Christmas Photo Gallery
Christmas is such a great time of year - here are just a few of the things that make Christmas in Britain so wonderful.
St Paul's Cathedral is a magical place at Christmas. Each Christmas more than 45,000 people come to the Cathedral - either to attend one of the 17 holiday season services or concerts, or simply to tour the cathedral and soak up the atmosphere.
Covent Garden say that their 60-foot Christmas tree takes 30 years to grow, and 100 'elves' are needed to decorate it with 30,000 lights each year.
Children adore the special activities at Christmas time - here are three kids loving the festive ice skating at Somerset House in London.
The huge 20 metre tall Christmas Tree that appears in Trafalgar Square each year is a gift from Norway to the people of Britain, in recognition of British support for Norway in World War 2.
There is a special tree-felling ceremony in Norway each November, and then the chosen tree is transported by sea to London ready to be erected and decorated in time for the lighting ceremony in early December. December. To Londoners, the lighting of this tree really is a sign that Christmas is coming!
The Hyde Park Winter Wonderland is an amazing festive experience - fun fair rides, ice rink, santa’s grotto, Christmas market and more!
Covent Garden is a great place to go Christmas shopping - they always have wonderful Christmas decorations, and lots of festive shops and restaurants.
This is a Christmas tree in a river! Each year the Bourton-on-the-Water Chamber of Commerce erect a beautifully lit Christmas tree in the River Windrush to create this beautiful scene.
Here's Westminster Abbey lit up for the festive season, to make it look like a stained glass window.
The name "Big Ben" does not apply to the magnificent tower in this picture - it belongs to the Great Bell inside.
The tower itself is called the "Elizbeth Tower", named after Queen Elizabeth II in 2012 to mark her diamond jubilee.
Here’s a great picture showing the magic of skating at night outside the magnificent Natural History Museum in London.
The red telephone box was introduced in 1924, and is gradually being phased out as new (more accessible) models of phone box have been introduced, and people use their own mobile phones instead.
Don't worry though - around 2000 of the red telephone boxes have been given listed status, and many more have been adopted for other uses such as mini-libraries, housing defibrillators, and even places to charge your mobile phone!
Here’s an usual scene - choirboys skating in the grounds of Hampton Court Palace!
There’s always lots going on at Christmas and Advent at Bath Abbey, ranging from special Christmas Services and Art Exhibitions to Shoppers Carols and Festive Tower Tours (with mulled wine or hot chocolate to enjoy at the top!)
Spend a magical evening at Hyde Park Winter Wonderland - lots of great entertainment and festive fun, transformed with thousands of sparkling lights.
Santa was snapped as he visited Caerphilly Medieval Christmas Market recently!!
The ice rink which is set up right in front of Hampton Court Palace each Christmas is a great place to get into the festive spirit.
You can skate on the rink soaking up the historic setting, or spectate from the Cafe and Bar which serves festive beverages and winter warming platters.
It’s great to skate in the vicinity of a magnificent building such as London’s Somerset House.
Each year Somerset House erects a fantastic ice rink with everything from skating lessons to music sessions with live DJs, and warming food and drink for the spectators.
It's a tradition that many of the stall holders (and the customers) wear Victorian dress when they visit the Worcester Christmas Fayre.
Skating at Somerset House is said to be one of London’s favourite winter experiences. It’s a sure sign that Christmas is coming - festive skating in the city!