Where to stay

Stratford

Kings Cross

Clapham

Victoria

Markets

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London has so many markets that you could probably spend a whole week exploring them, but if you’re only planning a weekend in London, here are some of my favourites.

Camden Market

Arguably London’s most famous market, Camden is known for its music scene, eccentric shops and a lot of good food. The market is open everyday from 10am-6pm and is home to CyberDog, a ‘rave clothing’ shop that is worth the visit even if you don’t plan on buying anything. A trip to Camden market isn’t complete without a bowl of Mac n Cheese from The Mac Factory stall.

Portobello Road Market

Famous for its antiques, Portobello Road Market in Notting Hill is one of the world's largest antique markets. It's also a great place to find vintage clothes and collectibles. Make sure you snap a pic of the colourful houses as you enter the market!

Borough Market

Borough market is a food lover's heaven, so make sure you come hungry! Some My favourite thing from here is the strawberries drenched in milk chocolate. They’re pricey but every strawberry was juicy and the warm chocolate was poured over it as you ordered, so you can enjoy it before it hardens! Don't miss

• Creme Brulé Doughnut from Bread Ahead
• Sausage Roll from The Ginger Pig 
• Pulled Pork Sandwich from The Black Pig 

Old Spitalfields Market

Located in East London, this market offers a mix of fashion, art, and food. It's a great spot to find unique gifts and enjoy delicious street food. Here is where you’ll find the Instagram spot Humble Crumble, just expect to queue for a while!

China Town*

Not exactly a market, but the area is worth visiting for the food! Popular places: 

• Mamasons for their Filipino inspired desserts
• Plum Valley for their dim sum 
• Bunsik for their Korean hot dog 
• Bun House for their custard steamed buns 
• China Town Bakery for their Taiyaki custard fish
• Ji Chickens for their popcorn fried chicken
• Four Seasons for the best roast duck! 

Museums

The Cube 

Squid Game The Experience

In Gibraltar, Christmas  is usually accompanied by sunshine or the occasional burst of rain. However there are many people who when they picture the perfect Christmas, they picture snow, cozy markets and the smell of mulled wine. Whilst holiday cheer can be found locally, here are seven cities that offer a winter wonderland escape. 

Tallin, Estonia

Tallin is perfect if you’re looking for Old Town charm that looks like it’s come straight from a fairytale book. In the Town Hall Square you’ll find one of Europe’s most charming Christmas markets, filled with wooden stalls selling handicrafts, gingerbread and spiced glogi, Estonia’s version of mulled wine. When snow falls, it covers the ancient walls making it look like a Christmas postcard.

Direct flights are available from Malaga airport with Air Baltic, 4 times a week. 

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Lapland, Finland

Lapland is the pinnacle location for Christmas in the snow. Located in the far north of Finland, this region is synonymous with Santa Claus, Reindeers and winter activities. In Rovaniemi (Lapland’s capital), you can cross the Arctic Circle, meet Santa in his workshop, and send letters with a special North Pole postmark. Perfect if you’ve got children in the family!

Snow is practically guaranteed here in December, meaning that you’ll also have the opportunity to try adventures such as dog-sledding, snowmobiling and reindeer sleigh rides. If you’re lucky, you might also catch the Northern Lights in the evening. 

There are currently no direct flights available, but you can fly through Helsinki. 

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Reykjavik, Iceland

Iceland’s capital offers a unique Christmas experience. The city combines its quirky traditions such as the ‘Yule Lads’ with its stunning natural beauty. Reykjavik’s Christmas markets are filled with handmade gifts and Icelandic treats like smoked lamb and leaf bread. 

There are also plenty of winter adventures to take part in, from soaking in geothermal hot springs surrounded by snow to taking a trip to see frozen waterfalls and volcanic landscapes. This is also a great location to try and spot the Northern Lights. 

Direct flights are available twice a week on Wednesday and Saturday from Malaga Airport with Icelandair. 

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Krakow, Poland

The Main Market Square in Krakow is one of the largest in Europe, and brings the Christmas magic with its towing Christmas tree and festive market stalls. You’ll also find a lot of nativities on display, inspired by the city’s architecture. They are displayed in the square and people compete in an annual contest. Krakow is also the cheapest destination on this list, making it a perfect choice if you’re on a budget or taking the whole family! Also, make sure to try some traditional Polish food like pierogi (dumplings) and oscypek (smoked cheese). 

Direct flights are available everyday from Malaga Airport with Ryanair and WizzAir. 

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Nuremberg, Germany

This list would not be complete without including Nuremberg, home to one of the most famous Christmas markets in the world. If you’re looking for an iconic German Christmas atmosphere, filled with mulled wine and bratwurst sausages, then this is the place for you. If you have kids, they also host a special children’s market complete with a carousel, steam train and toy stalls. 

Make sure to try some traditional Christmas foods such as Nurnberger Lebkuchen, famous gingerbread glazed in chocolate. Or Drei im Weggla, 3 small Nuremberg sausages served in a crusty bread roll. 

Direct flights are available several days a week from Malaga Airport with Ryanair. 

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New York

If you fancy a trip further abroad to really get that Hallmark movie Christmas feel, then New York is the place to go. Snow may not be guaranteed, but when it does Central Park transforms into a winter playground with sledding, snowball fights and ice skating at Wollman Rink. However the most iconic place for ice skating is at the Rockefeller Center, where you’ll also find the world famous Christmas tree. 

