Have you been somewhere really magical (in the UK) at Christmas and never forgotten it?

[pickwickcrocus]

DD is nearly 3 and we are expecting a baby in April. As this should be our last Christmas just the three of us (all things being well), we wanted to take her somewhere amazing for a little break in December.

We love longleat at christmas and go every year, so initially we thought we could stay at longleat centre parcs and combine the two. However, I visited a friend who was staying at longleat recently and hated it, so we've scrapped that idea.

We'd love to go and stay somewhere for a few days which feels magical, not contrived or spoilt. A little town or pretty hotel or something like that, with lots of lights and generally lovely Christmas feel to it. Has anyone ever found something like this?

We are in the south but don't mind travelling for something really special. I love Christmas and want to make some happy memories for our little girl. Thank you very much in advance for any suggestions.

I came on to say Center Parcs. Not everyones cup of tea, but we love it - we go the weekend before christmas every year. So magical for the little kids and lovely teenager DSDs always (want to) come too so it can't be that bad!! Some great family time for us.

Thanks everyday, I think centre parcs is a love or hate place - to be fair I was suffering from morning sickness at the time we visited and the cooking smells all through the main dome place just made me feel so awful that I think it's skewed my view slightly!

What about staying in Windsor and visiting LaplandUK. Or Bath, that is very pretty at Christmas. Winchester also has lovely Xmas markets.

We stayed at Longleat CP last summer and it was nice. Just avoid the Pancake House as it was awful.

Kiwi have you visited laplanduk? We've been to windsor before but not at Christmas so that might be a possibility, thank you. We do love bath too but found it better when it's just me and dp as we struggled to find many child friendly places to go with dd. Although it might be better now she is a bit older.

Would Edinburgh be too far? It's amazing at christmas with the lights and the winter wonderland. If you go online you can book santa's grotto and a santa train ride. That's what we plan for this year with DS who's 3 but we live not far so is easier to travel to.

How about Mousehole in Cornwall for the Christmas lights. Disclaimer - I haven't been myself. But we have a lovely book called the Mousehole Cat which is a lovely story you could read to your 3 yo beforehand and then go and visit - my dd is always asking to go since she discovered it is a real place. It is her favourite book.

What about the Cairngorms, you could stay here and do this or this or visit the highland wildlife park to see the polar bears

Thomasland Christmas is amazing

Thanks so much for the ideas - Scotland probably is a little bit far in the car but we could look into flying, I've always wanted to go to Edinburgh! Mousehole also sounds like somewhere I'd like to go - the name is quite romantic sounding and I don't think that would be too far to travel either, will definitely look into that too!

Stay in Bath - do Christmas market on one day and Longleat the next!

york is really pretty at Christmas, Bettys tearoom would be lovely

Actually we went to Winchester Xmas market one year and it was nice with ice rink etc

Pickwick we went to laplanduk last year and booked again for this year, it was amazing, pricey yes but a really fantastic experience.

The Kirklees Light Railway (Huddersfield) do a lovely Christmas steam train. You could stay in Holmfirth (about 20 mins away) which is a nice wee town (Last of the Summer Wine was filmed here), or take it in on the way to or from York. It's 10 mins off the M1 at j38.

We've just booked a Father Christmas sleepover at chessington which looks fab.
Can't think of any particularly pretty places for christmas lights - Leeds castle is lovely in Kent and Rochester is sweet for a day visit.

We're off to Westonbirt Aboretum this year - I've never been but heard that it's magical with all the trees lit up. No Santa but you could combine it with Bath or Longleat perhaps?

Another one to look into might be Bluestone for Kingdom of the Elves - that's meant to be amazing, I've never stayed there at Christmas but the resort itself is amazing

Or the Eden Project for ice skating?

years ago we went to the coylumbridge hotel in aviemore-hotel a bit tired but has lovely lodges . On xmas day they bring santa on a sleigh with real reindeer, godd chance of snow-sadly not when we were there

Debryshire and in particular Chatsworth House.

We stayed at farm house rustic, very near by, but there is amazing b and b near there too

www.sawdays.co.uk/britain/england/staffordshire/manor-house-farm#back

www.4posteraccom.com/the-accommodation-c17.html

The b and b was AMAZING, the little guest bit is like 14 century gorgeous fire etc, whole place is wood paneled and so on.

Near by lovely walk, short or long to stepping stones and then.....

www.google.co.uk/search?q=chatsworth+at+christmas&client=firefox-a&hs=6CN&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&channel=fflb&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=-XMoVMCjDcHC7gbI1YHwCA&ved=0CAgQ_AUoAQ&biw=1280&bih=673

Lovely little farm on side with petting area, animals, small but smart and gorgeous, the house decorations were sensational, we went when it was russian theme, it was delicious. Little market towns and also brilliant musuem of child hood near by.

FlipFlop I came on to say there. We went two years ago and it was magical! So so lovely. I was tired and fed up with the whole Christmas thing that year but it brought it all back! You will love it! For the OP you could go and see FC in Bath?

That's good to know, thanks. My dad is panicking because the tickets aren't out yet and apparently it books up fast? Did you find that?

I can't remember how long it's on for but know we went on a Saturday! We got there quite late I think half 6 was cut off point and it was quieter than if you go earlier apparently! We didn't queue at all! Wé also only booked a couple of weeks before and had no problem getting tickets! May have to go again!

That should be we!

Another thing it was cold and muddy which we didn't mind but dress up warm! I also remember as it had been wet that had tractors available if you needed to be towed out of the parking which was on a field! Am I selling it to you?

Bath in early December is very pretty - the Christmas market is on for about a fortnight, and finishes on December 14th this year.

Or how about hopping on the Eurostar and going somewhere like Brussels, which has lovely Christmas markets?