What to do in England, events, ideas for the weekend, places to go

Christmas in Birmingham 2005: "Christmas Lights Switch On
Millennium Point
Saturday 12 November
3.30pm – 7.30pm, Switch On at 7.30pm
Supported by 100.7 Heart fm and Birmingham Mail

Frankfurt Christmas Market
Victoria Square and New Street
Thursday 17 November – Friday 23 December
10am – 8pm, daily
Supported by BRMB and Birmingham Mail

The BMI Baby Birmingham Christmas Grotto
Chamberlain Square
Saturday 19 November – Saturday 24 December
Weekdays: 11am – 6pm from 19 Nov – 22 Dec
Weekends and 23 and 24 Dec 10am – 8pm
Sponsored by BMI Baby, the Mall Pallasades, Pavilion Central, House of Fraser, Bullring, Martineau Place, Mailbox, Tesco and Centro.
Supported by BRMB and Birmingham Mail

Canal Boat Light Parade
Canal side – NIA to the Mailbox
Sunday 20 November
5pm – 6pm
Supported by BBC WM and Birmingham Mail

City Plaza Pantomime Horse Grand National
Edgbaston Street
Sunday 4 December 1 – 5pm
Supported by 100.7 Heart fm and Birmingham Mail

Bullring Christmas Reindeer and Lantern Parade
Bullring to Brindleyplace
Sunday 11 December
5pm – 6.30pm
Supported by 100.7 Heart fm and Birmingham Mail"

Yuletide York - Christmas 2005: "York is magical at Christmas time with its cobbled streets and snickleways, welcoming inns and restaurants and its candlelit churches. Christmas events around the city are diverse and offer something for everyone. If you're in need of some retail therapy, enjoy an excellent variety of quality shops in York's historic streets and bustling market place or combine your visit to one of York's three out-of-town shopping parks featuring the best in designer clothing and high street names.

New to York in 2005, the city will host a Children’s Christmas Fayre from 18-20 November 2005. Coinciding with the national Children In Need charity campaign, York promises a range of stalls and entertainment especially arranged for Children.

York boasts some of the best specialist markets in the country, starting with St Nicholas Fayre from 24 - 27 November 2005. This four day Fayre across the city offers an array of markets ranging from gifts, craft and medieval goods, to the best in local food produce. Newgate Market is open 7 days a week and the city centre will fill up with more market stalls every weekend leading up to Christmas.

The enchanting Festival of Angels will take place in The Quarter on 10 - 11 December - experience a winter wonderland of ice sculptures, snow and a true festival atmosphere. York's venues, museums, theatres and churches come alive throughout the season with a variety of festivities along with the city's many cafés, pubs and restaurants - bringing Christmas cheer to everyone. Check out the ‘Christmas Festivities’ pages for more information."

Funky and Festive: Christmas at Fabric - londonlaunch.com - Corporate and Private Event Management for London: "Conveniently located in Farringdon (ideal for access from both the City & the West End), Fabric offers a spectacular setting for events & entertainment. The venue occupies the space of the former Metropolitan Cold Stores: an impressive network of brick, glass and metal rooms & areas – all boasting state of the art of sound & lighting equipment.

With its five bars, three sound systems (including a “body sonic” dance floor), stages & screens + an exclusive VIP mezzanine, Fabric will offer the coolest, funkiest Xmas parties this year.

Classic Package Includes:

* £75 + VAT per person
* Champagne reception
* Selection of hot & cold gourmet canapés
* Unlimited bar, including beer, wine & soft drinks
* DJ

Using this as a template, we are happy to tailor-make packages to suit your specific requirements (we can arrange themed parties, buffet menus, additional entertainers, luxury bar packages etc). From a red carpet welcome to a cab service from the venue, our hospitality team will look after absolutely every aspect of the party. "

BBC - Lincolnshire Places - The 24th Lincoln Christmas Market: "It all started 23 years ago with the first Lincoln Christmas Market in 1982 being a somewhat modest affair by today's standard.
The Lincoln Christmas Market

INTERNET LINKS

Lincoln City website

The BBC is not responsible for the content of external websites
HAVE YOUR SAY

Have you got some advice for anyone going to the Christmas Market?

