December may be cold and windy, but it’s also one of the most magical times of the year. Streets are decked out in bright, cheerful strings of lights, and there are parties and fairs happening all over the country. While Christmas, Hanukkah and New Year’s Eve all happening this month, it’s also a time for feasting in the company of loved ones. If you’re worried about packing on the pounds after all that turkey and pudding, then why not strap on your ice skates and visit the ice rinks that have been set up? Or just stick to your New Year’s resolution and go on that diet.

4th – 19th December – Dickensian Festival, Grassington
The little town of Grassington is transported back in time during this festival. Villagers dressed in Victorian costumes can be seen in the shops and on the square. There is also a traditional Christmas Fair, with carollers and actors entertaining the many visitors that descend upon the town. There will also be a Nativity procession through the streets, with actors dressed as Mary and Joseph.

5th December – Great Christmas Pudding Race, London
Your mum may have told you not to play with your food, but surely she wouldn’t object if you were doing it for charity? Teams of six runners – all in fancy dress – run a relay race through an obstacle course in Covent Garden. And to make it more difficult, they have to do so while carrying a Christmas Pudding. Proceeds from the race will go towards Cancer Research UK.

29th December – Hogmanay Torchlight Procession, Edinburgh
Indulge your Viking fantasies as you roam through Edinburgh with a torch in hand, ready to set fire to a Viking worship. The Torchlight Procession forms part of the city’s famously rowdy Hogmanay celebrations. Thousands of would-be Vikings are expected to surge through the Old Town and up Calton Hill, where a waiting ship will be set aflame to the sounds of pipes and drums. Torch vouchers cost £6 on the night.