This year I'm determined to get to Thursford in North Norfolk to see the famous Christmas Spectacular. Friends and family are constantly telling me to book a weekend break Norfolk way and to get into the festive spirit. For those of you who, like me, still haven't seen the renowned Christmas show, it's billed as the "ultimate Christmas musical experience" and is the country's most popular festive performance. Think of the most Christmassy things you can imagine - Christmas songs, carols, colourful dancers, glitzy costumes, and a cast of over 100 - and you'll start to imagine what this show is all about.
The Thursford Christmas Spectacular is a sure-fire commercial success, with the cast taking rooms in Hotels in North Norfolk for many weeks, and plenty of visitors planning their trips to the area to include a stay in Norfolk Luxury Hotels. In addition to the Christmas Spectacular, there are all sorts of other things on offer at Thursford, too, from "Santa's Magical Journey" to the Thursford Collection, the world's largest gathering of steam engines and organs. Santa's Magical Journey is still fairly new, but bookings are taken months in advance, as grandparents clamour to give their grandchildren the most enchanting of times. The experience is simple - the age-old journey to see Father Christmas in his house - but this trip has been given the Thursford treatment which means that it is truly magical, with all sorts of Christmas creatures (elves, penguins, you name it) helping the little ones on their way. Of course, every child who gets to meet the man himself will leave with a Christmas gift, and no doubt the adults will be seduced into buying them some more presents in the gift shop before they leave! So if, like me, you're keen to have a proper Christmas this year, plan a few days in one of the North Norfolk Hotels and then head to Thursford for a fabulous festive time. However, be quick, as tickets to the Christmas Spectacular are selling fast and there are now only a few months to go.