Have your say, e-mail lincolnshire@bbc.co.uk
SEE ALSO

Pictures from previous Lincoln Christmas Markets

Lincoln Christmas Market survival guide

Lincoln Christmas Market Webcam


From those days of a few stalls in Castle Square the market now takes over most of the Cathedral Quarter of Lincoln. In fact, there were just 14 stalls there compared to the 300 plus now.

For some it's the most important event in the City's calendar as it brings over 150,000 visitors to Lincoln. These visitors often return at other time in the year when they realise what Lincoln has to offer."

Large Holiday Homes in Scotland - Quality self catering accommodation throughout Scotland UK for large and small group holidays.: "LHH Scotland was formed in 1993 from humble beginnings when we chose to enter the self catering market by making our own large house available for holiday rentals. Our success quickly led to us into helping other holiday home owners find rentals for their cottages, but more often for their large holiday houses. So in 1997 LHH Ltd was born. We decided to specialise by offering only high quality accommodation in large holiday homes, for this very select type of property.

Today we have a large selection of hand picked quality large holiday homes in our portfolio - including fully catered Castles, yes we have several castles, estate lodges, and a wide choice of country cottages, farmhouse and mansion houses, spread the length and breadth of Scotland, in breathtaking locations unequalled in the UK.

There are those mansions designed for a more luxurious living experience in splendid surroundings... and others, sometimes equally spacious but more appropriately furnished for the casual self catering family holiday. Whichever you choose, a Large Holiday House is superb value for money, especially when shared between two or more heads of families or amongst friends."

Holiday Homes in Scotland UK - Self Catering cottages in Scotland: "Our accommodation portfolio includes some of the best Scottish self catering cottages, lodges, apartments, crofts and farmhouses in the best scenic locations and holiday resorts in Scotland, whether it be secluded glens, Loch-side, mountain locations or city apartments. Whatever your preference, you will find your dream holiday cottage in our portfolio. For ease of use, the website is organised into popular categories and our clickable map of Scotland lets you find quickly what you are looking for in your preferred location. Pet owners will be thrilled by our collection of pet friendly cottages; likewise for fishing holidays, honeymoon couples, birdwatchers and more."

Scottish Cottage Holidays is a great site covering the whole of Scotland.

Scottish adventure: "The Grey House is a self-catering cottage available for rent in the North West Highlands of Scotland. This ancient and romantic house provides a high standard of modern comfort; good drying facilities, central heating as well as having easy accessability to the shopping, good food, (including vegetarian) and the nightlife of Ullapool. The views and scenery are magical. If you enter the site, in the subsections please read the text first and then click on the small pictures (which may take some time to load) to get larger more detailed versions."

Wilderness Cottages Scotland UK : Self catering cottage holiday home rentals: "Our quality self catering holiday cottages are situated in the naturally beautiful and undiscovered area of Scotland, just east of Loch Ness, known as Stratherrick, a region that stretches from Dores at the northern end of Loch Ness to Fort Augustus at the southernmost tip of the loch. This area of Scotland has been described as the Inverness “Lake District”, so numerous are the lochs and lochans in this region of the Highlands of Scotland.

We also now have several cottages on the north west side at Drumnadrochit, Lewiston and Fort Augustus. See our Map of Loch Ness. You will see our cottages all around Loch Ness. The location in the Scottish Highlands is excellent for touring northern Scotland and the West Coast, the Isle of Skye just 90 minutes away."

YHA budget youth hostel hostels accommodation UK England and Wales for the backpacker, family or group youth hostels are an excellent way to see the UK. There are some superb hostels in wonderful locations, check out their site for more details.

Hen Party Hen Weekend: "Organising a Hen Weekend and Hen Night? Check out thousands of UK Hen Night and Hen Weekend ideas.

You only get one Hen Night so make it memorable. The best Hen Night Hotels, Hen weekend destinations, where's hot and where's not. The ultimate guide to having the time of your life and a memorable Hen Weekend for all the right reasons. Your Hen Night is your last night of freedom so make it go with a bang, why not make it a Hen Weekend instead! Take a look at our carefully selected sites and business."

Awesome colours in the English Lake District at the moment. Get up there and enjoy the best part of the UK in all its' glory. A lot of the hotels have special offers presently to.