Travel

WHEN it comes to the world’s tallest Christmas tree, you might think it would be in one of the Nordic countries – but you’d be wrong.

In fact the world’s biggest living Christmas tree is right here in the UK.

In Northumberland on the National Trust Cragside Estate there is an enormous 147ft Christmas tree.

To put that into perspective, it’s around the size of a 14-storey building, or double the size of the Angel of the North.

It’s officially a Guinness World Record holder too, and this year it was awarded the title of being the ‘world’s tallest bedded Christmas tree’.

That means it’s still living rather than having been cut down.

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To be counted as a Christmas tree, the fir has to be decorated as such, so on it there are 800metres of lights, which is 1,320 multi-coloured bulbs.

And for further decoration, there are two huge purple bows measuring in at 6ft each.

With the tree being so high, these were all placed using a cherry picker.

If you’re a fan of baubles, sadly this tree doesn’t have any – but that was due to health and safety concerns if there was bad weather.

Posting the fact that its Christmas tree is now a Guinness World Record holder, the comments were flooded with support.

One wrote “Now that’s impressive! Congratulations” another added “Wow Beautiful! We love Cragside but this makes it even more special”.

The record for the tallest ever Christmas tree belongs to one put up in 1950 in Northgate Shopping Centre in Seattle in the United States.

Not bedded into the ground like the one in Cragside, the Douglas fir was a whopping 212ft tall.

The impressive Cragside tree sits on the National Trust Estate in Northumberland among the gardens.

Cragside is a pretty Victorian country estate and is famous for being the former home of inventor Lord William Armstrong.

Thanks to its owner, Cragside House is considered one of Britain’s ‘original smart homes‘.

It was the first house to be lit up by hydroelectricity – using man-made lakes to power generators for lights and phones.

Visitors can explore Cragside House and gardens during the Christmas period (November 29 to January 4, 2026) from £16.50 per adult, or £8.30 for children (ages 5-17).

Film fans will recognise Cragside after it appeared in a well-known movie franchise, Jurassic World Fallen Kingdom.

Cragside House served as the set location for Lockwood Manor, where heroes Owen (played by Chris Pratt) and Claire (Bryce Dallas Howard) attempt to stop a genetically engineered dinosaur from being sold at auction.

It wasn’t just the main house that appeared in the movie, Cragside Garden Cottage, found in the heart of the estate, was used as the backdrop for several scenes in the film.

The cosy cottage has three bedrooms and sleeps up to six.

It’s still available for a December booking – a three-night stay between December 8 and 11, 2025 starts from £909, which is £50.50pppn.

Next door is Cragside Park Cottage which has the same rates but a different style of decor inside.

A stay in either gets you free access to the Cragside gardens, house and woodlands.

For more on Christmas, one travel writer discovered a fairytale city that looks like it’s from a Disney movie with cosy Christmas markets and hot chocolate by the pint.

Plus, the UK Christmas market named one of Europe’s best – with over 100 stalls, live bands and a singing festive moose.

This charming village near the Peak District offers an impressive food scene, independent shops, and the stunning 14th century ‘cathedral of the Peaks’

This sizeable village, nestled amidst the stunning beauty of the Peak District and perched high in the hills, boasts a fantastic array of small businesses serving up delicious fare to locals.

Tideswell, situated on a limestone plateau just six miles east of the renowned Derbyshire spa town Buxton, may not be as frequented by tourists but has much to offer. Serving as a hub for surrounding villages, it’s an excellent spot for a cuppa, a pub crawl, or sampling delectable food – all supported by local businesses. In honour of their culinary delights, the village hosts an annual food festival. The next one is slated for 2 May 2026, celebrating the local flavours. The community bands together to display their hard work and sample a diverse range of artisan foods, along with other handmade goods.

Among the village’s most acclaimed eateries are The Merchant’s Yard Restaurant, The Star Inn, Tideswell Lounge, The Anchor Inn, and the modest chippy, Elliott’s Fish and Chips. When it comes to food and drink, the village packs a punch, with seven pubs dishing out tasty grub within a compact area. Beyond its gastronomic offerings, the village is home to an extraordinary church boasting unique architecture, often dubbed the ‘cathedral of the peak’.

