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The Best Ice Rinks in London and Beyond to Get Your Skate On It is the law that as soon as the 50 Denier tights and beanies make an appearance, you must sniff out a good ice rink to get your festive juices going. London wins in the icy stakes, from Somerset House’s iconic rink and Canary Wharf’s longest running skate mecca to Glide at Battersea Power Station and Ice at Kensington Palace and a new, tropical Moana skating experience. So we’ve rounded up the best rinks in the capital, plus some extra special glacial experiences in the rest of the UK to get your Torvill and Dean on. ___________________ Skate at Somerset House It’s not Christmas until Somerset House opens its iconic ice rink. Expect gourmet dining at The Chalet, a rink-side view Skate lounge by Whispering Angel; Skate School lessons, and a pop-up Shelter Boutique store. Somerset House , Strand, London WC2R 1LA. 13 Nov - 12 Jan. Tickets from £11 Westfield London’s Tropical Moana Rink Westfield London’s ice rink returns with a tropical twist, in celebration of Disney’s  Moana 2 . From 15 November until 5 January, skaters will be transported to the colourful world of Oceania as the Westfield Square rink brings the spirit of the Pacific islands to life. At the centre will be Europe’s tallest Christmas tree on an ice rink, soaring 65 feet high and festooned with island-inspired decorations, Westfield London , Westfield Square, Ariel Way, London W12 7SL. 15 November - 5 January Glide at Battersea Power Station Set against the backdrop of one of London’s most iconic buildings, this Insta-perfect rink offers stunning views of the Thames, while you skate around three interconnecting rinks surrounded by twinkling lights and a giant, 30ft Christmas tree. Afterwards, you can warm up with a hot chocolate - or something stronger - at the Glass House Nine Elms , London SW11 8EF. 8 November - 5 January. tickets from £14 Royal Pavilion Ice Rink For an otherworldly skating experience - which is also powered entirely by Green Energy - glide over to the beautiful Royal Pavilion Ice Rink in Brighton. With the backdrop of the iconic, fantasy former royal residence behind you and hugged by a ringside bar and kitchen full of warming goodies, it’s one of the UK’s most beautiful spots to hit the ice this Christmas. The Royal Pavilion , 4/5 Pavilion Buildings, Brighton and Hove, Brighton BN1 1EE. Until 5 January 2025. Tickets from £9. Lapland UK's Frozen Elf Pond Read our review This elves' frozen pond is flanked by snow-covered Christmas trees at the heart of The Elven Village, in this extraordinary Ascot wonderland, created with blockbuster movie production quality. The rink is surrounded by elven characters, passing huskies, an elf emporium, restaurant and Elva’s Post Office. Children can use penguin supports as they glide around the otherworldly space, before warming up with hot chocolates and sweet treats. Afterwards, they will head deeper into the Enchanted Forest, past the famous, real reindeer and a sleeping Rudolph - illluminating the stable with his bright nose, as he snores - to the sleigh and finally, the wooden cabin of Father Christmas himself. Lapland UK , Whitmoor Forest, Swinley Rd, Winkfield Row, Ascot SL5 8BD. Tickets from £59 pp in November and from £89 pp in December. Opens on 9 November until 24 December Hampton Court Palace Ice Rink This stunning rink returns to the gardens of Henry VIII’s historic home, with beautiful views of the illuminated Tudor palace in the background as you glide around its 26 foot Christmas tree centrepiece. After your 45 minute session, you can head to the Rink Cafe and Bar for festive food and drinks. Hampton Court Palace, Hampton Ct Way, Molesey, East Molesey KT8 9AU. 22 November - 5 January. Tickets from £20.65 per adult and £15.65 per child. Winter Wonderland at Hyde Park Rink The capital’s annual, Christmas mecca returns for its 17th year on 21 November. The event includes a Magical Ice Kingdom made from more than 500 tonnes of ice and snow, plus an apres ski ice bar; ice rink, a real ice slide; wintry Cirque Berserk circus show; Zippos Christmas Circus Show, ice sculpting workshop; open air Christmas markets and a Bavarian Village. There are rides for all ages, from Ice Mountain to a ride around a Christmas tree in giant baubles, plus Santaland with more rides, the Santa Express Train and the chance to meet the Big Guy himself; firepits for marshmallow toasting, the apline, Explorer’s Rest and a Santaland Chill Out area for little ones. Hyde Park Winter Wonderland , Hyde Park, London. 21 November - 5 January. Off peak tickets are free and peak tickets are £7.50 Ice Rink Canary Wharf London’s longest running seasonal ice rink, Ice Rink Canary Wharf offers visitors a magical skate session in the heart of Canary Wharf. This year’s ice rink will be putting on themed skating sessions, including 80’s, 90’s and Soul Classics nights to get skaters in the festive spirit. There’s a transparent roof, to thwart Blighty’s pesky weather, plus an apres-skate alpine bar serving winter warmers for skaters and spectators. And the centre piece this year is a glorious Christmas tree, beneath a suspended giant mirrored ball, casting disco reflections across the rink. Ice Rink Canary Wharf.  Canada Square, London E14 5AB. 26 Oct - 23 February Winter Funland Midlands This festive indoor fairground returns to The NEC from 9 December until 1 January, with an enormous ice rink at its heart. Skate instructors and penguin aids will be on hand for little ones. And afterwards, the family can enjoy the UK’s largest indoor funfair, complete with Christmas markers, unlimited rides including dodgems, waltzer and a giant slide, a Christmas circus performance in their 1200-seater theatre - featuring an extreme motorbike show - plus a meeting with Santa himself in his grotto. Winter Funland, NEC Birmingham, B40 1NT. 7 December - 1 January. Under 3s go free. Adult/Child ticket £31.50 pp plus £3.50 booking fee. Christmas at Warwick Castle Ice Rink If you like history and beauty with your ice, then look no further than Warwick Castle. The iconic building's east front transforms into a magical skating rink from 25 November to 7 January. During your 45 minute experience, you can glide beneath the majestic Guy’s Tower, to the sound of Christmas bangers, with the amazing backdrop of Warwick Castle, illuminated for Christmas. Warwick Castle, Warwick, CV34 6AU. 25 November - 7 January. From £11 pp Like what you've read? Why not subscribe to our free, monthly newsletter?

Bewitching Musical Adaptation of Donaldson’s Hit Book Flies off the Page We leap onto our broom to head to the launch of this energetic, wonderfully daft and polished musical by Tall Stories, the children’s theatre alchemists behind The Smeds and the Smoos and The Elmer Adventure. It’s a lively and colourful 60-minute adaptation of the children’s classic, which bewitches our four and six-year-olds with catchy songs, beautiful stage and lighting and a charismatic cast. It opens with a group of hikers setting up camp beneath the full moon, when they spot a cackling witch flying overhead, leading into the retelling of the story, and cleverly using many of the props from the camp scene - like the red sleeping suit for the dragon finale. We meet the fabulous witch - who is played by Amy Harris with a brilliantly eccentric, jolly hockey sticks style, reminiscent of a young Jennifer Saunders. And we follow the witch and her cat - presented as a sassy but loving familiar by Nadia Shash - as they fly through the skies, losing hats, bows and wands, but collecting a broom-full of friends along the way. These new chums include a wonderful puppet frog, with endless legs who leaps about the stage; a suitably daft and rambunctious dog and Joe Lindley’s hilarious green bird, who is somewhere between Dot Cotton and Bimini Bon Boulash. There are some lovely physical and staging effects - like the broom snapping in two, and the witch’s friends working together to become a bog monster to scare away the dragon. Young audience members love joining in the songs and shouting out spells and rhymes they all know and love from the book. The production’s deliberate misunderstanding of familiar elements of the book draws helium giggles from the tiny crowd, like replacing the pine cone with a traffic cone in the cauldron scene. Our daughter is thrilled when the dragon picks her out as being so delicious, he will eat her without fries or seasoning, before the witch steps in to save her. And the big, Iggety ziggety zaggety zoom reveal of the truly magnificent broom is forensically faithful to the book, with seats for the witch and the cat and the dog, a nest for the bird and a shower for the frog. It closes with the ensemble of four returning to the camping scene, when a bag of the witch’s Jelly Babies drops from the sky, and we see a charming, shadow puppet scene of the motley crew flying past the full moon on their roomy new broom. This production has been a kid’s theatre staple since 2008 and will clearly continue to bewitch theatre goers for many more years. Lyric Theatre , Shaftesbury Avenue, London, W1D 7ES. 22 November - 5 January. Tickets from £12 Like what you've read? Why not follow us on Instagram?

