SAINT-QUENTIN east of Amiens plays host to a Christmas market (3rd Dec 2017 –31st Dec 2018) styled as an authentic mountain village, complete with snow-covered fir trees and around 50 stalls. There are plenty of gifts and crafts, foie gras, Quentins (chocolate with almonds and hazelnuts), tartes au Maroilles (strong local cheese) and champagne to snap up.

With a location that is second-to-none for those making a short Christmas-shopping hop across the Channel, CALAIS has late opening hours during the festive season, as well as a lively Christmas festival (25th Nov 2017– 7th Jan 2018) featuring gospel, kids’ entertainment and fabulous illuminations. The festival embraces a Christmas village with gift-making workshops, a grand Christmas parade with floats peopled by acrobats, elves, snowmen (3rd Dec), and a festive market (8th-17th Dec), with 80 stalls plus storytelling by an elf in Mother Christmas's Cottage. There’ll also be the Magical Forest, with a nativity crèche and kids’ costumes for festive selfies, and World of Toys with its indoor ice rink, 1900s double-decker carousel and Santa’s grotto.

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