Dorset, Somerset &amp; Bristol

<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mooch-around-a-gallery">Mooch around a gallery</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="754" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/12/00-wildlife-photogtapher-Max-Waugh-408213837_741138671385552_1208411921372564537_n.jpg" alt="wildlife photographer of the year max Waugh" class="wp-image-91581" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/12/00-wildlife-photogtapher-Max-Waugh-408213837_741138671385552_1208411921372564537_n.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/12/00-wildlife-photogtapher-Max-Waugh-408213837_741138671385552_1208411921372564537_n-800x603.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/12/00-wildlife-photogtapher-Max-Waugh-408213837_741138671385552_1208411921372564537_n-400x302.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/12/00-wildlife-photogtapher-Max-Waugh-408213837_741138671385552_1208411921372564537_n-768x579.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/12/00-wildlife-photogtapher-Max-Waugh-408213837_741138671385552_1208411921372564537_n-696x525.jpg 696w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">© Max Waugh</figcaption></figure>



Photographers of all ages from 95 countries submitted nearly 50,000 images showcasing the diversity and fragility of wildlife on Earth, in the 95th edition of the <a href="https://www.bristolmuseums.org.uk/bristol-museum-and-art-gallery/whats-on/wildlife-photographer-of-the-year-2023/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2023</a>. See the top 100 photos at the Bristol Museum &amp; Art Gallery.



Did you know that one the UK&#8217;s most famous sculptors lived in the Blackmore Vale? <a href="https://www.dorsetmuseum.org/event/elisabeth-frink-a-view-from-within/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Elisabeth Frink: A View from Within</a> at the Dorset Museum in Dorchester explores her artistic and personal life in the county, with over 80&nbsp;sculptures, drawings and prints.



Paintings and sculpture from British artist <a href="https://swheritage.org.uk/events/alexander-hollweg/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Alexander Hollweg</a>&#8216;s 60-year career are on display at the Museum of Somerset in Taunton. 



Prints of dancing figures, carved clay sculptural bowls and still life oil paintings from the likes of Paula Rego, Vanessa Bell and Bridget Riley can be seen in <a href="https://arnolfini.org.uk/whatson/dreamandrefuge/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dream and Refuge</a>, a collection of artworks from the Jerwood Collection around themes of home, movement and retreat. Arnolfini, Bristol.



The first ever exhibition dedicated to <a href="https://www.lighthousepoole.co.uk/event/quentin-blake-illustrating-verse/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Quentin Blake</a>’s illustrations for poetry is touring the UK and currently on show at the Lighthouse Poole.



<a href="https://www.victoriagal.org.uk/event/when-dreams-confront-reality-surrealism-britain" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">When Dreams Confront Reality: Surrealism in Britain</a>, an exhibition from The Sherwin Family Collection&nbsp;(the most important collection of British Surrealism in private ownership)&nbsp;has paintings, collage, drawings, ceramics and sculpture, by Max Ernst, Man Ray and more. Victoria Art Gallery, Bath. 



Watercolours, drawings and sketches trace <a href="https://www.holburne.org/events/gwen-john-art-and-life-in-london-and-paris/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Gwen John&#8217;s</a> 40-year career at The Holburne Museum in Bath.



Ten artists present works inspired by or connected to scientific ideas in <a href="https://www.giant.space/seismic-1nce">Seismic: Art meets Science</a> at Giant in Bournemouth.



Work by over 20 of the world’s leading artists, including Phyllida Barlow, Martin Creed, Cindy Sherman and Pipilotti Rist in <a href="https://www.hauserwirth.com/hauser-wirth-exhibitions/40920-gruppenausstellung/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Gruppenaustellung</a>, an exhibition inspired by a traditional Kunsthalle, showcase groundbreaking art and explore contemporary issues at Hauser &amp; Wirth Somerset in Bruton.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-get-sporty">Get sporty </h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/12/00-icescape-tropicana.jpg" alt="Icescape at Tropicana somerset" class="wp-image-91583" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/12/00-icescape-tropicana.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/12/00-icescape-tropicana-800x534.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/12/00-icescape-tropicana-400x267.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/12/00-icescape-tropicana-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/12/00-icescape-tropicana-787x525.jpg 787w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Icescape at Tropicana</figcaption></figure>



Not just for kids apparently, adults (some, not me) come to <a href="https://ninjawarrioruk.co.uk/bristol/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ninja Warrior</a> in Bristol to balance and swing over obstacles, bounce across inflatables, conquer a Warped Wall and clamber up Mount Sasuke. Think of it as a giant&#8217;s soft play.



Not off to Gstaad this year darling? Head to the dry slopes at <a href="https://www.snowtrax.eu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Snowtrax Alpine Activity Centre</a> in Christchurch, for skiing and snowboarding for beginners and experienced alike, plus ski bobs (sit on thingies) and ringoes (sit in thingies) for little ones.



