Christchurch and Christmas

The botanic gardens

Pip on Christmas Day

The river Avon

In honour of the women who fought for the vote - 3 cheers!

Christchurch buildings




Christchurch - the garden city, more English than an English town. How very true! Christchurch is a lovely, pedestrianised, tree lined, park abundant town on a river - the river Avon no less! There is a very friendly, clean and fresh air about the place and it is a delight to walk around the city, along the river, around the botanic gardens and in the museums. I was a little apprehensive as to what it would be like over Christmas but arriving on Christmas eve if this is as busy as the place gets then it is fabulous - who says Christmas is stressful? Cannot think of anything better than to spend two weeks in a campervan to avoid the build up to Christmas and then spend Christmas itself in a beautiful town, staying in a nice hotel, taking in a few bars on Christmas eve followed by carols at the cathedral - yes, after a few drinks in the bars i was the best carol singer in the cathedral! Chrsitmas day itself was spent watching films on my large flat screen tv in my room, followed by a walk around town and the botanic gardens, where it felt more like a Sunday than Christmas day as there were a lot of people walking around and a few things were still open - including KFC - and then Christmas cake and a few drinks with the other people in the hotel. Boxing day and the sun was blazing, all the shops were back open and it was as if Christmas had never been. Perfect!