Lewishtonia's Modern, Girl Power Twist Kisses Life into the Fairytale Classic Award-winning panto powerhouse, Susie McKenna has waved her wand and transported Sleeping Beauty to ‘Lewishtonia,’ in this modern retelling of the classic, packed with magic, comedy, sparkling routines and West End stars. We head to Catford’s Broadway Theatre for this high energy, girl power twist on the classic, which sees the nanny wake Sleeping Beauty with a kiss, for her to become a kick-ass warrior princess who rescues the prince with her sisterhood of sassy fairies from the brilliantly wicked Carabosse. Every panto needs a dame, and Justin Brett steals the show  as Princess Tahlia’s fabulously funny, camp and colourful NHS nurse/nanny, Nora. In an endless succession of increasingly extra outfits, she ad-libs brilliantly with the audience, sings, dances, fires out smut and wins over big and little guests with fizzing energy. Lisa Davina Phillip is perfectly cast as evil Carabosse, with an excellent cackle, a pack of agile wolves, and an extraordinary voice which soars across the theatre. There are some wonderful effects, like the giant troll they defeat to rescue the prince and a UV scene, showing giant, luminous bugs, as the prince cuts through neon vines to reach the slumbering royals. Princess Tahlia (Roshani Abbey) pleasingly replaces the usual, frilly, fainting princess with a streetwise, ass-kicking heroine, who leaves the prince waiting, fights off a gaggle of wolves and has enough breath left to belt out original numbers as well as covers of well-known hits, like Natasha Bedingfield’s I am Unwritten. The two-hour show with interval keeps our children giggling and engaged throughout and is one to get in the diaries this Christmas. You snooze, you lose. Broadway Theatre , Rushey Green, Catford, London, SE6 4RU. 4-31 December Like what you've read? Why not follow us on Instagram?

Modern Retelling is a Sweet Treat for Kids with a Poignant Refugee Story for Adults The Globe’s modern retelling of Hansel and Gretel is the perfect, sweet treat for little ones, with a moving tale about refugees for older theatre-goers. My six-year-old daughter and I follow the trail of bread crumbs to The Globe - which is astonishingly beautiful, even in the rain - for this timely retelling, which has returned for its second year with a shorter, more child-friendly version. Britain’s Poet Laureate, Simon Armitage has transformed the Brothers Grimm classic into a beautiful, one-hour poem, performed by the cast with songs, dance and magical effects. We meet a woodcutting dad and bread-making mother who leave their two children in the woods to protect them from a war-torn village. The references to conflict and grief are delicately presented to go over the heads of little ones like my daughter, while striking an emotional chord with the adults. Hansel (Ned Costello) and Gretel (Yasemin Ӧzdemir) sing movingly about missing the normalities of home, “wearing yellow PJs and snacks after tea,” and there are charming effects, like the giant bird puppets which flock around our heads, eating the trail of breadcrumbs. An enormous gingerbread house explodes onto the stage, joined by the witch (Beverly Rudd) who steals the show as well as the siblings. She arrives looking like Mrs Doubtfire and flanked by her black puffer coated mob, who wear demonic masks. She’s played with fabulous slapstick and energy, as a hilarious and tough Northern granny, straight out of Royston Vasey. My daughter’s favourite scene shows the witch singing a cake-addled number, while force-feeding Hansel, as hungry Gretel cooks and cleans. It ends with the witch disappearing head first into a giant pot, to be turned into an enormous sweet by the vengeful siblings. Children are thrilled by the surreal sight of a giant, inflatable swan gliding through the stunning, moonlit theatre. The white-suited gondolier tempts the uneasy pair onto the boat with a darkly poignant song about trust, reminding them about all the others who have braved it to safety in the past. For children, this is a fun scene from the pair’s adventure. But the all-too familiar orange life vests worn by Hansel and Gretel and the fear, trust and desperate hope they show in this scene is enormously moving, especially given the innocent, laughing faces of little audience members, enjoying the swan inflatable, blissfully unaware of its tragic significance. There is an emotional reunion with their mother at her tent, and a worrying hint that their father might not have survived, which would have been a bit too much for a kid’s Christmas show. Thankfully, the stress-eating of my daughter’s pick ’n’ mix was uncalled for, and he returns unscathed for the big finale, which arrives in a gorgeous flurry of falling snow, songs and giant, dancing sweets. It's an extraordinary experience, watching this show outdoors, hugged by this historic landmark. Afterwards, I start to explain the refugee subplot that my daughter has missed, but she cuts me off to laugh about the witch falling in the pot, and we both return to our own home, after enjoying the production in very different ways. Hansel & Gretel , Shakespeare's Globe, 21 New Globe Walk, London SE1 9DT. Tickets from £5 (standing, off-peak) to £55 (seated, peak performances) Until 5 January. Like what you've read? Why not subscribe to our free, monthly newsletter?

Five Star All Inclusive is a Family Oasis Disguised as an Immaculate, Greek Village If Disney, Instagram and God conspired to create a flawless, sprawling Greek village, festooned with scarlet bougainvillaea and centuries old Ficus, palm and olive trees providing dappled shade, plus private sandy beaches and crystal, turquoise sea, Creta Maris Resort would be it. We’d been searching for the “perfect family resort” - that elusive beast. Go too far one way, and you’re locked in a hideous Groundhog Day of forced fun, foam parties and Agadoo. Too far the other way and the honeymooning couple is casting withering looks at your children across the candlelit restaurant. But this luxury, five star all-inclusive struck the ideal balance. There is something for everybody. Children can play in the five kids' pools or the resort’s dedicated water park, while adults relax around one of the six adults' pools or private, Blue Flag beach. There are six, exceptional restaurants, nine bars, multiple snack points, a luxe hammam spa, chidren’s entertainment, Kid’s and Teens Club and Europe’s biggest outdoor cinema. It’s a short, 12 mile shuttle from Heraklion airport (already a win with weary sprogs) and we were greeted by staff wearing Cretan mandili headscarfs and black leather stivania boots, which set the tone for this traditional escape and their impeccable and swift service. The golf buggy whizzed us through the resort’s picturesque, cobbled alleys and squares, past pristine, white Aegean buildings and stunning mountain or beach views to our Deluxe Seafront Bungalow - a fresh white and rustic blue, spacious base with doors which opened out onto its own, hibiscus-studded garden, overlooking the private beach. A complimentary bottle of red wine, snacks and trays of macaroons, nuts and cakes were awaiting us on arrival. Next door, was what would become our favourite restaurant there, and we followed our noses to the sizzling meats cooking at Cochlias barbecue restaurant. It has the best location in Crete, perched above Hersonissos Bay, with the moon and twinkling village lights dancing off the water as it lapped the rocks beneath us. They serve every imaginable meat, but my recommendation is the sea bass and their inventive, Italian starters. Platia restaurant sits in front of the ancient, stone Holy Trinity church and serves a creative, Greek a la carte menu. Pithos is perched on a balcony, with breathtaking mountain views and serves organic, traditional Cretan cuisine, all sourced from the Creta Maris organic field or from local, organic producers. Almyra is your relaxed, poolside buffet restaurant by day, which scrubs up into a romantic, waterfront a la carte seafood restaurant by night. Cosmos is their all-day buffet offering and our go-to spot for breakfast and lunch, thanks to the huge selections of food, with special kids’ buffet area (complete with colourful plates) and an impressive and delicious range of healthy, fresh salads and dishes. Estia is their second, all-day buffet restaurant, with a focus on Mediterranean specialities and a stunning dessert table, largely ignored by the children thanks to the giant chocolate fountain that presided over it. The multiple snack points dotted around the resort were also a big hit with the children, serving everything from crepes and ice creams to toasties, burgers, pizzas and salads. Sexy, candlelit private dining is also available at a table on the picturesque waterfront. Options include the exotic menu (sauteed scallops, grilled lobster, mango parfait) the romantic menu (sea bass ceviche, beef fillet, chocolate soufflé) a summer sunsets menu (beef carpaccio, rack of lamb, chocolate tart) exotic delights menu (octopus carpaccio, tuna fillet, and lemon and chocolate symphony) or the vegetarian menu (fried feta cheese, mushroom risotto, chilled melon veloute with chocolate mousse). When you’re not stuffing your pie holes, the village resort has ensured your every whim is catered for. Their luxe, waterpark is neatly tucked away from those who don’t want shrieking, ice cream-fuelled children and colourful slides on their break. And for those who do (our family loved it) there are water towers, twisting rides, multi level aqua tower pools, splash playgrounds and river rapids as well as more relaxing pools and smaller slides for little ones. With 14 freshwater pools and one indoor pool, you can pick a different swimming spot every day of your trip. They each have their own charms, as well as cushioned loungers, sun chairs, free towels and various activities from aqua aerobics to waterpolo. With so many pools dotted throughout the sprawling destination, they never feel busy (despite the 2,000 guests it sleeps) and retain a relaxed, luxury Mediterranean feeling, without guests creeping out at silly o’clock to bag a lounger, because they’re so easy to get at any time of day - the hotel also discourages this by removing towels from loungers which aren’t in use, which we fully applaud. Alternatively, you can enjoy the resort's 250m of sandy, Blue Flag beach (with free loungers, towels, lifeguards and assorted bars) and clear turquoise sea or the more beautiful and quieter 100m of rocky beach around the sea bungalows. The resort is also home to the extraordinary Cine Creta Maris amphitheatre - the largest outdoor cinema in Europe - allowing you to watch the latest movies (Elvis, Jurassic World and Lightyear were showing during our trip) surrounded by silhouetted, Cretan mountains and starry sky. Despite largely ignoring the cat we have at home, our children were mesmerised by the friendly and well looked after cats and kittens, which dozed by couples playing cards in sleepy, cobbled squares or stretched on rocks by the beach. Cat houses and feeding points were dotted throughout the village and guests are discouraged from feeding them, so they don’t beg for food and are content with belly rubs from sticky, ice cream hands. Although it’s fantastically family-friendly, it isn’t stuffed with parents and sprogs. It attracts a pleasing mix of guests, from retired groups to newlyweds (there’s an onsite church for weddings) young couples and business travellers, since the resort also houses one of Greece’s biggest convention centres. This mix added to the feeling of living in an (immaculate) Greek village, rather than a family resort. The children’s entertainment is excellent, with nightly mini disco and live entertainment - one surreal highlight was watching a dancing dog pushing a baby buggy - a playground (handily beside the perfect, sunset-viewing bar Kourites , ensuring parents are adequately refreshed while children play and mini disco. There’s also a dedicated kids club, teens club, baby room and tennis lessons, water sports, beach volleyball, mini-football field, arcade games and table tennis. For the grown ups, there’s a fitness centre, archery, darts, billiards, hammam spa, five-aside football, basketball, mini golf, boccia, yoga, Pilates, cooking classes and dance classes. Thanks to all of the above - for the first time in our parental lives - both children slept immediately once heads were reacquainted with pillows, allowing us to digest the day with multiple cocktails, gazing across the moonlit sea outside our bungalow. It turns out luxury and children can go hand in sticky hand, and it’s difficult to prise them apart again, when it’s time to go home. Creta Maris , Navarchou Nearchou, Limenas Chersonisou 700 14, Greece Like what you've read? Why not subscribe to our free, monthly newsletter?

