Inside the magical Christmas market in the grounds of a mansion

Families eager to embrace the festive season can head over to a market set in the stunning grounds of a grand Victorian mansion.

Waddesdon Manor, one of the National Trust's most visited properties, has been hosting its Fair for over 20 years and is frequently listed among Buckinghamshire's top annual events. The much-loved month-long market kicks off on Friday, November 15, boasting more than 70 enchanting chalets adorned with twinkling lights.

Visitors are guaranteed a magical shopping experience with many local businesses offering unique homeware, jewelry, crafts, skincare, and pet accessories, as well as Christmas gifts and decorations. Food stalls will be dishing out delicacies from around the globe, including homemade kimchi, charcuterie, , jams, baked goods and so much more.

You can also indulge in a drink (or two) courtesy of Abingdon Distillery, which produces small-batch spirits, or Daws Hill Vineyard, which makes wine just 45 minutes away from Waddesdon Manor. The fair is included in the entry fee for the expansive grounds which this year have been transformed by a vibrant Sleeping Beauty-themed light trail that includes a stop-off to meet Siberian huskies. The Manor's façade is also getting a festive makeover with a kaleidoscope of colour and movement projected onto it every evening.

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The grounds alone are worth the visit, offering plenty to explore and they're even dog-friendly!, reports .

Kids will be thrilled to spot exotic birds at the aviary or play hide-and-seek in the woodland playground, while nature enthusiasts can enjoy leisurely strolls alongside fields dotted with deer and sheep. You can also appreciate 'Once upon a Christmas Time', an art installation crafted by 15,000 schoolchildren from Buckinghamshire.

Watch for nods to Little Red Riding Hood, Humpty Dumpty, and the Three Billy Goats Gruff as you meander through the Coach House Gallery. Adult entry starts at £22 and kids get in for just £10. Getting to Waddesdon Manor is a breeze, despite its picturesque countryside location, it's only accessible by car. It is conveniently located off the A41 between Bicester and Aylesbury.

If you love Christmas shopping but also dream of some winter sun, then a tiny island in the middle of the may be where you should head next. Rhe serene the world's tenth-smallest country by area, but offers many British holidaymakers the dream escape during the summer season. However, due to its Mediterranean climate in the winter months, the temperature remains warm even when the festive atmosphere arrives.

Throughout December, Malta can reach highs of 17 degrees Celsius, dropping to 11 degrees in the evenings. While not summer sun temperatures, the country is certainly warm enough for Brits to wander around in t-shirts, making it the ideal destination for a not-so-crisp Over the festive period, Malta is also home to several extravagant and