A Christmas experience that all children can get stuck into.
It's that time of the year already! Father Christmas is beginning to think about where to stop off and visit those that have been naughty and nice this year, and Thackray Museum of Medicine is top of the list.
From Saturday 18 November, the big man in red will be hosted by the museum space, with a whole host of exciting events that share all the diverse ways that Christmas is celebrated around the world.
The 90-minute journey is a true immersive adventure that'll have even the quietest of children on the hunt for clues to uncover the different meanings of Christmas.
Grab a photo on the Thackray sleigh and listen to Father Christmas telling stories before watching each child receive a thoughtfully-selected gift to take home as a keepsake and early Christmas present.
This Christmas promises to bring more accessible experiences to Leeds, with two British Sign Language interpreted experiences taking place on Saturday 10 December and Sunday 16 December, as well as 'relaxed experiences' that are specifically designed for children with additional sensory needs. These additional sessions will run earlier on in the festive build-up on Saturday 25 November and Sunday 26 November, with reduced capacity and quieter environments.
And visiting Santa isn't the only reason to head down to Thackray Museum of Medicine this Christmas...
Each ticket to see Santa is allocated an hour after arrival, to give you plenty of time to explore the additional Christmas crafts dotted around the museum. The idea is that whilst families get stuck into the festive events, they can also explore the temporary and permanent exhibitions on within the Thackray.
Whether you're looking for an additional play area or want to hear more about the critically acclaimed On The Bench exhibition that explains the intricacies of sports injury, there's really something for every age to learn from.
Chief Executive Officer of Thackray Museum of Medicine, Edward Appleyard, perfectly explains how the exhibition will celebrate the festive period for all ages: "Christmas, just like medicine, isn't a simple story. It dates back to centuries of history from many cultures around the world, something we celebrate as being a strength of the rich diversity of Leeds and the communities that surround the Museum.
"It’s a great opportunity to learn about the breadth of culture we are able to represent here at Thackray, as we showcase worldwide Christmas culture in our second year of Festive celebrations."
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Let's face it, events like this always sell out quickly, so to avoid disappointment, make sure to book a ticket in advance via the Thackray Museum website. Tickets cost £17-£22 for children over six months and accompanying adults cost £7-£12 each.
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Tesco unveils Christmas Meal Deal menu for 2026 and confirms official launch date
Tesco has officially unveiled its Christmas Meal Deal menu for 2026, and has revealed when it’ll be arriving in stores.
Spooky season may not have even arrived yet, but it won’t be long before the most wonderful time of the year is here and most of the UK’s major supermarkets have already started stocking their shelves with Christmas food, drink, and gifts galore.
Tesco has now unveiled all the sandwiches and snacks forming part of its iconic lunchtime meal deal selection.
10 new seasonal mains and sides have been launched this year, as well as some classics and returning fan favourites too.
Images: Tesco
The retailer says its food on-the-go experts have worked hard to bring a variety of festive flavours and great-quality ingredients together this year, with something on offer to cater to all tastes and preferences.
Available in stores and online from next week, with Tesco Clubcard members paying just £3.80 or £5.50 to upgrade to a Premium Meal Deal, some of the all-new main options you can choose from in 2026’s festive lineup include the Fully Loaded Chicken, Stuffing, Braised Red Cabbage & Cranberry Sauce Sandwich, the Christmas Triple Sandwich, and the Pork Meatball Wrap with smoky sage and onion mayonnaise.
Other returning favourites include the Brie and Cranberry Sandwich, the Currywurst Sausage Sub, and the absolute classic Turkey & Trimmings Sandwich.
For veggies and vegans, there’s a new Tesco Plant Chef Christmas Veg Fest Wrap, and for those who follow a gluten free diet, you can grab the Gluten Free Festive Chicken & Trimmings sandwich.
When it comes to snacks to accompany those mains, the festive Mini Pork Pies and Pig in Blanket Sausage Rolls are returning to the lineup this year, alongside some new additions like the Pretzels with Salted Caramel Soft Cheese Dip, and Mini Cheese Twists.
The 2026 Tesco Christmas Meal Deal range will be in stores across the UK from Monday 12 October, and there’s thousands of combinations to try.
Yorkshire-set Christmas film by Leeds director starring Richard E. Grant set to hit UK cinemas next month
Clementine Hall
A brand-new Christmas film is hitting cinemas nationwide next month - and it’s a proper Leeds success story.
Jack Spring directed his first feature film at just 19 years old and has spent the last decade carving out a career in independent film, as well as co-founding Leeds-based production company Shush Films.
His first movie, Destination: Dewsbury, was shot just down the road in - you guessed it - Dewsbury. And after moving to Leeds from Grimsby, Jack became determined to build his business from the city, putting down roots and growing his production company here.
Image: Supplied
Now, after years of working on independent projects, Jack has taken his biggest leap yet with a brand-new Christmas film, Merry Christmas Aubrey Flint.
Set in Yorkshire, Merry Christmas Aubrey Flint follows Aubrey Flint, a reclusive model soldier painter with a lifelong hatred of Christmas, who is sentenced to community service at Willow Lodge - a retirement home on the brink of closure.
Roped into helping with a chaotic production of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, Aubrey clashes with its interesting set of residents...
And the cast is about as star-studded as it gets, featuring Richard E. Grant, John Bradley, Celia Imrie, Adjoa Andoh, Sophia Di Martino, Adrian Rawlins and Kiell Smith-Bynoe.
Image: Supplied
The heartwarming festive comedy will hit cinemas nationwide on Friday 6 November - a huge milestone for a Leeds-based director and production company, taking a homegrown Yorkshire story to audiences across the country.
You just can't beat a proper wholesome British Christmas film, so you can best believe we'll be watching in the cinema, popcorn in hand.
Sophie Smith -
29th September 2023 