The Culinary King of Soho Shares His Definitive Guide to its Best Restaurants, Pubs and Cafes If there's anybody more qualified to provide the ultimate guide to Soho food and drink than celebrity chef and restaurateur, Aldo Zilli, we’ll eat his chef’s hat. The multi-award-winning, Italian powerhouse once owned five restaurants in Soho and cooked for superstars like Sir Paul and Linda McCartney, Freddie Mercury, Prince Edward, Kate Moss and George Michael. His Italian seafood restaurant, Zilli Fish was a Soho institution for 15 years, and when he wasn’t running that and Signor Zilli, Zilli Green, Zilli Cafe and Zilli Bar , the larger than life personality was (and continues to be) a regular fixture on our screens, as a presenter, chef and judge. One of nine children, he was born in the small seaside town of Alba Adriatica in Abruzzo and first learnt Italian home cooking from his mother and catering college. The multi-award-winning chef, who has written 10 books, is now a  brand ambassador for Mis Amigos tequila and serves authentic, quality, Italian food from his own kitchen at his country pile in Surrey at Casa Zilli,  where his new flock of celebrity fans includes Dame Judi Dench. Chef Zilli has taken a moment from juggling all of the above, to bring you the best places to eat and drink from morning to night in London's foodie jewel, Soho. Casa Zilli, Little Common Ln, Bletchingley, Redhill RH1 4QF ________________________ COFFEE Bar Italia There is only one place to drink coffee in Soho: Bar Italia . I've been going there for 45 years and it is still owned by the same family. It just makes me feel at home. Bar Italia , 22 Frith St, London W1D 4RF BREAKFAST Bill's Soho I always go to Bill's  in Brewer Street ( it's where I used to have Zilli Fish ) because I love the atmosphere and the buzz. It sets me up for the rest of the day. I usually order avocado on sourdough with smoked salmon. Bill's Soho Restaurant , 36-44 Brewer St, London W1F 9TB LUNCH Cicchetti I prefer a light lunch and enjoy the stroll over to Cicchetti in Piccadilly. The truffle ravioli is divine and probably my favourite dish, along with their Italian tapas. The bar is fabulous and the service is typically Italian. Cicchetti , 215 Piccadilly, St. James's, London W1J 9HL DINNER Groucho Club When I'm not eating in my restaurant   casa-zilli.com  I would choose the Groucho Club in Dean Street, where my old friend  Mark Hix is directing the food and drinks menu. I've been a member there since I first got started in Soho. Groucho Club , 45 Dean St, London W1D 4QB DRINKS Ham Yard Hotel It has to be Ham Yard in Great Windmill Street, it's a wonderful place to meet friends and I'll let you into a secret - I'm a bit of a coffee addict! So what better way to kick off the evening than with a Tequila Coffee Espresso Martini, followed by a glass of Chablis? Ham Yard Hotel , 1 Ham Yard, London W1D 7DT INSIDER TIP Lina Stores & Mark Powell Lina Stores in Greek Street for a wonderful slap of Pecorino cheese and then to make sure your outfit fits your mood and the great village of Soho, a visit to Mark Powell in Newburgh Street - he designed my wedding suit! Lina Stores , 51 Greek St, London W1D 4EH Mark Powell , 10 Newburgh St, Carnaby, London W1F 7RN Like what you've read? Why not subscribe to our free, monthly newsletter

Dramatically Different Hollywood Glamour in the Heart of The Cotswolds It shouldn’t be surprising to discover a theatrical, Great Gatsby -esque world of Hollywood glamour and drama behind the unassuming, honey walls of Ingleside House . After all, its owners transformed the Grade II listed, Georgian mansion into a boutique hotel following the success of The Barn Theatre next door, which they revamped from WW2 Nissen hut into a 200-seater triumph, with national treasures including Stephen Fry, Joanna Lumley and Helena Bonham Carter starring in its digital lockdown productions. But once inside, the interior is so flamboyantly eccentric and lavish, it can’t help but surprise. When Ian and Chrissie Carling enlisted design maestros, Concorde BGW for its £1 million refurbishment, they gave them a brief to create the antithesis of "another grey and cream Cotswold hotel.” And they earned standing ovations for their dedication to this, when the curtains lifted in 2021 to reveal an explosion of bold, Hollywood style. There are 11 individually designed rooms, each with a unique story and named after local people who contributed to the hotel and theatre. We stay in the Wright Room , named after Rachel Wright, Executive director of The Barn theatre next door and manager of Ingleside House. Like both of the Deluxe Super King Rooms , our edibly stylish space has an enormous, free -standing bath in the corner, before a burnt orange wall. The room is a walk-in sunset, in sumptuous saffrons and deep, frosty blues, accessorised with gold and marble. The bed head is a velvet, peachy assortment of giant Ladyfinger biscuits, with tastefully clashing cushion prints in fiery ginger and sapphire. There is a deep ochre, velvet sofa which has been converted into a soft bed almost as large as our Superking, for our two children to sink into - and there is still plenty of space for them to run around like demented chimps. A sheepskin is draped over the soft, brown leather armchair beside the bath and the hotel’s glamorous, Art-Deco design is highlighted in the prints on the thick, salmon curtains and blinds across vast windows, through which the sun now pours. The vibrant orange and blue theme is continued in the giant bathroom, with a feature 18th Century fireplace, a never-ending, orange tiled rainfall shower - which could easily de-grime an entire football team simultaneously - with blue floors and a Twenties-style rug. And if I am still struggling to get into the character of the Silver-screen siren that this room demands, its luxurious touches provide the final nudge - a generous shelf of Molton Brown toiletries; jars of shimmering bath salts (in the same hues as the room); locally made shortbread treats awaiting us beneath a bell jar; a retro gold and blue Roberts Radio ; Nespresso Machine; Dyson hairdryer; fluffy dressing gowns and (praise the Lord) air-con. Each bubblegum pink door upstairs leads to a different, Daisy Buchanan dreamland, with blushing rose fireplaces, indoor palm trees, emerald walls, heavy, richly coloured textiles and dramatic feature lighting, as well as velvet cushioned window seats with marble, Champagne tables behind freestanding baths. Down the historic, sweeping staircase is a feature fireplace which roars like the Twenties in the winter, studded with colourful stained glass windows and bold feature walls. This leads into one of our favourite rooms; The Garden Room lounge, with its ice cream pink fireplace, teal velvet Chesterfields and decadent, gold objets d’art. Even the toilets got the razzle-dazzle memo, with generously bosomed showgirls dancing across the walls of the hotel's “Powder Room." Behind the hotel, we discover The Firepit, the heated alfresco dining area of the hotel's award-winning, Mediterranean restaurant, Téatro . It’s a leafy warren of colourful parasols and chairs, with enormous heaters, twinkling fairy lights and cosy firepits. We enjoy a balmy summer evening here on our first night, with a relaxed dinner in its buzzy setting. As the charismatic waiter chats to the other tables, we learn that it attracts a mixture of regulars, tourists and guests enjoying a pre-theatre supper, before watching The Barn Theatre ’s musical production, Once . Téatro restaurant deserves its own review, which you can read here. And we explore Téatro's cosy cellar of suitably flamboyant dining areas at breakfast the following two mornings. Each cosy space shares the same, deep teal and pink colour palette, but in inventively different ways - giant pink flamingos and palm trees explode across the walls of one area, with natural stone walls, exposed bricks, gold tables, secluded velvet banquettes and colourful parquet floors in other nooks. The historic hotel is a ten-minute stroll from the buttery buildings of the pretty market town’s centre and sits in the heart of the Cotswolds, a short drive from an assortment of chocolate box villages. If there is one good thing to come out of the pandemic, Ingleside House is it, and we would happily spend a lockdown holed up in this dramatically different mansion. Ingleside House , 5 Beeches Rd, Cirencester GL7 1BN. Prices from £140 a night. Like what you've read? Why not subscribe to our free, monthly newsletter

