Booking things for Christmas

[Ratbagcatbag]

I love this topic, anyway I'm that excited I wanted to let you know that we've booked Christmas dinner for us all at a lovely local pub, have no ideas on menu or price yet, just wanted to get our booking in as its already filling up. Will have to pay for dm, dbro and dmil but who cares.

And, and, and, and I've book beanbag music club for me, dh and my dd who will be 18months old. It's at a local theatre, in a huge foyer, 45 mins of all Christmassy music, carols etc, all sit on beanbags and have instruments etc. dh is sooooooo impressed

So what if anything have you booked yet?

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

I haven't got anything booked yet.........but I'm busy looking
DD and I go to a local theatre (there's two about 6 miles from us) to see a ballet -either Swan Lake or Nutcracker.
Doesn't matter how many times we see them, they are gorgeous each time.
Though they are usually in November time, it frees the theatre up for Panto.

I do Christmas Dinner at home (DH and I are vegetarian, DS is a fussy blighter, DD eats anything) but I like the pottering about in the kitchen with the TV burbling away . Takes me 3 hours to cook and we eat it in 35 minutes but the DC don't eat Christmas Pudding.

I need to look for something for them - like Winter Wonderland, something really festive

[Monroe]

You have just reminded me to book our local panto

I love the idea of going to the ballet but I've never been before, would it be suitable for dd? She will be almost 5 come Christmas.

[ipswichwitch]

Looking at the polar express trains (yes we have two - who says its grim up north?!)
One has tickets for sale but not the other and I'm trying to decide which to go for. The dearer one is just like the Polar Express film - go in pjs, have hot chocolate and singing then meet Santa and get a silver bell. The other is a steam train ride to santas grotto, but about half the price. Plus the DSs will only be 1 and 3 so not sure they'll appreciate the full experience of the film yet. Decisions decisions!

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

Ooh sounds lovely ipswich

My DC are teens now but we used to take DS to a steam railway (they did Thomas the Tank Engine days)

When he was 3yo (DD would have been 6 months) we did a trip like the second one. Ride along, get off at Father Christmas Grotto (lovely wood burning stove) chat and present.

Next year (4 and 18 months) we did a Santa Steam Ride , we stayed on the train, Father Christmas walked along and sat and chatted to each child.

The PJs and Chocolate one sounds gorgeous but they sound a bit young.
Maybe when they are 2 and 4 ? Still the belief there (and even if they don't believe, it's a great tradition, especially if they love the Polar Express film)

[misstiredbuthappy]

Where about are the Polar Express trains Ipswichwitch I would love to take dd ill go alone if I have too

[SummerSazz]

We've booked to go to Lapland.

I'm normally the one faffing for last minute tickets so this is good for me although popular dates sold out over 4 months ago so I was told

[Ratbagcatbag]

Ooooh mrstired, a woman after my own heart, these children do have their uses for Christmas cover don't they?

Summersazz, I'm so jealous, were saving now so in about four years we can blow every penny on a four day trip with husky rides, reindeer rides etc. how old are your dc?

[SummerSazz]

Dd1 will be 8 and dd2 6. Going by things dd1 can remember from when she was younger it seems to be about 5 so we left it until this year. Also dd2 never liked cold and snow as a toddler, but has got slightly better recently.

We're doing 4 nights so hopefully plenty of time to fit everything in.

[ipswichwitch]

I think you're right 70, they're a bit young this year but I wanna go!! I'll book the shorter one and save the full on polar express experience til next year so they are 2 and 4. DS1 won't care so long as trains are involved :)

misstired we are in County Durham. The proper Polar Express is at Stanhope and the other one at Tanfield. Just google polar express Durham and you'll be feeling festive in no time :)

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

Ohh help me out on this one

My DC will be 12.6 and 15 at Christmas.
we've gone to London a few times (Hamleys, Winter Wonderland, the lights, Kew Gardens)
Also events at Bluewater (Funfair)

So, the Harry Potter tours at (I think) Warner Brothers (I had a look at the map, I could drive there)

We watch the HP films when they are on (though I prefer the earlier ones when he's younger) We have been to Alnwick Castle .

Christmas at HP world would be lovely wouldn't it?
They have 8 trees (8 Christmas Trees and snow)

We'd go a few days before Christmas I think.

Good?
Bad?
Disaster?

[penguinplease]

We did polar express in Stanhope in December , it was a bit disappointing for the price and from our point of view not necessarily worthy of the 200 miles we drove to get there!
But if your kids are young I think that would help.

[misstiredbuthappy]

I live nowhere near any of those brilliant places youve mentioned i need to move in time for Christmas

[smellylittleorange]

Have booked Nutcracker tickets at Christmas in London ..also plan to go to The Victorian Christmas Event at Osborne House IOW. Will be in Bruges for the opening of the Christmas Market to go to but Dd not coming. Now DD is 10 am wondering about panto...we go most years last year we were really looking forward to it and went in a big family group ages 5-12 kids who all complained that they could not enjoy the show or hear due to the little ones crying /screaming.

[MegBusset]

We booked our panto in January. Loads of seats had already gone for the popular dates!

[smellylittleorange]

Crikey apologies for lack of full stops, commas etc ! In the past we have done the Santa train on Watercress line railway which was sweet and lovely

[Katieweasel]

We went on a family trip to Harry Potter Studio Tour last Christmas. It was magical! DC aged 7 to 16 all loved it as did the adults. Would definitely recommend it. Christmas trees and snow everywhere made it very festive. Be warned the gift shop is AMAZING but is very very expensive.

[NewShoesTwoShoes]

Ipswich was it Tanfield that was cheaper? Trying to think if anyone I know went on that one last year (also live in NE)

I'm getting very excited about Xmas even though it's only June.

Can I recommend Northern Sinfonia's live music of "the Snowman" film for anyone near the Sage in Gateshead.

[ipswichwitch]

NewShoes, yes tanfield was the cheaper one - £12 each. You can now book online, and they are taking bookings now I believe, which is great since the phone system they had last year was a nightmare. We did do it last year and it wasn't bad. DS1 loved it but then he loves anything to do with trains.

[nickdrakeslovechild]

ooh Ratbagcatbag I went to the beanbag music club last Christmas and going again this year. My LO loved it. Amazing Christmas and classical music, they even let you play the instruments at the end.

[WaitMonkey]

I love the sound of music beanbag club.

[ThinkIveBeenHacked]

I am.at least guaranteed Christmas off this year (work in 365day industry) as I am pg and will be on Maternity Leave, so that is sort of "booked"

Always go to DMums for lunch so my next thing ti book in is what we will be providing. Uncle usually pays for turkey but he has been made redundant so we will probs get that.

[level3at6months]

We've had our pantomime tickets booked since December. Our staff night out has also been booked and paid for since April. Now if only I can finish the shopping before Christmas Eve...

[shutitweirdo]

I've looked up the Santa train but can't book it before August. Is 3 too young for a panto? Think ds 6 would love it but not sure dd 3 would sit still. I've only ever been to 1 and can't remember.

[Ratbagcatbag]

Nickdrake - are you going to the Nottingham bean bag group for Christmas?

[nickdrakeslovechild]

Yes ratbagcatbag Nottingham