9 places to visit before Christmas

1. London

You'll want to be in London on Saturday, November 12. Why? It’s the Lord Mayor’s Show, a quintessentially British celebration that tracks the route of the very first London Mayor, as he made his way up the Thames to Westminster to swear allegiance to King, country and crown.

Today the parade boasts big bands, horse-drawn carriages, giant robots and even the odd penny farthing to add to the fun. Setting off from Mansion House at around 11am, the procession is free to attend and takes a couple of hours. Look forward to family-friendly fun, live entertainment and lots of food options to tuck into throughout the day.

Even if the weather’s rubbish, there’s plenty of fun to be found in London. Come rain or shine, the capital always has something good up its sleeve to keep you busy.

2. Cape Verde

Far away enough to give you a taste of the exotic, but close enough to avoid the jet lag, Cape Verde is the perfect antidote to the end-of-summer blues. After a six-hour flight, you’ll be welcomed by an average temperature of 26C and some of the best beaches in the Atlantic.

If that isn’t enough to tempt you, the islands boast a unique mix of African, Portuguese and Brazilian culture, making it a beach break destination with a difference.

The most popular islands are Sal and Boa Vista, and they remain something of a newcomer to the traditional beach holiday scene – making them perfect for a relaxing escape.

3. Seville

November welcomes the Seville European Film Festival, a huge celebration of the best of European cinema. Between November 4 and 12, directors, actors and the industry's most important names will descend upon the Andalusian capital to celebrate all things movies. There's hundreds of screenings of more than 200 movies, plus the chance for aspiring Spielbergs to pick the brains of the people who make it all happen – Q&A sessions and workshops run throughout the event.

It's a big draw for film fans, but there are many more pages to this city’s script. Besides the pictures, Seville’s unique architecture alone makes it worth a visit. With a mix of Islamic, Roman and Jewish influences, Seville is quite unlike other big Spanish cities. The calm beauty of Parque de María Luisa and grand architecture of the Alcázar are both must-sees.

Seville’s temperatures reach pleasant highs of 20C throughout November, keeping you warm but still comfortable when seeing the city’s sights.

4. Brazil

It’s the heart of the Brazilian summer, the Copacabana is jumping and the caipirinhas ­– Brazil’s national cocktail – are flowing. With colourful cities such as Rio de Janeiro and Salvador providing the party and more beaches than you can count to recover on, you’ll have plenty to keep you busy, night and day.

As well as being hot and sunny, the weather is still dry making trips to Brazil’s natural wonders, of which there are many, much easier.

Top of your list should be the Amazon basin, which you can access from Manaus, and the Foz do Iguaçu, an incredible network of powerful waterfalls that straddles Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay (you can visit the falls from any of the countries).

5. Disneyland Paris

Mickey Mouse and pals get the festive party started early every year, making Disneyland Paris the perfect pre-Christmas break for you and the kids – assuming they’ll be on Santa’s nice list.

From November 12, you can march along with Mickey at the Disney’s Christmas Parade, marvel at the over-the-top decorations and sing along (again) to Frozen. As well as the Christmas fun, there’ll be all the usual rides to keep the kids happy and, of course, an audience with the big mouse himself.

And with the connections between Paris and the theme park being so good (under an hour between Paris Gare de Lyon and the park by RER train), you can easily spend a day wrapping up the last bits of Christmas shopping on the Champs Elysee.

6. Costa Rica

Well-known for stunning rainforests, active volcanoes and unspoiled beaches, Costa Rica is an adventurer’s dream destination.

The allure of Arenal, a 1,657m (5,375ft) active volcano, is one of the main draws for thrill-seekers, but there are also plenty of other activities for more cautious types. As well as breath-taking scenery, the Central American beauty is home to a diverse array of wildlife, from toucans and reptiles to monkeys and sloths.

Whether you do it yourself or book an all-inclusive adventure tour, it’s never been as easy to explore this fascinating part of the world. Fly direct with British Airways and TUI.

7. Dubrovnik

During peak season, Dubrovnik’s charming streets are heaving with people from all over the world. And although the UNESCO-listed city’s incredible walled Old Town is a must-visit, it can all get a bit much.

Come November, it’s a different story. The masses are all but gone and you are able to get a real feeling for the famous Croatian city without sacrificing the weather. Yes, it’s not as hot as in July, but at around 15C, a cool breeze will keep you comfortable.

8. Edinburgh

With Christmas looming ever closer, there’s a chance you’ll need to do a little shopping before the festive period. So why not treat yourself too and combine present shopping with a UK city break? While there are plenty of places to choose from, you can’t go wrong with a trip up to Scotland’s magnificent capital, Edinburgh.

As well as the usual combination of high street classics and unique boutiques, Grassmarket, Leith and Stockbridge markets offer the chance to pick up some one-off crafts and taste some of the city’s best street food between 10am and 4pm.

Outside of shopping, the brooding Edinburgh Castle is a solid favourite for kids and adults alike and the award-winning Botanic Lights show (November 17 – December 30) will also return to the city, providing a night-time experience for the entire family.

9. Reykjavik

Once a year, like clockwork, Iceland erupts. But it's not the country's famous volcanoes we're talking about. No, Reykjavik instead erupts with three days and nights of non-stop tunes!

Over 250 local and international musicians head to the capital for Icelandic Airwaves, giving music lovers the chance to experience the country's hottest tunes in some of the city's strangest venues.

After the music, hop in a hire car and tick off the Golden Circle. There are also plenty of different off-the-tourist-path routes so you can bask in the breathtaking scenery of this dramatic country without another soul in sight.