Our Tried and Tested Guide to this Year's Top Children's Christmas Presents Our elves have been busy with the most fun job this side of Lapland - testing out this year's hottest kid's Christmas presents. From farting yoga games, unfathomably cool skates, must-have new LEGO sets and 3D drawing pens to turbo-cute duck pets, high octane electronic racing and Bluey games, London Undergound BRIO and a magical Harry Potter buddies. Take the stress out of shopping, with our tried and tested reviews of 2024's best kid's Christmas gifts. ___________________ So Slime Go! Gooey Snails Slime Race Set Snails and gamified slime - is there a more child-pleasing combo? This is a fun, easy to play and addictive game for kids aged 5 and up, with no batteries or set up time. Boom. Ours delighted in the sensory play of adding slime to the slides, positioning the snails and cheering on their gooey racers. Afterwards, they had just as much fun detaching the shell to suck the goo back up, giggling at the slurpy, farty noises it made on the way in. The slime is pleasingly stretchy and comes in vibrant green, blue, pink, purple and turquoise colours. The children also enjoyed playing with the snails themselves, which can be squeezed to leave colourful goo trails. BUY FROM SMYTHS . £17.99 Rio Roller Mayhem II Quad Roller Skates Find a partner who looks at you the way we look at these insanely cool roller skates. Inspired by the '90s skate scene, Rio's most loved roller derby-style skate has been given a stunning makeover, with a chequered design and vibrant green leather, emblazoned with the famous, Rio signature print. Our thrilled little tester found them light, durable and comfortable (thanks to the Hi-Impact Chassis and aluminium trucks) ensuring he was in control at all times. A cheeky bonus for parents with excited kids gliding around the house on Christmas Day, is that Rio's exclusive truck design prevents the axles from protruding and damaging floors. This is a turbo-cool gift which will make their Christmas, and get them off the screens BUY FROM SKATES.CO.UK £69.95 myFirst 3dPen Make This is the ultimate gift for little creatives. The safe, wireless and easy to use pen enables them to make 3D drawings, from toys, buildings and ornaments to jewellery and anything else their imaginations fancy bringing to life. My eager little artist loved the fact the creations solidified in a flash and the creative freedom she had without wires (thanks to USB charging) and we didn't need to worry about burnt fingers, because the low-heat filment is safe to touch and the heat stays inside the device. The mega bonus for parents, is that this is mess-free art - it's non-adhesive and easy to clean up. This kid-friendly tech has opened my child's mind to brilliant new creative possibilities, and it's her favourite toy to bring ideas to life, with an endless succession of doll house food, tiaras, spiders, key rings and tree decorations. BUY FROM MY FIRST . £49 Maleficent's Dragon Form LEGO Big kids loved this as much as the little kids . Disney's Sleeping Beauty classic is brought to life, with a magical castle, complete with bed, flying Fairy Godmothers, intricate accessories and a nifty Spinning Wheel, which is turned to dramatically animate the vines. The children loved helping to build Maleficent's majestic dragon form, which breathes fire (win) and has folding wings to swoop over the castle's bridge (double-win). It also comes with poseable Aurora, Prince Philip and Samson LEGO dolls, for role playing adventures with their sword and shield props. My daughter approved of Aurora wearing trousers and having her own sword, to be a hero, rather than a passive princess. BUY FROMLEGO.COM £59.99 My First Scalextric Batwheels Batman vs Robin We had the original Batman and Robin Scalextric in the Nineties and our tester was just as excited as we were about this jazzy, new version. Scalextric is making a massive comeback, and this is the perfect toy to introduce them to the joys of plug and play racing. The plug and play kit is easy and fast to assemble and in no time, we were racing our cars - a smaller version for smaller people - across an eight figure Gotham City race track. The cars are super sturdy and resist all bumps and the magna traction race track means the cars stay on the track, even at high speeds. Our tiny testers were utterly absorbed and the Scalextric mantle has been passed on - at least until they’re in bed, then it’s our turn. BUY FROM SCALEXTRIC . £54.99 Pets Alive - Mama Duck Baby Surprise Pets Alive are masters of impossibly cute pets with all the fun bits, and none of the mess and poo. This toy is a fabulously quackers and exciting concept for lucky duckies. Our little tester was beyond excited about seeing how many eggs would hatch - squeals filled the house as each egg popped up, with surprise discoveries of slime yolks, a rare golden duckling and two chicks. Mama Duck was pleasingly, much bigger than we expected. And once hatched, her ducklings magnetically attach to her tail following her everywhere, as she quacks and waddles like a real duck. The pink heart on her wing can also be pressed for assorted duck sounds. Afterwards, they can be stored in their nest. BUY FROM SMYTHS £29.99 Transformers One Power Flip Optimus Prime This ingenious 4-in-1 figure converts from Cybertronian truck to Orion Pax, Optimus Prime and finally to Ultimate Optimus Prime with the snazzy Power Flip move - holding his arms while flipping the figure. Our tester was mesmerised. Each mode has different lights sounds and special effects. And there are sword, Energon axe, shield and the Matrix of Leadership accessories that attach to the figure in each mode. It's an impressive recreation of the iconic character from the Transformers One movie. But kids don't need to be Transformers fans to fall for the endless possibilities of this extraordinary action figure. BUY FROM SMYTHS . £39.99 BRIO World London Underground Train This year, BRIO partnered with TFL to make a mini London Underground toy, complete with tunnel, model Tube train, driver, commuter and sign. And it's easy to see why it's the must-have train toy this Christmas. Our bite-sized BRIO fan excitedly connected it to his other BRIO sets - all sets are compatible. He was thrilled by the lights and tube noises the iconic red, white and blue train made, when pushed. And the carriages were easy for little fingers to open to seat the passengers for their journey. It's part of BRIO's Trains of the World series, and our little Londoners loved role-playing with something so familiar, and infinitely more fun than the daily commute. BUY FROM BRIO. £39.99 Play-Doh - Rainbow Swirl Ice Cream Playset For little chefs aged 3 onwards, this is the sweetest ice cream playset. Our four-year-old tester found it easy to load the machine with assorted Play-Doh colours, and delighted in watching pretend, rainbow soft serve with colourfully striped edges filling the spinning cups and cones. Afterwards, he made Play-Doh star and ball sprinkles, by turning its handle - they dropped into a scoop for him to add with ease. He followed these with a gaggle of multicoloured decotations, from candy cups, cookies and pretzels to fruit. And he enjoyed serving up his colourful creations, using the playset's seven accessories, which include a spoon, toy knife, sprinkle scoop, dish, cone and a lidded cup. BUY FROM ARGOS . £20.99 Pokémon Battle Spinner Arena Set WARNING: This toy is dangerously addictive and you’ll want the kids to go to bed so you can play on your own. Jazwares’ clever, high energy game features Pikachu and Mew Poké Ball Spinners, which you load into a pair of clever Spinner Launchers, and pull back the winding cord. Now the fun bit - press the top button and they fly into the yellow Battle Arena, where you watch them battle head-to-head. This was easy to play, generated lots of excited squeals and was a huge hit with our Pokemon-mad tester… as well as the grown-ups. BUY FROM SMYTHS . £24.99 Natural History Museum T-Rex Costume Only the Natural History Museum could make a kid’s T-Rex costume this detailed and impressive. The wonderfully soft, beautifully made dino has a padded head for safer play; soft, sturdy claws and open sleeves, with an excellent swishy tail and gorgeous scaly pattern and colours. It wowed our little tester, who has pretty much lived in it ever since. It’s easy for our four-year-old to take on and off and is so well made, it will absolutely withstand asteroids. And it’s the perfect gift for any pint-sized palaeontologists (aged 3 to 9) this Christmas. BUY FROM NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM . £30 Disney The Little Mermaid Under the Sea Exploring Ariel Doll This is the ultimate bath toy for little mermaids - Disney's Little Mermaid doll can be played with both in the water and on land. The beautifully made and substanially sized mermaid has an iridescent, shimmering tail which lights up, while she sings ''Part of Your World' - deep joy for our Ariel-loving tester. Back on land, her hair can be styled with the dinglehopper comb and accessorised with the sea shell and clip-in charms. She's a sturdy mermaid and forensically faithful to the latest Little Mermaid, and our tester was particularly pleased with how soft her long locks are. They'll be racing to their bedtime bath on Christmas Day, with Ariel in tow. BUY FROM THETOYSHOP. £29.99 Hyper Dash - Electronic Reaction Race Game This is an addictive way to work off those Selection Boxes and Mince Pies and get the kids away from the screens. It's marketed for 6+, but our younger testers loved it just as much. We set up the course, using five electronic dash targets - handily it can be used for indoor and outdoor play. And we competed against each other, by racing to follow the voice and light commands of the dash tagger in sequence. Children can play against themselves or with up to 10 players. We enjoyed playing in the 3 different modes: Race in Dash Mode - completing the course in the quickest time and progressing through 10 levels of difficulty; React in Fast Dash , tagging the most targets to win in either 30, 60 or 90 seconds, and Team Dash with up to 4 teams for a cooperative relay race. Hyper Dash encourages families to get off the sofa and get active in fun active racing gameplay and guarantees hours of fun. BUY FROM VERY , £24.99 Casdon Ooni Pizza Oven Toy While mum and dad are firing up their Ooni ovens for tea, little chefs can pop their own pizza creations into a perfect toy replica. We could not get over how cute