No need to go abroad to soak up on that Christmas feeling. Many of the UK's towns and cities become winter wonderlands thanks to hard-working councils and tourism boards splurging the remainders of their annual budgets on decorations, lights and seasonal events.

In the run up to the big festive occasions of Christmas and New Year's Eve, transport companies offer special travel deals, making it cheaper to go and explore new places. Why not make use of these offers to go on a brief family holiday, couples' retreat or shopping spree?

Edinburgh

The lovely Scottish capital is the perfect setting for a winter holiday. Wintry Edinburgh can get chilly and windy so locals wrap themselves up in glamorous coats, don wellies with pride and top off the northern look with pretty scarves only adding to that overall Christmas feeling.

Join them for a mug of warming mulled wine and a bratwurst roll at the local German Christmas market held each year at the very central Princes Street Gardens. You'll also find amusement rides on site, as well as an ice rink.

To warm up, visit the shops and cafes lining Princes St and George St, and visit attractions such as the National Museum of Scotland and the Botanic Gardens that are also host to pop up carol concerts and the like.

Caerphilly

The quaint Welsh town of Caerphilly plays host to one of the cutest markets in the country. Visitors have just two days to visit the spectacle, these being 8th and 9th of December in 2012.

It's a medieval occasion with themed entertainment and shopping. Expect to see lots of people wandering around in full blown medieval attire! Throughout the weekend, you can check out over 120 market stalls and kick back with a pint of ale at the local tavern.

One of the main events is Illuminata that sees the town's castle lit up for a spectacular light and sound show.

Leeds

The Yorkshire city is home to one of the biggest traditional German Christmas markets in the UK. Christkindelmarkt welcomes visitors from around mid-November onwards, enticing them with over 40 chalet-type stalls, a carousel and mouthwatering seasonal delicacies.

The Frankfurter Scheune is an on-site venue that offers regular, family-friendly entertainment such as concerts.

Make a weekend of it by checking into a city hotel Leeds and indulging in a relaxed brunch the next day before hitting the shops. Visit the Victorian and Edwardian shopping arcades that are all nicely decorated for the end of the year.