There’s so much going on over the festive period that sometimes it’s hard to know which way to turn. You need to squeeze in party outfit shopping, present exchanging, hosting and cooking. Here are some things not to miss this year into next as well as those magical parts of Christmas that we look forward to every year.
In the build up to Christmas, one of the most exciting parts is choosing a new festive look for the house. Whether you decide to go tweed, geometric, metallic or bright, the fun is in the details. So take to Pinterest, mood board to your heart’s content and then get shopping. You can pick up some unique, handmade decorations at Christmas markets, or, for online alternatives try Notonthehighstreet.com and Etsy. Your home will be sparkling with Christmas cheer before you know it.
Those designer gifts under the tree are always a treat but once everything is unwrapped and the turkey has gone down it means you’re in charge of the remote. One Downton Abbey is never enough and luckily this Christmas there’ll be double Downton. George Clooney will delight us alongside Hugh Bonneville in the Text Santa appeal’s version on 18 December, with the main event on Christmas Day. Other Christmas specials we’re looking forward to include Strictly Come Dancing, Doctor Who and Sherlock.
The Harry Potter films, with their snowy scenes, are sure to bless our screens this Christmas. For an up close and personal dose of Potter, make a beeline for Warner Bros. Studio Tour’s Hogwarts in the Snow event. Magical festive scenes are created on the famous sets with props and effects actually used in the Harry Potter films.
Running from now until the end of January, you can visit it alongside the other tours, such as stepping inside The Great Hall and on to Platform 9 ¾.Cinema-goers will be waiting in anticipation of the new Star Wars film – The Force Awakens, out in cinemas on 18 December. We love that one of the lead roles – new hero Rey – is a female part. After Christmas you can go and see Tarantino’s latest flick, The Hateful 8, appropriately out on January 8th.
A must-see for a dose of Tarantino’s trademark dialogues, mixed with exaggerated blood and gore. Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without Elf – the 2003 Will Ferrell film and we want to see how the musical theatre version compares. Starring the winner of ITV’s ‘Superstar’ Ben Forster as Elf as well as Girls Aloud’s Kimberley Walsh, it’s on at the Dominion Theatre, Tottenham Court Road, from now until Jan 2.
So don’t spread yourself too thinly over the holidays. Make sure you leave plenty of ‘me time’ to indulge in the fun bits and the not-to-be-missed entertainment that’s happening in December and January.
Christmas Image credit: J J