Festive Gift Fair at the NEC in Birmingham - review

For most, this annual event signals the countdown to the big day on December 25 - despite it still only being mid-November.

When I walked into the packed halls on Saturday, I was overwhelmed with the hundreds of stalls overflowing with gift ideas for all your family and friends - plus a treat or two for yourself - and home decor to ensure your home is ready for the most wonderful time of the year.

Everywhere you look is a sea of Christmas jumpers, outfits and accessories - to really ensure you get into that seasonal mood.

Christmas tunes are played across the venue - as well as festive performers and appearances from Father Christmas, a Pantomime Dame and The Grinch, it makes like you have landed right in Santa's grotto.

If you've never visited this fabulous four-day festival before - think Christmas tree decorations, festive gifts and plenty of yummy food and mouth-watering drinks. It is enough to make anyone think Christmas has arrived early.

I was really surprised with the vast amount of goods that were on offer from party games to children's toys, charity memberships to signed memorabilia, beauty items to gifts for your pet. The stalls-a-plenty of food and drink that weer on offer were happy to let you try before you buy - savouries, sweets, cheese, meats and alcohol (ladies they have every flavour of gin you could wish for on offer!)

The Festive Gift Fair does get rather busy - last year I headed down on a Friday to avoid the big rush, but this year ended up visiting on a busy Saturday morning. I would advise getting there early, we arrived shortly after 9.30am and we had a rather quiet hour-or-so wandering up and down the aisles, before the mad rush came mid-morning. By lunchtime the aisles were heaving and it was difficult to navigate.

My only negative is be prepared to pay an extra £16 for parking if travelling by car on top of your tickets and whatever you choose to spend on the day.

In the end I came home with plenty of goodies for myself - as well as a few presents for others. But to start off the Christmas season and start to get yourself into that festive mood - the Festive Gift Fair at NEC Birmingham is the perfect place to start! (I am now definitely on the countdown to the big day and have had Last Christmas stuck in my head ever since!)