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?

Ahem, what time slot did you pick? We're going for the three pm one. :)

We did 3pm last year, after we walked around Market square to look at the lights and went for food. Think we will go for 3pm this year too!

I've booked "Carols by Candlelight" for DH, DD (8) and I. The night concert (8pm) on 23rd December. I pondered the live "Snowman" showings the previous weekend (show the film on a big screen, but with a live narrator and orchestra), but that could be extremely hectic (last Christmas party for DD's sports club and it's a graduation to the "Junior" part from the "Academy" part of that club so she won't want to miss it, and last year she's likely to go to my office's Kiddie party, both of which have clashed the past 3 years!). So even though I could have had a definitely non-clashing 7pm showing, I don't want to overload her. And she does love the more classical and orchestral "big" music so it won't be wasted on her (it really better not be - there are no children's tickets available and she doesn't qualify for student tickets, so I had to pay full adult price!! €45!! Each!!).

I lost a post the other day, which was long, about the Santa train we have. I generally do it every 2nd year, but was too late to book 2 years ago so we went last year instead (our 3rd time). DD does love it, but I think I will leave it this year.

DH saw an ad for HP World on tv last week and was intrigued. DD was too short to be worthwhile going to HP World in Florida last summer, so our basic plan was to go to Universal in another few years. But, I was thinking that a trip to HP World before Christmas, combined with a day on Oxford Street, and a champagne cocktail somewhere, would be lovely this year. Especially as DH messed up the proposed weekend in London last December (around an awards ceremony he had to attend).

Who knows, I might even make it a girlie weekend of just DD and I!! (Given that DH's travels are so extensive and I can never plan anything around him anyway!).

We've got panto booked (since Dec last year to get our preferred seats) for the Christmas Eve matinee (then we have a traditional takeaway en route home ;) ).

shutitweirdo DD2 sat through Panto last year at 2YO and we're happy to take her again this year. We prefer getting a box as I find it more 'manageable' - can stand/move around/attend to kids without disturbing others. The performance was quite loud, but we have kids ear defenders and this worked well. Ours weren't the only ones in the audience with ear defenders on.

We've also booked Father Christmas Needs A Wee which I think is touring round the UK.
www.lincolntheatreroyal.com/index.php?where=lincoln&showid=469

I too am waiting for the Polar Express tickets to go on sale :)

Booked the Harry Potter Tour

Ticked another thing off the list

As a bribe for dd1 to take the opportunity to pick up german this year I've booked a weekend in Munich for the Christmas Market as soon as they finish school. I am ridiculously excited.

shutitweirdo are you in North East? If so Whitley Bay play house do a decent panto half the price of theatre royal etc and no scary special effects!

We've booked the Stanhope Polar Express at 5.30pm on the 23rd December

I spotted that BA are starting to fly into London City airport this autumn, and mentioned it to DH over the weekend. He is disposed to considering a weekend in London in December!! Whooopppeeeee!!

I shall be going ahead and making plans over the next 2 months, including bookings, as it all falls through when I leave it up to him these days....

I have just booked the Christmas Singing Kettle for DD2 and her cousin . Now to hunt for less tacky days out!

I've now booked the snowdome for 23rd dec. in the winter wonderland. :) still stupid excited. :)

Just booked the Weardale Polar Express - tickets selling out fast!

www.weardale-railway.com/the-polar-express.html

I looked on your other post everyday it looks amazing, I love The Polar Express (we have watched it every year since it came out at the cinema. Not on TV though, they always put it on ITV and you get the pesky commercials )

I love the idea of The Polar Express and Lapland UK (but my DC are too old and teenage grumpy pants )

Years ago, we booked a steam train Santa ride when DS was 4 and DD was 18 months.

We are going to Harry Potter in December

Hi 70 Harry Potter sounds great. But my kiddies are too young for that yet :) Do you want to swap kids for the day and we can do alternate activities hahaha!

Brilliant thread....
Am looking into HP now for 24th or 23rd.....Need other inspirations though, wonder where orange booked nutracker at chrismas london...what is this?

I need stuff a two year old can be taken too. In london area...

for various reasons things feel flat, I want lots of buzz this year.

Try all the museums as they do Christmas themed activities and events. Most are free or are a fraction of the price of commercial organisations.

www.timeout.com/london/christmas

ooh christmas shows for toddlers thats what we need...

Room on the Broom is on!! V expensive though for family of four...

I promised myself I wouldn't venture into these parts until at least September this year........resistance is futile

Room on the Broom looks wonderful, also like the look of,the Snowman theatre show.

Last year we did Lapland UK - very very gorgeous and magical (and expensive)

HP tours - DH and 2 DSs went and thought it was awesome.

Disney on Ice - me and DD age 5 went, fabulous!

Also,did panto in Canterbury with Mr Maker! Also fab.

Maybe we'll take it a bit easier this Christmas.......

Ipswichwitch we did the Polar Express experience last year and it was lovely.

Me and DS (am a lone parent to 1 child) always go to the theatre on xmas eve afternoon - need to see what's on at the theatres in town. We also have a trip to Gulliver's world booked with the xmas extravaganza package. Done this before and enjoyed it, just have to remember to wrap up warm but the xmas dinner helps!

disney on ice sounds good, bet its pricey though...

sweet I think it was about £35 a ticket. Well worth it though.

ok

wld toddler enjoy it

There were lots of toddlers there but my DCs when toddling wouldn't have sat long for anything!

Someone else had recommended the gullivers Christmas event. But at nearly 20 months dd will be too little I fear.

At other suggestions for this age?

This is the first I've heard of the Polar Express experiences. Bloody hell, DS1 would absolutely love that. he would be bursting. Not only does he absolutely love trains, but that is his favourite book. Its captured his imagination hugely.

But we live in the South East. There is no way we could make a trip to Dartmouth or Stanhope for it. Its such a shame that we live where we do! I would love for him to experience it.

Anyone know of any other steam train and Santa experiences in the south east or London? As magical as possible ! DC are 6 and 2 yo.