Event: Miami Dolphins versus the Cincinnati Bengals
Date: December 30th 2007

December and 2007 could end in style for football fans by staying in a luxury hotel and heading to Dolphin Stadium to catch the Miami Dolphins host the Cincinnati Bengals.

The Miami Dolphins are one of the world’s best-known sports teams, with their illustrious history featuring legendary players such as Dan Marino and a perfect season where they won every game including the Super Bowl in 1972. December 30th sees the Dolphins play the Bengals in the final game of 2007 for both teams, with Dolphin Stadium providing a great setting for early end-of-year celebrations.

Opened in 1987 and formerly known as Joe Robbie Stadium, the arena is currently undergoing a transformation to make it “the most-inspired and unmatched stadium experience in the world”, according to the Dolphin Stadium website. Currently more than 75,000 fans can pack into Dolphin Stadium for a football game, with around 24,000 car parking spaces on hand for fans.

Get the New Year’s celebrations underway early with a luxurious stay at The Chesterfield Palm Beach.

Related Links >
http://www.dolphinstadium.com

http://www.chesterfieldpb.com

Event: December 9th 2007
Date: Christmas in New York at Lyric Theatre

For a contemporary seasonal show this Christmas time, those visiting London in December should visit the Lyric Theatre, close to luxury London hotel the Montague on the Gardens, to see Christmas in New York.

Presented by Notes from New York, Anna-Jane Casey takes the lead in this West-End Yuletide celebration also featuring Julie Atherton, Paul Spicer, Oliver Tompsett, Emma Williams, Melanie La Barrie, Matt Cross and many more. Renditions of songs by composers including John Bucchino, Craig Carnelia, David Friedman, Andrew Lippa, Charles Miller, Grant Olding and Maury Yeston will be performed in this special one-off Christmas event. Carols and a musical version of Twas the Night Before Christmas will also be performed.

According to AllinLondon, last year’s show was a sell-out and evokes a “magical time of year in a much loved city”. The show is recommended for musical theatre fans and those who like to get into the festive spirit. Those enjoying the seasonal performance can round off their festive London visit with a stay at luxury hotel the Montague on the Gardens.

Related Links >
http://www.montaguehotel.com/british_museum_hotel

http://www.officiallondontheatre.co.uk/shows/display?contentId=95855

For some it may seem that traditional Christmas values and customs are being forgotten as the Christian festival arguably becomes secularised in Britain today.

However, this will not be the case on December 13th, when those staying at luxury London hotel the Milestone can take a look back at Christmas past on the Christmas through the ages walk in Kensington Gardens.

The free guided walk takes place from a location that will be revealed upon booking and will allow participants to discover the history of English Christmas folklore. Walkers will also learn about the part the royal parks have played in entertaining Londoners in winters in years gone by.

Those taking place in the walk are advised to dress for the outdoors, although if the weather is less than pleasant luxury hotel the Milestone is located nearby and will offer an inviting warm location for walkers to warm up after their exercise.

Before retiring to the luxury hotel those participating in the walk will learn the past relevance behind such phrases as “Christmas is coming, the geese are getting fat” while enjoying a stroll in the beautiful grounds of Kensington Gardens.

Related Links >
http://www.royalparks.org.uk/learning/event.cfm?id=865

http://www.milestonehotel.com

Festive cheer will be in plentiful supply over Exmoor, UK, during the first two weekends of December as the local villagers at Dulverton and Dunster prepare for Christmas with two special events.

Dulverton by Starlight: Sunday 2 December > Amongst the many Christmas activities taking place between 12noon and 7pm at Dulverton by Starlight on Sunday, 2 December will be carol singing and street entertainment as well as a chance to enjoy some hot mince pies and buy gifts for family and friends from the local shops. Santa Claus will be making a visit bringing gifts for the children and there will carol singing around the sparkling Christmas tree in the town square.

For further information about Dulverton by Starlight visit www.exmoorevents.co.uk.

Dunster by Candlelight: Friday 7 - Saturday 8 December > At Dunster by Candlelight on Friday 7 and Saturday 8 December the remarkably preserved medieval village turns it’s back on the present and lights its streets with candles. At 5.30pm there is a Lantern Lighting Procession with traditional pipe and drum music and stilt walkers in amazing costumes who put up the lanterns. It continues through the village until all the lanterns have been lit.