You can all <a href="https://goape.co.uk/locations/moors-valley" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Go Ape</a> on the Dorset/Hampshire border at Moors Valley, near Bournemouth. Traverse narrow crossings, suspended walkways and tree-high platforms 11 metres high in the forest canopy; bounce around in netted tunnels with giant balls amongst the trees – or stay on the ground on an all-terrain forest Segway.



Take a slip, slide and a triple salchow around the best real ice rinks in Somerset, Dorset and Bristol. The UK’s largest undercover winter ice rink, they say, is <a href="https://icescape-tropicana.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Icescape at Tropicana</a> in Weston-super-Mare. For a skate and shop combo, head to <a href="https://clarksvillage.co.uk/ice-rink-2023" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Clarks Village</a> in Street. You&#8217;ve a choice of two In Bournemouth: outdoors amongst the trees of the Lower Gardens at <a href="https://www.iceskatebournemouth.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Skate Bournemouth</a> and indoors at the <a href="https://www.coolcoasticerink.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cool Coast Ice Rink</a> at the Bournemouth International Centre. If you get fed up of <a href="https://bathonice.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bath on Ice</a>, play a game of glow in the dark golf – it&#8217;s right next door. Want to hit the Bristol sales? Pop the kids into <a href="https://planet-ice.co.uk/locations/bristol/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Planet Ice</a> and shop Cribbs Causeway. 



Come on in, the water&#8217;s lovely (with a wetsuit) at <a href="https://www.thewave.com/about-wavegarden-technology/beginner-surf-sessions-no-lesson/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Wave </a>in Bristol, a 180m long surfing lake which uses state-of-the-art technology to produce safe and consistent waves for tentative paddlers as well as cool surfer dudes. Brrrr. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-trip-the-light-fantastic">Trip the light fantastic</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1052" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/12/00-longleat-festival-of-light-407748371_743656301129815_4361434055943688047_n.jpg" alt="longleat festival of light peter pan" class="wp-image-91582" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/12/00-longleat-festival-of-light-407748371_743656301129815_4361434055943688047_n.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/12/00-longleat-festival-of-light-407748371_743656301129815_4361434055943688047_n-800x561.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/12/00-longleat-festival-of-light-407748371_743656301129815_4361434055943688047_n-1000x701.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/12/00-longleat-festival-of-light-407748371_743656301129815_4361434055943688047_n-400x281.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/12/00-longleat-festival-of-light-407748371_743656301129815_4361434055943688047_n-768x539.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/12/00-longleat-festival-of-light-407748371_743656301129815_4361434055943688047_n-749x525.jpg 749w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



Giant illuminated scenes from The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe, Cinderella, Peter Pan, The Wizard of Oz, Winnie the Pooh and more sit in 30 acres of ‘Capability’ Brown landscaped grounds at the <a href="https://www.longleat.co.uk/the-festival-of-light" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Festival of Light at Longleat,</a> near Warminster.



Take a walk around illuminated trees from around the world, including a 60ft walk-through tree and an animated tunnel, in the <a href="https://christmastreewonderland.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Christmas Tree Wonderland Trail</a> in Bournemouth&#8217;s Lower Gardens.



Set sail on a nautical journey in Poole, from Falkland Square through the High Street and onto Poole Quay and the harbour, at the <a href="https://www.poole-christmas-maritime-light-festival.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Poole Christmas Maritime Light Festival</a>.



Spectacular gardens and grounds are all lit up at <a href="https://www.hestercombe.com/whats-on/christmas-illuminations" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hestercombe House &amp; Gardens</a> near Taunton, <a href="https://abbotsburytickets.co.uk/events/illuminate/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Abbotsbury Subtropical Gardens</a> near Weymouth and <a href="https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/stourhead/features/christmas-at-stourhead" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Stourhead,</a> near Mere.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-take-in-a-christmas-show">Take in a Christmas show</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/12/00-Photo©EllieKurttz_Arabian-Nights_FULL-COMPANY.jpg" alt="Photo ©EllieKurttz Arabian Nights" class="wp-image-91585" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/12/00-Photo©EllieKurttz_Arabian-Nights_FULL-COMPANY.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/12/00-Photo©EllieKurttz_Arabian-Nights_FULL-COMPANY-800x534.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/12/00-Photo©EllieKurttz_Arabian-Nights_FULL-COMPANY-400x267.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/12/00-Photo©EllieKurttz_Arabian-Nights_FULL-COMPANY-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/12/00-Photo©EllieKurttz_Arabian-Nights_FULL-COMPANY-787x525.jpg 787w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo of Arabian Nights ©EllieKurttz </figcaption></figure>



