From the otherworldly landscapes of Iceland to Italy’s white-capped mountains – if you love the cold, in these destinations winter is always coming...

As a lifelong Londoner, Will Hosie shares his tips on how to beat the throngs and make the most of the city this Christmas

Hikers head for the high trails of this Alpine adventure playground, but keep your eyes peeled for Austria’s diverse birds, mammals and other creatures in its meadows, woods and rivers, advises Rudolf Abraham

Soak up the storybook atmosphere of Vilnius, Lithuania’s capital city, this winter

(whatever your budget!)

Until just after 10pm, it was a normal Saturday night at The Spaniard’s Inn on Hampstead Heath. Glasses clinking, the background radiation of chatter and high spirits, staff dashing to and fro because