Anyone been to a Country Living Christmas Fair?

[Sinkingfeeling]

As title, really? Is it worth the ticket price, or could you pick up similar things online from the comfort of home?

I went the year before last and had a good day but it was really really crowded and to be honest a lot of the stalls were a bit same-y.
Most exhibitors are online so you could shop from home but there are lots of good gift ideas and I bought some beautiful glass tree ornaments which I probably wouldn't have if I hadn't seen them in real life!
I have been told that The Spirit of Christmas at Olympia is worth a visit so I may try that this year!

Thanks Mary, that's good to know - might try Spirit of Olympia instead then!

Obviously I mean Spirit of Christmas!

Spirit of Christmas is good, but it's huge and a bit overwhelming.

I had an offer through the post for a ticket for £28 the other day! I'm sure I went for free last year.

There's some nice stuff, but it gets very busy.

The one that's at the Royal Horticultural Halls can be good - I get free tickets for that through a magazine (can't remember which).

Hello Sinking - I've been to the Christmas Country Living Fayre and it is big and crowded but if you like the combination of Christmas and shopping and are in possession of a pair of very comfortable shoes then it will be a highlight of the year for you. You probably could find most of the items on sale online if you looked but there is something special about hands on Christmas Shopping. I wouldn't go if I was a) bothered by crowds b) short of money c) under any sort of time limit. I am hoping to go this year, you can get discounted tickets through Good Housekeeping.

I'm bucket shaking for Clic Sargent at Spirit Of Christmas - will report back afterwards if you want, but that's probably a bit useless.

Bring lots of change for me if you are going though !

It's full of wealthy ladies who lunch - some interesting things for sale but....

I went to the Country Living Spring Fair, never again.

Everyone was the same. Female, 30+, bodenwhitestuffmonsoon, and it was heaving. Everywhere I turned I got a hotchpotch elbow in my face. All the stalls selling frenchvintagestylewhitewashedhearts and stuff made from reclaimed stuff.

And then the awful, awful moment when I realised I was one of them.

Ah, OK perhaps not for me then. I'm not a lady who lunches, well only at my desk with a cheese sandwich, I'll never ever see 30 again, and I'll never make the sharp-elbowed brigade. Maybe I'll stay at home and make paper snowflakes with my children instead.

But it is an experience - it's a more genteel form of tribal warfare!