Days/Weekends out over Christmas

[TheWildOnes]

We were thinking this year that as the DCs have so much stuff part of there Christmas present would be a trip out or weekend away. We really wanted LEGOLAND but its closed over Christmas.
We live in the East of England and are happy to travel a little way.
DH doesn't want to do Centre Parcs as we have already been this year. Theme parks all seem to be closed over the winter.
Any ideas of things to do in December with DD10 and DS6 would be really helpful.
TIA

Christmas market in Bath or York.

Christmas lights and ice skating in London.

We go on a Santa Special steam train ride but your 10yo might be a bit too old to enjoy it. I do though :o

Pantomime or a show?

Pantomimes a good idea, will add that to the list. Thinking about longleat safari as heard lots of good things about that. Thanks all.

Thomas land at Drayton manor? Your 10 year old might not like odd but sure the 6yo will

Longleat usually have do Christmas stuff with Santa train rides and a singing Christmas tree.

We did an Alton Towers break over Christmas last year - it was pretty good.

Very few rides were open but the water park was good & DD enjoyed the activities in the hotel at night.

One night was definitely enough

We are doing Harry Potter Tours for the HP devotees and Disney on Ice for me and DD at the 02.

Will be surprises for the young'uns, very very excited!

A couple of years back we took the DC on a Duck Tour on the Thames. (I think DS was 11 yo , DD would have been 7.6)

DS has a December birthday so it was for his Birthday Day Out in early December.
Wrap up warm, it's cold on the water.
And we didn't eat before we went (I'm a rubbish sailor ) so we all piled into Pizza Express after.

Do you choose a real tree? If so,.maybe there is somewhere that also has a farmers market, santas grotto etc. Could get a whole day out of that.

Sundown adventure land. Retford. A mini theme park aimed at children up to 10. Have been at Xmas and it was good. DCs got their presents from the ice queen though as Santas queue was too long!

If mine were younger I'd take them to Lapland UK in Kent.
But they will be 14 and 11.6 by Christmas time.(So they'd be a bit 'knowing' and possibly spoil the magic for the little visitors)

Things I'd do with my DC:

Hyde Park Winter Wonderland (but last year was really busy)
Ice-skating in a London Park
Film at the IMAX
A film on Christmas Eve
Ballet for myself and DD

We generally go away for Christmas. Previous years include weekends at Alton Towers (very festive, very in your face), and mini cruise from Hull to Rotterdam, visiting the zoo in Rotterdam (very good, not very festive).

This year is a couple of nights in London, going to see Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, do the museums, and generally get festive.