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Christmas

From present ideas to party food, find all your Christmas inspiration here.

Original poster

It's time to start booking Christmas outings - what will YOU be doing?

103 replies

QuimJongUn · 28/05/2017 08:28

Tickets have just gone on sale for a Kate Rusby Christmas show at Sage Gateshead - we go to a Christmassy show of some description there every year, and I absolutely love KR, so we've booked! They also have another Christmas evening every year which consists carols and readings hosted by a well-known type (we've had Matt Baker, Angela Rippon and Gervase Phinn before now) - tickets are usually released in June, so that'll be another thing booked in the coming weeks.

Tickets for this year's local panto went on sale in September last year - it's very popular, but DD will be 20 at Christmas so probably won't partake this year.

Anyone else got anything booked yet? Or will be booking soon? Hoping for some inspiration for other festive evenings Xmas Smile

OP posts:
Hedgyhoggy · 04/07/2017 23:55

panto not pants Blush

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 05/07/2017 22:17

We were planning on going to Bath, but after adding up the cost of travel, hotel, food, parking......... add to the equation that my DS isn't a Days Out Type , DD likes shopping (as in clothes) and I always get a lurgey in December, we decided just to stick to London.

I fancy the IMAX, need to see what's on there.
A Christmas Market (they have the South Bank, and I might try Borough Market)

Last year there was a post about a Victorian House that's all dressed up for Christmas (DS wouldn't go for it though)

tootsieglitterballs · 06/07/2017 20:38

@HolyShmoly I'm desperate to go to beamish at Christmas! I love the place - we went again earlier this week and I kept commenting how amazing it will be at Christmas. Sadly I don't think this year will be the year for us as we are expecting DS2 at the end of November!

Shinesun09 · 11/07/2017 09:22

We booked the Panto in December! The good tickets sell out fast here and our theatre offer an installment plan that starts in April so my last installment is this week.

Other than that we will probably just go to the local garden centre to see santa Smile

Ratbagcatbag · 11/07/2017 12:17

I've just booked my daughters first panto for 23rd December. (Although it's beauty and the beast and I'm not sure how that will translate!)

And I've booked Blithbury reindeer park for 17th Dec. It looks amazing. And you can book a sleigh ride on the day too.

That's it for now. It's my first Christmas as a single parent so trying not to hog all the amazing activities as her dad will want to book some too.

TheImprobableGirl · 11/07/2017 13:37

We've booked the polar express so far, was gutted not to get tickets last year so this year I've gone all out, got 2 tables of 4 premium tickets with guidebooks and hot chocolate and bells etc Grin cost a bloody fortune!

Icklepickle101 · 13/07/2017 08:39

I've just been the Thomas special at Didcot for DS who will be 2 in January, I'm so excited Grin

Anything else going on down south I need to know about?!

Tokelau · 13/07/2017 08:45

We did Longleat at Christmas with older teenagers a few years ago and loved it, so may do that again.

Any recommendations for the Swansea, Cardiff or Bristol areas? Or west Wales?

herebehippos · 13/07/2017 08:52

Tokelau I was about to post the same thing! There's a special light show at westonbirt arboretum which we're taking the kids to, but we would love some more ideas in the Bristol/ south Wales area

Shinesun09 · 13/07/2017 10:01

We would like more ideas for South Wales too.
We usually go to the winter wonderland but the last few years it feels less wonderland and more expensive fayre in the cold (although the big wheel is well worth it for the views)

NoWordForFluffy · 13/07/2017 12:18

Any ideas in the NW too?

LuxuryWoman2017 · 14/07/2017 14:27

I'm going to book Nativity the musical based on the film. Was nearly beside myself when I saw the advert!

WhenSheWasBadSheWasHorrid · 14/07/2017 15:16

Just booked Lapland uk. I really hope it's worth the massive wad of cash money.
I think this could well be dds last year of "believing" so that's how I'm justifying the cost.

We did Santas train at Haverthwaite last year and the kids loved it. Even dh loved it and he's not easily impressed (I think the free sherry swayed him).

NoWordForFluffy · 14/07/2017 15:46

We did that train too, WhenShe We are already booked to do it again this year as we loved it so much!

We didn't have the sherry last year as we did the morning train. We are on the afternoon one this time, so may partake!

Salmonpinkcords · 15/07/2017 10:00

What are people do By in Christmas Eve particularly in North East? We have panto, Santa and Northern Stage booked but I'm not sure what todo on Christmas Eve? I need inspiration!

Mummysh0rtlegs · 17/07/2017 14:18

We will do waddesdon (tickets on sale on line at the end of the month but apparently you can ring and book them now), Kew we've booked again, loved it last year.

We are considering, Thomas land (did it two years ago with 2 year old and a newborn), didcot or gullivers MK. We will also do Frosts for FC visit on the 23rd. We have three family parties and panto (Windsor, celeb audience spotting is very fun!) booked. I adore christmas!

Looking at IMAX at Waterloo, do they often put on christmassy films?

WhichJob · 19/07/2017 10:05

We have booked Harry Potter place for just after Christmas but I want to book some other things, the Polar Express train looks fully booked though!

WreckTangled · 19/07/2017 19:29

We've done Lapland UK the past two years if anyone has any questions....

Next year we want to do the real thing but not sure about this year.

Hopefully going to Edinburgh the weekend before for two nights. Might do longleat...

Mummysh0rtlegs · 20/07/2017 13:14

How much is lapland uk? It looks very expensive, but I've just watched the video and it looks amazing!!

Floralnomad · 20/07/2017 13:20

Mine are also old now but dd and I still go to Disneyland Paris every December . We did Kew a couple of years ago and frankly it was rubbish and the cafe / restaurant was filthy .

WreckTangled · 20/07/2017 17:36

Oh hi mummy it is pricey. We went on a Friday so it was a bit cheaper. Book for about 3pm and its light when you get there but getting dark as you go through so extra magical. I think it was about £260 for the four of us. Totally worth it.

That's interesting flora as I had been looking at Kew. Will cross it off my list.

FridgeCut · 20/07/2017 19:49

Wreck - thanks, I'll hide my frugal light under a bushel and see if I can get tickets, maybe one for next year when G is 3.

NorthumbrianGirl · 21/07/2017 11:17

What are people do By in Christmas Eve particularly in North East? We have panto, Santa and Northern Stage booked but I'm not sure what todo on Christmas Eve? I need inspiration!

We went to see The Snowman with a live orchestra at The Sage last year. Year before we went to Whitehouse Farm near Morpeth. Not sure for this year yet.

fuckoffdailysnail · 21/07/2017 14:18

We've booked Disney on ice for December we go every year! Haven't booked anything else yet but will have a look at panto tickets as the Dds love it

WhenSheWasBadSheWasHorrid · 21/07/2017 23:03

We've done Lapland UK the past two years if anyone has any questions

wreck it's hard to know what to ask. If you've any top tips they would be gratefully received.

Info on telling the kids where they are going would be good (so I can make them believe it's real).