WITH Christmas just around the corner, we’re all trying to get into the festive spirit. From producer experiences to cooking courses, we’ve summed up all the best available opportunities for this winter.
Drive the Fjords with 62NORD
Renowned travel company 62NORD is offering a once-in-a-lifetime experience for those who particularly enjoy driving. Taking part in a six-day itinerary, guests will have the opportunity to venture into the beautiful Norwegian landscape whilst driving the luxurious Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo. After each day of driving, guests can relax and unwind at the beautiful Storfjord Hotel and the Hotel Union Øye.
Drive the Fjords 2024 rates start at 108,000NOK (approx £7,945) per person for a six-day experience, inclusive of accommodation, meals, transfers, helicopter flight and Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo. Set departure dates available, as well as bespoke itineraries. For more information www.62.no/en.
Executive Producer Experience at Eleven Deplar Farm
Helmed by a team of industry legends, Flóki Studios is Eleven‘s waterfront recording space, located next to Deplar Farm on Iceland’s Troll Peninsula. The 2,357-square-foot studio features a control room, live room, three isolation booths, a lounge, a dining area, a bath and shower, outdoor lounge with a fire pit, hot tub and sauna. The Executive Producer Experience at Flóki Studios includes the full studio rental, backline equipment and instruments, recording technology, and an audio engineer.
Prices available upon request. www.elevenexperience.com
7-Night Retreat at Six Senses Vana
Six Senses Vana is offering guests a personalised, relaxing wellness retreat. Visitors can focus on natural healing with yoga practices or, instead, seek Panchakarma – an Ayurvedic therapy that helps to cleanse toxins out of the body. During a minimum stay of three nights, guests can take part in traditional practices including Ayurveda, yoga and Tibetan medicinal experiences.
Rates at Six Senses Vana start from £474 per night, based on single occupancy in a Garden Room for three-night minimum stay. This includes arrival wellness screening and consultation, all meals, one standard treatment per day, daily retreat program, daily use of smart bio-hacks- compression therapy, pain relief and tension release, attire to wear within and outside Vana, footwear, summer, and winter accessories, airport transfers to and from Dehradun Airport. For more information, please visit www.sixsenses.com
Christmas Decorations in the Place du Casino
To truly usher in the festive season, the Place du Casino is being transformed into a winter wonderland. Five bespoke snow globes – each illustrating a specific scene from A Christmas Carol – will soon fill the space alongside a variety of other merry decorations. Walking through the Place du Casino is certain to be an unforgettable experience for any visitors to Monte-Carlo this winter.
The decorations will be on show from December 7th 2023 to January 7th 2024. Learn more here.
Meet Father Christmas in Monte-Carlo
Arriving in a vintage white Rolls-Royce in place of his traditional sleigh, Father Christmas will be visiting a selection of Monte-Carlo Société des Bains‘ hotels this year. For those hoping to meet the man himself, he will be floating around Place du Casino, Avenue de Monte-Carlo, Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo, Hôtel Hermitage Monte-Carlo and the Café de Paris Monte-Carlo.
From Sunday 17 December to Monday 25 December 2023. Learn more here.
Phantom of the Opera Installation at Atrium Casino de Monte-Carlo
The Phantom of the Opera is taking over the Atrium Casino de Monte-Carlo this winter. In celebration of the renowned musical – which is soon to take up residency at the Opéra Garnier – the space will be transformed into a decadent mélange of detective fiction and fantasy worlds.
The installation is available to view from Saturday 16th December to Sunday 31st December 2023.
New Year’s Eve at The Londoner
If you’re hoping celebrate the New Year in style, look no further. The Londoner‘s exclusive rooftop bar – 8 at The Londoner, is offering multiple package experiences. Guests can enjoy luxurious beverages and culinary delights, all while having a front-row seat to the New Year’s fireworks and London’s famed skyline.
Table reservations are available with a minimum spend of £350 where each visitor can choose their own food and drink from the à la carte menu. With gyoza tacos of seared beef or lobster, Chilean sea bass and Japanese-style poussin on the menu, each party is spoilt for choice. Alternatively, guests can choose a pre-curated experience, starting at £700 per table.
This experience includes signature cocktails, a bottle of champagne, a signature small plate dining experience, and bottled water. For those hoping for a more intimate celebration, semi-private booths are available and include a bottle of Belvedere vodka, a magnum of Armand de Brignac champagne, signature small plate dining experience, and bottled water for £2,800 per booth. The booths can fit 8-14 guests – perfect for celebrating with one’s closest friends and family.
Learn more about New Year’s Eve at 8 at The Londoner here.
