British Isles - Rail and Escorted Holidays

Champagne amid snowy scenery, travelling through frosty landscapes, and having your Christmas lunch served to you in luxury, there’s no Christmas and New Year quite like the one you’ll experience when on a festive trip. But some places do the celebrations better than others and some destinations just seem to embody the season. Here’s our pick of where to spend Christmas and New Year.

The Scottish Highlands – a land of rugged landscapes, dramatic coastlines, and majestic castles that has captivated the imaginations of poets, writers, and travellers for centuries. And as I stepped onto the train in York to begin my Highland Adventure holiday, I knew I was about to experience something beautiful, but I never expected it to be such a cathartic journey.

Rail travel has played an important part in British Royal life since Queen Victoria hopped aboard the Paddington train from Slough – and King Charles III, who had an input into the 1980s redesign of the Royal Train, is already upholding this tradition.

Since taking the throne an astonishing 70 years ago, the Queen’s reign has been marked by many historical events. Her public role has involved much travelling, across the United Kingdom, Europe and to many Commonwealth countries.