Throughout both evenings until around 9.30pm there will be a variety of street entertainment with carol singers, Morris dancers, samba drums, Rattlebox Theatre, creepy crawly handling with Exmoor Zoo in the newly restored Tithe Barn; a march by Sutton Household, hand bell ringers and a brass band plus carol singing and concerts in the Parish Church. Dunster’s shops will be open for Christmas shopping while the local restaurants, inns and charity stalls will provide refreshments.

Admission is free but there is a small charge for the park and ride service since there is no parking in Dunster for the evening. Visitors will also be able to arrive at Dunster by Candlelight on a special Christmas train operated by the West Somerset Steam Railway, which runs from Bishop’s Lydeard, near Taunton to Minehead but pre-booking is essential.

For further details about Dunster by Candlelight visit www.dunsterbycandlelight.co.uk.

Details about other places to visit on Exmoor and accommodation suggestions can be found on www.visit-exmoor.co.uk.

Combine the capital of Copenhagen with Sweden’s third largest city, Malmö, for a true Scandinavian pre-Christmas experience. Copenhagen is especially wonderful at Christmas time and the historic city of Malmö in Sweden is another great Yuletide attraction.

Thanks to the Öresund Bridge which majestically links the two countries, it’s never been easier to enjoy the delights of being part of a Danish and Swedish build up to Christmas. With a convenient rail-link the cities are just 35 minutes apart.

COPENHAGEN > In Copenhagen, serious shoppers head for Ströget, northern Europe’s longest pedestrian shopping street. From mid November onwards, shopkeepers try to outdo each other in creating the most attractive window displays. Many look for exclusive designs or perhaps special quality decorations for the Christmas tree, if so, head straight for Illums Bolighus, a centre for Danish and international design. Next door at Amagertorv Square stands the Royal Copenhagen flagship shore, a wonderful 17th century building filled with fine porcelain, crystal and collectable Christmas plates as well has Georg Jensen silverware.

Royal Copenhagen is also famous for its display of Christmas tables. They have a different theme each year and are decorated with the best of Royal Copenhagen finery. Be prepared to queue for this annual visual highlight!

Another must do, is a visit to the annual Christmas Market at Tivoli Gardens. Tivoli Gardens is the most popular attraction in Denmark, and this time of the year they put on a fabulous display of the best illuminated trees you will ever see in Europe. Some sixty stalls sell Danish handicrafts, seasonal foods and gifts. The market is this year will open on 16 November.

MALMÖ > Just over the Öresund Bridge, Malmö is another great place for shopping. The big department store, Hansakompaniet, is the place to go when in need of inspiration for last-minute Christmas gifts. Here you’ll find trendy clothes, restaurants, beauty products and household goods. Then move on to Saluhallen, at the picturesque Lilla Torg Square, a true mecca for gourmets with several small shops selling tea, chocolates and seasonal delicacies. There are several copy bars and restaurants surrounding Lilla Square, where locals and visitors alike meet up for a traditional warm ‘glogg’. From 25 November the City of Malmö puts on its Christmas market, attracting more and more visitors each year.

A good time to be in Malmö is on the 13th December for Lucia! This tradition takes place each year on the 13th of December, when Lucia, ‘The Queen of Light’ wearing candles in hair, together with her attendants, travel through the city in a horse drawn carriages up to the Stortorget Square where locals will have gathered to sing traditional carols and watch the official crowning of Lucia.

Getting there > With flight times around two hours you can be there in no time at all. SAS Scandinavian Airlines operate regular direct services out of London Heathrow and City airports, Dublin, Aberdeen, Manchester and Birmingham. For latest offers www.flysas.co.uk

For further information go to www.visitdenmark.com

Maritime Greenwich, London’s Christmas Village, has an exciting programme of festive activities, exhibitions and events running through December into New Year 2008.

This beautiful corner of south east London will take on a special festive atmosphere with open-air ice skating, shopping, twinkling fairy lights and decorations, a giant Christmas tree and visit by Santa Claus and his helpers. Visitors will be able to soak up the unique ambiance and join in a variety of events.

