A trip to one of the UK’s many Christmas markets is a festive staple at this time of year. Huge trees and twinkling lights transform the city streets into Alpine scenes, while stalls stocking mulled wine, mince pies and bratwurst set the tone for things to come as the big day edges ever closer. So for most, it doesn’t typically begin with an icy dip in the Irish sea. As far as immersing yourself on a trip away, this is certainly one of the quickest - and coldest - ways to go about it. This was my first experience of Northern Ireland - and it certainly impressed. During a trip to visit the Belfast Christmas Markets , which have been named as one of the best in the UK for 2024, there was also a chance to explore the wild shores of the Antrim Coast with its castles, glens and stunning scenery. READ MORE: The Christmas market near Greater Manchester that's so popular it's now open for longer In just an hour you can travel from Manchester Airport to Belfast City Airport, and within minutes be out and about exploring the beauty of Northern Ireland. Packed with historical sites, beaches and even Games of Thrones locations, the Antrim Coast is home to nine Glens, the Giant’s Causeway and a number of walks and hikes, making it a great first stop before heading back to Belfast to enjoy the markets and city’s other attractions. The hotel offers 18 coastal view bedrooms including six family rooms making it one of the largest hotels on the Causeway Coastal Route with 54 bedrooms (Image: Hasting Hotels) Some of the main towns to stop off at include Carrickfergus, Larne, Portrush and Ballycastle - and it was the latter where we found ourselves trying out a new - and rather cold - aquatic experience. Staying at Hasting Hotels’ four-star coastal oasis of Ballygally Castle, we were able to head out into the bracing Irish waters. Facing the soft, sandy beaches of Ballygally Bay and only 26 miles from Belfast, the hotel offers ‘5-star’ coastal view bedrooms and is one of the largest hotels on the Causeway Coastal Route with 54 bedrooms. The building dates back to 1625 and is the only 17th Century building still used as a residence in Northern Ireland today. Tapping into the more contemporary trend of cold water swimming, the hotel recently launched a new package with Scenic Saunas giving guests the chance to ‘revive the body and soul’ with an icy dip right outside the hotel. For those on the fence about this, the cold water-immersion is immediately followed by a warming sauna experience on the beachfront. Ballygally Castle recently launched 'Sauna by the Sea', a new overnight package, ideal for autumn and winter stays (Image: Hasting Hotels) Having crossed the road and headed down the stone steps to the beach, a look of trepidation crossed the group's face. The sun was firmly away for a night and the bitter chill of winter closing in had all of us looking back at the hotel wondering if it was too late to head back indoors and grab a hot chocolate by the fire. Once in though, and with some deep breaths, it eventually becomes quite relaxing and meditative. Regardless, the promise of the sauna is a big sell as are the dry robes, slippers and thermos flask filled with a comforting warm beverage offered by the hotel. Back inside the stunning 17th Century hotel, as well as grabbing a bite to eat at The Garden Restaurant, guests can learn more about the building’s resident ghost - Lady Isabella Shaw. Legend has it that after falling out of favour with her husband Lord James Shaw she was locked in a small room with a turret and when she tried to escape through a window, fell to her death. Though as the staff are keen to reiterate, she’s pretty friendly as phantoms go. The Northern Irish sea (Image: MEN) And for Game of Thrones fans they can see one of the hit show’s famous doors. This particular one depicts the battle between House Stark and House Bolton . It bears the crests of the two (fictional) families and Winterfell Castle and can be found at the Garden Restaurant. Back on the road and exploring more of Northern Ireland’s countryside and coastline before heading back to the capital, it’s worth exploring Glenariff Nature Reserve. In 2023, the waterfall known as the Ess-Na-crub was named one of the UK’s most beautiful places in a survey of the best lakes, rivers and waterfalls to visit - even beating out the more popular spots in Northern Ireland including the Giant’s Causeway. Referred to locally as ‘tears of the mountain’, the cascading falls can be admired on the walk which takes visitors along a riverside path leading to the space deep in the valley. It’s something of a hidden gem still, and certainly worth your time should you be wanting to get a true taste of Northern Ireland. Culloden Estate and spa in Belfast (Image: ALEXANDRABARFOOT.CO.UK) While many on a trip here will naturally seek out a pint of Guinness - and Belfast has plenty of late-night spots to find a pint - a trip here must surely also feature a trip to a whiskey distillery. Naturally, you might wish to pay a trip to Bushmills, the world’s oldest licensed whiskey distillery, which has been making whiskey for over 400 years, but as we headed back to the capital, a trip to McConnell’s Distillery was on the cards. Located in the historic