The 40 best family days out for the Christmas holidays
It’s that time of year: carols are on the radio, the trees are being decorated and talk has turned to turkey. That also means, of course, that the school holidays are fast approaching, and so too is the need for entertainment. There’s the brief reprieve supplied by Christmas Day itself, of course, and the hope that toys received as gifts will provide some distraction. But that tricky period until January looms large in the minds of parents.
Happily, the nation’s museums, castles, railways and theatres have rallied to keep little ones feeling jubilant (and, helpfully, provide something for the older members of the family, too). Many are offering seriously diverting craft sessions or joyous, twinkling light shows. Don your wellies and explore the rambling broads of Wicken Fen with a festive walking trail, or climb aboard the Polar Express in Aberystwyth.
Many attractions are suggesting Father Christmas might make a visit, so tinier visitors should have their lists ready. If all else fails, there is, of course, always the pantomime. Whether you’re looking for an escape into the countryside or to rediscover a nearby city, these are the best Christmas days out in England, Scotland and Wales.
Explore activities by region:
North West
Lanterns and lights at Chester Zoo
Until Jan 1
A Christmas spectacular at Chester Zoo (01244 380280), this light trail is supplemented by lively animal puppets until late into the evening.
How to do it
Tickets from £12; children between one and two are £2.50, while children under one are free.
Arts and crafts at Quarry Bank, Cheshire
Until Dec 23
Quarry Bank (01625 527468), the working 18th-century cotton mill and park, is host to Father Christmas this year (plus 30-minute sessions of arts and crafts). Families need not be National Trust members to attend.
How to do it
Tickets are £13 per child.
The Gruffalo and Friends Clubhouse, Blackpool
Until Jan 5
The Gruffalo and Friends Clubhouse (01253 629200) is perfect for burning off some steam. Expect adventure play and sensory rooms, plus a family dance party with characters from the popular Julia Donaldson books.
How to do it
Tickets from £4.50 for adults and £12 for children.
‘Christmas through the ages’ at Hoghton Tower, near Preston
Until Dec 20
Elizabethan manor house Hoghton Tower (01254 852986) is a charming diversion throughout winter, but children will be especially delighted by their “Christmas through the ages” guided tours, exploring the history of our festive traditions.
How to do it
Tickets from £12.70.
North East
Bamburgh Castle’s Christmas installation
Until Jan 5
The ever-beautiful state rooms of Bamburgh Castle (01668 214208) have been transformed into a very theatrical vision of Christmas. Go simply for the dramatic designs, or book on to the Father Christmas Experience for a thoroughly festive day trip.
How to do it
Tickets are £18.75 for adults, £9.40 for children (children aged four and under are free). Entry is free for Bamburgh Castle annual passholders.
The country’s largest Christmas tree, at Cragside, near Morpeth
Until Jan 5
Gaze up in wonder at the country’s largest living Christmas tree – all 42 metres of it – at Cragside (01669 620333). The site has been transformed by “spirits of the forest”, meaning children can explore its magical and wild landscape to their hearts’ content.
How to do it
Tickets from £15 for adults and £7.50 for children.
Christmas evenings at Beamish, near Stanley
Until Dec 20
Georgian greenery, Second World War cooking and 1950s toy shopping are all part of the Beamish (0191 370 4000) experience this Christmas – plus Santa Claus is rumoured to be making a visit.
How to do it
Tickets are valid for a year’s worth of entry, from £27.95 for adults and £17.25 for children. Family tickets start at £61.
The Elf Academy, MetroCentre, Newcastle
Until December 24
The smaller members of your family will delight in the Metrocentre’s Elf Academy (0191 493 0200; themetrocentre.co.uk), where challenges include “Northern Lights laser training” and “Elf and Fitness classes” (plus, it’s extremely convenient for last-minute present buying).
How to do it
Tickets from £5 for adults and £12 for children (including a graduation gift and an elf hat).
Yorkshire
Santa’s Christmas Tour at York’s Chocolate Story
Until December 23
Taking the children on a guided tour at York’s Chocolate Story (01904 527765) might be the tastiest way to introduce them to the city’s history – you’ll certainly be very popular.
How to do it
Tickets to Santa’s Christmas Tour from £23.95 per person (including chocolate tastings).
Christmas at Nostell, near Wakefield
Until January 5
Nostell (01924 863892; nationaltrust.org.uk), a Georgian manor in West Yorkshire, has been transformed into a winter wonderland – complete with gingerbread village and seasonal crafts. Father Christmas will be wandering the house on Fridays, too.
