Top ten festive getaways

Ifyou’ve left your Christmas shopping a bit late, don’t panic! Step away from the socks and give loved ones something they will remember... for all the right reasons with these top 10 travel gifts.

1. Northern Lights
Travelbag vouchers can be spent against a range of short and long haul holidays, but perfect for a festive break is a three nights’ B&B break in Iceland at the four-star Grand Reykjavik Hotel, with flights ex-London and regional airports, from £299, if booked by January 31 for February/March travel.

For information, call 0845 543 6615 or visit www.travelbag.co.uk

2. West Enders
Superbreak vouchers for £5-£100 are redeemable on short theatre breaks in London, such as the Jersey Boys weekend for £160 in December/January. The package includes tickets to the hit musical, plus two nights’ B&B at the four-star Park Plaza Riverbank Hotel, on the South Bank – near to the London Eye, Westminster Abbey and Tate Britain.

For information: 0871 700 4834/ www.superbreak.com

3. Kick off
Get into the World Cup mood with a ticket for the Manchester United v Manchester City clash on March 1, with B&B at the three-star Novotel Manchester West, costing £256 at Thomas Cook Sport.

For information: 0844 879 8799 or visit www.thomas cooksport.com.

4. Lording it up
Live like a Lord and Lady with a Brit Movie Tour. Vouchers from £15 can be spent on the Downton Abbey Country Film Locations Tour — or £95 each for group visits — taking in Oxfordshire villages seen in the hit TV show, plus Downton Village and tea in the home of the Dowager Countess.

For information call 0844 247 1007 or visit www.britmovietours.com

5. Winter wanderland
The celebrated travel magazine, Wanderlust, is 20 years old this December, and is still as inspiring as ever for those planning — or simply dreaming about — an exotic holiday. Annual subscription (£30) buys ten issues, plus a ‘Round the World in 500 Festivals’ guide.

For information, call 01753 620426 or email subs@wanderlust.co.uk

6. Ticket to ride
Take the luxury Orient Express day trip around UK from £310 in January/February using Railbookers vouchers worth up to £100 each. Vouchers can also be spent on Eurostar and rail travel worldwide.

For information, call 0203 327 0760 or visit www.rail bookers.com. Or call 0845 077 2222 or visit www.orient -express.com/uktrains

7.  Road trip
Perfect for Petrolheads: Leger Holidays offer return coach trips (B&B basis) to top motoring events include Formula 1 Grand Prix in Spain, Monaco, Belgium or Austria, the endurance-testing 24 Hour Le Mans event or the German Motor Show, with tickets to qualifying and main events included. From £279 for German Motor Show (March), from £299 for Le Mans (June) and from £399 for four/five day Grand Prix tours (May-September).

For information, call 0844 324 9256 or visit www.legerbreaks.info

8. Artistic licence
Perfect for art-lovers: painting in Barcelona. An artist couple run painting courses in the Catalan capital from their B&B penthouse, from £675 for six nights, from £1,150 per couple, including five days of tuition and transport to/from painting sites, plus breakfasts and lunches.

For information visit www.la-terraza -atico.com

9. History boys
Best of British History: Historic Royal Palaces (HRP), an independent charity looking after the Tower of London, Hampton Court Palace, Banqueting House, Kensington Palace and Kew Palace, offers a Christmas Gift Membership (from £45) giving free and unlimited access, year round, to all five palaces.

For information, call 0844 482 7788 or visit www.hrp.org.uk

10. Pigging out
Take the family to explore Peppa Pig World at Paultons Park, with B&B accommodation at New Forest country house hotel Bartley Lodge for £219, including tickets for two days’ entry to Paultons Park and Peppa Pig World. For this offer price, book by January 9 to stay during February half-term.

For information, call 0871 360 2034 or visit www.paultons breaks.com