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I want to take dd1 out for a really nice Christmassy day. But now one that just involves buying stuff.

Any suggestions?

Whereabouts are you?

We love going to Edinburgh - see the lights, have a shot on the ice rink, get go chocolate at the German market and go to the fair. Loads of places do things like that though .

I've got tickets for lapland UK. Not cheap but meant to be amazing and has fantastic reviews.
There is Hyde park winterwonderland but its been asked about on here before and not had great feedback.

We hope to go to Bath on Ice this year...do any cities near you have an outdoor ice rink opening up at all? And the hot chocolate...

National Trust have various Christmas days at their properties.

Longleat,have an ice rink,singing tree,characters dressed up Peter Pan,Snowwhite etc and there is a santa train but you need to book.

We are in Berkshire. Would love to do Edinburgh but it's a bit far!

Absolutely gutted I didn't know about Longleat earlier. I think dd1 would be too tired to go after school (just started reception and feeling exhausted most days) and the weekends are fully booked. Must remember for next year.

Do you have to be a member of National Trust to go to their Christmas Events?

Come up to London and go ice-skating?

Go to winter wonderland in Hyde park. Free to get in and I just love the feel of the place. Lots of rides and ice skating .

If you're near longleat, look at Westonbirt for an evening thing, or how about a 'santa special' on the local railway - steam train with FC. They have these from shepton mallet or Avon Valley in Bitton.

I'm going to try the Hyde park one this year and will report back!

I really want to go to Hyde park but the cost is putting me off - I've read it turns into an expensive day out. Would love to hear what you think Speedos when you've been.

I'm not that close to Longleat Penfold, I'm in Reading

Visit santa in the grotto at Painshill Park.
Or a day out in Windsor - there's an outdoor (but undercover) ice rink, and it's just nice for a wander around.

Chippy Painshill park looks amazing but all booked up (except for Tuesday 18th when dd1 is at school)

We went to Hyde Park last year - it was very expensive to eat/drink and it's basically a glorified "get your money" operation. The rides were £2 a pop

Wisley?

I think there is an ice rink at the Winchester Christmas market...?

Ooops, sorry! But the Santa Specials seem to go on most local railways; we were planning to go on East Lancs railway at in-laws, but was fully booked.
How about Legoland or similar? Most theme parks seem to do a Christmas-themed day pass

I am nowhere near you, but i know a few stately home type places near me are doing Christmas lights/decorations things. Have a look on English heritage/ national trust website maybe?

Last year, we did a Christmas day out with the children which involved ice-skating in the morning (temporary rink), lunch at Giraffe and then onto cinema in the afternoon for a christmassy film (we went to see Arthur Christmas). DC's were 4 and 6 and both loved it so we are planning the same format this year. We are in Somerset so went to Bristol but I would imagine there must be something similar near you.

longleat is amazing, we went last year, we were there all day and evening, and we didnt do skating or Santa train, its £4.50 in tescos couchers if you have any,

We lef twinter wonderland in Hyde Park last year after less then 10 minutes, it was awful, packed, DCs tantrumming because they couldnt move.

spooky longleat really is worth the drive, it took us 2 hours to get there and I would go again (except I am 36 weeks pregnant and cant book anything)

Hi

Andover has an ice-rink (not much else).

Montisfont (between Romsey and Andover) NT, star spangled winter christmasssy thing going on all through Dec - google NT.

Wyevale Garden Centres - Tea or breakfast with Santa comming to your table, stroll through wonderland photos and pressie (around £8 - parents can go free if they don't eat !)

Alesford Watercress line winter train journey's (mince pies on board and the fat controller santa version)

Zoo - Marwell (about an hour from you, just south of Winchester) - magical grotto experiance and all animals - pricy but soooo would love to do this.

LolaLadyBird
dh and I are planning on going to Bristol in December, this may sound odd but does it feel chistmasy there? We don't have any dc but are big kids at heart, was it a nice place to be?
We read that theres a little Christmas Market - is that any good?
Sorry for the interigation!