Tag: Christmas

Visiting Santa in Leeds

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If you’re looking for somewhere to visit Santa with the kids in Leeds this Christmas, then you’ll want to check out Lotherton Hall’s Christmas Experience for something extra special.

This year I’m more excited for Christmas than ever as it’s our baby’s very first Christmas! Of course he’s too young to have any idea what’s happening but as parents it’s important for us too to savour these milestones.

So I was so happy to be invited along to the preview night for Lotherton Hall’s Christmas Experience and to take Findlay to meet Santa for the first time.

What a merry evening it was.

Upon arrival our first stop was of course the North Pole to visit the big man himself. The Santa experience was so much more than I was expecting. We took a beautiful walk through a created frosted forest with elves regaling stories along the way. We designed our own festive candle and made a magical Christmas wish.

Then it was on to Santa’s beautiful wooden cabin for a personal visit with Santa, who maintained his jolly demeanour even when Findlay’s started to wean. We were given a lovely present to take away – I won’t spoil the surprise but when we opened it we were impressed with the quality.

While Findlay is still too young to really take it in, I think the whole experience is something that toddlers and young children would really enjoy.

Beyond visiting Santa there is plenty of other festivities to enjoy across the grounds including exploring the decorated house itself of course, wandering the beautifully lit woodland walk and indulging in some food and drink at the estate cafe and the tipi style bar.

There was also a lovely little craft market where I picked up a gingerbread candle and pretty star wreath.

The Elf Village also offers the chance to meet Mrs Claus and take part in a range of arts and crafts, something we can look forward to when Findlay is a bit older.

We had a wonderful time to kick off the countdown to Christmas and we can see why Lotherton is one of the top places to visit Santa in Leeds.

The event is running until 5 January with more information available on the Lotherton Hall website.

A Very Merry Munich Weekend

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Christmas is my absolute favourite time of year and where better to enjoy the festive season than in the home of the Christkindlmarkt? Here’s what we got up to when we visited Munich at the most wonderful time of the year.

Munich Christmas Markets

Munchen christkindlmarkt

marienplatz christmas market munich

christmas cakes munich

The Bavarian city of Munich has over 20 different Christkindlmarkts to explore, but our favourite was the original Christkindlmarkt in the main town square, Marienplatz – which dates back to the 14th century. The market stalls fill the entirety of the main square and the adjoining streets, selling decorations, chocolates, candles, toys and other treasures.

A short stroll from Marienplatz, we found the Christmas Village at the Munich Residenz – a smaller, quaint market held in the courtyard of the Royal Residence. At night, we visited the Tollwood Winter Festival which was a unique cross between a carnival, a Christmas market and a modern art exhibition.

Bavarian Beer

I’m not typically a big beer drinker, but when in Germany…

steins in munich

The Bavarian capital is renowned for its beer halls and steins, so I was happy to hang up my cocktail glass for a few days to enjoy the local specialities.

On our first night we headed to Hofbräuhaus, one of the oldest beer halls in the city, having been founded in 1589. Long tables, a brass band dressed in Lederhosen; barmaids dressed in Dirndls, and beer steins bigger than my head – it was exactly what we’d imagined from a Munich beer hall.

We ventured around a few other beer halls within the city centre during our stay, but on our last night we couldn’t resist heading back to Hofbräuhaus for another two pint beer stein to round off our trip in traditional Munich fashion (minus the Lederhosen).

Beer isn’t the only traditional drink of choice for winter in Munich, when wandering the Christmas markets we kept ourselves toasty with some hot Glühwein. And it’s not only Glühwein on offer, you can find a hot version of almost any alcoholic tipple being served around the city’s market stalls and pubs – we were particularly excited to find hot caipirinhas to be a popular option.

hot caipirinhias

hot beer

We also tried Heisses bier (hot beer) and Feuerzangenbowle – a traditional German drink made from red wine, rum, fruit, cinnamon and sugar.

Tummy Warming Food

Bratwursts alone would have made for the perfect foodie break in Munich, but we also enjoyed some fabulous hearty meals in the evening.

On our first night we wandered to the Marienplatz area to explore the choice of restaurants, where we found Haxnbauer – a perfect choice for traditional German grub in a traditional German setting.

Bavarian food

Goulash munich

We shared a platter of meats, cheeses and pretzels, which alone could have quite easily filled us up for the night, but when we saw our main meals arrive we suddenly found our appetites again. I chose goulash with traditional German Spätzle, while my boyfriend had veal. Both were delicious but it was fair to say I won in the food-off that night.

Trying to emulate my success the next evening – at the equally excellent restaurant choice of Zum Spöckmeier – my boyfriend ordered the goulash. It was good, but I once again trumped him with my choice – pork fillets in a creamy mushroom sauce with cheese Spätzle.

We were stuffed, but we did find room again the next day for two bratwursts (each) for lunch – one with sauerkraut, one without.

sauerkraut bratwurst

We didn’t love the sauerkraut personally, but if like us you like to try all of the local delicacies, it’s worth giving it a go.

I’d also recommend a side of Kartoffelsalat (potato salad), and if you’ve still got room after that, the bruschetta on offer at many of the market stalls is also a must-try.

After three days of eating, drinking, shopping and forcing the Yorkshireman to take selfies, we headed back to the UK feeling festive, and a few pounds heavier.