this forensically faithful, Ooni Koda oven is. Our tiny tester was thrilled with the real flame effects and got lost in a delicious world, topping the six-slice pizza with the provided mozzarella, pepperoni, basil and sauces, and sliding it in with the pizza peel, before serving with the toy pizza cutter. A fabulous gift for little cooks, fuelling imagination, fine motor skills and coordination. Chef’s kiss. BUY FROM CASDON . £25 Peppa Pig's 2-in-1 Party Bus The ultimate gift for fans of the muddy puddle loving oinker. It's a lovely, big, sturdy toy for little hands, filled with three bus floors with interactive features, 13 accessories and Peppa, Candy Cat and Danny Dog figures. Our tester loved taking them on an open-top bus tour, before popping the bus open into party mode. He took the characters on a spin on the roundabout, then around the twirling dance platform, down the slide and on the seesaw. And he enjoyed getting the bus party ready, adding touches like balloons, presents (which can be opened) ball pit and jukebox. There are lovely interactive elements, like the rolling destination sign. And everything can be stored inside the bus, which has a handy handle. BUY FROM THE ENTERTAINER . £49.99 Wizarding World Harry Potter Interactive Dobby Our mini Muggles fell in love with this interactive Dobby elf - and we wanted to adopt him. The impossibly cute toy responds to touch, moving his ears, eyes, blinking, moving his head and lifting his arms. It has all the magic of Harry Potter, with more than 30 noises and phrases from the classic books and films, in English or French. And the cutest cherry on top of this super sweet Hogwarts cake, is that he can be freed, by giving him a sock, as his evil master accidentally does in the story. But this little guy is too cute to be freed, so will spend his days at our home, in a perpetual cycle of freedom and imprisonment. The perfect gift for fans of the boy wizard and a cheeky bonus is that our tester has learnt some French phrases from him. BUY FROM SMYTHS TOYS . £24.99 DC Batman Gear-Up Utility Belt and Mask Invite the Dark Knight to your Christmas lunch, with this inventive role play set for kids aged 3+. Our tiny Caped Crusader lived in this, from the second he opened it. The adjustable straps on the utility belt meant that his older sister could also do a spot of Gotham Cty-saving. It has handy slots to store three foam Batarangs and two smoke pellets - it's also compatible with the Batman sword, which can be bought separately. The Batman mask is adjustable and sturdy enough for hours of crime-fighting. A big hit with the kids, even if we do end up with the occasional Batarang in our dinner. BUY FROM SMYTHS TOYS. £19.99 Bluey Keepy Uppy Game This brilliant, action table-top game was as popular with the teens and grandparents as it was with the preschoolers. Bluey's favourite balloon keepy activity is turned into an easy-to-play, motorised game, in which players frantically bop their paddle if the balloon comes near them to keep it in the air. If it lands on a hedge, they lose a balloon "pop" token and the last player with tokens wins the game. Two to three people aged 4+ can play with Bluey, Bingo, or Chilli character paddles. It's a lively, exciting and engaging game that will keep Bluey fans occupied and its simplicity means that all ages can get involved - prepare for lots of screeching. BUY FROM JOHN LEWIS. £16.99 Despicable Me 4: Brick-Built Gru & Minions LEGO This ingenious new LEGO set for kids aged 9+ enables you to build a posable Gru and then make Minions dance around their boss, with hand-operated mechanics. It's a brilliantly fun set to build, with satisfying details, like Gru's jointed fingers and arms to reposition him, and detailed Jerry, Dave, Beedoo, Mel and Kevin buildable Minion figures, with moving heads and changeable eyes. Each Minion can be removed from the model and their hands can be moved to hold assorted accessories, from a fart gun to maracas, a fruit hat and head propeller, for more ways to play. The hilarious dance feature really sets this set apart. A must for any Minions or LEGO fans BUY FROM LEGO.COM . £49.99 Fart Yoga Game The giggles were as loud as the farts, while testing this brilliantly bonkers, parping sloth game. This hilarious family game for ages 3+ is easy to play and combines the active fun of yoga with a cuddly Sammy the Sloth hugging your waist... who can trump at any time. The goal is to copy five yoga poses from up to 50 cards, moving as slowly as a sloth, so you don't make Sammy parp more times than is shown on the card. The player with the most fart points wins. It's perfect for all ages, with simple rules, excellent toilet humour, belly laughs and is a fun way to encourage kids to move, stretch and balance. Once the kids were in bed, the adults enjoyed it just as much, with some added vino. BUY FROM SMYTHS. £19.99 Sight Word Slam A toy which keeps kids engaged, while building language and spelling skills through fast-paced and exciting game play? Sign us up. Our tester adored this game, which challenged her to spot, spell, and read more than 185 English sight words (words that can't be sounded out phonetically) by listening to the word and then slamming the missing letter or matching word. There are two different modes (Letter Slam and Word Slam) to keep kids aged five and up engaged and sneakily learning. BUY FROM LEARNING RESOURCES . £28 Skillmatics - My Storybook Art Kit If your kids are anything like ours, they LOVE making their own books. And this ingenious gift includes everything they need to create their own, beautiful storybooks. Our tester loved the writing prompts, and the 13 vocabulary lists really inspired her. They come on two themes - unicorns and princesses or adventure - with two lovely hardbound books for their finished works, as well as 100+ colourful stickers to illustrate them with, 50 DIY stickers they can customise themselves, pens and markers. This gift kept her busy for hours and she was rightly proud with the finished works. BUY FROM SKILLMATICS . £18.98 Paw Patrol Drawing Projector This lightweight, pocket-sized projector helps little ones to draw their own Paw Patrol characters. The small but mighty gift has proven an essential for trips out to restaurants or appointments, and can be quickly extended to project six image caps featuring Chase, Marshall, Rubble, Everest, Skye And Rocky. It's fabulous for hand and eye coordination and our four-year-old lost hours, carefully tracing and then colouring in his masterpieces. He also enjoyed taking it to bed as a torch, and projecting his favourite characters around his room. A great value gift for hours of creative play. BUY FROM HAMLEYS . £9.99 Plug & Play Ball This nifty, pocket-sized 3D puzzle game is perfect for little footie fans. The aim is to fit all seven pieces on the ball without moving the small starting piece, which will get you a red card. A fun and addictive way to promote problem solving and keep them occupied obviously the move. BUY FROM SMARTGAMES . £9.99 Harry Potter Squishmallow Even Voldemort would struggle not to cuddle this insanely cute, Harry Potter squishmallow. The ultra soft, plush boy wizard has been permanently attached to our tester, and all 25cm of him have been squeezed to death. It’s the perfect gift for Hogwarts and squishmallows fans, who can build their collection with other huggable friends from the range, including Hermione, Dobby and the Sorting Hat. BUY FROM SMYTHS . £18.99 Skillmatics Peel & Press Foil Fun Did somebody say “no-mess, creative gift that will occupy them for hours?” Praise be. These ingenious kits are the perfect, screen-free gift to occupy them at restaurants or keep them busy at home. Ours were thrilled with their creations, made easily by applying sparkly foil sheets, and using the included stickers. The kits come in Unicorns & Princesses or Animals themes, with 100+ colourful foil sheets, foam stickers, ten themed picture canvases and googly eyes. A huge hit. BUY FROM AMAZON . £14.23 Style4Eva Unicorn DIY Lava Lamp A fun craft project for kids, which doubles as a cute lava lamp they can enjoy in their bedrooms afterwards. Our tester loved creating her own lamp, adding beads, colour, decorations and water inside, before personalising the outside with the sheets of stickers. Afterwards, she was chuffed to enjoy her handiwork, turning it on and watching the swirling water and colour-changing lights swish around the beads, to create magical effects. It's also battery powered, so she can move it around her bedroom, without worrying about wire bother BUY FROM VERY £16.99 Guess in 10 - Harry Potter The Harry Potter edition of this popular card range is perfect for wizarding world buffs. Fans can test their knowledge of their Hogwarts heroes and villains, by asking 10 questions, like “does he play Quidditch?” or “Is her partial to a sock?” Using cunning and handy clue cards, players race to guess who is on the Game Card - the first to correctly guess and collect seven cards wins. It’s designed for kids aged 8+, but our six year old loved it and we all picked up some juicy trivia along the way. BUY FROM SKILLMATICS . £9.99 Cocoba Gruffalo Chocolates There's no such thing as a Cocoba Gruffalo chocolate, because they got gobbled up in a flash. The Kent chocolatier has launched a delicious and beautifully presented range of chocolate gifts featuring everybody's favourite wood-dwelling monster. Our little monsters adored the glossy Belgian Gruffalo hot chocolate bombes, which melted to reveal gooey