20 of the best Twixmas breaks that you can still book now
Your plans for Christmas are sorted, and New Year’s Eve is shaping up – but what about that golden week of guilt-free downtime betwixt the two? This year, swap stale mince pies and TV re-runs for a revitalising, life-affirming break somewhere extraordinary, and start 2024 with a spring in your step.
Whether in Britain or overseas, these 20 Twixmas breaks have availability to book now. From sumptuous spa hotels and cosy vineyard retreats, to bargain winter-sun breaks and crowd-free escapes, here’s where to venture between Boxing Day and New Year’s Eve – all for less (often much less) than £1,000 per person.
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10 of the best Twixmas breaks in Britain
Escape the festive fray on an indulgent staycation – whether you’re snatching a few nights on the way home from your in-laws, or gathering the whole family for a post-Christmas break.
Embrace the elements in Cornwall
For invigorating beach walks and lungfuls of refreshing sea air, look to Cornwall’s Three Mile Beach – in the golden dunes of Gwithian Beach. This collection of luxury three- and four-bedroom beach houses is ideal for multi-generational Twixmas trips, complete with log burners, cedarwood hot tubs, barrel saunas and a festive welcome hamper featuring seasonal treats. Each house is decked with fairy lights and fir trees, while optional workshops and surfboard hire keep things interesting.
From £690 per person, based on six sharing a three-bedroom house for four nights – including a private chef evening, Wim Hof Method breathing workshop, surfboard hire and a pizza oven with fresh ingredients.
Whisky and Hogmanay in Edinburgh
In Edinburgh’s historic heart, The Glasshouse features a rooftop garden with panoramic views of the city – and an award-winning Snug, where you can unwind with a few drams of whisky. It’s a great base to enjoy the city’s winter festivities: you’ll find festive markets and funfair rides until early January, while the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh hosts a light trail through its picturesque grounds until December 30.
From December 29, Hogmanay envelops Edinburgh in winter cheer, with live music, entertainment and torchlit parades – all gearing up for the main event’s fireworks and concerts, on December 31. Doubles from £200 per night.
Retail therapy in Mayfair and Regent Street, London
If you fancy flexing some plastic in the Boxing Day sales, look to Treehouse Hotel London: it’s located on Marylebone’s Langham Place, a few minutes’ walk from Oxford Street, Mayfair and Soho. The Treehouse Twixmas package includes two mini bottles of Moët & Chandon Champagne, breakfast and flexible cancellation – with accommodation in a compact-but-chic Fort King room with rainfall shower and kingsize bed.
For a bird’s-eye view of the city lights, head up to The Nest rooftop bar. Rooms from £249 per night.
Retreat to an East Devon farmstay
After a Christmas of excesses, embrace the simpler pleasures of a rural farmstay in East Devon at the super-cosy Mazzard Farm. Three of its self-catering cottages are still available for Twixmas: Bramley Cottage (sleeps 2 + cots), priced £399 for three nights; Pippin Cottage (sleeps 4 + cot), priced £449 for three nights; and Quarenden and Damson interconnected cottages (sleeps 10 + cots), priced from £999 for three nights.
Festive perks include log burners and decorated Christmas trees, and there are lots of things to tempt little’uns from their iPads – such as meeting the farm animals, trips to the nearby Donkey Sanctuary, and riding the Dartmouth Steam Railway’s Christmas Train of Lights.
Bathe in Bath’s history and spa
With its festive markets and concerts, Bath gets totally hectic pre-Christmas – but the Twixmas period is far calmer, yet no less magical. When you sneak off to Gainsborough Bath Spa, you can dip into the city’s carol concerts, ice rink, light trails and market stalls as you wish, before retreating to the hotel’s fabulous spa.
Its award-winning Spa Village features Bath’s own natural thermal waters – the only hotel in the UK to offer this exclusive access – with nightly rates from £290 on a room-only basis. Feeling the cold? Warm up in the thermal baths, infrared saunas and steam room, and kick-start your circulation with a signature massage.
Hibernate on Camber Sands
Retreat to The Gallivant, on East Sussex’s Camber Sands, for a “Twixt Christmas” getaway package. The first night features complimentary English wine, an indulgent afternoon cake, a three-course dinner and a “Drift Off” tea tray to ensure a peaceful night’s sleep – followed by a slow yoga workshop the next morning, and a slap-up house breakfast.