A-wing of Crumlin Road Goal (prison) in Belfast, the state-of-the-art distillery offers guided tours unpacking the unique history of the Belfast brand, which was first born in 1776 and is now being restored globally. Learning about the distilling process from start to finish, and of course, trying award-winning whiskies along the way is par for the course, making this an experience worth adding to the list for those planning a city break. Before experiencing the markets in full, our second hotel stay of the trip has us resting our heads at Culloden Estate. Voted Northern Ireland’s Best Hotel Spa at the 2023 World Spa Awards, the hotel stands on the forested slopes of the Hollywood Hills, overlooking Belfast Lough and the County Antrim coastline. Belfast Christmas Markets were named some of the best in the UK for 2024 (Image: Jack Hardy) The property is just 10 minutes from Belfast City Airport and set amidst twelve acres of beautiful secluded gardens and woodland, but also features an upgraded culinary offer across the Lough Bar and Cultra Inn. Following a £600,00 renovation, guests can now also enjoy newly renovated suites and an upgraded spa with ESPA treatments. The trip may have been brief but it was capped off by two experiences towards the business end of the visit. As dusk fell on the city and we entered the grounds of Belfast classic renaissance-style City Hall we were able to enjoy the Christmas markets in all their splendour. A focal point of the city’s festive celebrations, the markets, named some of the best in the UK for 2024 have been running for 20 years and attract over one million visitors each year. Opened on November 16 this year, traders from across the world have set up their stalls for five weeks in the heart of the city, selling food, drink and gifts. The food court at Belfast Christmas Markets 2024 (Image: MEN) Located in front of the city hall, stepping into the markets instantly made me miss something about Manchester. In years past, the central hub of Manchester’s Christmas Markets was Albert Square in front of the town hall. Growing up, there was always something that felt distinctly festive about this location. With the huge Santa as the focal point and rows of stalls lit up with twinkly lights, a visit was always highly anticipated. Now Manchester’s are still impressive and spread over several zones there’s plenty to explore, but I, like many others, are certainly looking forward to when the square in front of the town hall is once again the main attraction. At Belfast, Traders representing up to 30 nationalities from across the globe offer a variety of authentic cuisines such as mini Dutch pancakes, Greek gyros and delicious hand-crafted chocolates and sweet treats. This year there are over 100 stalls with 40% local traders and 60% continental traders, and a particular highlight was the dedicated food court. Priced similarly to the Manchester markets, for £10, you’re served up piping hot chips with rapidly melting cheddar, turkey, gravy, cranberry and pigs and blankets. (Image: MEN) Here, visitors can get their fix of Mexican classics, fresh fish and chips, and creamy pasta cooked in huge parmesan wheels. On the more festive side of things, a dedicated toasties stand hit it out the park with Christmas loaded fries. Priced similarly to the Manchester markets, for £10, you’re served up piping hot chips with rapidly melting cheddar, turkey, gravy, cranberry and pigs and blankets. While the markets may not have specially made Christmas mugs, a piping hot cup of mulled wine or hot chocolate is £5, while luxury upgrades like the Caribbean hot chocolate with rum will set you back £7.50. There’s also a dedicated stall for toasted fluff hot chocolates. From £6 upwards you can get Smores, Terry’s chocolate orange, After Eight, salted caramel, Oreo or Lotus Biscoff - and I’m serious about lobbying for this to come to Manchester in 2025. On the other side of the market is an undercover bar for those chiller nights. Here, a pint of Guinness will set you back £6.50, while a glass of prosecco is £8 and mulled wine is £4.50. Cocktails (£8.50) include Bramble, Pornstar Martini and Margarita and can be purchased on offer at two for £15. Belfast Christmas Markets 2024 (Image: MEN) Aside from the food and drink, of which there is plenty, there’s also a lot for families to enjoy. Though smaller than Manchester, it features a helter-skelter, giant snow glove and Santa’s magical grotto. The outer edge of the markets facing onto the city also feature a number of local artisans and creators selling everything from Irish coffee and homemade traybakes to illustrations of Belfast and football shirts. A shift in tone, our trip was completed with a Black Cab Tour courtesy of Tourism Northern Ireland. Meeting our guide Bobby, the tour is designed to delve into Belfast’s history from the Troubles era to the present day, tracing the conflicts and landmarks dotted along the Fall and Shankill roads, including the symbolic Peace line and the internationally recognised International Wall. One of the city’s most famous bars is the Crown Liquor Saloon, located just across the road from the Europa Hotel, providing us with an easy starting point. Dating back to 1885 it features intricately carved