Best winter days out in the UK

To help you get inspired, here are five of our favourite days out in the UK this winter… 

Riverside Light Nights, Perth
In the depths of midwinter, the banks of the River Tay in Perth come alive with the annual riverside light nights. Norrie Miller Park in the city centre is the focus for celebrations, with food and drinks stalls on hand to keep you and your loved ones warm as you take in the show. During the celebration, many of the nights are themed — ranging from dinosaurs to comic con — so there’s something for all the family. 26 January – 10 February — see perthcity.co.uk.

Straw Bear Festival, Whittlesea
One of the UK’s more unusual celebrations, the Straw Bear Festival in the Cambridgeshire town of Whittlesea has to be seen to be believed. Over the course of the three-day party, the town’s streets play host to dancers, entertainers and a parade where locals dress up as, yep, straw bears. Events include story-telling sessions and a barn dance before culminating in the burning of the straw bear on Sunday night. 18-20 January – see strawbear.org.uk.

Beer and Cider Festival, Manchester
Over one merry weekend at the end of January, Manchester Central becomes the focal point for beer and cider lovers from across the country. As the biggest beer festival in the North, the festival showcases some of the best brews around, including gluten-free and alcohol-free options to make sure everyone is catered for. 24-26 January — see mancbeerfest.uk.
  

Big Burns Supper, Dumfries
Celebrate the life of Scotland’s most famous son, poet Robert “Rabbie” Burns, with Dumfries’ riotous Big Burns Supper. The event isn’t actually a supper, though, it’s an 11-day festival taking place across the city showcasing the very best in theatre, film, music and more. 2019 highlights include singer KT Tunstall and Frank Turner in what promises to be the biggest and best Burns Supper spectacular yet! 24 January – 3 February — see bigburnssupper.com.

Wassail and Mari Lwyd, Chepstow
Combining several English and Welsh traditions into one unusual day out, the Welsh border town of Chepstow celebrates the old traditional of wassailing. The wassail sees locals bless apple trees with singing and dancing, with the Mari Lwyd traditionally involving a horse’s skull mounted onto a stick and hidden under a sackcloth. It might sound strange, but it’s a lot of fun and with festivities rounded off with a traditional ceilidh it’s safe to say this will be a day out to remember! 19 January — see chepstowwassailmari.co.uk.