It&#8217;s not too late to see a Christmas show. In an <a href="https://bristololdvic.org.uk/whats-on/arabian-nights" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Arabian Nights</a> for the 21st century at the Bristol Old Vic, daring heroine Shere plans to liberate every young woman in the Kingdom from the greedy, tyrannical King through the power of storytelling. A girl has an adventure with a flying boy and a fairy in <a href="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-admin/A Peter Pan Story,">Wendy: A Peter P</a><a href="https://www.theatreroyal.org.uk/events/wendy-a-peter-pan-story/">an Story</a> at the egg in Bath. Oliver escapes the workhouse to join the outrageous escapades of Fagin and co in a re-imagining of Charles Dickens’ novel in <a href="https://tobaccofactorytheatres.com/shows/oliver-twist/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Oliver Twist</a> at the Tobacco Factory Theatres in Bristol. You can still see Scrooge in a <a href="https://www.tauntonbrewhouse.co.uk/events/a-christmas-carol-christmas-2023/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">A Christmas Carol</a> at the Taunton Brewhouse. 



Specially for younger ones: <a href="https://bristololdvic.org.uk/whats-on/four-seasons" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Four Seasons</a> at the Bristol Old Vic celebrates the wonder and weirdness of nature; <a href="https://tobaccofactorytheatres.com/shows/the-selfish-giant-2/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Selfish Giant</a> at the Tobacco Factory Theatres in Bristol sees children climb through a gap in a reclusive giant’s wall and forge a friendship that will change the course of their lives – and the giant’s life – forever; and <a href="https://www.theatreroyal.org.uk/events/midnight-mole/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Midnight Mole</a> a moon-dancing adventure with a nod to Chekhov’s The Cherry Orchard is at the egg in Bath.



Pantos still on the go until the end of the year include: Snow White at the <a href="https://www.bournemouthpavilion.co.uk/events/snow-white-panto-2023" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bournemouth Pavilion</a> and <a href="https://weymouthpavilion.com/shows/christmas-pantomime-snow-white/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Weymouth Pavilion</a>; <a href="https://www.atgtickets.com/shows/peter-pan/bristol-hippodrome/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Peter Pan</a> at the Bristol Hippodrome; <a href="https://www.theatreroyal.org.uk/events/sleeping-beauty/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sleeping Beauty</a> at the Theatre Royal Bath; <a href="https://www.lighthousepoole.co.uk/event/aladdin/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Aladdin</a> at Lighthouse Poole; <a href="https://www.parkwoodtheatres.co.uk/playhouse-theatre/whats-on/dick-whittington" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dick Whittington</a> at The Playhouse, Weston-super-Mare; <a href="https://www.mcmillantheatre.com/events/beauty-and-the-beast/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Beauty and the Beast</a> at the McMillan Theatre, Bridgwater; <a href="https://redgravetheatre.com/event/2023/12/rapunzel/1438/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Rapunzel</a> at The Redgrave Theatre, Clifton and Cinderella at <a href="https://www.westlandsyeovil.co.uk/whats-on/all-shows/cinderella/9071/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Westlands</a> in Yeovil and the <a href="https://www.tivoliwimborne.co.uk/event/cinderella/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tivoli Theatre</a> in Wimborne.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-feeling-peckish">Feeling peckish?</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/11/00-sweet-littlle-things-afternoon-tea-397029815_2346661295544656_571189707289493265_n_Fotor.jpg" alt="sweet littlle things festive afternoon tea somerset" class="wp-image-90874" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/11/00-sweet-littlle-things-afternoon-tea-397029815_2346661295544656_571189707289493265_n_Fotor.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/11/00-sweet-littlle-things-afternoon-tea-397029815_2346661295544656_571189707289493265_n_Fotor-800x800.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/11/00-sweet-littlle-things-afternoon-tea-397029815_2346661295544656_571189707289493265_n_Fotor-400x400.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/11/00-sweet-littlle-things-afternoon-tea-397029815_2346661295544656_571189707289493265_n_Fotor-768x768.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/11/00-sweet-littlle-things-afternoon-tea-397029815_2346661295544656_571189707289493265_n_Fotor-525x525.jpg 525w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/11/00-sweet-littlle-things-afternoon-tea-397029815_2346661295544656_571189707289493265_n_Fotor-500x500.jpg 500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



Reward yourself after a day at Bath&#8217;s sales with an afternoon tea that&#8217;s as pretty as it is delicious at <a href="https://www.sltbath.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sweet Little Things</a>, Bath’s pinkest, floral and instantly Instagrammable café. For savoury as well as traditional sweet afternoon teas, Georgian country house hotel <a href="https://summerlodgehotel.co.uk/festive" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Summer Lodge</a> in the sleepy Dorset village of Evershot is the place to go.

Merry Twixmas! What’s on between Christmas and New Year

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