The sandy beach is just steps away, ideal for leisurely strolls – or a bracing sea swim. The package runs from 26–30 December, priced from £445 for one night and £801 for two nights, per two people sharing. Those staying two nights receive 10 per cent off their total booked rate.
Escape to a private island in Berkshire
Set on a private island in the well-heeled village of Bray, with a rich 800-year history, Monkey Island Estate is a glamorous retreat for a luxe Twixmas break – replete with Thames-side walks, twinkling Christmas trees and fancy whisky in the snug.
“The island, or eyot as Thames islands are known, is fish-shaped and filled with chestnut, lime and walnut trees,” our reviewer recalls. The hotel’s style is “slick, glossy and international”, with plenty of intrigue – such as the 17th-century frescoes in the Grade I-listed Monkey Room – while Windsor Castle is just 20 minutes’ drive away. From £275 per room, per night in a Temple Room.
Gather the generations in Dorset
If you’re looking for an easy getaway for the whole family, Moonfleet Manor – on the Jurassic Coast – is hosting three-night “Recharger” Twixmas packages, laden with perks for all ages. From £504 per night per room, the offer includes 90 minutes of free childcare (per night) at the Ofsted-registered Four Bears Den, seasonal activities and entertainment, films with popcorn at the on-site cinema, nightly story time with milk and cookies, and all the Bugaboo gear you could need: pushchairs, travel cots, the lot.
There are swimming pools and several play areas on-site, and the new six-bedroom “Fleethouse” is ideal for larger get-togethers.
Sip fine Welsh wines in luxury
For a few days of not-so-simple Twixmas pleasures, look to Llanerch Vineyard in the glorious Glamorgan countryside – a haven of fine wine, cosy suites and award-winning dining. Think expert-led wine-tasting sessions, guided tours of the vineyards, and stirring views of the South Wales countryside.
Dogs are welcome, and there’s a range of accommodation available: the priciest, a Countryside Suite, costs from £760 for three nights’ B&B, from December 27–30. The restaurant embraces a farm-to-table ethos, with a festive menu that includes braised beef cheeks, wild mushroom tagliatelle and roast Brecon venison.
A slice of the Alps in the New Forest
Rambling strolls through the New Forest countryside, après-ski style dining at The Lodge chalet, and ESPA-infused massages in the Saltus Spa – it’s all on the menu at Balmer Lawn Hotel. This boutique property in Brockenhurst offers full spa days as well as individual treatments, and serves hearty afternoon teas featuring home-baked scones and cakes, and even vegan-friendly options.
This being Twixmas, you’ll either want to detox in the Finnish sauna, with refreshing walks and cycling routes on the doorstep too – or indulge in double AA rosette dining at the Beresfords restaurant. Two nights’ B&B, December 28–30, priced from £340 per room.
10 of the best overseas Twixmas breaks
The winter solstice is only a few days before Christmas – but the sun is shining just a short flight away. Fill your Twixmas with outdoor joys: swimming, tennis, watersports and more, or find the solace you’re craving on a far-flung island escape.
Tennis, swimming and cycling in Lanzarote
Sunny days, clear skies and active outdoor adventures: the ideal tonic after all those festive excesses. In December, Lanzarote’s temperature hovers around the low-twenties, making Sands Beach Resort a tempting prospect – with a 25-metre heated pool, an outdoor tennis court, private beach, fitness centre and bicycle hire.
Start the new year as you mean to go on, with a four-night getaway (December 27–31) costing from £738 per person – including return flights from Gatwick and self-catering accommodation.
Stretch your legs in the Algarve
December in the Algarve is the perfect climate for hiking: the daytime temperature hovers around 18ºC, and the paths are less busy than in spring and summer. Stay at Tivoli Carvoeiro Algarve Resort, which sits right on the spectacular Seven Hanging Valleys Trail – replete with limestone cliffs, hidden beaches and impressive natural arches.
Back at the hotel, Twixmas luxuries await: spa treatments, a heated pool and swish cocktail bar, to name but a few. A two-night stay at Tivoli Carvoeiro on December 27–29 2023 costs from £255 per B&B room. Ryanair flights from Stansted to Faro cost from £294 return.
Visit the birthplace of Champagne
Think you’ll be too busy cooking, cleaning and hosting to get stuck into the bubbly at Christmas? Treat yourself to a Twixmas minibreak at the birthplace of Champagne, with tastings, spa treatments and fine dining at Royal Champagne Hotel & Spa.
