Unmissable events
Exhibition Until December 24 Christmas Show, Kevis House Gallery, Petworth, West Sussex. Local artist Tabitha Mcbain’s richly illustrated originals (below), inspired by medieval illuminated manuscripts and gilded with gold leaf, will be offered for sale alongside Clare Dales’s linocuts plus works by other artists (www.kevishouse.com; 01798 215007)
Music December 17 Family Carols, St Paul’s Cathedral, London EC4. The chamber choir Cantate sings festive favourites in this 45-minute service, with puppeteer Simon Buckley. Children especially welcome. Entry is free, but early arrival is advised—service starts at 11am (www.stpauls.co.uk; 020–7246 8350)
December 18 Carols at Hestercombe House, Taunton, Somerset. The Silver Ring Choir of Bath performs traditional Christmas carols in the Staircase Hall. Mince pies and mulled wine will be for sale before the concert and during the interval. Doors open at 6pm for 6.30pm, tickets from £6 online and also available on the night (01823 413923; www.hestercombe.com) Wildlife December 21 and 22 Pink-footed geese breakfast walk, RSPB Snettisham Nature Reserve, King’s Lynn, Norfolk. Of the hundreds of thousands of these birds that overwinter in the UK, the largest population gathers on the inter-tidal mudflats here at the RSPB reserve, making it the perfect place for wildlife watching. Walks are conducted in small groups with knowledgeable guides and will be followed by a hearty English breakfast. 7am, tickets from £15—booking is essential (www.rspb.org.uk; 01485 210779)
Festival Until January 2 Magical Lantern Festival, Roundhay Park, Leeds, West Yorkshire. After last year’s London debut, the UK’S biggest Chinese lantern festival is heading north. A winding trail covering 10 acres of the park will be lit up by 30 giant, handcrafted displays made with 40,000 lightbulbs, including structures more than 65ft wide and dragons the length of three buses (above). Advance tickets from £8.50 (www.magicallantern.uk)
Garden Until January 7 Magical Winter Garden Illuminations, RHS Garden Rosemoor, Great Torrington, Devon. Wander the Winter Garden, lit up by colour-changing lights, then stop at the award-winning Garden Kitchen Restaurant—open late—for a simple hot supper. Visit the website for opening times and admission fees (www.rhs.org.uk/rosemoor; 01805 626810)
Book now February 24 A Feast of Gilbert and Sullivan, Ednam House, Kelso, Roxburghshire. The ‘satirical frolics of the Victorian Era’s favourite musical duo’, performed as part of the Northumbrian Music Festival on Tour. The evening will include welcome drinks and a gourmet three-course dinner. From 6.15pm, £59 per person (www.nmfestival.co.uk; 01668 283100) An improvised corkscrew From ‘500 Household Hints by 500 Housewives’, published by in 1926. We cannot vouch for the accuracy of any advice given