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An enchanted light and lantern festival is coming to Yorkshire this winter
Less than an hour's drive from Leeds, this magical trail will take you through four different fantasy worlds - discovering illuminated animals, flowers and imaginary creatures along the way
The Yorkshire Wildlife Park's enchanted light and lantern Winter Illuminations festival is coming back for Christmas 2021 and we can't wait to see what amazing creations they've dreamt up this year.
With four different enchanted worlds to explore on the magical light and lantern trail, you'll travel through a fairytale realm, fantasy land, animal kingdom and underwater empire as part of the one-way, circular 2.4km route.
Beginning at the Yorkshire Hive, you'll encounter an array of different illuminated animals, flowers and imaginary creatures as you journey through the four different fantasy worlds, ending back at the starting point.
With hot food and drink stalls available along the way, the trail can be completed in roughly 90 minutes - not counting any time you want to spend stopping for a drop or something to eat as you go.
And if you want to make the most of the experience whilst attending the light and lantern festival by booking to go and see the animals on the same day, you can get a discount on your day ticket - with prices for these costing just £10 when you book the same day.
Do this online by choosing the number of Winter Illumination tickets for the day and time you require, then selecting the relevant number of 'Winter Illuminations Park Day Time Tickets' from the same 'WHO’S COMING?' section.
Time slots for the enchanted winter trail run from 4 to 7 pm, after the park has been cleared for the day, so if you get tickets for both experiences be aware that you'll have to leave and then re-enter again for the Winter Illuminations event.
If you're looking to kill time though, the Yorkshire Hive has plenty of restaurants, play areas and shops to keep you entertained - including two immersive themed dining areas where the "lost Jurassic island meets the fantasy world of caves and mythical Dragons."
The Yorkshire Wildlife Park is fully accessible for wheelchair users and has a small number of manual wheelchairs that are available to pre-book, free of charge.
The enchanted festival kicks off on Thursday 18 November and runs right through the Christmas season into the new year.
Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased in advance here.
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Posh bakery chain Gail’s is finally coming to Yorkshire
Gail's has finally set its sights on Yorkshire for the first time, with a new bakery set to open this year.
It's one of the UK's most famous bakeries, launching in London in the early 1990s to supply restaurants, before opening its first retail site and cafe in Hampstead in 2005.
Gail's founders set out on a mission to bake bread as it used to be baked: by hand, using quality ingredients and time-worn artisanal methods.
While Gail's has expanded aggressively into the north, opening around a dozen bakeries in Greater Manchester and its surrounds, it hasn't made the journey across to Yorkshire just yet.
All that looks set to change, with job ads now listed for roles within a brand-new Yorkshire branch of Gail's.
Based on the job advert, Gail's is heading straight to the spa town of Harrogate - which is a fairly predictable move.
It looks like Gail's is heading for HarrogateGail's will make its Yorkshire debut
It had previously been reported that Gail's would be going to Knaresborough, but the job posting appears to hint that Harrogate will be the first Yorkshire location.
When it does open, you'll find loaf choices including classic white and brown sourdough, Gail’s ‘wasteless’ loaves (made using a specially-created recipe designed to incorporate unsold bread crumbs), alongside seeded varieties, baguettes and batons.
Must-tries include Gail’s famous cinnamon buns, still-warm cheese and ham croissants, chocolate chip cookies, and – given the weather we’re having this week – iced coffees, all day long preferably please.
But given the number of fantastic local bakeries all over Yorkshire, the question is, does anyone want Gail's?
‘Historic’ moment as UK passes bill to ban everyone born after 2008 from smoking
Emily Sergeant
The UK has now passed a bill to ban everyone born after 2008 from ever buying tobacco products.
It's been a long time coming, but in what is being described as a 'historic' moment, the final draft of the landmark Tobacco and Vapes Bill completed its journey through the Houses of Commons and Lords yesterday (21 April 2026), and is now on its way to receiving royal assent to officially become the law.
For those unfamiliar, the Tobacco and Vapes Bill will stop people who were born on or after 1 January 2009 from ever taking up smoking.
It will also give Government ministers new powers to regulate tobacco, vaping, and nicotine products – including their flavours and packaging, which make them more appealing to younger generations.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting has hailed the bill's passing as a 'historic moment for the nation's health' on the road to creating a smoke-free generation.
The UK has passed a bill to ban everyone born after 2008 from smoking / Credit: Pxhere
"Children in the UK will be part of the first smoke-free generation, protected from a lifetime of addiction and harm," Mr Streeting said after the bill was passed this week.
"Prevention is better than cure. This reform will save lives, ease pressure on the NHS, and build a healthier Britain."
The ban on purchasing tobacco products for those born after 2008 was first mooted by Rishi Sunak's Conservative Government a number of years back, but was eventually shelved ahead of the 2024 General Election, and then revived again by Labour when they took power.
The bill's passing parliament has been welcomed by charities and campaign groups - most notably Cancer Research UK.
"This is a historic achievement that will shield our children from the devastating grip of tobacco addiction and help to put an end to cancers caused by smoking," concluded Michelle Mitchell, who is the Chief Executive Officer at Cancer Research.
Georgina Pellant -
1st October 2021 