It’s the region’s first contemporary luxury hotel, located in the middle of the vineyards that stripe the hills of Epernay: 40 minutes by train from Paris Gare de L’Est, or 30 minutes by train from Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport. Two nights’ B&B (December 27–29) costs £859 total, and includes the Royal Chocolate Tea Time experience for two.
Go (almost) off-grid in the Faroe Islands
If winter’s festivities leave you reeling, escape to the far-flung Faroe Islands in the North Atlantic – a haven of wild volcanic beauty, hardy wildlife and warm hospitality. It’s bracing, yes, but rich in edge-of-the-world spectacle – and there’s absolutely no chance of being bothered by the in-laws.
You can explore waterfalls, go hiking, and relax with hot stone massages at Ress Spa Ress Spa in the stylish Hotel Føroyar. Rooms from DKK 1,100pp (£120pp) per night; return flights from Edinburgh priced £200 return with Atlantic Airways.
Chase the sun to Morocco
Even in the dark days of winter, trust Morocco to return the spring to your step. A ten-minute walk from Agadir, on a wide white-sand beach, Riu Tikida Dunas offers a much-needed vitamin D top-up – featuring three outdoor swimming pools, al fresco restaurants and activities ranging from tennis to beach volleyball.
There are kids’ clubs for ages four to 12, and a free shuttle bus to Golf du Soleil – a 36-hole golf course, 5.5 miles away. Four nights priced from £990.37pp, travelling December 26–29, including return flights from Gatwick and an all-inclusive package with Tui.
Hit one of Tunisia’s best beaches
New year, new you? Spend your Twixmas horse-riding on the beach, trying your hand at sailing, or simply luxuriating in a Tunisian hammam and spa – and start 2024 with a bang. Iberostar Selection Kuriat Palace sits on a sublime sandy beach, and while the weather isn’t quite bikini-worthy (around 18ºC), there’s plenty of gentle sunshine.
Kids clubs keep little ones engaged, alongside activities ranging from darts and archery to mini golf and aerobics. Four nights from £599.16pp, including return flights from Gatwick and all-inclusive package, travelling December 26–30, with Thomas Cook.
All-inclusive indulgence in Egypt
Temperatures in the mid-twenties, with vast swimming pools and a sandy beach just a few steps away? Yes please. Hurghada, on Egypt’s Red Sea, certainly won’t win any prizes for exclusivity, but its winter sun offering is excellent and cheap: easyJet Holidays is currently selling four nights all-inclusive (December 27–31) at the Hilton Hurghada Plaza Hotel, with return flights from Gatwick for an irresistible £812pp total. Lofty palm trees, beachfront dining, outdoor tennis, pampering spa sessions – it’s all here.
Get ahead of your resolutions in Fuerteventura
It’s always easier to be active when the sun’s out, so start your resolutions early in Fuerteventura’s La Pared – where the temperatures are tipping 20ºC, and there’s an almost endless array of sports, activities and adventures on offer.
Each holiday includes fitness classes, yoga, tennis coaching, guided cycling (in the mountains and on-road), and a kids’ club for ages six to 13. Windsurfing, surfing and kitesurfing can be booked locally with specialist schools, and there’s a lively beach club and poolside too.
Neilson offers four nights from £894pp, including return flights from London Luton and all-inclusive package, travelling December 26–30.
Sunny sightseeing in Athens
With temperatures in the mid-teens and a decent chance of sunshine, Athens can be charming in December – with summer’s crowds long forgotten. Olympic Holidays has a four-night break at the centrally-located Brown Kubic, whose private balconies and rooftop terrace are ideal for a dose of vitamin D. The Acropolis and Temple of Athena are less than half an hour’s walk away.
From £566 per person, travelling December 27–31 – including return flights from Gatwick and bed-and-breakfast accommodation, with Olympic Holiday.
Eat your way around Istanbul
Swap your turkey leftovers for syrup-sweet Turkish delight, spicy pide (Turkish pizza) and plump manti (ravioli) – and those Christmas telly re-runs for some of the world’s greatest architecture. Intrepid Travel’s three-day “Taste Istanbul” itinerary is the ideal antidote to the post-festive slump, and includes an authentic supper with a local family, a guided tour of the Hagia Sophia, a day exploring the Grand Bazaar and Topkapi Palace – plus two nights in a city hotel.
You can add on a few extra nights if time’s on your side: the three-day trip is priced from £353pp, departing on December 26, 27 or 28; flights from London Luton priced from £232 return with Wizz Air.
