Christmas markets come to the UK - Virgin Trains celebrates the festivity on our doorsteps

Have you started making your Christmas lists yet? With shops stocking decorations, advent calendars and gift ideas it’s hard to escape from the festive season and as the day gets ever closer Virgin Trains is keen to highlight the unique offerings available from the various Christmas markets around the country. With over 30 markets from Glasgow to Hyde Park everyone can enjoy some festive fun this year.

Whether wanting to try a taste of the exotic at Chester’s Continental Market or to buy some beautiful ornamental pieces at The Spirit of Christmas in Olympia, friends and family can be guaranteed some eclectic presents. With journey times around two hours from London to Manchester, Liverpool and Chester and under an hour and a half to Birmingham, Virgin Trains, the leading West Coast Rail Provider is encouraging people to sample the fabulous Christmas Markets available up and down the country.

New research has revealed Christmas to be the most popular cause to return home, with 62% of respondents favouring this over occasions such as birthdays. These findings show the lengths people are willing to travel to be with their loved ones, and with the markets starting at the beginning of November and running until the first couple of days of January, there is no excuse for not picking up something special this year.

Says Jim Rowe, Senior Communications Manager at Virgin Trains: “Christmas is an occasion when people enjoy lavishing time and money on their loved ones and with an abundance of Christmas markets there is no excuse for a pair of socks this Christmas! With our high frequency timetable offering faster services, including weekends, we hope people will seek out the unusual Christmas offerings this year.”

A selection of the Christmas markets on offer this year…

Birmingham - Frankfurt Christmas Market: 12 November - 23 December
Chester - Continental Christmas Market: 5 – 20 December
Glasgow - Traditional Christmas Market: 27 November – 24 December
Hyde Park, London - Winter Wonderland: 21 November – 3 January
Keswick - Traditional Christmas Fair: 6 December
Manchester - Christmas Market: December
Olympia, London - Spirit of Christmas Fair: 4 – 8 November
Royal Smithfield - Christmas Fair: 4 – 5 December
Southbank, London - Bankside Frost Fair: December 2009

Fares start from: Euston to Birmingham £7 (single), Euston to Glasgow £17.50 (single) and Euston to Manchester from £11 (single). Tickets can be purchased from http://www.virgintrains.com/, by calling 08457 222 333 or at the station.

– ENDS –

For more information please contact Sophie Lennon or Hannah Baker at The SPA Way on 020 7403 6900 or email Hannah.baker@thespaway.com
* Research conducted by Opinion Matters/Tickbox.net survey. Total survey sample base was 2096 UK adults aged 16+
Results taken from all regions where there were 80 or more respondents
Notes to Editors

You can subscribe to receive alerts to new press releases by visiting http://mediaroom.virgintrains.co.uk/

Virgin Trains is the brand name of Virgin Rail Group. We have operated the West Coast passenger train franchise since 1997; the current franchise runs to March 2012.

Virgin Rail Group is owned 51 percent by Virgin Group and 49 percent by Stagecoach.

Virgin Trains has been voted Best Rail Company by Travel Weekly magazine and Best UK Domestic Train Service by Business Traveller magazine.

Virgin Trains has been awarded the Global Travel Awards 2009 ‘Best Rail Operator’ Category as voted by Evening Standard readers.