Guildford, England, UK – The holiday season is celebrated very well here in the South East of England, with many people beginning to get into the Christmas spirit as early as October, and the Christmas season officially starting by mid-November.
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As a result, if you visit Guildford or the surrounding area in December there will be no shortage of seasonal activities for you.
Here in Guildford we like to show our Christmas spirit by smothering everything in lights. While not exclusive to the Surrey Hills, nor even to the UK, seeing this multitude of decorations is the perfect way to get into the holiday season.
Specific to Guildford, however, is our Advent Windows initiative where everyone is encouraged to decorate their windows following one of the 12 days of Christmas. Seeing or making these window decorations will become an amazing Christmas memory.
But there are many other festive events.
My personal favorites are the Christmas markets which happen every December in the High Street.
With colorful stalls lining the High Street, these markets are the ideal place to get gifts for your loved ones. Many of these are handmade.
Carolers singing a mix of traditional and modern Christmas songs are a great addition to these Christmas markets, as well as functioning as a tool for inter-generational dialogue, as members vary from young teens to elderly seniors.
Yet markets are not the only holiday offerings in our town center. Much warmer alternatives are the beautifully decorated coffee shops. These cafés are the ideal cozy spot for a cheery meal, offering a wide range of traditional – and largely seasonal – food and drink.
As Surrey is a diverse area, these cafés cater to nearly all dietary restrictions, and you can find a wide selection of international food as well.
Last but not least are our Christmas tree farms. Not only an absolute holiday essential, these farms make for an especially fun day out.
I love the Oxenford tree farm. The five-generation family business sits on the former Waverley Abbey farm, which dates to 1128.
The tree farm today is centred around an absolutely stunning medieval stone barn.
A trip to Oxenford tree farm, especially at the height of Christmas, is not only a visual delight, but also a culinary experience as you can try delicious mince pies and hot chocolate.
I hope you have found this little guide useful, and that you do come to visit Surrey during Christmas.
Manuel Bernardo Tavares Moreira Belo Carmona is a Junior Reporter with Youth Journalism International.
