ideas of things to go and do for Xmas

Deals_2

we must be local to you as we are near Hampton court ourselves. is the snowshow good for all ages. we have a 3 year and 3 teenagers 16 and 18. thanks!

also last year there was a german xmas market in Kingston which was pretty good if interests anyone.

Lillibet wrote: »

Other things to do around Christmas time :

Ice skating : we live near Hampton Court Palace & they have a Xmas ice rink, very Christmassy with the back drop. I know there is a temporary ice rink on the Thames each year & no doubt others across the UK.

A walk in the woods, so much better if it's frosty or icy, take a camera & get a nice family photo to include in Xmas cards. If you have kids collect leaves, pine cones etc & let them make a wreath or table decorations.

Instead of a panto, or if it isn't your thing, there are lots of other shows & theatre options. Last year we saw Slavas Snowshow & it was magical & I highly recommend it (we are going back this year & taking S & B-i-L as their pressie). I can't wait until my son is old enough to take him to the Snowman ballet in London ( Somewhere does it every year, I think Saddlers Wells?). There are pleanty of other ballets like the Nutcraker or similar, for several years the National theatre put on wind in the willows which was great for kids, or just an old fashioned musical? It doesn't have to be expensive, get supporting your local am-dram society for a fun cheap evening out.

Don't know if it is an annual thing but last year we stumbled across a wonderful German (? Or maybe Austrian?) Christmas market in Birmingham town centre. We were only there for the weekend for a concert & found it quite by accident & we loved wandering around drinking boozy hot chocolate & eating cinnamon waffles & looking (and buying a few) wooden christmas decorations.

For the traditionally minded, churches have lots of carol concerts, nativity services, childrens services, the Christingle service the week before Xmas etc. Even if you aren't religious they promote a feeling of goodwill torwards men & it is, after all, the reason behind the celebration!

Instead of a shop-bought advent calender try some home made goodies in boxes or indviually wrapped, have a baking session one morning at the end of November. Finish the day with eating the extras (of course you make far more than you need!) whilst watching a Christmas film.

For children & adults have a Christmas story night once a week during December. Read them a Christmas book or watch a Christmas film. I am 32 and without fail I re-read A Christmas Carol every December!

Bake mince pies or mulled wine (lots of testing required!) & suprise your neighbours with it when you hand deliver their Christmas card & wish them well. You're bound to get invited in for a Christmas drink & a gossip.

HTH & Merry Christmas:santa2:

Deals_2

what ages for.. bearing in mind we have 3 year old and 2 16 year old and 1 18 year old.

mollymunchkin wrote: »

How about a trip on a Santa steam train special? Depends if you've got kids though and how old they are.

Lillibet_2

Slavas Snowshow I would say is suitable for all ages for 3 to 93! For the young kids to really enjoy it try to get seats in the stalls, be prepared to get covered in "snow", cobwebs (no spiders!), a bit of water (not too much but enough to be fun), glitter, giant bouncing balls etc. It is comming to Woking theater later this month & is on tour for the rest of the year. Well worth a visit. They have a preview on their website, just google it.

For a Santa Steam train trip in Surrey there is a minature railway in Thames Ditton called M.D.S.M.E but their santa special for this year is now fully booked. I don't want to post the link as I am connected (My mum runs it!) but if anyone is interested PM me & I'll send you the link to their website, they are open on other weekends at other times & they start booking for next Christmas in August!

hazel1975_2

the watercress line in alton,hants does a santa special also

suzie_wong

So does the Bluebell Railway (Sussex). They also do lovely Christmas meals on the Pullman carriages in the evenings in December. It's quite pricey but really atmospheric and perfect for a special occasion (we did it one year for my husbands birthday which is on Christmas Eve). After your meal you get off at one of the stations where there are people singing carols. When that is done it's back on the train for coffee and mince pies, then home.

Sallys_Savings

I'm sure Nene valley railway (peterborough) have a santa special too

Lizalu

They do a santa train up near york too - merton park i think.

katiesmummy

there is a garden centre in crewes hill nr enfield that does a santas grotto for the kids every year and its fantastic. they get to ride in a little sleigh round toyland before seeing santa, and there are real reindeer there as well- its all very christmassy!
i cant remember the name of it but i could find out if your interested- be warned though, there is usually a pretty long queue!

millsmum

I was thinking of a weekend at a christmas market, does anyone know if any are served by a budget airline?