Where can we go on Christmas Day?

[PinkAvocado]

My darling Mum died this year. It was an unexpected and quick illness and I am devestated. I haven’t spent one Christmas apart from her and so I know
I will find it incredibly difficult this year.

I have a wonderful husband and two children under 4 who all miss her too so we are looking for ideas for Christmas Day to change it from what we have always done (spent it at home with my mum and family visitors). Obviously lots of forestry commission places (our usual go to) are closed etc but somewhere to go for a walk or something would be ideal.

We are in North Hampshire.

Thanks in advance for any ideas!

Hopeful bump

I'm sorry about your Mum.

You could look at driving into central London, check parking and congestion charges and look at the sights.

You can't be too far from the New Forest? Lots of lovely walks around there. You might find a pub open to pop into along the way. Lepe Country Park is nice and has a playground and beach.

Something like this:

www.walks.com/our-walks/the-christmas-day-charles-dickens-london-walk

Sorry just looked at the map and realised you could be quite far from the New Forest

Most nature reserves are open all year round and usually have waymarked walks. You could take soup flasks and have an outdoor lunch.

Thank you! New Forest isn’t far at all really but I wondered if country parks would be open on Christmas Day? I’ll look!

Hadn’t even thought about going into London but that’s worth looking into too as you’d hope it’d be quieter.

Thank you.

A beach walk ?
Maybe a few days away ? A complete change ?
A drive through the new forest , drink at a pub ? picnic ? Main meal later ?
Look up national trust / English heritage websites to see if any of their property's are open ? - most likely an unmanned park / country area

Not helpful but near us Edinburgh zoo is open on Xmas day - is there similar near you?

New Forest doesn't close for Christmas Day - it's not surrounded by fences and gates that they lock. Park in one of the pretty villages and just go for a walk (maybe get an OS map for safety). You may bump into some donkeys and ponies. If I lived in Hampshire, I'd definitely be doing that myself.

Edinburgh zoo isn’t open Christmas Day , I just googled
www.edinburghzoo.org.uk/plan-your-visit/day-planner/opening-times/

A walk on Christmas Day is a great idea. We did it a few years ago and we cooked a basic turkey dinner to eat on Christmas Eve and took turkey sandwiches and mince pies for a picnic. There were actually quite a lot of people out, even though the weather was awful.

I don't know Hampshire at all, but I googled Hampshire country park and picked this one at random.

It says that it's open every day. Maybe I wouldn't rely on the cafe, toilets etc being open on Christmas Day, but if you phone them, they might be able to confirm either way.

Sorry about your mum .

Could you go to the seaside? Picnic, soup in flasks or a disposable bbq, maybe open a few small presents on the beach after a walk.

Make sure some cosy warm places are open on your route. I think its a lovely idea OP - the sadness will be with you, whatever you do on the day, but your family will be there too and you will be OK. For me, I would honour your existing traditions and make sure you cook one of your Mum’s favourites.

Thanks everyone. I know the New Forest isn’t gated, I was referring to Lepe Country Park itself as I’ve not been there specifically, I wondered if it was like others that have gated car parks. Although parking up and just going for a walk amongst the cows and horses does sound lovely. There were so many when we went a few weeks ago-more than usual!

We will be doing the morning as we always do which includes some family traditions and will read The Night Before Christmas as mum always did on Xmas Eve but in the afternoon, we would usually play games with with her and that’s the time when I know I’ll struggle emotionally. I think getting outdoors will be best for all of us.

Thanks for your ideas and condolences, I love Christmas but it’s such an emotionally charged time.

Lepe is open every day from 7.30am to dusk according to their website although the cafe will be closed on Christmas Day.

I hope you have a lovely day whatever you do

Also lovely is Bolderwood deer sanctuary, it is always open and has lovely waymarked walks.

www.new-forest-national-park.com/bolderwood-deer-sanctuary.html

Edinburgh used to be open. Shame it’s closed now, was lovely to think people who didn’t want to celebrate had somewhere nice to go

you could book Christmas dinner in the new forest , then have a lovely walk after.

www.thenewforest.co.uk/ideas-and-inspiration/christmas-in-the-new-forest/christmas-lunch

they also have a list of hotels and B&Bs if you wanted a mini break over Xmas.

Were you thinking of eating out? My local Indian does an amazing sounding buffet now that would be different!

Thank you all! I wasnt expecting much of a response and I’m touched you’ve thought of such good ideas for me. I love the idea of not cooking ... an Indian would be so good!

A New Forest Indian [santa]