marshmallows and a creamy chocolate drink. The range also includes Gruffalo shaped hot chocolate spoons, for an equally sweet way to make a special cocoa. The themed chocolate bites, shaped like the mouse, Gruffalo and Gruffalo's child were also a big hit. They're a gorgeous stocking filler or Christmas Eve box surprise. BUY FROM COCOBA CHOCOLATE Hot Chocolate Bombe 3 Pack, £11.95. Hot Chocolate Stirrer, £2.95. Character Bites, £6.95 Grow It - Carnivorous Plants Move over daffodils and cress, there's a much more exciting range of plants to encourage green little fingers. The Grow It Carnivorous Plants gift enable recipients to grow their own Venus Flytrap and Pitcher Plant from scratch. They're fascinating, strangely beautiful and easy-to-grow and as an added bonus, they eat flies. Kids will be fascinating seeing them grow and then finally watching them at work, behaving like no other plant. Somewhere between plant and pet, this is a brilliantly unique prezzie with sneaky educational benefits. The kit includes everything you need so you're set up for success, from starter pots to compost discs and seeds. BUY FROM GIFTREPUBLIC . £12.99 Wobbly Lilly Path Game This beautifully made, wooden game is an engaging way for little ones to have fun, while developing motor skills and balance. Children must walk across the wobbly lilly pads, collecting wooden frogs along the way, to reach the frog prince at the end. It 's perfect for kids ages 3+, but even our older testers aged 6 and 8 enjoyed playing. It's a simple, fun and sturdy game, which was also great for open-ended play - the children used it for variations of "the floor is lava" and played out stories with the chunky frogs and pads. BUY FROM BS TOYS . £27.50 Harry Potter Platform 9 3/4 Lunch Bag This is the perfect lunch bag to get little wizards excited about jumping back on the Hogwarts Express after Christmas to return to school. Our little Potter superfan was thrilled with the bag, which is a great size for sarnies, every flavour beans and a flask of Butterbeer. It's beautifully made and features the iconic paltform emblem in traditional Hogwarts claret. BUY FROM MINISO . £9.99 National Geographic - Build Your Own Volcano For an explosive gift with hours of art, craft and science fun, this kit provides it in spades at great value. The process was a fun family activity, casting the volcano using the plaster and mould included. Then the kids set to work, bringing it to life with the paint and brushes provided. Excitement was considerably high when it was finally ready to blow. We filled it with the eruption powder, added water and the children were thrilled with the theatrical results, as it burst, bubbled and frothed from their creation. They were also excited to find real volcano specimens inside the box, along with a colour volcano learning guide, which their explosive work inspired them to get stuck into. BUY FROM AMAZON . £11.99 Boogie Bath Duck Quack open the bubble bath and have a tub disco, with this fun Boogie Bath Duck. Parents are always looking for ways to make bathtime more fun, and encourage grubby little monsters to have a bedtime bath. And this little guy brings the party. Our tester loved the underwater disco created by the duck's multi-coloured LED lights. There are three different colour combos, no sharp edges and it's easy and safe to use. BUY FROM GIFTREPUBLIC . £9.99 Body MiMiQ Our little elves loved this funny and easy to play family game. The goal is to collect sets of 3 identical cards by “MiMiQ-ing” the poses on the wanted cards. Stick out your tongue if you do not have the requested card. It's the perfect Christmas family game which all ages can play, and gets even funnier after after a few wines. BUY FROM SMARTGAMES. £7.99 Mindful Gardener Craft Kits These gorgeous kits enable kids (or big kids) 20 minutes of calming craft, making Lavender, Aloe Vera, or succulent card plants with no scissors required. Boom. They can then proudly display their pretty creations in their rooms, for the ultimate, low-maintenance plants. Our little tester also enjoyed the mini mindfulness exercises included in each pack and the interesting facts about the healing properties of each plant. A gorgeous stocking filler for a moment of calm in the buzz of Christmas. BUY FROM CLOCKWORK SOLDIER . £7.50 PLUS PLUS Mini Maker Santa These clever little double plus-shaped bricks easily slot into each other to create a 3D Santa. Our 6-year-old tester loved getting creative with these, and using the interlocking pieces to make the Big FC - the instructions were easy for her to follow on her own. She then spent hours making assorted creations from her imagination, from tomatoes to hearts and monsters. A lovely touch, is that there are different skin tone choices for Santa or your creations. It's part engineering, part art, with a hint of maths, all cunningly disguised as a fun, screen-free toy. It's recomended for ages 5 to 12 - but the grown-ups and preschooler were equally entertained. And it's a great kid's travel activity to pop in a handbag for a restaurant or plane trip. BUY FROM AMAZON £8.99 Chuckle Soaps These clever stocking fillers provide the perfect incentive to get kids to wash. Each Chuckle Soap contains a toy, from LEGO Taylor Swifts to cars, Santas, jewellery and dinosaurs. They are all SLS Free, Vegan, 100% organic, cruelty-free and handmade for good, clean fun, which is kind to sensitive skin. Brilliantly, the toys are upcycled as much as possible, but keep your eyes on their Insta, to nab your favourites when they get shared. BUY FROM CHUCKLE SOAPS . From £4 a soap Miss Nella's Festive Diamond Miss Nella’s Festive Diamond is a gorgeous bauble, packed with fun, safe, and non-toxic beauty treats made just for kids. Available in two options - Glow or Twinkle - they each contain four goodies like lipgloss and nail varnish and can even be customised with your chosen colours. It was a big hit with our little elf and is the perfect stocking or tree gift. BUY FROM MISSNELLA . £21.99 We have been gifted samples in order to provide honest and accurate tried and tested reviews. But we never feature anything we don't recommend Like what you've read? Why not subscribe to our free, monthly newsletter?

We Test the Luxurious Shoreditch Salon by a Hair and Beauty Powerhouse Stop all the clocks - we have just found our favourite new London hair alchemists in the luxurious shape of CULt Hairdressing , Shoreditch. A good salon leaves you with stylish and healthy hair. A great  salon leaves you with this as well as the feeling of hanging out with old friends. And this is what CULt does so brilliantly. Hair appointments are an intimate experience. Hairdressers are often confidantes, friends, entertainers, esteem-boosters and crucially, people you trust to change the way you see yourself. As Phoebe Waller-Bridge says in her famous Fleabag monologue: “Hair is everything. We wish it wasn’t, so we could actually think about something else occasionally. But it is. “It’s the difference between a good day and a bad day. We’re meant to think that it’s a symbol of power, that it’s a symbol of fertility. Some people are exploited for it and it pays your fucking bills. Hair is everything.” The team here make it clear that they’re just as passionate about what’s inside your head, as what’s on top of it. I am warmly welcomed when I step through the doors of the grand new salon, in the former Old Fruit and Wool Exchange, hugged by Spitalfields Market. My hair hasn’t seen a pair of scissors for several months and I look like somebody who throws cats at children for fun. So their fabulous colourist, Sam Dowson, invites me onto the sofa for a relaxed consultation and I’m introduced to their Florentine follicle virtuoso, Francesco - a big personality with the moustache of a man who knows his hair. Sam leads me to their dark and moody wash space for a toner, gloss and shampoo treatment. The nifty Olaplex treatment repairs broken disulphide bonds that gives hair its structure and strength and I was turbo-chuffed with the result - balanced tones, impossible gloss and a brightened blonde. During the treatment, he massages my arms and we discuss everything from politics, to news, books and ourselves. He’s a passionate, smart and fascinating character - go for the treatments, stay for the chat. Afterwards, I’m back in Francesco’s hands for my cut and blow dry. He is infectiously passionate about hair, and left Italy to perfect his barnet skills at London’s top salons, going on to create looks for Milan and London Fashion Week runways. He peppers his conversation with nifty haircare and styling hacks I can use at home, from how to lift my bangs, to the art of the perfect curl. When he’s finished, I’m wowed by the transformation and might even need a new passport photo. The dry, split-end addled hair that limped sadly down by back is now a bouncy, glossy and vibrant do, which results in a spring in my step on the walk back to the station and a compliment from a passer-by. The space whispers quiet luxury, with floor to ceiling windows, bathing it in natural light, fresh flowers, marble, moody steel and charcoal paint and lighting. It was launched in December 24 by husband and wife team Maria MacDonald - a beauty PR powerhouse - and Brett - one of hairdressing’s leading educators - so it’s no surprise that it’s already making big waves in hair as well as the industry. CULt Hairdressing , Fruit & Wool Exchange, Unit 8 The, 54 Brushfield St, London E1 6EN Like what you've read? Why not follow us on Instagram?

