Various dates throughout October
Windsor Great Park
Carriage Rides

You don’t have to be a member of the Royal family to enjoy a wonderful carriage ride through Windsor Great Park.

The park is always spectacular, with its wonderful lakes, woodlands and gardens surrounding glorious Windsor Castle, and in autumn with its rich golden colourways it can look sensational. Being driven around the park in a traditional but comfortable horse drawn carriage, listening to the soft plodding of the horse’s hooves as you weave our way along the small pathways, is a lovely and memorable experience.

Ascot Carriages is a small friendly company now offering passengers rides in delightful horse drawn carriages which can take four adults, or six smaller adults. There is an option of rides, from a 30 minute experience to a full 90 minute carriage tour of the park, and you can book as a passenger on a shared seat basis or of course book the whole carriage for sole use by your party. Prices run from around £7.50 for an individual seat to £100 for your own carriage for a full hour’s tour and £150 for the full 90 minutes Royal Landscape Grand Explorer Tour.

Call Joanna for more information on the website, or via the telephone 07811 543019 or 07866 927159. Or email: einfo@ascotcarriages.co.uk

Throughout October
Blackpool
Blackpool Illuminations

When we were kids, even if you lived in the very south of England, you would still have heard of the wonders of the Blackpool Illuminations.

They first started in 1879 when they were described as “artificial sunshine” and in fact were just eight arc lamps which bathed the Blackpool Promenade in light. When you realise this was well before most homes had electricity, it is easy to imagine the sensation it caused at the time. By the years leading up to the first World War the lights had increased dramatically until the Promenade was festooned with around 10,000 light bulbs. Apart from war years since then, the illuminations went from strength to strength and today the town runs several events associated with the lights until they are switched off late autumn.

This year the 10 kilometre long water front Promenande is lit with over one million light bulbs and they have come a long way from those humble beginnings. There is now every kind of light display there you can think of, with lasers, neon lights, fibre optics, searchlighting and floodlighting, plus certain set pieces and special designs. There are special trams to tour the lights and some of these are even decorated and lit to add to the overall spectacle.

For this year, there is also a brand new indoor attraction as well, Illuminasia. This has been created by over 50 Chinese craftsmen and women and features six special zones such as the Wonders of the World, The Blackpool Experience and the Mysteries of China.

There are lots of special accommodation deals during October, and more information is available at: http://www.blackpool-illuminations.net

Leeds
Friday October 3rd
Light Night

With the night’s drawing in, it is not just Blackpool Illuminations that come into their own at this time of year. Leeds is holding its 10th Light Night at the beginning of the month which really is a night to remember. The city centre comes alive with spectacular large scale light projections together with exhibitions, installations, film, dance, music, theatre and street performances. There is a great festival atmosphere and around 50 different events across the city, including delicious street food an illuminated Night Light Run plus Spark, an emerging artist exhibition. If you are feeling energetic, there is even a chance to climb the 203 steps to the top of the Town Hall’s huge clock which will give a spectacular view of Leeds on Light Night.

Full programme of events click here.