How to do it
Tickets to Nostell from £12 for adults and £6 for children.
Mr Snow, Leeds Playhouse
Until January 4
For something a bit quieter than a pantomime, head to Leeds Playhouse (0113 213 7700) for Mr Snow, an enchanting, snow-filled performance for younger children.
How to do it
Tickets from £15.
Christmas at Castle Howard, near York
Until January 5
Castle Howard has embraced Alice in Wonderland this Christmas, where guests can follow the White Rabbit through grand corridors and regal rooms to reveal festive surprises.
How to do it
From £32.70 for adults and £16.35 for children.
East of England
Christmas tree maze, Cambridge
Until January 5
Get lost on Parker’s Piece in a maze made of over 300 illuminated Christmas trees, in a challenge that is guaranteed to delight older children.
How to do it
Tickets are £5; children under three are free.
Wicken Fen’s winter walk
Until January 13
Wintry Wicken Fen (01522 782019) is the home to an extended walking trail, encouraging smaller members of the family to get outside and help Parsnip the Highland calf find her herd.
How to do it
Tickets are £9 for adults and £4.50 for children.
Lincoln Castle illuminated
Until December 23
Lincoln Castle (01522 782019) has gone all-out this year, with an illuminated wall walk, a snow machine, fairground rides and a “Christmas Express” train ride – making the historic site doubly exciting to explore once the sun has set.
How to do it
Tickets are £11.50 for adults and £6.50 for children.
Snow White, Peterborough
Until January 5
The nostalgic charm of a pantomime will always delight, even if you think you’ve heard all the Widow Twankey jokes. In Peterborough, the Key Theatre (01733 852992) is staging its long-running production of Snow White, packed full of bawdy jokes and gleeful festive cheer.
How to do it
Tickets from £12.
Midlands
Santa’s Stage Show, Cadbury World, Bournville
Until December 24
If you’re determined to maximise your proximity to chocolate this year, Cadbury World (0121 828 9300) is the place to visit this Christmas. Alongside the usual factory tours, guests can join Santa for his live show, as part of the standard entry ticket.
How to do it
Tickets are £22.50 for adults and £18 for children.
Christmas at Hockerhill Adventure Playbarn, Stafford
Until December 22
For those who would rather stay seated while the little ones frolic, Hockerhill Adventure Playbarn (01902 271881) promises a visit from Father Christmas (along with a gift), a craft activity, a deluxe hot chocolate and a snack, plus lots of time to play.
How to do it
The Christmas Package costs £25 per child.
Winter Glow in Malvern
Until December 31
Winter Glow is ideal for foodies, promising at its market and food court to snaffle throughout the day. Between meals, keep the rest of the family busy with an indoor ice rink, illuminated lights trail and ultraviolet crazy golf.
How to do it
Entry to the market and food court is free, activities from £8.50.
Santa’s Winter Wonderland, at the Snow Dome, Tamworth
Until January 7
The Snow Dome (0344 800 0011) is something of an institution, and its Christmas offering happily continues well into the new year, making it a great option for the post-festivities lull. Events include a mini pantomime and Santa’s village, plus the opportunity to play in real snow.
How to do it
Tickets from £18.95 per person.
South and the South East
Festive walk, Southampton
Until December 31
Take to the streets of Southampton and follow the family walking trail to discover 20 snowy scenes across the city’s windows. Children can follow the festive map to find each location, before collecting their (free!) prize.
How to do it
The free walking trail map can be downloaded on the Visit Southampton website.
Steam illuminations, the Watercress Line, New Alresford
Until January 4
The quaint Watercress Line (01962 733810) gets a psychedelic makeover for Christmas. Board the vintage steam train and be dazzled by a magical light show for nearly two hours – plus become a part of the show with light-up wristbands.
How to do it
Tickets start at £32 per person (children under two travel free).
The Jungle Book Christmas at Bateman’s, Burwash
Until January 5
Head to Bateman’s (01435 882302), a Jacobean house in the heart of the Sussex countryside, for a glimpse of Christmas in a warmer clime. The joyful books of former resident Rudyard Kipling are being brought to life by a display of new illustrations, dotted throughout the home.
How to do it
Tickets start at £15 for adults and £7.50 for children.