panelling and elaborate stained glass windows as well as discreet booths for quiet contemplation. From here, we stopped off at a number of the city’s bold and powerful murals, travelling between peacelines and walls to better understand the city’s past and the perspective from both Catholic and Protestant areas. Belfast Christmas Markets 2024 Undoubtedly, the conflict in Northern Ireland cast a long shadow over the nation and for a long time the tourism industry here was very limited. Visiting Belfast today, a vibrant city with an important story to tell, you can now see how the peace process has transformed not only the city but the entirety of Northern Ireland and brought more and more people to its shores. Whether that’s for a better understanding of its past, to take in its beautiful surroundings or for a winter break to soak up the Christmas Markets, there’s more than ample reason to make several visits here. Travel factfile Belfast Christmas Markets 2024 (Image: MEN) Jenna was a guest of Hasting Hotels and Tourism Northern Ireland. She flew from Manchester Airport to Belfast City Airport. The average flight duration of a flight from Manchester to Belfast is between 1 hour and 3 minutes. Flights from Manchester to Belfast City Airport operate 27 times a week with an average of four flights per day. Ballygally Castle Hotel is located 26 miles from Belfast and takes between 30-45 minutes by car depending on traffic. Ballygally Castle offers Superior Rooms from £150 per night on a B&B basis and can be booked here . T he hotel offers 18 coastal view bedrooms including six family rooms making it one of the largest hotels on the Causeway Coastal Route with 54 bedrooms. It recently launched 'Sauna by the Sea', a new overnight package, ideal for autumn and winter stays, which enables guests to refresh and revive the mind, body and soul with an icy dip right outside the hotel – followed by a warming sauna experience on the beachfront, courtesy of local company, Scenic Sauna. In Belfast, Jenna stayed at the Culloden Estate & Spa, which is recognised as Northern Ireland’s Best Hotel Spa at the 2023 World Spa Awards. The property is just 10 minutes from Belfast City Airport and set amidst twelve acres of beautiful secluded gardens and woodland. Suites at Culloden Estate & Spa start from £790 per night and Garden Rooms from £270 per night, including breakfast. Rooms can be booked here . Tourism Northern Ireland organised a number of the excursions including the tour of McConnell’s Whiskey Distillery, the trip to Belfast Christmas Markets at Belfast City Hall, and Black Cab Tour.China's getting a big electric car battery swapping boost in 2025. 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Optex Systems Holdings, Inc. Announces Financial Highlights for the Year Ended September 29, 2024CAIRO The D-8 Organization for Economic Cooperation, with eight developing Muslim-majority nations, announced support for expanding membership Thursday and revealed Indonesia as the host for the 2025 summit. The announcements were part of the Cairo Declaration issued at the conclusion of the summit in the Egyptian capital, according to Egypt’s official news agency. The D-8, established to bolster economic collaboration, includes Türkiye, Egypt, Nigeria, Pakistan, Iran, Indonesia, Malaysia and Bangladesh. The leaders and delegations of member nations voiced unanimous support for Azerbaijan's acceptance as a full member. It expressed opposition to unilateral economic sanctions imposed on member states, describing the measures as threats to global economic stability and violations of international law. Member states called for the immediate lifting of the sanctions. The leaders emphasized their shared commitment to peace, sustainable development and building a more inclusive future based on mutual respect and cooperation. They pledged to advance common development goals that are guided by principles of fraternity, justice, equality, democracy and the rule of law. The declaration outlined priority areas for collaboration, including agriculture, food security, energy, science and technology, industry, small- and medium-enterprise development, infrastructure, trade, investment and transportation. The initiatives aim to promote equitable and inclusive growth across member states. Indonesia was formally welcomed as the next chair of the organization, with leaders commending its offer to host the 12th summit. The date and location for the meeting will be announced later. The summit, chaired by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, included a special session on Palestine and Lebanon. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati participated in discussions. Key attendees also included Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, who made the first visit to the northern African country by an Iranian president in 11 years. The D-8 was established to enhance the role of developing nations in the global economy, strengthen trade relations and ensure better representation in international decision-making to improve living standards worldwide. *Writing by Mohammad SioAward-winning Northern healthcare leader hopes to inspire others
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