Anyone thinking of visiting Cambridge over the festive period may ask what there is to do here. Aside from visiting the lovely and compact medieval city centre, touring the architecturally astounding University Colleges, punting on the river, strolling through the Botanic Gardens and enjoying a drink and the view from our very own Six Panoramic Restaurant, that is. Well, we at the Varsity Hotel Cambridge are happy to see the return of an old favourite – the North Pole Winter Wonderland is back!
Christmas Markets
This is quite a relief to many of us in Cambridge. Last year pretty much everything was cancelled. And even this year some of the signs weren’t looking great. Epic annual events like the Mill Road Winter Fair aren’t happening this year. And many similar Christmas markets in nearby towns have also failed to materialise.
But reality is a lot brighter than some had feared. Several larger events have simply broken up into many smaller events instead. And after a year’s hiatus, Christmas is clearly back with a bang. Decorations are up, shops are full of potential presents.
For our part, both our River Bar Steakhouse and our Six Panoramic Restaurant are available for Christmas parties, with special Christmas party menus for each. And so far the response has been inspiring. After all, it has been nearly two years since anyone had a Christmas party.
North Pole
We’re also very happy so see the return of the North Pole Winter Wonderland, this year running from November 19th until January 3rd. This wintry extravaganza transforms Parker’s Piece into a winter-themed funfair. Replete with fairground rides and games, food and drink stalls serving everything from bratwurst to hot chocolate to mulled wine. Plus Christmas market stalls and speciality food nights.
But that’s just the backdrop to the main show pieces. One returning favourite is the ice skating rink with a clear roof. Making it available in all weathers, and potentially allowing for skating under the stars. The ice bar is always a big draw. As is the Ferris wheel, allowing for incredible views across the city and beyond.
But the grand novelty for this year is the introduction of a huge, 3 lane ice slide – the longest in the UK! All in all it should make for a fun filled day out for all ages.
The North Pole Winter Wonderland is in easy walking distance of our very own Varsity Hotel. We hope to see you soon.