Glow 2024 at RHS Rosemoor, Torrington
Until December 28
Wander past the shimmering waterfalls and flickering snowflakes at the illuminated RHS Rosemoor (01805 624067), where the gardens are brought to life by festive characters, hand-pan drumming and music from a barrel organ.
How to do it
Tickets from £12.95 for adults and £6.95 for children.
London
Audio experience, Regent Street
Until January 5
The Regent Street Christmas lights are something of a London institution. This year, an initiative with the Royal National Institute of Blind People means that those who are partially-sighted can take part, too, listening along to the audio guides and experiencing the installation for themselves.
How to do it
The guides can be downloaded from Spotify by searching for “Regent Street and St James’s festive audio experience”.
The Elves and the Magic Bear, Greenwich
Until December 23
Take the family to the Old Royal Naval College (020 8269 4799) in Greenwich for the interactive The Elves and the Magic Bear show, bursting with singing, dancing and a lot of elf-born chaos.
How to do it
Tickets from £13 per person.
Festive nutcracker trail, Richmond
Until December 24
Christmas in the capital can be expensive, so a free walking trail is always going to be welcomed. Take this one, in Richmond, that features eight hidden nutcrackers. Families that complete the challenge will get a prize, plus be in with a chance of winning a luxury hamper.
How to do it
The trail map can be downloaded from the Be Richmond website.
Enchanted Ice Grotto, Camden
Until December 24
Camden Market might not seem like the most festive of locations, but shun images of beleaguered goths from your mind and instead take the family to explore its display of five Christmas trees, glittering lights and Santa’s Grotto, the proceeds of which will be donated to Great Ormond Street Hospital.
How to do it
Tickets to the Grotto are £6.
Wales
Explorer Club at the Hawarden Estate
Until December 21
The Hawarden Estate (01244 533442) is a charming place to spend an afternoon regardless of the season. Children will be particularly enamoured by the Explorer Club, which allows them to learn about nature, participate in crafts and gather around the campfire.
How to do it
Tickets are £10 per child.
The Polar Express, Aberyswyth
Until December 24
The most magical train of all, the Polar Express, is steaming through Aberyswyth on the Vale of Rheidol. Tiny guests can give their golden tickets to the conductor, and embark on a snowy adventure through the countryside.
How to do it
Tickets from £37.95; children under two travel free.
Mari Lwyd Walk, Llanwrtyd Wells
December 31
For something more traditional, join the Mari Lwyd (01591 610666) walk on New Year’s Eve, where a parade is led by the “Mari”, a decorated horse’s skull carried on a pole, and participants follow with burning torches. It’s a glimpse at a more folkloric Wales, that’s bound to captivate older children.
How to do it
Join the parade at 10pm in Llanwrtyd Wells town square.
Christmas at Dyffryn Gardens, Vale of Glamorgan
Until January 5
From snowman hoopla to nutcracker skittles, Dyffryn Gardens (029 2059 3328) is packed full of activities this year. It’s an ideal one for when the board games at home aren’t hitting the spot – with marble runs, a puppet theatre and snowball kerplunk, there’s plenty of festive distraction.
How to do it
Tickets from £12 for adults and £6 for children.
Scotland
‘Ancient Twi-lights’ at Landmark Forest Adventure Park, Cairngorms
Until January 5 (returning for February half-term)
This is a festive trail with a difference. Grab the bravest members of your family and explore the treetops at Landmark Forest Adventure Park (01479 841613), where the route is illuminated in ultraviolet light.
How to do it
Tickets from £15 for adults and £10 for children.
Dumfries Choral Society Christmas Concert, St John’s Church, Dumfries
December 23
There are few things more cheering than a carol concert, especially one so close to Christmas. This jolly service by Dumfries Choral Society, will get the whole family into the spirit of things.
How to do it
The service begins at 7.30pm.
Christmas markets, Edinburgh
Until January 4
Christmas markets needn’t be a chore. Edinburgh’s (0131 472 2222), right in the heart of the city, combines shopping potential and fairground rides, making it much more high octane than a traditional fair.
How to do it
Find more details on Visit Scotland.
Christmas crafts at the Macroberts Arts Centre, Stirling
Until December 29
Alongside a pantomime and other festive performances, the Macroberts Arts Centre (01786 466666) is running “12 days of Christmas” craft sessions, including baking, crocheting, lantern-making, candle-designing and more. Artistic teens will adore it.
How to do it
Tickets from £5.
