, the street party on Saturday, as well as the market and Samba Band in Henry Street.

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The Enchanted Woodland, Syon House and Park

The beautiful Syon Park near Kew in London is a special venue for the fourth annual Enchanted Woodland event that is sure to get you in the Christmas spirit.

The arboretum is decked with coloured lights at night using the latest technology to dramatic effect. Families are encouraged to wrap up warm and explore.

Syon Park has over 4,000 trees representing 400 varieties, many of which will be spectacularly illuminated. Tickets are £5 for adults and £2 for children and you can redeem them any evening. The Enchanted Woodland will run from Friday November 20th until Sunday December 6th on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays only from 17:00 to 20:00.

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