Expert: Michael - 7/18/2007

Question
QUESTION: my family of 4 are considering visiting Britain in december and would appreciate any advise on travelling around the country at this time and what places would close down in winter.anything really to help us decide if this is a good idea as it is the only time we get holidays.

ANSWER: Hello Belinda,

You should find that the majority of attractions are open in December, but they may be closed on a couple of days each week (perhaps Sunday & Monday) and may open only for shorter hours (perhaps 10am to 4pm). There are a few attractions which shut over the winter, such as theme parks, but many open all year round, closing only for a few days at Christmas.
Similarly, public transport runs as normal except for Christmas Day and Boxing Day in December.
I hope that helps.
Michael

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hello Michael,Does the weather conditions often make it hazardous to drive around England if we hired a car? Where would we best find out which attractions are open and when? thanks again, i will tell friends about this site.

Answer
Hello again.
I suppose the significance of the weather here depends on where you are based in the US. The climate here does lead to fairly wet winters, but I wouldn't say it made driving particularly hazardous. At the worst you may find driving more difficult in heavy rain, but a simple reduction in speed is enough to address that. We may have some snow, but that is fairly unlikely in December (it normally comes in February if at all) and it certainly won't be a major issue when driving as roads are cleared by the rush hour each morning.

As for finding details of attractions, your best resource is the official tourist board website at
http://www.visitbritain.com/
Here you can find information about all the main attractions in Great Britain and a great deal more of the minor ones.

I hope this information helps you to plan a successful stay in England.

Regards
Michael