Christmas

Festive diary dates

9 great things to do in Sunderland this Christmas

Jordan Thompson, 4, was hoping to get a Street Shark from Santa in 1996.

Top 10 list of favourite toys at Josephs in Sunderland 30 years ago

TK Maxx has beauty gift sets which could all make lovely Christmas presents. Stock image.

Forget candles as TK Maxx has beauty gifts worth giving instead

Colin Firth attends the "Disclosure Day" photocall at Rose Court on 5 June 2026 in London, England.

Premier League club releases Christmas advert starring Colin Firth

Fashion and homeware feature in TK Maxx’s Christmas campaign. We set out to find three gifts for £50, including delivery.

Three TK Maxx Christmas gifts for £50 with 4p to spare

Coleen Rooney teams up with her mum for new Primark collection packed with party-season outfits

Coleen Rooney’s new Primark collection is made for party season

Stacey Solomon has praised the 'bouncy blow dry' look the ghd Chronos Curve Hair Curler Tong gives her.

Stacey Solomon reveals the ghd curler she’s buying for Christmas

Mariah Carey launches official Amazon store

Mariah Carey launches official Christmas store on Amazon

TK Maxx has a huge range of gift ideas, from beauty and fashion to homeware, toys and technology, and that's why it's my go-to retailer when I start my Christmas shopping.

This shop has Christmas gifts for everyone without the big spend

Sunderland Antiquarian Society, based in Douro Terrace, holds its Christmas fair on November 14.

Countdown is on to a Sunderland fair with unique Christmas gifts

The Strictly judge made a surprise appearance to kick-start festivities in Manchester

Craig Revel Horwood reveals the exact moment Christmas begins

Boots Black Friday deals include big savings on luxury beauty gifts, designer fragrances and electrical grooming products from Lancôme, Vera Wang and Braun.

Boots Black Friday beauty deals with up to £440 off

Lookfantastic's £40 Black Friday beauty box is worth over £195, with an £80 Rodial skincare treat inside

Lookfantastic's £40 Black Friday beauty box has an £80 Rodial treat

Rochelle Humes reveals her top Abbott Lyon jewellery gifts for Christmas after landing new role

Rochelle Humes shares her Christmas jewellery picks

I found the best pet advent calendars for Christmas 2026, including dog treats and 24 days of cat toys

The best dog and cat advent calendars to buy for Christmas 2026

Susan Jackson is hoping to reach a fantastic £150,000 milestone in her support for grieving parents who have lost children.

Mum's £150,000 fundraising drive
‘ I was still grieving. I was happy but devastated at the same time’
Chris Cordner

Lovehoney’s couples advent calendar is aimed at adults looking for a more playful countdown to Christmas.

Reviewers opened Lovehoney's £119 advent calendar

Boots Black Friday deals include big savings on luxury beauty gifts, designer fragrances and electrical grooming products from Lancôme, Vera Wang and Braun.

Boots Black Friday beauty deals with up to £440 off

Forget chocolate, this advent calendar is made for couples to enjoy together

Lovehoney £119 couples’ advent calendar is worth £487

Bea's 500 Crew member Danielle Bolden was pictured with some of the items which were bought to replace the stolen gifts at the Southwick Community Project. The empty gift box can be seen on the left of the photo.

Heroes step in after thieves steal gifts from Sunderland charity

Jo Malone London's Pine & Eucalyptus Scented Candle captures the magic of Christmas with its fresh, uplifting fragrance and elegant festive presentation.

Five gorgeous Jo Malone London candles for Christmas

Tempting Christmas gift collections from Cartwright & Butler and Prestige Hampers, packed with festive treats, sweet indulgences and savoury favourites.

Luxury Christmas hampers packed with festive surprises

Former Durham City Police Inspector Dave Clarke, now general manager of Durham Cats and Dogs Home, and City of Durham parish clerk Adam Shanley.

Durham's Christmas lights switch-on stars revealed

CCTV captured a giant furry figure at a local bus stop

Ad Feature Morrisons revealed to be behind Leeds 'bear' sightings

Lovehoney’s £119 couples advent calendar contains 24 grown-up surprises and comes with free standard delivery.