Festivities will kick off with the Switch On of Greenwich Market’s Christmas lights on Friday, 30 November with a huge programme of family entertainment running from 3-7pm. Father Christmas will be there from 3pm and the lights will be turned on at 5pm by the cast of Greenwich Theatre’s pantomime ‘Dick Whittington’.

The famous, indoor Greenwich market, www.greenwichmarket.net, is home to a quirky collection of interesting and unusual shops. In addition from Thursday, 6 December there will be a special Christmas Market trading everyday until 7pm right up to Christmas Eve. Festive shopping in Greenwich Town Centre is also a breath of fresh air for those tired with the lack of choice offered by crowded, cloned high streets across the country. The historic town is packed with unique shopping opportunities stretching from Royal Hill to Creek Road. Many of the restaurants and bars will also be offering special Christmas party menus.

Greenwich Ice Rink > The Greenwich ice rink, www.greenwichicerink.com, will be open from Saturday, 8 December to Sunday, 13 January (10am - 10pm) in the grounds of the Old Royal Naval College. This year the CaféIce, serving hot chocolate, mulled wine and mince pies, will be re-sited in the colonnades giving skaters uninterrupted views across the Thames to Canary Wharf in one direction and Queen’s House and the Royal Observatory in the other. Other events at the College will include a Christmas evening concert with supper in the beautiful Painted Hall and a family festive craft workshop, www.oldroyalnavalcollege.org.

The Greenwich Theatre annual pantomime production of ‘Dick Whittington’ will run from Tuesday, 4 December to Saturday, 5 January with Andrew Pollard writing the script and joining the cast as the dame, returning after his record-breaking success in ‘Sleeping Beauty’ last year. The show will be packed with comedy, magic, music and adventure entertaining an audience across all ages, www.greenwichtheatre.org.uk.

Mince Pounds > Maritime Greenwich will also have its own currency, Mince Pounds, available during the festive season. Every time visitors spend £10 in a local shop or market displaying a Mince Pound sign, they will receive one Mince Pound, which can be put towards either tickets to the pantomime, skating at the ice rink or a visit to the new Peter Harrison Planetarium.

Maritime Greenwich’s many attractions will be open to visitors over the festive period including the Chapel and Painted Hall within the Old Royal Naval College; the National Maritime Museum, which also takes in the Queen’s House, Royal Observatory with its new Time and Space Galleries and the Peter Harrison Planetarium; the Fan Museum, St Alfege Church and Wernher Collection at the Ranger’s House.

This year also marks the tenth anniversary since the centre of Greenwich was awarded World Heritage Site status for its architectural, scientific, maritime and royal associations.

Christmas events at Maritime Greenwich will vary from day to day; for full details and to check Christmas opening times for local attractions and accommodation suggestions visit Christmasingreenwich.com. Local information can also be found on www.greenwichwhs.org.uk.

Maritime Greenwich is easily reached via the Docklands Light Railway alighting at Cutty Sark, or by main line train from four central London stations, namely Charing Cross, Cannon Street, Waterloo East and London Bridge. Alternatively there are several bus services coming through Greenwich or visitors can arrive by passenger boat at Greenwich Pier.

Car-free shopping day, London, December 1st

London’s main shopping streets are set to open up for pedestrians again this December for annual VIP Christmas shopping day. However, in this instance VIP stands for Very Important Pedestrian, as those on foot will take precedence during the event.

The shopping meccas of Oxford Street and Regent Street will be completely closed to cars on December 1st, so that shoppers can stock up for Christmas. London’s West End is one of the most famous shopping areas in the world and routinely sees crowds of over 40 million drawn to it every holiday season.

Last year’s VIP Christmas shopping was a massive success, with thousands taking advantage of not having to dodge automobiles to do their shopping. And many of the 600 stores on the West End chose to keep their doors open until 9 pm in order to maximize the number of customers they saw.

If planning on hitting the VIP shopping day, the opulent Chesterfield Mayfair hotel is the best place to stay.

Related Links >
http://londonist.com/2006/11/west_end_vip_da.php
http://www.chesterfieldmayfair.com/location_hotels_mayfair