Family outings at Christmas - ideas needed please!

[CeliaFate]

Dh and I, dd(13) and ds(10) are looking for ideas for Christmas events - somewhere we can go to feel really festive. My ideas that have been rejected so far are
Pantomime (childish)
Nutcracker ballet (boring)
Afternoon tea at hotel (don't like the sandwiches)
Winter Wonderland (none of us can ice skate and dh ended up in hospital the one time he tried)

Any other suggestions gratefully received, or else I'm going to the pub on my own at Christmas

Whereabouts do you live?

We're in South Wales.

I'm of no help to you then. But if you have a national trust property near you, they normally have days where they do family craft type things and they dress up the place really beautifully.

look out for reindeers coming to visit near you.. garden centres etc. thats christmassy and fun to enjoy.plus dosent take up the whole day!

I have DC 11 and 14 at Christmas.

Too old for Panto (oh yes there are)

Winter Wonderland used to be brilliant but it's got bigger and busier now.

DD and I are going to see The Nutcracker

We've booked to go to Kew Garden to see the NightWalk by Lights (or whatever they call it)

I really like the idea of Afternoon Tea but mine wouldn't eat sandwiches . Why not get everything ready before you go out (cake, scones, ) then make some Welsh Rarebit and crumpets toasted with butter/Marmite/Philly

I was going to suggest The Duck Tours but in light of their recent fire, I don't know how people would feel about this.?

Cinema?
Good family film?

We always enjoy the Christmas lights switch on in town, it's busy but the atmosphere is great, it usually involved popping into a café for cake. It's usually the first festive thing in the diary. Ours has a Christmas market, rides, bands/entertainers, burger vans and other food stalls, dd always has a nutella crepe (yum).

We don't go to the Panto now as dd goes with school and brownies, so we book for a Christmas film instead, usually on Christmas eve, and often with lunch out beforehand. Might be less childish in their eyes than the Panto.

We're nowhere near South Wales, however we are going to panto and longleat christmas event.we also will go to church Xmas eve and to see the local lights.hth.

I wonder if St Fagans will have something Christmassy on?

I do like taking the DC to see Cardiff castle all lit up.

Coke lorry might come down this end again?

I'm South Wales too, will try and have a think.

Where is the nutcracker ballet?

Longleat is fantastic DO NOT GO TO THE CELTIC MANOR IS TERRIBLE

Margam park used to have santa feeding the reindeer! I miss South Wales.

Christmas market in Bath? I think there are direct trains from Cardiff.

What about a musical instead of a panto?

Xmas film in cinema and nice meal afterwards?

Thanks, there are some great suggestions here, I particularly like the sound of Christmas market in Bath.
IamSanta the Nutcracker's on in St. David's Hall in Cardiff.

The New Theatre Panto is suitable for all ages, it is some what risque in parts. Ceri Dupree was in it last year I would def take a teen to it

What about a Christmas Ghost Walk? There's a terrific chap who does ghost walks round Llandaff, Cardiff Castle and Margam Castle. Many of them are family friendly - some are just for adults or older DC.