Walking in a Winter Wonderland

While most of Britain sees the snow as freakish weather that's creating chaos on the country's streets and airports, we at Shoestring like to think that we've stayed children at heart. Snowball fights, building snowmen and hunting through the garage to find the sledge last used before winters became gradually warmer in Europe - snow gets us excited.

So if you're like us and like a walk in the snow, head down to London's Kew Gardens from December 26 until January 3. Their 300 acres resemble a winter wonderland and there are free guided tours at 11am and 2pm.

Enjoy a stroll through the park, or take the romantic option with a horse and carriage ride along the Broad Walk. Or duck into the greenhouse to remind yourself of warmer weather.

Relief for Gatwick air travellers

Good news for everyone travelling to and from Britain via Gatwick.

Although the whole country is still freezing cold and at least in parts covered in snow, London Gatwick Airport reopened today.

The airport had been closed due to heavy snowfall, but crews worked through the night to clear over one foot and a half of snow off the runways. Delays should still be expected, though, as the airport tries to work through the backlog of cancelled and delayed flights to return to its normal schedule.