Father Christmas recently paid a flying visit to Paultons to make sure that the Park is ready for Santa’s Christmas Wonderland, which opens at Paultons on Saturday 22nd November. He was particularly impressed when he saw the Sky Swinger, the latest ride to join the other great favourites at the Park.

Mr Claus said, “My word, the Sky Swinger shines in the dark almost as brightly as Rudolph the Reindeer’s nose, so we certainly won’t get lost when we visit for Christmas! It also looks great fun so when I have more time I’ll stop off again and take a ride, but right now I must get back to my workshop as it’s a very busy time of year for the elves and me.

Santa’s Christmas Wonderland is a child’s dream of Christmas and features an enchanted snow scene (where visitors can see animated animals characters singing and dancing), the elves toy workshop (where the elves can be seen making all the last minute presents) and, of course, a chance to meet Father Christmas.

All children visiting the Wonderland receive a terrific present and adults can enjoy hot fruit punch and a mince pie in the Christmas-themed Village Life Museum.

All visits to Santa’s Christmas Wonderland must be pre-booked and paid for in advance. Tickets can be booked on line or from Paultons Park by calling 023 8081 4442. Please check www.paultons.co.uk for more details and availability.

Booking ahead for the Spinnaker Tower has never been so easy. That's the message coming from the iconic visitor attraction this autumn, as the online booking system gets into full swing with a new incentive to encourage pre-booking.
 
Visitors to the 170 metre tall Tower can already receive a 10% discount* by purchasing tickets over the internet, as well as benefiting from 'fast-track' admission, but the newest addition to its offer - a View Guarantee policy, means the Tower's pre-booking system is a fail-safe way to guarantee a good day out.
 
The popular landmark offers stunning panoramic vistas of up to 23 miles and has one of the most magnificent sea views in the world, whatever the weather or time of day. From stunning sunsets to dramatic storms, majestic ships to green hills and towering buildings, and even atmospheric layers of mist through to dusk and twinkling skylines, the seascape that unfolds as you reach the top of the Spinnaker Tower is a breathtaking experience.
 
The Spinnaker Tower has such faith in its offer that the brand new View Guarantee ensures: If you can't see the three Solent forts** on the day of your visit, staff will issue each member of your party with a ticket to return for free, at their own leisure, within one month. To claim your free return visit, simply speak to the Duty Manager at the time of visiting the Tower.
 
Paul Mahy, Commercial Manager at the Spinnaker Tower, said: "This offer gives visitors the reassurance that whatever the weather may be, booking in advance is no problem, as they're guaranteed to enjoy a visit to the Spinnaker Tower!"
 
The Spinnaker Tower is open daily from 10am (excluding Christmas Day). See www.spinnakertower.co.uk or call 02392 857520 to book in advance or to find out more!

The Spinnaker Tower, Portsmouth and the Kings Theatre, Southsea, have teamed up this Christmas to provide visitors to the Spinnaker Tower with a range of exclusive offers and fun activities for children and adults alike during the festive season. This includes pantomime-themed dressing up, fun kids' activities and competitions, and visits from the Tower's friendly mascot!
 
The two Hampshire-based attractions, have joined forces so that people can make the most of a visit to the iconic Tower, whilst also taking in this year's fantastic pantomime - the classic tale of Cinderella, starring Charlene Tilton (Lucy Ewing from Dallas), Syd Little (TV's Little & Large), Simon Grant (CBBC) and James Crossley (Hunter, the former Gladiator).
 
The spectacular Tower will behold Cinderella's glass slipper on View Deck One throughout the yuletide season (10 Dec 08 to 4 Jan 09), with an opportunity to win a family ticket to the legendary panto (closing date 23 Dec 08)* by guessing the number of buttons contained in the fairy-tale slipper. And if you have trouble guessing the correct number, visitors will have another chance to win a family ticket to the panto by finding the white mice hidden throughout the Tower!
 
Prince and Princess dressing up outfits for children will also be offered atop the Tower (during weekends in December and throughout the school holidays), as well as the Tower's friendly mascot, Spinny Claus, who will be making special appearances in his Christmas-themed outfit!
 
The Spinnaker Tower will be suitably decorated with seasonal lights both inside (on View Deck 1) and outside, as the Tower's external lights will be displaying its popular green Christmas tree with coloured baubles.
 
In addition, the Spinnaker Tower and the Kings Theatre have a special offer on throughout the panto season, whereby visitors to the Spinnaker Tower who present their Kings Theatre ticket at the Tower's admission desk will receive a FREE child ticket with every paying adult**. Meanwhile, every visitor to the iconic Tower will receive a £2 discount voucher to see Cinderella at the Kings Theatre***. All that packed into one day, it's not possible is it? Oh yes it is!
 
*Prizes to be taken between 27 Dec 2008 & 4 Jan 2009 - subject to availability. The best available seating will be allocated. Based on a family of two adults and two children.
**FREE child ticket with every paying adult on presentation of a Kings Theatre panto ticket: Valid from 10 Dec 08 to 4 Jan 09.
***£2 discount voucher for tickets to see Cinderella: Available from 10 Dec 08 to 4 Jan 09.
 
The Spinnaker Tower is open daily from 10am (excluding Christmas Day). See www.spinnakertower.co.uk or call 02392 857520 to book in advance or to find out more!

Pumpkin workshops and fun Halloween activities will be taking place during Marwell’s Pumpkin Festival this October half term.
 
From meerkats to giraffes, lots of animals love to eat pumpkins. Children are invited to bring their pumpkins to Marwell Zoological Park and meet the animal keepers to find out why they are great food. The keepers will then feed the pumpkins to the various animals.
 
There are many more spooky treats in store including Halloween face painting, and goblin & ghouls colouring in. Pumpkin inspired food will also be available in Marwell’s new restaurant.
 
The Halloween thrills continue - guess the weight of Marwell’s giant pumpkin and be in with a chance to win a once in a lifetime prize to feed the pumpkin to the giraffes!
 
Marwell’s Pumpkin Festival is free, standard admission charges apply for entry into the Park. Suitable for all ages. The Pumpkin Festival starts on Saturday 25th October and runs until Sunday 2nd November. For more information visit www.marwell.org.uk or call 01962 777407. Open daily from 10am.
 
The wildlife conservation charity is dedicated to the conservation of wildlife and natural habitats, and plays an important part in helping to save some of the world’s rarest animals from extinction.