Like everyone’s favourite selection box of chocolates, there’s something to delight everyone at Compton Venery Art Gallery and Park during the festive season.

From Santa spotting to traditional carols, through to fabulous fireworks and decoration making workshops for little ones, Compton Verney’s December events will definitely get you in the Christmas spirit.

Spot Santa

Sunday 2 December & Sunday 9 December (1pm – 3pm)

Father Christmas and his faithful reindeer have taken time out of their busy schedule to enjoy a couple of days at Compton Verney.  Can you spot him as he wanders around our world-famous Capability Brown landscaped park?

Clue: He fits the traditional description of a jolly chap in a red suit, with big, black boots and sports a rather magnificent fluffy beard.

-This event is included in standard Day Ticket admission and is FREE for Members and Annual Pass Holders.

Christmas Concert

Friday 14 December (2.30pm – 3.45pm)

Lovers of choral music and traditional Christmas carols are in for a treat during our Christmas Concert in the ‘Capability’ Brown Chapel. Featuring the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire Chamber Choir, directed by Paul Spicer, the programme will include all your festive favourites and is the ideal way to lift your spirits and embrace the festive mood!

-Adults £15 / Child £7 / Under 5s FREE. You will also need a valid Day Ticket, Membership or Annual Pass.

Festive Storytelling

Saturday 15 December (The Selfish Giant: 11.30am – 11.45am. The Snow Queen: 1pm– 1.30pm& 2.15pm – 2.45pm)

Part of the magic and wonder of Christmas for children is snuggling up with a loved one and listening to a gripping tale. So, gather round the Christmas Tree and settle back to hear a pair of enchanting and much-loved Christmas stories; The Selfish Giant by Oscar Wilde (recommended for 5-7-year olds) and The Snow Queen (read in two parts and suitable for children 8+).

-This event is included in standard Day Ticket admission and is FREE for Members and Annual Pass Holders.

Natural Wonders Tree Decorations

Sunday 2, Sunday 9, Saturday 15 & Sunday 16 December (11am – 4pm)

Explore the great outdoors before getting crafty in the warmth. Make your own beautiful decorations out of natural materials found in the grounds to hang on your own tree for the festive season. Now that tops a shop-bought bauble every time!

-£5 per person. You will also need a valid Day Ticket, Membership or Annual Pass.

Big Bang and Brass Band

Sunday 16 December (2pm – 5pm)

Celebrate the end of Compton Verney’s successful 2018 season of exhibitions and events with traditional carols performed by the brilliant Royal Spa Brass Band, and culminating with a festive firework finale. Gaze at the heavens and gasp in delight at the spectacular display before Compton Verney hibernates for the Winter.

-This event is included in a Day Ticket and is FREE for Members and Annual Pass Holders.

In response to strong holiday demand for travel to St. Croix, Delta Air Lines is increasing capacity to the island over the holidays.

Commissioner of Tourism, Beverly Nicholson-Doty, confirmed that the Atlanta-based carrier will operate a daily service from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport to Henry E. Rohlsen Airport between December 20, 2018 and January 5, 2019 with the exception of Christmas Day and New Year's Day.

"The demand for St. Croix continues to build," said Commissioner Nicholson-Doty, who noted that after the peak holiday season Delta will serve St. Croix, starting the week of January 7 through the end of March, with three nonstop flights per week on Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.

The Commissioner noted that plans were also in place to secure additional airlift between San Juan and St. Croix in early January, immediately after JetBlue Airways exits the route. "Our talks with our airline partners continue to be strong and we expect to surpass the amount of seats provided by JetBlue on that important route."

A five-star resort in Turks and Caicos Islands is offering visitors an escape to paradise this autumn at an incredible value that's hard to beat.

Sailrock Resort, located on the island of South Caicos, is offering 35 percent off room rates, giving travelers an opportunity to escape from the stresses of life to reset and realign in "quintessential Turks and Caicos", one of the most unspoiled corners of the Caribbean.

Tapped as one of the "Hottest New Hotels of the Year" by Forbes in 2017, Sailrock features lavish suites and beachfront villas with breathtaking views of the ocean. Private pools, patios and garden showers enhance the luxury experience for discerning guests.

The limited flash sale offers more than one-third off the best rates on all suite and villa categories and daily gourmet breakfast in the Great House Restaurant. An additional benefit is that rates include a short round-trip flight on InterCaribbean Airways between Providenciales and South Caicos as well as round-trip ground transfers between the airport and Sailrock Resort. Guests who book five nights in the Beachfront Villas will receive complimentary air transfers between Providenciales and South Caicos on a private charter.

Rates start at US$520 per night in a Ridgetop Ocean View Suite (excluding taxes and fees) and are valid for travel until December 21, 2018. A three-night minimum stay is required. Bookings must be made by November 30, 2018.

Sailrock Resort, a member of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World, opened its doors in January 2017. The only five-star resort to arrive on the island, Sailrock brings a new level of luxury to South Caicos without disrupting the quiet rhythm that makes the island so unique. There are just 28 suites and villas, as well as the Great House, spread over 52 hilltop and oceanfront acres, so guests find their own private slice of South Caicos whether in a Beachfront Villa or Ridgetop Suite.

