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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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Leeds’ most famous pub has announced the return of its annual FREE Beer Festival this summer
Whitelock’s Ale House has announced the return of its annual Beer Festival - hoorah!
There’s nothing quite like a nice fresh pint, and we all know Whitelock’s Ale House know how to pour a good one.
So it's with great glee that we can fill you in on their upcoming Beer Festival which will be returning to the iconic festival from Thursday 18 to Sunday 21 June 2026.
The four-day festival will celebrate the best of independent brewing in Leeds, with beers sourced exclusively from local breweries.
Featured breweries will include Northern Monk, Kirkstall Brewery, Anthology, Amity Brew Co. and more.
Known as the oldest pub in Leeds, Whitelock’s Ale House has long championed independent beers and local brewing culture.
Image: Supplied
This year’s festival aims to spotlight the strength and diversity of the city’s brewing scene, with the tagline 'Beer tastes better up north!'
Beer will be pouring throughout the weekend across Whitelock's Ale House and The Turk's Head, with further brewery announcements and festival details set to be shared in the coming weeks via their Instagram.
The best part? Entry to the festival is completely free.
Talking about this year’s festival, General Manager Beth said: “Beer has always been at the heart of Whitelock’s, so this felt like the right year to celebrate both the breweries on our doorstep and the city we’ve called home for more than 300 years.
"Leeds has a brilliantly strong independent beer scene right now, and we’re looking forward to showcasing some of the best breweries the city has to offer across the weekend.”
You can find out more about Whitelock's Ale House and their fabulous Beer Festival here via their website. Cheers to that!
Inside Leeds’ very first sauna and ice bath cafe hidden behind a railway arch
Clementine Hall
Get ready to take the plunge Leeds, as a community-led sauna and ice bath concept has landed in the city centre.
Hidden behind a railway arch in Saxton Gardens, Kontrast has brought its popular sauna and ice bath concept to the city.
Following the huge success of its Manchester site, Kontrast Leeds combines saunas, ice baths and a cafe designed to bring wellness into everyday life.
The Leeds space features two traditional saunas, one infrared saunas and four ice baths each varying in temperature between 3 and 13 degrees.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
The space is absolutely gorgeous, complete with trendy tin ceilings, fairy lights and soft furnishings.
Plunge pools can be enjoyed solo or shared, depending on what guests choose, giving people the opportunity to shape each session around exactly what they need that day.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
The same goes for the saunas, with one silent and one sauna giving guests the option to come for conversation or reflection.
Single sessions will cost just £12 for 45 minutes, with 90-minute sessions from £20.
There's a fab little cafe too offering all sorts from electrolyte slushes to ginger shots and a range of coffees and matcha.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Known for making sauna and ice feel more accessible, welcoming and community-driven, Kontrast has grown beyond regular sessions to become a base for recurring events. These include their live ambient DJ set event, Unwind, which celebrates local talent, and their weekly run club, both of which the team hopes to bring to Leeds as part of building a similar sense of community in the city.
Officially opening their doors this Friday 29 May, Kontrast are offering free sessions over the weekend so you can try before you buy. Book your spot here.
Georgina Pellant -
1st October 2021 
