Enjoying an Affordable Festive Season in Britain

As the winter approaches and the nights draw in, the sunshine and good times of summer may be well and truly behind us, but with the festive season in full swing, the Christmas holidays provide a welcome break from the cold winter weather, and an opportunity to warm your hearts, if not the rest of your bodies, by getting together with your family and friends.

While the current financial climate means we’ll all be cutting a few corners this Christmas, and holidays abroad might be out of the question this year, don’t let that affect your holiday cheer. It’s easy to beat the credit crunch and still have a stocking load of fun by taking advantage of the amazing adventures on offer on your doorstep. With the UK offering everything from countryside adventures to city breaks, and brimming with the most diverse culture on the planet, there’s no better place to take a Christmas break than in your own backyard.

Living in the UK, it’s easy to forget how much it has to offer, with all four corners of Great Britain offering something completely different, none more so than Northern Ireland, which with its rolling countryside, welcoming culture, and lively capital has something to offer everyone. Plus, being a cheap plane of ferry ride away for most Brits, it feels like you’re getting away on a proper holiday.

If you’re heading across the Irish Sea, Belfast is the place to base yourself, offering all the benefits of a modern city plus travel links to world famous free attractions like the Giant’s Causeway, or the country’s many famous golf courses. City lovers will be surprised at the truly continental range of shops, restaurants and culture on offer, while traditional Irish culture abounds as well. With Christmas approaching there’s a whole range of Belfast deals for travel, accommodation and attractions online, so you save pennies on top of the pounds you’ve recouped from not heading abroad.

If you don’t fancy hopping over the Irish Sea of course, and you can’t afford a Lapland adventure, there’s one place in the UK where you’re guaranteed a white Christmas, and that’s Scotland. The Scots might bemoan their wintry weather for the rest of the year, but there’s nowhere better to get yourself into the festive spirit than in the capital city of Edinburgh. With its ancient winding streets, teaming with beautiful architecture, and dominated by the spectacular Edinburgh castle, you can spend days exploring without it costing a penny.

Plus, if you fancy a wild night out, Edinburgh’s Hogmanay (New Year’s Eve) street party is famed around the world. To find some great deals on days out in the city, head online, with discount voucher websites offering a host of different deals – a quick search for Groupon deals in Edinburgh can save you pounds on anything from Spa days to ghost tours, and plenty of food to keep you going.

The great thing about Scotland too, is the range of outdoor activities on offer. Head up into the highlands and, with the right weather you can try out skiing or snowboarding on a proper mountain instead of a dry ski slope, without having to fork out for flights to the Alps. Likewise, activities from rafting to paintballing and climbing all take place within easy reach of the country’s two leading cities, Edinburgh and Glasgow.

The latter, with its buzzing student population and world famous bars and music venues, is a great place to unwind after a day in the wilds with a host of after-dark adventures awaiting. With deals in Glasgow for accommodation and travel beating many in the UK, it could be the perfect place for a Christmas adventure.