SAMBAZONIA at Sushisamba
This season, Sushisamba is transformed into SAMBAZONIA, a world full of vibrant colour, light and festivities. Sushisamba’s Covent Garden and Heron Tower locations will undergo an impressive decorative change as over 600 metallic balloons will embellish the ceilings.
Additionally, Executive Chef Lee Bull has curated a special Festive Taste of Samba Menu for the holiday season. The new menu will feature gastronomic masterpieces including a Arroz de Lagosta of whole lobster, Peruvian asparagus, tempura samphire, Samba Kaiseki platter with miso-ginger cured salmon, seared yellowtail with truffle, sea bass & bonito flakes, yuzu shrimp, and Japanese Wagyu Maki with oroshi ponzu, caviar, shaved truffle, among others. The menu is available daily at both London locations for lunch and dinner.
Furthermore, as an additional surprise, Sushisamba Covent Garden has launched its winter terrace in collaboration with Grey Goose. The terrace will be adorned with mesmerising LED light installations of cherry and maple trees, meanwhile, blankets will be offered to guests to ward off the cold. Guests can enjoy a selection of specially designed hot and warm cocktails and the regular terrace food menu.
Learn more about Sushisamba’s festive menu here.
Treehouse Hotel welcomes the winter season with REN Clean Skincare
Considered one of London’s ultimate getaway experiences, Treehouse Hotel has partnered up with REN Clean Skincare for this Christmas. Guests who book to stay at the Treehouse will receive a care package including 2 x REN Radiance Gentle Glow Heroes gift sets (valued at £106).
Inside each gift set, there is a Glycol Lactic Renewal mask, Ready Steady Glow Daily AHA tonic and an Overnight Glow Dark Spot Sleeping Cream. Ensuring that everyone leaves feeling refreshed and revitalised, a Treehouse Hotel retreat sounds like a deluxe experience this season.
Valid for bookings from 1st December 2023 to 31st January 2024. Book here.
Festive workshops and events at 1 Hotel Mayfair
On the 5th of December, guests will be invited to take part in one of 1 Hotel Mayfair‘s “Terrarium Tuesdays”. However, this festive Tuesday will have a twist. Each participant is invited to create and style their own eco-friendly Christmas wreath to take home.
Additionally, on the 12th of December, 1 Hotel Mayfair will host a gingerbread decoration event at Neighbours. Guests can embellish and decorate gingerbread delights to ring in the festive spirit. And the workshops do not stop there. On the 13th of December, Ink & Flow founder Kristie Bird will host a calligraphy gift tag writing event – perfect for beginners. The class will talk participants through modern day calligraphy techniques before moving on to create personalised gift tags for this Christmas.
Learn more about the workshops, alongside 1 Hotel Mayfair’s entire Christmas schedule here.
Sweetsmas Afternoon Tea at Four Seasons Hotel London at Ten Trinity Square, Tower Hill
This winter, Four Seasons at Ten Trinity Square will be offering a Sweetsmas Afternoon Tea in the Rotunda Bar and Lounge – located at the heart of the hotel. Inspired by classic British delights, the menu includes treats such as the “Ode to Terry” and “The Gingerbread Man”.
Additionally, the prestigious Mei Ume and La Dame de Pic London will undergo seasonal menu changes for this winter. Chef Peter Ho has designed a new set menu at Mei Ume, whereas La Dame de Pic London will offer a six-course Christmas menu.
The price of afternoon tea at Four Seasons Hotel costs £75 per person and is available from Thursday to Sunday. Reservations can be made here.
Pop-up Winter Terrace at The Hari
New for this year, The Hari has partnered with the renowned Champagne house Ruinart for its winter terrace. Open until the 5th of January, guests can enjoy Ruinart’s Champagne alongside a selection of seasonal bites – including Maldon oysters, a charcuterie board and a sumptuous baked Camembert.
Furthermore, the gifted bar team have created a limited-edition cocktail for the occasion. The delectable drink – titled The Gold 1729 – is a sparkling cocktail consisting of grape juice, Hennessy, apricot brandy and topped with R de Ruinart Brut Champagne.
Menu prices start from £18, learn more here.
Enjoy an afternoon tea in the clouds at Shangri-La The Shard, London Bridge
Having recently reimagined its afternoon tea experience for Pink October, The Shard‘s afternoon tea has been, once again, completely transformed. Inside the walls of the TĪNG Lounge, Shangri-La The Shard is offering guests a sophisticated afternoon tea. With a selection of finger sandwiches, fluffy scones and other sweet treats on offer, guests can also enjoy views of the city’s skyline from the 35th floor.
The Skyline Festive Afternoon Tea is available until 9th January 2024 and costs £85 per person. More information is available here.