Lovehoney's £119 advent calendar has 24 surprises

Forget chocolate, this Topps Match Attax advent calendar is the Christmas countdown football fans will love

The Match Attax advent calendar football fans will love

Families have the chance to see Santa in Lapland

‘Bucket-list trip’ to see Santa Claus and Northern Lights in Lapland
‘A fairytale place, I thought it would be for kids but it’s so vibrant and spectacular that I was really impressed’
Oliver Astley

The OPI x M&M'S Holiday Advent Calendar features 12 mini nail polishes in a range of fun chocolate-inspired limited edition shades and it's currently £7.50 cheaper.

OPI collabs with popular chocolate brand to launch advent calendar

Spa guests relax beside the pool at Bannatyne Wakefield

Spa day packages ahead of Black Friday that could save Christmas

Data shows interest in wooden toys has almost tripled since July

Ad Feature Wooden toys top Christmas toy trend

More than half of Brits take Christmas decorating inspiration from festive films and TV shows

Ad Feature Brits recreate Christmas magic

I found three Vivienne Westwood watches on Wowcher for under £100 and cheaper than Amazon

Vivienne Westwood watches under £100 on Wowcher

The Champneys beauty advent calendar comes with a spa voucher for you to enjoy in the new year

Champneys advent calendar now £34.50 with a spa voucher included

These holidays have everything you need for a festive getaway

Family Christmas holidays from £179 with Santa visits and festive fun

Sunderland Symphony Orchestra

Free popular Christmas concert returns with host of classics

John Lewis Christmas advert 2026 - ‘Gran Cave’.

'An incredible experience' - local brass band on new John Lewis ad

Strictly Come Dancing Live Tour has been described as ‘better than on TV’

Strictly Come Dancing Live tickets an ideal Christmas present for fans

Forget tablets and toys, Yoto is the Christmas present children can enjoy all year round

Yoto is the screen-free Christmas gift children can use every day

Sentier’s Scent Library lets you discover 10 luxury fragrances at home for just £25

Sentier Christmas gift ideas for her, including fragrance sets

These holidays have everything you need for a festive getaway

These Christmas family holidays with Santa and skating start at £129

Christmas gift ideas from Olaplex, Hourglass, Sweaty Betty, Hunter and Neal’s Yard Remedies, with beauty, fragrance and pampering treats for under the tree.

40 best Christmas gifts for 2026 from just £2.99

Have a cracking Christmas! Boots has launched three giant beauty crackers – Joy, Magic and Cheer – each costing £25 and packed with six beauty treats worth over £70.

Boots unveils £25 beauty crackers worth over £70

Sentier’s Scent Library lets you discover 10 luxury fragrances at home for just £25

Sentier's Scent Library features 10 fragrances for just £25

The Aromatherapy Associates Atomiser Connect makes a luxurious Christmas gift, pictured with the Winter Wellbeing essential oil blend.

I tried the £190 diffuser that makes my home smell like a spa

The e.l.f. Christmas gift sets I'd pick for beauty lovers this year and prices start from just £15

e.l.f. has a range of Christmas gift sets for beauty lovers

St Nicholas' Church, in Boldon Colliery, is set to host its Christmas Fair on Saturday, November 7.

Church prepares to host its first Christmas Fair in ‘several years’

Young Driver sessions are available on Wowcher

Discounts on driving experiences for teens ahead of Christmas

I've started my Christmas shopping and found these designer fragrances that are perfect for friends and family

I'm buying designer fragrances for friends and family this Christmas

The No7 Ultimate Skincare Collection

No7’s bumper Christmas gift set is worth over £149 now just £39

The Cricut crafting machine that could turn a hobby into a business and it does more than just stickers

The Cricut machine is so much more than a crafting gadget

DDOT members Claire Boylan, Donna Wilson, Success Chukwuma, Katelyn Mould, Jennifer Jordan and Rachael Knowles with gifted nightwear.

NHS Trust launches its yearly ‘Nightwear before Christmas’ campaign

Louise Walsh, founder of Plasma Pen, says anyone considering aesthetic treatments before Christmas should allow enough time for consultations, healing and results ahead of festive events

Ad Feature Beauty expert says now is the time to book Christmas 'tweakments'

The e.l.f.mergency Smooth & Soothe Skincare Set includes three skincare essentials, including Save Your e.l.f. Hypochlorous Mist (pictured), and is currently reduced to £25 from £31.

This e.l.f. skincare gift set would make ideal gift and is now on sale

New Gen Yoto Player

Yoto Mini 4th Gen vs 2024 Edition: my verdict on which is worth buying

I usually avoid 12-day advent calendars but the Sentier fragrance one changed my mind

I tried Sentier’s 12-day fragrance advent calendar and loved it

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