Grand hotel encapsulates Sidmouth’s Regency glamour and timeless charm Sidmouth is a wonderfully eccentric and achingly pretty Regency seaside town, where everything appears in technicolour, from the fiery reds of the Triassic cliffs, to its immaculate, kaleidoscopic floral displays; the patchwork, countryside quilt wrapped around it and blue seas, sticky chocolate sand, thatched roofs and pastel, Victorian buildings. We are here for the annual Folk Festival , when Sidmouth turns its idiosyncratic dial up to 11, and Morris Dancers can be spotted sharing ice creams with hippies, nursing bearded dragons on their shoulders, while pensioners on unicycles wheel past George and Sabra, the town’s dancing, papier-mâché giants. Barely a pebble has changed since I grew up there in the 80s and 90s, and this timeless charm is part of the appeal to tourists who flock there each summer. All of this can be admired from the grand Victoria Hotel - our luxurious home for the weekend - which is perched across the beach on the steep ascent to the beautiful Jacob’s Ladder beach, with extraordinary views. It was Sidmouth’s first purpose-built hotel when it opened in 1904 and encapsulates the essence of the town’s beauty, Regency glamour, flawless floral features and old-school style. We’re flanked by an explosion of perfectly manicured flowers and an 18-hole putting green as we arrive at the hotel - 9,500 bedding plants have been grown on-site - guarded from seagulls by their resident peregrine falcons and hawks. A peacock blue Rolls Royce Silver Seraph is parked by the entrance with the original number plate of the family Brend Collection brand which owns it - guests at the hotel can enjoy complimentary chauffeur driven trips in this into Sidmouth. Inside, its grand lobby is traditional and formal but welcoming, with a sweeping, original oak staircase and colourful, seaside views through its large windows. We head to our home for the trip, a fresh and contemporary, detached poolside suite on the hotel’s beautiful five-acre grounds. It has champagne and mink furnishings and large French windows in the lounge and bedroom, opening onto our own private poolside terrace, complete with private hot tub, sun loungers, and table for al fresco cocktails. It’s perfect for families, with a large, comfortable master bedroom and a sofa bed in the lounge, plus a handy kitchenette. Our children are already excitedly hopping into their swimwear before we’ve even dragged our suitcase in. And the outdoor heated pool is a gem, with a bridge our children play Three Billy Goats Gruff beneath, loungers and tables and friendly staff, who bring us poolside Aperols… and apple juices. There is also a games room and bar. We spend a gorgeous few hours, splashing about in the warm waters of this peaceful oasis, before getting ready for the dinner at their AA Rosette winning Jubilee Restaurant. Foolishly, we haven’t checked the dress code, but the formal jacket and tie dinner rules are immediately apparent on entering, where all diners are immaculately dressed. The staff are very kind about my husband’s shorts and tee combo, and thoughtfully hide him away in the corner of the restaurant, where I happily warm myself on the heat of his cheeks. One of my holiday highlights. It is now that we meet Petr, and it is worth visiting the restaurant for him alone - go for the pork, stay for the Petr. A funny, warm and impossibly thoughtful waiter, who is just as attentive to the children as he is to us. He brings my daughter a cushion to make her more comfortable and charms us all throughout the meal. A band in pristine, white starched suits and bow ties perform live jazz on the stage beside us, while we work our way through the table d’hôte menu. I start with a fresh pea, broad bean and asparagus starter, with feta and mint and my husband opts for the ham hock terrine. My daughter is delighted by her melon ribbons starter and embraces her formal dining cosplay, with little pinky aloft. Lemon sorbets arrive between courses - “what, ice cream with our dinner!?” Our chuffed little heathens exclaim. My standout is the pork tenderloin main - salty, succulent and perched on a moreish cassoulet of braised white beans, tomato and bacon. My husband opts for the roast sirloin of beef, with Yorkshire pudding and vegetables, which disappear quicker than you can say “loungewear.” As a savoury-toothed tiger, I finish with the cheese board, and it’s a delightful, dairy journey across Devon, with slabs of Godminster Organic Cheddar, Sharpham Elmhirst, Devon Blue and Ticklemore Goats Cheese. It’s a welcome departure from the microscopic cheese shavings we’re used to in London, with generous wedges of each. So often, children are approached as a bothersome afterthought in restaurants, but the menu and Petr make ours feel special - so much so, that my daughter draws a picture of him as a gift at the end of the meal, and she's thrilled by his reaction. The following morning, we are all very touched, when he leads us back to the same table for breakfast, where we see that he has gifted her with a giant, A3 sketch book and left it on her chair. Such a pure and thoughtful gesture, which makes my daughter’s trip. We do not deserve Petr. My husband is relieved to note that his casual attire is more welcome at breakfast, where our children dive into the excellent buffet table, heaving with raspberry crowns, apple coronets, maple pecans, fish, meat, cheese, cereal, yoghurts and fruit juices. We choose from a range of made to order, grilled goodies, which include fish options like kippers and smoked haddock. And it’s perfectly prepared to our tastes, with well crisped bacon, deep orange yolked poached eggs, silky mushrooms and top quality sausages. We’re here to experience the hotel’s brand new Source Spa, which is where we now take our bacon-filled bellies. It’s a luxurious, fragrant and serene space, with a large heated pool, a modern gym, hydrotherapy spa bath, ice bath, aromatherapy sauna, and steam room. The luxury spa rooms offer massages, facials, and body treatments, using their own premium Source Spa product range, and there’s an inviting chill out area outside, with bouncy marshmallow loungers and soft lighting. The launch follows the recent success of the Brend Collection ’s first Source Spa at its sister hotel, Saunton Sands in North Devon. And it is a delicious cherry on the top of a particularly fine cake. We have a surprisingly calm morning, splashing about in the warm pool and relaxing in the hydro spa. Then we check out for day two of the Folk Festival , in this unique tourist hotspot, to enjoy more of the prettiness, Regency glamour, immaculate floral features and timeless charm encapsulated by The Victoria Hotel. The Victoria Hotel & Source Spa , The Esplanade, Sidmouth EX10 8RY. Our Poolside Suite was £422 a night, in August. The new Source Spa is open daily from 8am until 7pm and is for the exclusive use of residents and members until the autumn, when new Spa Day packages will be available. Spa memberships will cost £125 per month, allowing guests unlimited access and can be purchased by emailing spamanager@victoriahotel.co.uk Like what you've read? Why not subscribe to our free, monthly newsletter

Perfect Resorts for Children AND Parents Ah, the “perfect family resort” - that elusive beast. Go too far one way, and you’re locked in a hideous Groundhog Day of forced fun, foam parties and Agadoo. Too far the other way and the honeymooning couple is casting withering looks at your children across the candlelit restaurant. You want to share the joy of travel with your sprogs and see the manic grins on their sticky chops. But you don’t want your holiday to be a glorified (and expensive) softplay trip, leaving you needing another holiday afterwards. Our carefully curated list of Europe’s Best Family Resorts strikes the perfect balance to ensure that everybody is happy. ____________________________ Creta Maris Resort, Greece Read our review here If Disney, Instagram and God conspired to create a flawless, sprawling Greek village, festooned with scarlet bougainvillaea and Ficus, palm and olive trees providing dappled shade, plus private sandy beaches and crystal, turquoise sea, Creta Maris Resort would be it. This five star all inclusive is a family oasis disguised as an immaculate, Greek village. There is something for everybody. Children can play in the five kids' pools or the resort’s dedicated water park, while adults relax around one of the six adults' pools or private, Blue Flag beach. There are seven, exceptional restaurants, ten bars, multiple snack points, a luxe hammam spa, imaginative children’s entertainment, Kid’s and Teens Club and Europe’s biggest outdoor cinema. Their luxe, waterpark is neatly tucked away from those who don’t want shrieking, ice cream-fuelled children and colourful slides on their break. And for those who do (our family loved it) there are water towers, twisting rides, multi level aqua tower pools, splash playgrounds and river rapids as well as more relaxing pools and smaller slides for little ones. Creta Maris , Navarchou Nearchou, Limenas Chersonisou 700 14, Greece Port Lympne Reserve, Kent Read our review here For the most thrilling, family wildlife experience in the UK, head to this beautiful pocket of rural Kent, where you can sleep with animals including tigers, lions, monkeys, rhinos, giraffes and wolves . Lion Lodge offers the chance to get up close and personal with African Lions, Kamari and Hussani. It’s a once in a lifetime experience in the safety of a luxury, Manhattan loft-style building within their habitat, where you can enjoy a bath with a majestic lion’s nose pressed against the window, a whisker away from you. For a cheaper option, there’s the Pinewood glamping huts, which are close enough to experience the thrill of snoozing to a pride of lions' roars. Other overnight stays include the flamboyant mansion, Rhino Lodge, Bear Lodge, Giraffe Lodge, Wolf Lodge, Hog Deer Creek, Leopard Creek and an assortment of huts, treehouses and forest hideaways that let you experience the animals as they creep out under the safety and serenity of darkness. Each stay means you have the park to yourselves after closing time, whizzing about in your personal golf buggies. During the day, you can also enjoy a truck safari and even feed animals including giraffes - read our giraffe feeding review here - gorillas and lions. And you get the satisfaction of knowing that your dosh has helped The Aspinall Foundation ’s successful efforts to save and repopulate endangered species. Boom. Book now Port Lympne Safari Park, Aldington Rd, Lympne, Hythe CT21 4LR Foxhills Country Club & Resort, Surrey Read our review here You don’t need to brave a plane to find the perfect balance of child-flavoured fun and adult luxury. The multi-award-winning Foxhills Club & Resort is nestled within 400 acres of tranquil Surrey and is bursting with experiences - and more than 200 activities a week - to keep everybody happy. The resort’s designated family building, The Pavilion, is home to a soft play area, role play high street, a games room, two pools for family swim - plus three for grown-ups - and a football net on the green. Enjoy food and drinks overlooking the outdoor pool, or refuel at Flo’s Deli , open all day with fresh smoothies, craft beers and