The Church of St John the Baptist, constructed in the 14th century, houses a collection of original monuments, brasses, and woodcarvings. The church has held Grade I listed status since 1967 and, with support from the Friends of St John Tideswell, has undergone numerous restoration, preservation and repair works.

The group continues to help preserve this magnificent structure, which they regard as “one of the most important of the county’s mediaeval parish churches”. A recent guest shared their thoughts on TripAdvisor, saying: “A beautiful church; it’s easy to see why it’s known as the Cathedral of the Peak. I’m told I’d been before, but I couldn’t remember anything about it, so I enjoyed a visit in peace and tranquillity. Spectacular stained glass windows and beautiful and intricate carvings in the choir, combined with an interesting history, make it worth a visit. Also don’t miss the altar tomb, which is very unusual, as is the stone effigy beneath.”

Tideswell historically served as an important centre not just for markets but also for numerous industries including quarrying, lead mining and cotton and velvet production. Much of this heritage survives in the town today, with many choosing to explore the Tideswell Dale walk, which passes the historic mill.

Following the river’s course through the village, this six-mile route takes walkers across level ground for a journey lasting two to three hours. Many consider this an excellent opportunity to appreciate the area’s natural splendour whilst discovering the town’s character.

A picturesque Peak District village in Derbyshire, gained worldwide fame when its railway station appeared on Oasis’s ‘Some Might Say’ single cover – the band’s first number one hit

A quaint Derbyshire village nestled at the edge of the Peak District may seem like a typical old hamlet, but upon closer inspection, it’s more familiar than you might realise.

Historically, this place is renowned for its role in the industrial revolution, with Sir Richard Arkwright establishing the world’s first water-powered cotton mill there. From 1771 onwards, Cromford emerged as a trailblazer for factory systems, fostering an entire community of industrialisation that remains accessible for exploration today. However, it’s not this history that makes the now-defunct railway station in the village centre recognisable to many. Oasis fans worldwide will identify this building as the train station featured on the cover of the band’s first number one hit, Some Might Say.

The album cover depicts famous brothers Noel and Liam Gallagher standing at Cromford railway station, situated right in the heart of the Derwent Valley in Derbyshire, during the winter months. Liam can be seen on the bridge, saluting the camera, while Noel is on the platform edge, holding a watering can.

But the burning question is, why did they select this station, so distant from their native Manchester and seemingly unrelated to the song? The answer lies in the station’s history – it fell victim to the cuts of the 1960s when it was part of a main line between London and Manchester, before its closure in 1968. This left the remainder of the line as a single-track railway, rendering their waiting room and platform completely derelict with no purpose. Consequently, it provided the ideal location for the Gallagher brothers’ photoshoot without any train disruptions.

Graphic designer and art director Brian Cannon, who helped create the cover, explained to the BBC that the entire artistic concept hinged on using a disused station. He said: “The idea was if you’re standing at a disused station waiting for a train, you’re in need of education, which is the next line of the song.”

The lyric he references is: “Cause I’ve been standing at the station, in need of education in the rain.” Alongside photographer Michael Spencer Jones, they dismissed numerous other stations before settling on Cromford.

The station remains standing today as a Grade II listed structure owned by Network Rail and overseen daily by East Midlands Railway. Tucked behind the waiting room sits a stunning house that was previously neglected but has since been purchased and transformed into a magnificent residence with quite spectacular views.

Beyond this, holidaymakers often flock to the renowned Cromford Mills, celebrated for their significant role in Britain’s industrial revolution. The site provides a guided tour that delves into the rich history of the building and the Midlands’ pioneering early days that had a profound influence globally.

The Santa Maria di Missione chapel in Villafranca Piemonte, northern Italy, stands at the end of a long cornfield. Behind it, the mountains rise gently, their outlines caressed by the sun. The colours of autumn frame the 15th-century frescoes that embellish the structure’s interior, painted by Italian artist Aimone Duce, of the Lombard school. The chapel is the municipality’s oldest religious building, serving about 4,000 inhabitants, and stands on the site of a pre-existing building dating back to 1037.

Inside the small chapel, my footsteps echo softly against the walls, breaking the stillness of the surrounding countryside. The sharp scent of plaster mingles with the earthy smell of the fields outside, carried in on the wind along with the sweetness of wheat. Light filters through the narrow windows, catching the vivid hues of a fresco that depicts the seven deadly sins – a theme often revisited in medieval iconography.