A magical Narnia Christmas wonderland has opened in Yorkshire, inviting guests to 'step through the wardrobe' this season and experience a taste of C. S. Lewis's iconic tale right here in God's own country.
Hosted at Castle Howard in north Yorkshire, just under an hour's drive from Leeds, the impressive building has been transformed into a spell-binding Christmas wonderland with icy twinkling lights and sparkling trees.
The Castle has been transformed into Narnia with the help of lavish decorations, 'dramatic installations, lighting and soundscapes' that help bring the famous story of Narnia to life.
Image: Castle Howard
Promising a full day of entertainment, there's much to see here - from a 25-foot high Christmas tree adorned with over 3,000 baubles in the Great Hall, to an array of indulgent winter treats on offer inside the cafe.
Guests are invited to 'warm yourself by roaring log fires', find a special present in the gift shop or garden centre, and explore the adjoining farm shop for locally-sourced ingredients to enjoy over the Christmas period.
And last but definitely not least, you'll also be able to visit Father Christmas himself - with the Castle assuring visitors that the big man himself will be 'making some very special visits to Castle Howard this year.'
Image: Castle Howard
A listing on the Castle's website reads:
"Step through the wardrobe into an enchanting adventure this festive season. An icy spell has been cast on this mystical land where it is always winter, but will Christmas spirits be restored and will warmth and joy return?
"Whilst Castle Howard is open from 10am daily, Twilight is one of the most magical times to visit. Icy twinkling lights at dusk, sparkling trees against the dark sky, and an indulgent winter warmer in our cafes, all make your Christmas visit that bit more special.
Image: Castle Howard
"See the lavishly decorated interiors of Castle Howard transformed. Enjoy breath-taking dramatic installations, lighting and soundscapes evoking everything we love about this special time of year. Marvel at the 25-foot Christmas tree adorned with over 3000 baubles providing a magnificent highlight in the Great Hall.
"The magical winter world of ‘Christmas in Narnia’ is waiting for you."
Tickets for the Narnia Christmas wonderland at Castle Howards on sale now, available to book via the stately home's website. Prices vary depending on whether you choose to book on a peak or off-peak date.
IKEA will be launching its own online marketplace full of second-hand furniture.
Just like the ever-popular Facebook Marktplace, the IKEA second-hand marketplace is a dedicated space where pre-loved IKEA products can find a new home.
In bid to make affordable second-hand home furnishings easily accessible, the new online platform will enable customers across the UK to connect with one another directly, so they can buy and sell pre-owned IKEA items locally.
Designed specifically for IKEA products, the marketplace will provide everything shoppers need in one place.
The Swedish retailer is already known and loved for its 'functional' and 'affordable' home furnishings, all produced with care for people and the environment, but the launch of the new IKEA second-hand market place will make it just as easy to pass on an old favourite as it is to find a new one.
IKEA is launching its own online marketplace full of second-hand furniture / Credit: Supplied
"At IKEA, we are always looking for new ways to make life at home even better and help our customers discover products they love," a spokesperson for the retailer said.
"With the launch of IKEA second-hand marketplace in the UK, we’re taking a meaningful step toward creating a destination that simplifies access to pre-owned IKEA furniture.
"Our goal is to make passing on beloved IKEA pieces as seamless as possible.
"We’re creating a trusted and vibrant space to make it quick and easy for our IKEA Family members to trade directly with one another. We want the process for buying and selling pre-owned IKEA products to be simple, accessible and rewarding."
Detailed information regarding the official launch and how customers can get involved will be made available in the coming months.
Featured Image - Supplied
Trending
New TV adaptation of classic Yorkshire-inspired novel Jane Eyre to air on BBC starring Aimee Lou Wood
Emily Sergeant
Manchester actress Aimee Lou Wood is set to lead a new BBC adaptation of Jane Eyre, it has been reported.
It was announced earlier this year that Working Title are producing a new TV adaptation of Charlotte Brontë’s classic novel, Jane Eyre - which will be led by The White Lotus and Sex Education star in the titular role - and Deadline has now exclusively revealed that the BBC has joined the production as the broadcaster.
The new TV adaptation has been penned for the screen by Miriam Battye - an award-winning writer best known for her work on HBO's Succession.
Published all the way back in 1847 and set across a number of fictional Northern England settings - mainly inspired by the Brontë sisters' upbringing in Yorkshire - the classic novel explores the moral and emotional development of orphan Jane Eyre as she searches for love, independence, and social equality in the 19th century.
Throughout the novel, Jane overcomes a harsh and unloving childhood and goes on to find work as a governess at Thornfield Hall, before falling in love with her moody master, Mr Rochester, and discovering a dark secret in his attic.
EXCLUSIVE: Deadline hears that 'The White Lotus' and 'Sex Education' star Aimee Lou Wood is attached to star in a new TV adaptation of Charlotte Brontë’s classic novel Jane Eyre.
Emmy nominee Wood will play the indomitable heroine in the buzzy adaptation which we understand is… pic.twitter.com/ETBRaPJanN
The novel is widely considered to be ahead of its time due to how it approaches topics of class, sexuality, religion, and feminism.
Jane Eyre has been the subject of a number of adaptations of the years - most notably the last major TV version being in 2006, also for the BBC, and a 2011 film starring Mia Wasikowska and Michael Fassbender - but there hasn't been any in 15 years now, and 2027 marks the 180th anniversary for the iconic story.
Aimee Lou Wood is also riding high at the moment after her Emmy, SAG, and Golden Globe nominations for Season 3 of The White Lotus, and after having also been cast as George Harrison’s wife, Pattie Boyd, in Sam Mendes' four Beatles biopic movies, all set to be released in 2028.
As of yet, further information on when and where the new adaptation will be being filmed is yet to be released, and there is no indication of air dates either.
The BBC is expected to reveal more details in due course, so stay tuned.
Georgina Pellant -
22nd December 2021 