Fifth avenue also dazzles with elaborate window displays, whereas Bryant Park’s Winter Village combines shopping, food stalls and skating in one place. It is also an experience to see how locals decorate the outside of their homes, it is very different to what we see locally in Gibraltar and Spain! 

Direct flights are available everyday from Malaga Airport with multiple airlines. 

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London

If you fancy the ease of travelling from Gibraltar Airport, then London is the destination for you. Whether you want to do some Christmas shopping in Oxford Street, look at the elaborate decorations in Carnaby Street or see a pantomime show like The Nutcracker. It’s the perfect choice for a weekend winter getaway. 

You will find Christmas markets dotted around the city, but the main attraction is Hyde Park’s Winter Wonderland. Here you’ll find an ice rink, circus shows, rides, markets to buy trinkets as well as tonnes of food stalls. Standard entry is around £5, but be prepared to spend more on food and drinks as prices here are quite elevated! 

Direct flights are available everyday from Gibraltar Airport with Easyjet and British Airways.

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 Hiring in the public sector can feel like navigating a maze.

Government Staffing Services offer a shortcut, helping federal agencies find top talent quickly and compliantly.

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For years, I worked as a project lead on a federal contract that required rapid staffing of healthcare professionals across multiple states.
Each time a new need arose, the red tape would slow us down until we tapped into specialized staffing support.
That move alone shaved weeks off our onboarding process.

Let’s break down how these services streamline hiring, reduce costs, and take the pressure off internal HR teams.

What Are Government Staffing Services, Exactly?

Think of them as matchmakers—but for federal agencies and vetted professionals.

They handle everything from sourcing candidates and screening credentials to managing compliance with federal hiring protocols.
Unlike private-sector hiring, the government must follow strict rules under guidelines like the FAR (Federal Acquisition Regulation) and EEOC.
Staffing partners know how to work within these frameworks without slowing down the process.

Instead of juggling job boards, background checks, and union requirements internally, agencies can hand those tasks off.
This frees up bandwidth and ensures the hires are not only fast but fully qualified and cleared.

Government Staffing services also bridge the gap when there are budget constraints or temporary hiring freezes.
For example, during a past contract in the Department of Veterans Affairs, our internal HR team was under a hiring freeze.
We still needed urgent clinical staff—licensed therapists, nurses, and social workers.
The solution came through temporary-to-permanent placements handled entirely by a staffing partner.
They were onboarded within days, not weeks.

The Secret Sauce: Speed + Compliance

If you've ever tried to bring someone into a government role, you know the paperwork alone can delay things by months.

Staffing partners come prepped with systems in place:
They handle drug screenings, e-Verify, security clearances, and labor law compliance.
One federal health project I was involved with needed 35 caseworkers in under 20 days.
We hit that goal without compromising one ounce of regulatory integrity.

These partners already have candidate pipelines filled with professionals who’ve been background-checked and cleared for federal work.
That means no scrambling for certifications at the last minute.
No disqualifications after weeks of interviews.

Real People, Real Outcomes

I remember one placement vividly: a data analyst we urgently needed for a national census project.
The role had been open for 3 months.
We tried internal postings, online platforms, and even tapping into LinkedIn.

When we looped in a staffing provider, we had a candidate in 72 hours.
Fully vetted, experienced in public sector systems, and ready to go.
That person ended up building the reporting infrastructure that fed data to Congress.
No exaggeration—the right hire made everything possible.

Temporary, Permanent, and Project-Based Solutions

Not every government need is long-term.
Staffing services understand this and offer flexible placement options:

Temporary or Contract Roles

Perfect for seasonal demands or project surges.
For example, disaster response teams often rely on short-term staffing to boost their workforce after a crisis.

Temp-to-Perm

This model is a win-win.
The agency can evaluate performance before making a long-term commitment.
The employee gets a chance to learn the ropes without being locked into a position they don’t enjoy.

Direct Hire

Sometimes agencies need someone permanent, but can’t afford a long, drawn-out recruitment process.
Staffing partners handle everything from sourcing to salary negotiation, often presenting a shortlist of final candidates within days.

Solving Challenges Unique to Federal Hiring

Government agencies face hurdles that private companies simply don’t.
Things like security clearance, equal opportunity compliance, union regulations, and Schedule A hiring.
It’s not just about finding someone who’s qualified—it’s about finding someone who fits within the system.

A trusted staffing partner already knows how to play by these rules.
That saves everyone time, money, and frustration.

I recall a case where a partner flagged a candidate’s clearance delay before onboarding.
Without their due diligence, we’d have wasted weeks.
Instead, they swapped in another qualified candidate with an active clearance, and the project stayed on track.

The Cost-Effective Advantage

Some believe that using staffing services costs more, but that’s a myth.

Factor in the hours HR teams spend posting jobs, vetting resumes, scheduling interviews, and checking references.
Now add in the risk of a bad hire or compliance penalties.

With staffing services, you pay for results.
No overhead. No sunk costs on failed recruitments.
Just qualified, ready-to-work talent that fits the mission.

Final Thoughts: Why Government Staffing Is a Smart Move

Whether you’re trying to fill a niche role in cyber defense or need a dozen clerks for a year-end tax project, staffing services deliver.

They eliminate guesswork.
They reduce red tape.
They put the right people in the right roles—fast.

In my own experience across multiple federal contracts, partnering with staffing experts saved our teams from burnout and helped deliver results on time, every time.