Hey! Hope you all had a Merry Christmas and the best time this festive period! This is one of my favourite times of the year; I love spending time with all my loved ones. Before the new year I wanted to reminisce a little bit on Christmas and the exciting lead up to it.

Ruxley Manor

My boyfriend and I have made it a little Christmas tradition to go to Ruxley Manor Garden Centre; it’s one of his favourite places to go at Christmas and it’s becoming mine too to begin the Christmas period. The Christmas decor is such an inspiration for my future home when I have a Christmas tree in all rooms!

In the centre there’s a Santa’s Grotto and Reindeers and an ice skating rink which we didn’t attempt to go on because I constantly fall. (Literally like Bambi on ice!) I found a cute little cabin to take some pictures in and I normally feel confident taking pictures in public but I spotted a guy who pointed at me to his friends and laughed. In the moment I wanted to stop but after some reassurance and remembering that I don’t care about other people’s opinions and I went back to take more pictures!

Winter Wonderland

Every Christmas it is a must to make a trip to Hyde Park Winter Wonderland – Even Rihanna went this year! This year we got tickets to the Magical Ice Kingdom and saw the Charles Dickens ‘A Christmas Carol’ ice sculptures; which was so worth getting tickets for even though it was so cold in there.

After multiple attempts at trying to win a Pokemon soft toy at the fairground games, we settled with the little soft toys we won previously and went on the rides. I don’t like heights so rollercoasters and me don’t go well together but I did go on one ride that wasn’t high just so fast. At first I was fooled and believed it was a nice slow ride and then there was a loud countdown and before I knew it I had to protect my lashes flying away!

Covent Garden

One of fave spots in London at Christmas, and honestly one of my go to places all year round. This year there were pop ups in the area, Glossier Store and Tiffany & Co. that definitely made it worth while to visit. At Christmas London is truly beautiful with all the lights and is also super close to Regent Street and Oxford Street to check out those lights too. I’d also recommend going to the Maddox Gallery, just off Regent Street, to see the decorations there it’s always so amazing.

Christmas Day

The day we’ve all been waiting for! I love spending time with my family and being the eldest of my siblings I love watching my brother and sister enjoy the day and their gifts. The gifts aren’t my favourite thing of the day, in my family we actually leave it until very late in the day to open our gifts. My favourite time of the day (apart from food thats just an obvious choice!) is game time – the chosen game this year was charades and it’s taken very seriously in our house. We played various rounds on Disney characters, Top 90’s Songs and Movies. Then the day ended with the annual watching of Eastenders (having no idea whats going on), a Marvel film and FaceTiming my boyfriend – perfect ending to the day!

What are your favourite Christmas traditions? I’d love to hear about them!

Have a Blessed and Happy New Year!

Thank you for reading this post and following my blog this year!

Antonia xoxo