Supplement to Travel Agent Professional
London
in the Run Up to Christmas
Having been on the road for the past three weeks in the southern U SA, I’ve
had the chance to talk to dozens of travel agents about the im pact of the Queen’s Diam ond Jubilee celebrations. In a word, it has been m assive, and the consensus is that it will last for m any m onths m ore. I also saw that USA Today ran the Beatles as their headline photo story on June 12 — for the third time since Feb. 12. With more coverage likely to come during their 50th anniversary year, the Fab Four will continue to play their part in keeping the U.K. in the public eye. The third big topic of conversation is the Olympic Games, and the many historic sites being used for the staging of some of the events. For some, these settings will be more interesting than the actual sports being played. Either way, the publicity for the July/August Games is cranking up, and Britain will continue to be in the headlines for most of the summer. If you’re not yet taking full advantage of this massive wave of destination publicity, NOW is the time to start. Here are some helpful off-season travel ideas that might very easily convert into dollars in your pocket in the months ahead:
Christmas Markets and Stately Homes German cities are famous for their Christmas markets, but in terms of historic locations and content, we can certainly hold our own here in the U.K. — especially when you blend together: The treasure-filled Waddesdon Manor and Blenheim Palace, superbly decorated for Christmas; Christmas Markets in Tetbury, THE place for antiques in the Cotswolds and Bath, held in front of the ancient Roman Baths that gave the city its name; The Victorian Festival of Christmas in Portsmouth’s Historic Dockyard; An optional rail excursion to the Viking city of York for celebrations including Victorian costumed traders and carol singers. For a genuine German Christmas Market experience, I can also offer a memorable day among the 80-plus picturesque stalls at the Birmingham Frankfurt Christmas Market and Craft Fair.
London in the Run Up to Christmas
The London Jazz Festival, Nov. 9-18 The London Jazz Festival, the largest pan-city music festival in the U.K., has been taking place every November since 1992. Widely acknowledged for delivering a heady mix of talent from around the globe, including both world-class artists and emerging stars, the Festival continues to bring jazz to a massive audience.
Get Your Skates On London at Christmas is a magical time for families. Everyone is in festive mood, with many attractions offering imaginative
Antique Fairs and London Markets
and family-friendly activities.
Two that are especially notable are the living history experiences at Hampton Court Palace and the authentic recreation of a Victorian/Edwardian Christmas at the atmospheric Linley Sambourne House. If your clients include a family that likes to ice skate, invite them to get their blades on. Ice rinks can be found at the Natural History Museum, Somerset House, the London Eye, the Tower of London and at Hampton Court Palace, to name but five of them. Warner Brothers’ new “The Making of Harry Potter” studio tour, now open just north of London, could end up being the highlight of the trip for families with Potter fans of all ages.
The Ardingly International Antiques and Collectors Fairs are the largest in the southeast of England. This year, they take place Oct. 30-31. Combine a couple of days at the Fair with antique hunting in Brighton’s “twittens” and then head to London for the bustling colour ful markets at Bermondsey (Friday), Camden Passage and Portobello Road (Saturday) and Spitalfields/Petticoat Lane (Sunday). And don’t forget, the Harrods Sale opens immediately after Christmas Day, which offers another hook for a 6 -nighter that can include a New Years Eve Gala dinner at a top 4- or 5-star hotel.
For further tour information please contact Paull Tickner at pjtickner@yahoo.co.uk For more information on Travel Agent Professional come visit us at www.travelagentprofessional.com Cover: Blenheim Palace at Christmas