And travelers looking for a Caribbean home away from home discover it in the Private Peninsula Villas, located in a neighboring 770-acre enclave with an ecological focus and full access to the resort amenities. The flexible ownership model welcomes both year-round residents and short-term lets through the resort rental program.

The Orbis Flying Eye Hospital, in collaboration with Qatar Airways, is hosting public and private tours inside the one-of-a-kind aircraft, as well as holding on board workshops, including Nursing and Ophthalmology sessions, in support of Doha Healthcare Week and to celebrate the Qatar Creating Vision Initiative, funded by the Qatar Fund for Development and led by Orbis.

The Flying Eye Hospital, operated by global eye health charity Orbis, is a fully-equipped MD-10 cargo aircraft with state-of-the-art medical equipment, an operating theatre and a classroom, making it a truly unique teaching facility. The Orbis Flying Eye Hospital has supported the Qatar Creating Vision initiative in Bangladesh at the end of last year. Since July 2016, 4.2 million screenings for children have been conducted across India and Bangladesh and more than 56,000 training sessions have been provided for medical professionals as well as teachers and community workers. Together, Orbis and the Qatar Fund for Development are on track to deliver an impressive 5.6 million eye care treatments to children across India and Bangladesh by mid-2020.

Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, said: “It is Orbis’ highly commendable initiative that makes us proud supporters of the global eye health charity. Since 2012, we have worked hand in hand with the Flying Eye Hospital to expand its reach and help prevent avoidable blindness around the world. We are delighted to have this unique aircraft back in Doha as part of Doha Healthcare Week and we are positive that local guests will be fascinated by the facility while touring the aircraft.”

Orbis UK Chief Executive, Mrs. Rebecca Cronin, said: “Through the Qatar Fund for Development we have been able to reach millions of children across India and Bangladesh. There are 473,000 children who are blind across the two countries, and 50 per cent of cases are avoidable. Qatar Airways' support of Orbis has been long standing, and we are immensely grateful and proud of the partnership. We would like to say thank you for welcoming Orbis and the Flying Eye Hospital so warmly and providing us with a platform to celebrate Qatari generosity.”

Qatar Airways has been a proud supporter of Orbis since 2012. The multiple award-winning airline officially renewed its sponsorship with the global eye health charity in 2017 as the Official Airline Partner of Orbis UK for three years.

Every year, the aircraft visits countries across Africa, Asia and Latin America, partnering with local hospitals to deliver specialist training through its team of world-class medical volunteers, carry out treatments, and raise vital awareness about the importance of eye health.

Since 1982 Orbis has been working to prevent avoidable blindness in areas of need. Working with a global team of volunteers and the world’s leading ophthalmic medical experts, each year Orbis delivers between four to eight training programmes on board the Flying Eye Hospital. It also runs long-term programmes in 18 countries, including Bangladesh, Ethiopia, India and Zambia, among others.

Qatar Airways was named ‘World’s Best Business Class’ by the 2018 World Airline Awards, managed by international air transport rating organisation Skytrax. It was also named ‘Best Business Class Seat’, ‘Best Airline in the Middle East’, and ‘World’s Best First Class Airline Lounge’.

Earlier this year, Qatar Airways revealed a host of upcoming new global destinations, including the announcement that it will be the first Gulf carrier to begin direct service to Luxembourg. Other exciting new destinations to be launched by the airline include  Gothenburg, Sweden; Mombasa, Kenya and Da Nang, Vietnam.

Hampshire-based The Natural Travel Collection has acquired one of the UK's leading diving tour operators, Ely-based Regaldive from Explore Worldwide Ltd. Regaldive joins existing dive brand, Dive Worldwide at The Natural Travel Collection (TNTC). Together they form what is thought to be the largest dive offering in the UK. The two dive brands, which have complementary areas of specialism, will be operated as separate entities.

The Natural Travel Collection is a small, privately-owned travel company established by Chris Breen, founder of Wildlife Worldwide, and Teresa Bennett, founder of Dive Worldwide, and supported by a highly knowledgeable and specialist team.

Commenting, Teresa Bennett, a director of TNTC said, “2018 marks 30 years of Regaldive packaging diving holidays and my co-directors Chris Breen, Nick Joynes and I now look forward to taking the brand to a new level with the help of our expert team, all of whom are passionate about diving and discovering life beneath the surface of the ocean. We are delighted to welcome Regaldive to the portfolio, who are specialists in Egypt and the Red Sea region, among other territories.”

The other brands within The Natural Travel Collection, which now has a staff of 40, include:

• Wildlife Worldwide – The finest tailor-made wildlife holidays and cruises
• Families Worldwide – Adventure holidays and activity experiences designed for families
• Walks Worldwide – Guided small group and tailor-made walking and trekking holidays
• Schools Worldwide – Overseas school trips, projects, expeditions and study-based field treks
• The Travelling Naturalist – Expert-led wildlife and birding holidays for small groups of naturalists.