wonderful children’s menus, from Belgian waffles and pancakes to mini breakfasts and a wide range of dinky lunch options to appease even the pickiest eaters. Activities include wellbeing classes, outdoor sports, fitness, and indoor cycle classes for parents/teens and a host of activities for tots, like arts and crafts, lawn games and even mini ballet. Foxhills’ woodland adventure playground provides the perfect space for young guests’ imaginations to run wild, complete with zip line, obstacle course, balance beams and a group swing. And the resort’s woodland trails and orienteering course offer a fun way to enjoy the area’s abundant nature as a family, that’s if you can tear yourselves away from the vast, two-bedroom, luxury family suites. Foxhills Country Club & Resort , Stonehill Road, Ottershaw, Surrey, KT16 0EL Anassa, Cyprus Undeniably one of Europe’s most stunning resorts, Anassa ’s tiered terraces tumble down the secluded Paphos hillside towards the unspoilt, sandy beach of Chrysochou Bay, tucked within an area of outstanding, natural beauty. The elegant, white Mediterranean buildings, lush gardens and infinity pools recreate an idyllic, Cypriot village, with a square complete with Byzantine chapel. The luxury, five-star oasis ticks every conceivable box for grown-ups and children. The kids’ club is on another level and includes zoo trips, self captained boat trips, baking or pottery lessons and even spa treatments. And there are thoughtful touches, like early dinner sittings for families. Their ingenious Baby Go Lightly service takes the stress out of travel, enabling you to prebook everything, from car seats, potties, training seats, high chairs, carriers, buggies and bottles to baby walkers, baby baths, nappies and toys. There are also cultural experiences for the whole family - every week, the hotel hosts an evening of entertainment in the village square, with a Cypriot buffet, folk dancing and live music. And a weekly barbecue is held on the beach. There are four restaurants, plus the ‘village square’, where the focus is on fresh produce from local farms or from the hotel’s gardens. Special mention for the achey, weary, pamper-hungry parents of Anassa’ s extraordinary, Romanesque-style Thalassa Spa, complete with stunning pool, saunas and steam baths. Anassa , 40 Alekou Michailidi Road, Neo Chorio, 8852, Cyprus Bohinj ECO Hotel, Slovenia Located in the heart of Triglav National Park - one of the world’s most outstanding areas of natural beauty - hugged by the sparkling Julian Alps mountains, this resort is the perfect marriage of wellness, family and relaxation. Children will lose their tiny minds over the aquapark, indoor pools and onsite bowling alley. And parents can pamper every fibre of their beings with the hotel’s exceptional wellness offerings, which include a top-floor pool with a panoramic view of the shimmering mountains, steam baths, Finnish saunas and massages. The resort is on the doorstep of this stunning alpine playground, 10 minutes from the renowned Lake Bohinj and the majestic Julian Alps and just 15 minutes to Lake Bled. A range of activities are available, from cycling on guided tours to beauty spots like Bohinj Lake, Savica waterfall, Mostnica Gorge and the world famous Bled where visitors can learn the rich heritage of Bled Castle. Designed with nature at its heart, this hotel is one of the most eco-friendly hotels in Slovenia, fuelled by sustainable resources and innovative energy-saving technology. Bohinj ECO Hotel, Triglavska cesta 17, 4264 Bohinjska Bistrica, Slovenia Valamar Tirena Hotel, Dubrovnik Croatia’s behemoth hotel brand, Valamar launches the shiny, new Maro World at their Dubrovnik resort, Valamar Tirena Hote l in June 2023. The 1,800m2 children’s entertainment centre will be themed around their Maro crab mascot and will encompass nine interactive areas, including an innovative play area, specially designed playrooms, a softplay zone, playground, theatre, family lounge, two games lounges and an outdoor trampoline and adrenaline zone, all under the watchful eyes of the expert entertainment team. But fear not, mum and dad will enjoy the peaceful, natural surroundings of the Babin Kuk peninsula, beneath a leafy canopy of trees a 10-minute walk from three different beaches, plus a luxury beach club with cushioned loungers and sea-view bar terrace. Relax by the spacious outdoor pool with water slides and taste the traditional Dalmatian and international dishes in the Mediterranean buffet restaurant or grill restaurants and swim up to the bar for cocktails. Valamar Tirena Hotel, Ul. Iva Dulčića 36, 20000, Dubrovnik, Croatia Amada Colossos, Greece Tucked along the eastern coast of Rhodes, the five-star Amada Colossos boasts an Insta-worthy, seafront spot, overlooking the gorgeously golden Kallithea Beach. This glossy resort captures the essence of laidback, island living and ensures all guests are catered for, by providing adult and family zones, as well as Kids Clubs, swimming pools and luxury rooms. The complex features one main pool, a relaxation pool, activity pool and waterpark, which includes splash pools and a selection of waterslides. Younger guests will love the Kids Clubs, with various options available for children from four months to teens. Play areas for children include the aquatower with slides, the frog slide and mini octopus slide. The entertainment team also offers a full activity programme and additional entertainment includes pool obstacle courses, beach volley, tennis, archery and watersports at the beach. There are even private beach cabins and swim-up family suites, which come with all-inclusive access to all four restaurants - the buffet hotspot plus the à la cartes, which include a gorgeous Greek taverna. Amada Colossos, Kallithea Main Street, Rhodes, Greece 851 00 Hillside Beach Club, Turkey This sun-kissed utopia is hugged by pine-forested cliffs, nestled on a private, Blue Flag and white sanded cove surrounding by sparkling, emerald water. And despite its pristine and luxurious appearance, it is designed for families. There are six restaurants, two spas and an extraordinary schedule of entertainment, from DJing sessions for tweens, piano lessons for primary schoolers, plus sailing, diving, ebiking and tennis for kids and drumming workshops, jazz yoga, live music on the beach and on a floating stage for adults. The chalets are cut into the hillside and family suites have adjoining rooms with shared terraces. There is also a ‘baby park’, an amphitheatre with daily shows and events, baby strollers and a babysitting service. Hillside Beach Club Turkey, 48300 Fethiye, Muğla Province, Turkey MarBella Elix, Greece This unique, 5 star hotel presides over the Ionian coast, where the citrus-scented pine forests meet the ocean and the pristine landscapes offer a rare glimpse of an unspoiled world. The private boat transfer there across the Mediterranean, past caves and coves is the perfect start to a family holiday. And children will delight in the funicular, which swoops you down to the peachy Karavostasi beach and luxury, Azure restaurant below. Thoughtfully, the hotel provides everything from buggies to baby monitors. And a London creative events company arranges unique children’s entertainment, which maximises the location and culture and includes Greek mythology games and star gazing. There are four restaurants, including traditional Greek restaurants Saffron and Pearl , the beautiful a la carte Indigo - overlooking the infinity pool - and the soft, sandy floored beach restaurant, Azure . There is also a dinky toddler's pool as well as a vast infinity pool with stunning views. MarBella Elix , Karavostasi, Sivota, 461 00 Porto Zante, Greece This hidden gem promises privacy, perfection and a luxurious, parent’s paradise. Nine, stunning villas stud Zakynthos’s green hillside, stocked with Bulgari soaps (and children’s versions) Casa and Bang & Olufsen with teak sunbeds and banana yellow parasols around each pool, which come with baby pool seats and armbands. Suitcase-saving is a top priority here, so every child-shaped need is provided, from stairgates and cots to highchairs. The sand on the beach is kept immaculately swept in neat lines and children will find everything waiting for them, from diggers, wheelbarrows and buckets and spades to pedalos, paddle boards and sea canoes. As with everything at this ultimate escape, everything is carefully thought out, including the excellent kids’ club, which provides mini Zumba classes, smoothie and dance parties, art and crafts and treasure hunts. The restaurant experience can even be brought to your villa, within monitor range, on a white linen covered table beneath the pergola. Or Porto Zante’s babysitter can take care of the children, while you sample Greek and Mediterranean cuisine at the Club House Restaurant and or watch the sun sink into the sea at contemporary Asian fusion restaurant, Maya , in a spectacular beachfront setting. Expect fresh fish and lobster straight from their fisherman’s catch, and a fine meat selection accompanied by local herbs and organic products from the estate. Porto Zante, Tragaki, 291 00 Zakynthos, Greece Like what you've read? Why not subscribe to our free, monthly newsletter?

Hit Immersive Christmas Carol Experience Returns with Victorian Feast, Theatre, Cocktails and Live Music The Lost Estate’s critically-acclaimed, immersive theatre and dining experience, A Christmas Carol: The Great Christmas Feast is back, following six sold out years in a row. Guests will be transported to the home of Charles Dickens on Christmas Eve 1843, for three courses of extravagant Victorian feasts, while watching an immersive retelling of the ultimate festive ghost story, with cinematic live music and 5000sq ft of sets constructed by legendary immersive designers Darling & Edge ( Gingerline , Secret Cinema , Crystal Maze ). The immersive entertainment juggernaut runs from 8 November to 12 January in West Kensington, bringing together London’s leading talents in theatre, music, mixology and fine dining to create a one-of-a-kind immersive experience, which has become one of the most in-demand attractions of the Christmas calendar. Acclaimed director Simon Pittman ( Royal Shakespeare Company , National Theatre ) returns for his third Christmas in a row, with Alex Phelps reprising his role as narrator Charles Dickens and other characters, following rave reviews last year. The 2024 menu, devised by Executive Chef, Ashley Clarke ( Gordon Ramsay Group, SmokeStak ), is the culmination of years of Victorian feasting refined into one exceptional Christmas menu. For the starter, Clarke presents a pressing of corn fed chicken, with pickled beets and samphire relish. Next, an elegant confit Gressingham duck breast with all the trimmings. Finally, a rich Twelfth Night Cake accompanied by Christmas Pudding ice cream. Vegetarian and vegan options are available and the menus will be announced soon.   Mr Dickens’ personal cellar is open to all, with a Victorian cocktail menu that includes the Smoking Bishop and the Pear Tree Cup. It is guaranteed to fill even the biggest Scrooge with every kind of Christmas spirit. The Lost Estate, 9 Beaumont Ave, London W14 9LP. 8 November 2024 - 12 January 2025. Tickets £135-£265pp Like what you've read? Why not subscribe to our free, monthly newsletter