Perfect place to have a cosy UK Christmas

[ShintyFartMuscle]

So after years of being in Australia for Christmas, and the children only knowing a summer santa, I get to come back and feel proper Christmasy at last.

Thing is that while we have distant family and some friends to see for the extended break it'll just be the four of us (me DH DS6 and DS7) for Christmas/boxing day. We have no ties to any particular area, so now I'm not sure where would be nicest.

At the moment I'm doing fantasy airbnb searches round the Peak District and Norfolk, so I'm looking for help and anyone else who wants to join my Christmas idyllic dream world.

Looking for
Area/town or individual house ideas
Countryside, with views, not sure what of, but so it looks pretty without going outside.
Pub within walking distance
Country walks
Is there anywhere that might get snow?
I really want an open fire/ wood burner
A kind of Cameron Diaz in The Holiday but with DH not Jude Law
The moon on a stick.

Anyone wanna come dream with me

Ooh watching with interest.

I live abroad but dream of Christmas back home!

York is spectacular at Christmas, and I love Manchester for the markets.
I'd probably rent a cottage in Yorkshire Dales for a week or two.

Portbalintrae in Northern Ireland is amazing!! Would be super cosy!!

Northern Ireland hadn't even crossed my mind, I shall have a look.

York, yes good idea, I know I'll visit friend a bit further north than that so may a good in between place.

Manchester/Sheffield London and Sussex are going to be the central visiting hubs, so I'll deffo look at the Christmas markets.

Is there anywhere particular that springs to mind in the Yorkshire dales or is it all picturesque and last of the summer wine-ish

If I had the choice of anywhere it would be York (town centre) .

Gorgeous town, lovely shops.
York Minster. The Shambles. Bettys .
Lots of interesting cosy little food/wine shops.
Pubs
Walk the walls.
Gorgeous scenery.
Possiblity of snow?

And there are outlet malls and M&S if you need a dose of reality

I can recommend Winster in the Peak District. We stayed there in a Sykes Cottage place last winter. I've had a look on AirBnB and there are properties there available for Christmas.

Aviemore or surrounding areas without a doubt

Thanks,

We were just saying that M&S will be playing an integral part of Christmas Day dinner. Every year I salivate over their food and feel bereft. Mind I miss the weekend £10 specials, do they still do those? DH misses Iceland

Snow. Aviemore.

We stated in haworth one Christmas, it was lovely. Very cozy cottage and the town centre is lovely and old fashioned. They also have a stream train that runs a santa special which is quite cool. Not too far from York/Leeds for markets.

Hmm Aviemore

www.airbnb.com/rooms/10966233?guests=4&adults=2&children=2&location=Aviemore%2C%20United%20Kingdom&check_in=2017-12-23&check_out=2017-12-27&s=DxeRBxlG

That aviemore cottage looks gorgeous. Real potential for snow too.

Dales wise, it's pretty much all lovely, but I love the Appletreewick / Barden / Bolton Abbey area.

Apparently Broadway in the Cotswolds is very Chrismassy at Christmas! Victorian markets, carol singers with lanterns etc, there's probably a M&S not too far away!

Oh yes, I stayed at the Hotel in Broadway once. It is Christmas card perfect.

Look up the National Trust website to look at their holiday homes.

Winster - this is what came up in the search

www.airbnb.com/rooms/18627198?guests=4&adults=2&children=2&location=Winster%2C%20United%20Kingdom&check_in=2017-12-23&check_out=2017-12-27&s=mQoyAlVb

Can you imagine York Minster for Christmas Eve/day service though

Vote for Haworth and York here too. Head for the hills and Bronte country, you wont be dissapointed.

This description is so evocative, I'm totally in love
www.airbnb.com/rooms/2642837?guests=4&adults=2&children=2&location=York%2C%20United%20Kingdom&check_in=2017-12-23&check_out=2017-12-27&s=oDCbyXB3

Another vote for Aviemore.

Best. Christmas. Ever.

possibly partly because the inlaws were so far away...

YES to aviemore! It's beautiful!

Well that took a turn, booked a place. But had a message back charging over twice the amount.

Log cabin at Loch Ness. I was up there last year and it was idyllic. You'll get snow too.

can they do that?
Just cancel it!

I hope so iftheygo oh well the search continues

ifyougo !

I recommend looking on the National Trust holiday homes website. They are all beautifully positioned, well priced and very tastefully decorated. A lot of holiday homes may look nice from the outside but the interiors are woeful.