A new train service, launched this month, should make touring the Southwest of England easier than ever. Hourly trains from London Waterloo to Salisbury and Tisbury in Wiltshire continue onward to Exeter in Devon. The journey from London to Salisbury takes under two hours.

The new train service makes visits to Stonehenge, Salisbury Cathedral, Old Wardour Castle and Wilton House - all easily reached from Salisbury or Tisbury stations - great day trip options for UK visitors.

The service is being offered by Southwest Trains with information and tickets available directly from the train company or via National Rail Enquiries.

_{UK Travel Blog | share on facebook | Twit This}

A Blwyddyn Newydd Dda. That's Happy New Year in Welsh.

Edinburgh isn't the only place where fire and light take center stage for New Year's Eve celebrations. This hear, head for Cardiff where Calennig , Welsh for New Year's Eve, is a big, fiery, family friendly celebration around the Castle and the city center.

Cardiff Castle gates open at 6 p.m. for this year's great fiery spectacle, The Diving Bell: A Pyronautic Journey of Discovery. The show, produced by External Combustion includes light puppetry, fire, music, video and fireworks.

The free live music stage at the Cardiff Civic Center from 9:30p.m. to 12:20a.m. will include the Swing band, King Pleasure and the Biscuit Boys. From 11 p.m. to 12:20 a.m., join Nick Dagger, Keef Rickard and The Counterfeit Stones to rock in the New Year.

A ticketed, special midnight skate at Cardiff's Winter Wonderland (book on +44 (0)29 2023 0130) and midnight "flight" on the John Lewis Wheel are also part of the fun. If you still have energy, the New Year's Funfair will be in full swing throughout New Year's Day.

Free buses, from 8p.m. to 2:30a.m. will ferry celebrants in and out of the city center. Check out the bus schedule

_{Getty Images | UK Travel Blog | share on facebook | Twit This}

Nine Ladies Dancing jumped 15% this year but the calling birds are still holding steady and the cost of a partridge in a pear tree has dropped a whopping 27.3%. Milk maids got a raise, but the pipers and drummers are on last year's wages.

This year's "CPI" is the 25th annual Christmas Price Index put together by American financial services company PNC. The index tracks the cost of all the gifts mentioned in the traditional song, The Twelve Days of Christmas. Worry worts can breath a sigh of relief as the total price of the traditional 12 gifts only rose 1.8% this year. But even with a drop of 6.3%, the seven swans a swimming will still set you back $5250. And the whole lot will cost you $21,465.

Forget about cost though and enjoy the priceless video in which school children enact all the gifts while a PNC executive relates the facts and figures in his best accountant-speak.

• Check out the Christmas Price Index
• Find cool things to do for every one of the 12 Days of Christmas in the UK.

_{Screenshot | UK Travel Blog | share on facebook | Twit This}

York Minster is the only cathedral that puts mistletoe - an ancient Druid custom - alongside holly on the high altar at Christmas. Is it a call to repentence? A secret Druid code? Or just simple Northern bloody-mindedness.

Find out for yourself with Fantastic Facts about York Minster.

_{Getty Images | UK Travel Blog | share on facebook | Twit This}