Enjoy peace and quiet at Beaverbrook Town House
Just a stone’s throw away from Harrods, various theatres, and Covent Garden’s Christmas market, Beaverbrook Town House is located on the stylish Sloane Street. This winter, for the first time, guests can book the townhouse exclusively for a unique private Christmas getaway. Decked out in Christmas decor and offering various yuletide menus, the townhouse is a pristine oasis amidst the chaos of the festive season.
Learn more about the townhouse and make reservations here. Winter in the City rates from £1,440 for a three-night stay for two guests.
Glide around the Beaverbrook ice-rink in Surrey
For those staying away from the eclectic capital for Christmas, do not worry, there are plenty of opportunities around the UK. For example in Surrey, Beaverbrook‘s annual ice-rink is returning. Guaranteed fun for all those involved, one can skate around the rink whilst listening to catchy Christmas music and taking in the views of the Surrey hills.
Post-skate, visitors can unwind and reflect over a warm drink, or alternatively, a glass of champagne. If you’re visiting the luxury English country house, the ice-rink is the perfect outing for friends and family.
The Beaverbrook costs £505 per night inclusive of breakfast and taxes for two guests in a Cosy Room in The Garden House. Learn more here.
Escape to Wiltshire for a traditional country house Christmas
Nestled away in Wiltshire lies Lucknam Park – a cosy, relaxing country house. This winter, Lucknam Park has curated a special three-day itinerary for festive celebrations. Guests can take part in wreath-making workshops or enjoy exclusive cocktails such as Frothy the Snowman – a delicate cocktail crafted with Cotswolds Cream Liqueur.
Additionally, beginning on Christmas Eve, the hotel will be hosting an afternoon tea followed by a Champagne reception, Christmas Eve dinner and a midnight Mass. On the big day, guests will be visited by Father Christmas as he arrives by horse drawn carriage to deliver presents to any younger guests. Finally, on Boxing day, the hotel is offering a hog roast lunch, mulled wine, tea and scones and a black tie dinner in the evening.
Book a stay and learn more here.
Make culinary delights at Chewton Glen
Chewton Glen‘s renowned cooking school will be hosting a series of festive classes this December. In particular, Chewton Glen’s Stock Ahead for Christmas cooking course promises to save participants valuable time as they learn to master the art of several favourite festive treats.
Moreover, the Edible Christmas Gifts course is ideal for anyone hoping to impress friends and family with their cooking skills. Alternatively, guests are welcome to try Chewton Glen’s Kitchen Christmas Market. Guided by expert tutors at every stage, each course at the cookery school is guaranteed to offer an exquisite culinary experience.
Learn more about the cooking courses here.
Le Grand Mazarin introduces festive window displays
Teaming up with Willemien Bardawil, Le Grand Mazarin‘s window displays have been transformed for the season. Intertwining baubles with live portraits, kaleidoscopic colours and decadent design, the windows are a mesmerising chef d’œuvre.
Additionally, for those staying at Le Grand Mazarin between 15th and 17th of December, Willemien’s pop-up shop will be selling her famed ceramic pieces – a perfect Christmas gift for loved ones. Furthermore, Willemien has partnered with Elise Testot to create an exclusive capsule clothing collection – titled Poppy Wears Blue – which will also be sold at the pop-up. If you’re hoping to stay at Le Grand Mazarin this Christmas, Willemien’s work is certain to entrance all visitors.
Nightly rates from €690, B&B. Learn more here.
Spend a sun-soaked Christmas in Mauritius
For those fed up with the cold, wet weather, Beachcomber Resorts & Hotels is offering the perfect solution. With an impressive eight properties dotted across the length of Mauritius, guests are certain to find their ultimate getaway location.
With many exciting activities on offer such as paragliding, sunbathing and cultural escapades, the tropical paradise has an undeniable appeal. In particular, the Trou Aux Biches Beachcomber Hotel‘s cyan lagoon and prime location is great for those hoping to enjoy a family vacation.
Find out more about Beachcomber Resorts & Hotels here.
Embrace a Caribbean Christmas this winter
Ushering in the winter season, Jade Mountain and Anse Chastanet are offering guests a plethora of unforgettable experiences. From the calm waters to the renowned 600-acre Emerald Estate, the island is the ultimate haven. Between the 18th to the 23rd of December, a series of chocolate-related activities are taking place.
Perfect for those with a sweet-tooth, the activities include chocolate tours, sensory tasting, discovering chocolate and an interactive cooking class. Alternatively, on December 21st, one can also enjoy a sunset cruise on a double-decker catamaran whilst listening to one of St Lucia’s most famed saxophonists.
Nightly rates from USD $ 1,100 . Learn more here and here.
With such a wealth of experiences on offer, it’s evident that this year’s seasonal celebrations are going to be simply unforgettable.
by Sophie Richardson