Riding the Storm in Pas-de-Calais France
Mark Bibby Jackson ignores weather warnings to travel to Pas-de-Calais France during Storm Darragh with his mother. Does he live to tell the tale? The plan is to visit the…
48 Hours in Bratislava Slovakia in Winter
Mark Bibby Jackson spends 48 hours in Bratislava Slovakia to see why this underrated European capital is a winter wonderland. My previous visit to the Bratislava Slovakia was in 1994…
NH Wien Belvedere Hotel Vienna Review
On his way from Carinthia Austria to Bratislava in Slovakia, Mark spends a night in Vienna, to review the NH Wien Belvedere hotel, next to the famous Belvedere Palace. A…
Bratislava Christmas Market 2024 Slovakia
The Bratislava Christmas Market, held annually in the heart of Slovakia’s capital, transforms the historic Main Square (Hlavné námestie) into a festive wonderland. What to Expect at the Bratislava Christmas…
Celebrating Christmas in Carinthia Austria
Mark Bibby Jackson travels to Klagenfurt in Carinthia Austria to be re-inspired by the magic of Christmas. Sometimes in the uber-commercialised world we live, it’s easy to forget the magic…
Taking the Train for a Festive Manchester City Break
Mark Bibby Jackson takes the train from London Euston for a Manchester city break and sample the city’s festive offerings including its Christmas Markets. It’s been a long time since…
Unforgettable Global Festivals and Events in December
Explore global festivals and events in December 2024, from Europe’s enchanting Christmas markets to Guatemala’s colourful Fiesta de Santo Tomás. Experience diverse cultures, dazzling lights and unforgettable traditions worldwide. Follow…
Cité de Noël, Béthune Grand’Place, France
From November 29 to December 29, the enchanting Cité de Noël transforms Béthune’s historic Grand’Place into one of the most captivating Christmas markets in the Hauts-de-France region. Nestled beneath the…
Manchester Christmas Markets 2024, Manchester
The unmistakable glow of Manchester Christmas Markets 2024 is set to illuminate the city centre once again, transforming streets and squares into a wintry wonderland from Friday, 8 November, through…
Christmas Markets in Europe and the UK
From the original December market to the city that created stollen, the source of mulled wine and the first Christmas tree, let Travel Begins at 40 guide you through some…
Strasbourg Christmas Market 2024 France
The Strasbourg Christmas Market is a magical event that blends centuries of tradition with the vibrant holiday spirit. As one of Europe’s oldest and most iconic Christmas markets, it has…
Tallinn Christmas Market, Estonia 2024
Tallinn Christmas Market runs from 22 November to 27 December in the Town Hall Square (Raekoja plats) right in the heart of the medieval lower Old Town of Tallinn. This…
Vilnius Christmas Market Lithuania 2024
If you are thinking of a slightly alternative Christmas market in Europe away from Vienna, Salzburg and Dresden you would do far worse that considering the Vilnius Christmas market. Vilnius…
Toulouse Christmas Market 2024, France
France’s fourth largest city becomes a winter wonderland each December for the Toulouse Christmas Market. The Place du Capitole is transformed from 28 November to 29 December into a European…
Christmas at Waddesdon Manor 2022
Neil Hennessy-Vass visits Christmas at Waddesdon Manor and declares that the festive season has officially commenced. After a hiatus of two years (we all know why) that glorious Victorian confection…
SkiWelt Wilder Kaiser-Brixental 2022 Opening
December 8 marks the opening of the ski season at the SkiWelt Wilder Kaiser Brixental in the Wilder Kaiser region of Austria. SkiWelt Wilder Kaiser – Brixental The SkiWelt Wilder…
Sustainable Berlin Christmas Markets 2022
As befits such a dynamic and cosmopolitan city Berlin has not one but 70 Christmas markets, many of which have adopted a sustainable…
Antwerp Christmas Market 2024, Belgium
The medieval city of Antwerp makes for a stunning background to its famous Christmas market. Expanded now into several of the city’s prime historical locations…
Vienna Christmas Market 2024
It’s the season to be merry, but one Christmas Market stands out from the crowd – well it is the original one after all. Not that the Vienna Christmas Market is a single market, but…
Dresden Giant Stollen Parade 2018
In recent years stollen has become as much a feature of Christmas as figgy pudding. But nowhere do they celebrate the festive cake as seriously as in Dresden where each…
Winter Wonderland Hyde Park 2024, London
There really is only one place to go for some fun for the family in the UK capital in the build up to Christmas, the Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park London. The fair is free to enter…
Salzburg Christmas Market 2024
If you are planning to take a trip to a Christmas market this year, you could do far worse than travelling to Austria’s world-heritage city Salzburg, home of Mozart. Currently…
Winchester Christmas Market 2024
A highlight of the festive season, Winchester Christmas Market opens on 22 November. Since 2006 the market has been recognised as one of the leading Christmas Festivals…
Beverley Festival of Christmas 2024
The hugely popular Beverley Festival of Christmas, in East Yorkshire, has grown from a small market to one of the largest festive celebrations in England. Held on 8 December…
