Winning tip: Boxing Day pilgrimage, North Yorkshire
Blow away the Christmas cobwebs on a picturesque revitalising morning walk in the footsteps of 13 monks, who in 1132 walked from Ripon to set up a new community by the river Skell. Follow their ancient path to Fountains Abbey and the Georgian Water Garden, ending with a carol service and prayers.
• Free event, nationaltrust.org.uk
LaranTours
Cycling in London
London is great to visit on Boxing Day because you can take advantage of the reduced traffic and crowds to get around easily and visit more places. Try renting a tandem or bike at Gabriel’s Wharf on the South Bank (London Bicycle Tour Company) from just £7 for two hours (£20 a day) or sign up to the city hire scheme at Santander Cycles and make trips from £2. No need to book, just touch in and away you go.
gonca
Winter walks
The great British countryside remains resolutely open over Christmas and the National Trust’s 700 miles of coastal walks are bracing and refreshing. The two-mile hike along Arnside Knott on the Lancashire/Cumbria border affords stunning views over Morecambe Bay, while the four-and-a-half-mile trek on the White Cliffs of Dover guarantees great views and revitalising airs.
Bonnie777
Boxing Day swim in south Wales
The National Lido of Wales in Pontypridd recently reopened and this year all three outdoor pools will be heated to a temperature of 30C on Boxing Day to entice swimmers into the water. At £4 for the morning (8am to 12.30pm) it’s a great, original way to burn up some Christmas calories and check out the facilities for warmer months.
TheCapeCruiser
Severn Valley Railway, Worcestershire/Shropshire
After a day of being stuck indoors with too much food, and EastEnders, why not take a trip back in time on the steam engines of the Severn Valley Railway? Being in the Midlands it is accessible from many parts of the country within a couple of hours. The railway runs special services from Boxing Day onwards just for the holiday week. At Bridgnorth you can start walking off Christmas with a walk along the river Severn. Or take the Victorian Cliff Railway funicular for views over the town and river. Bewdley is similarly picturesque but with no funicular, so here you can put off walking no more. Then return on the hour-long journey back in time. I’d recommend starting and ending in Bewdley or Bridgnorth because Kidderminster can be a bit of a traffic nightmare.
• Return from Kidderminster to Bridgnorth adult £19, child £3, family £50 (2 adults, 4 child), svr.co.uk
catchytitled
Eden Project, Cornwall
Continue the seasonal festivities with a visit to Cornwall’s Eden Project and meet reindeers and go ice skating. Learn what people around the world eat at this time of year and other fascinating facts about our environment in the Core. If you’re feeling brave, try the 660-metre Hangloose zip wire and streak over the biomes. Enjoy leaving your coat behind at this time of year for a walk among the exotic plants, waterfall and Malaysian hut, and spot bananas growing in the world’s largest indoor rainforest.
• Adult from £22.50, child £12.60, family £62, open on Boxing Day 10am-6pm, edenproject.com. Hangloose Sky Wire £18
becki212
Romford greyhound stadium, London
On Boxing Day we love to meet up with friends, do some betting, drinking and eating at this east London dog track. Gates open 9.30am. There should be 14 races that will take place between 10.40am and 2.30pm.
• £6, romfordgreyhoundstadium.co.uk
Squidge21
