No Xmas holiday or day trip inspiration

[MsGrinchtoyou]

For context, DH and I are both foreign born. No family in the UK or even within a few hours flight to visit for catch ups.

DC are ‘tween’ ages. We are extremely lucky in that we have a decent roof over our heads and food on the table so apologies for this very first world problem…

Everyone we know seems to be migrating to another part of the country for a few days over Christmas to see parents/uncles/grandparents/godparents and family friends.

Don’t get me wrong, we have a good Christmas and nice neighbours but it doesn’t quite feel like we are making the most of our time in those days after Christmas.

Apart from procuring the tree and decorating it and early morning Christmas calls to the rest of the world, we haven’t made any new traditions. We chill on Boxing Day but this becomes boring by day 2 or 3…

Having planned our summer holidays and an important long haul trip earlier this year to see family, working fulltime, juggling the ridiculous volume of activities we have to attend (and organise and run) at 2 schools, I am totally devoid of energy or inspiration for how to spend the days between Xmas and New Year.

Our cash is fairly depleted too so even ‘festive light trails’ which come in at £100 per family look too steep.

Yes I could curl up on the sofa with a good book or family film and venture out for a walk and am arranging playdates for the sparse few DC who will stay local but how do we punctuate this with a few fab festive days out?

Many festive markets stop on Christmas Eve. Harry Potter World has been booked out for ages. Legoland etc will be hell on earth. Cannot afford Centerparcs.

Our DC hate the fact we don’t have extended family. I secretly think it saves a lot of headaches but when it comes
to that period between Xmas and New Year, I do feel there is a hole.

We have a good run up to Christmas - amid the explosion of school concerts and work parties - and will host Xmas Eve get together or New Years dinner some years.

The invitations are not reciprocated at this time of year as everyone is understandably busy with family.

Can anyone recommend cheapish day trips from London (or even one or two night getaways) that did not require booking 8 months ago?

I am not sure how to switch off voting - I know IABU to be bored and frazzled!

No suggestions I'm afraid because I love not going anywhere!

We have board game afternoons and Christmas movie nights. It's festive but doesn't require travelling or money.

Have you had a look at Hoseasons and similar venues? There is bound to be somewhere near you.
Years ago we used to pack all our Xmas Foodie bits and take off for a break in a mobile home or similar between Xmas up to New Years Day. We could swim, walk, take in the evening entertainment or have the odd meal out - it just broke up the lull in the Xmas break. Four nights away in those with availability start at £245 which is a way better deal than some day trips and there could even be a day trip out to something new wherever you choose to stay.

We grew up with our relatives abroad so it was usually just four of us for Christmas. One thing we always did either on boxing day or New Years day was go for a very long walk with a picnic - we are from.Sussex so it was usually Ditchling Beacon or Seven Sisters.
You could probably get to Brighton or Southend in about an hour - have a long walk on the seafront and get donuts and hot chocolates.

Thank you for the suggestions so far! Hoseasons looks interesting. I know they will have some sort of heating but will the cabins be warm enough at this time of year or are they best left till the warmer months?

Board games end in rows in our house I’m afraid - though perhaps I should look at those ‘cooperative board game’ ones!

Love the idea of a long walk - the kids less so! Any suggestions for events that might be going on around Twixmas anywhere about a 3-4 hour drive from London? Also happy to do an overnight or two. Any family hotels in beauty spots with an activity or attraction nearby we should see? We have visited York, Bath, Chester, many parts of Scotland, Brighton, Cardiff.

We use that time to do things in London. The museums are mostly open except for 25th and 26th. We also go to the theatre.

You could pick a tourist town to do an overnight. Stratford, Oxford, bath or York if you can go further afield. Then just mooch around the local attractions

If it weren't Christmas what would you do with a free weekend? Do that

We try to get to the seaside between Christmas and New year ( we live centrally) for a coast walk.

Are your tweens interested in wildlife? Horsey Gap is less than 4 hours from London and is extraordinary at this time of year as all the grey seals are on the beach until the pups can independently swim.

The mobile homes/cabins are heated so no worries there. Also how about Go Ape - there's a few around but no idea of prices though.

I also have a small family and one child who is 8. I know what you mean! We book the hall in our local leisure centre to play basketball or Badminton, sometimes with friends. Also going for a swim, big walk with the dog (trying new places) and board games. There's a couple of dowloadable scavenger hint trails for our city as well.
I think everyone finds it a tricky period and it's fine to watch lots of films and let kids have computer time.

Pantomime?
Cinema afternoon and Pizza?
There are some board games needing team effort which won't end in fights - Santa versus Jesus or Santa banter for example.

Dorset is an easy trip from London. Fossil hunting and panto in one of the bigger towns. We've had some spectacular winter walks there.
This place and nearby beach....

https://www.theetchescollection.org/

Honestly, we don't do anything in those in between days (other than wait for family to go away on the 27th - I don't enjoy their visits, a lot of work, I personally long for a quiet Christmas for just one year even). But board games, film nights, theme dinners and cooking together are nice, going out to the cinema. Our local cinema has a Christmas film on every day. If you are near London, I can't imagine you couldn't find a million things to do. We live in the arse end of nowhere, so the most exciting thing is to drive 15 minutes to the nearest (very small) town to see the Christmas lights on the high street.

I do travel to London for work and there were lots of beautiful lights up every where when I was there a few weeks ago. Go wander around in the evening and enjoy the lights. Go to a museum - there must be something open and with tickets available. Have some hot chocolates and churros somewhere. Do you drive? I'd head to North Wales as I think it's beautiful this time of year. It's a bit further than 3 hours, but worth the visit.

Or I love doing a random day trip. Get in the car and drive to somewhere totally random that you'd never normally go, try to find some things to do, dinner on the way home. Give the kids a game of finding the most random thing to do, or the ugliest house, or a restaurant for lunch that has a totally new sort of food they've never tried.

start something up.

Board games must be chosen carefully and be accompanied by Baileys to get the full festive effect / drown out the bickering.

One Christmas over covid we all learned to play poker. Kids were 9 and 12!

Our DC hate the fact we don’t have extended family

I'm guessing they have picked this up from friends. Many who do have family long for a 'just us' break, it's the novelty.

Another vote for the long walk, in the country with tasks of hot chocolate or soup. If you are in driving distance of London, it can be lovely to walk around once the Christmas hush has fallen (check what time if ever the lights are switched off in soho/regent street etc

As an antidote to Christmas, dim sum breakfast in China Town can be a thrill.

Walks to admire the Christmas lights around your own area, dressed appropriately, were quite the feature of our Christmas celebrations growing up abroad. My mother used to welcome 'anyone otherwise alone' at Christmas to join our family. Looking back as an adult, I suspect it was because it made sure that my father played genial host rather than grumpy Scrooge over the festive period.

Next year, if you arrange it far enough in advance, you could do a shift at a local homeless shelter which can be surprisingly heartwarming.

Another novelty when we were a bit older was to each get to decide the afternoon/evening's entertainment over the 'twixtmas' period between Christmas and new year. Bit of guidance required to ensure whatever is chosen is suitable to engage all the family, the novelty of being ' in charge' was amazing for me as a child.

We have a small family and only one child. We will see family Christmas Day and Boxing Day.

Other than that, we also don't have anything booked in, apart from a visit from a friend - just over lunch so not staying or anything.

We usually do a day trip on a steam train so hopefully we can do that as they have the station decorated etc.

Other things we do are a long walk (weather permitting), playing with DS new things at home, sometimes we go swimming. To be honest, we mainly relax at home - I am a teacher and term time is just so full on. I appreciate that's not what you were looking for though!