Special day out

[Piccolino2]

Hello fellow Christmas fanatics!

We did Lapland UK with my 3.5 year old last year and I've planned a few things for this year (Panto, Waddesdon Manor) but I want one day that's a real showstopper.

I wanted to book the Polar Express but it sold out before I realised and can't face London Winter Winderland. Was thinking of the Narnia thing at Penshurst Place but not sure.

Any recommendations? I realise tickets usually go on sale in September and good things sell out fast so want to be prepared.

Bump
Anyone??

What area are you thinking about?

Go to Disneyland Paris for a day in December .

We did Legoland when DS was younger. Some rides still open, cookie decorating, bauble making then the train to meet Santa (a very good one), decent Lego toy and a photo with Santa in a bauble (might have been extra). DS still talks about it several years on.

Hyde Park WW is a nightmare - its got bigger, muddier, the queues are long, the tickets are ££.
Last time we went (the last time) there were so many buggies and dogs it was hard to get about, the DC went on 2 rides before they gave up, hacked off with queues (this was a weekend though, midweek with a preschooler would be quieter)

There are loads of Santa Express trains , the proper steam trains are gorgeous, great fun and probably less crowded and less ££ than Polar Express.

Did your DC enjoy Lapland UK? Would you go again?

We found some low key activities in local visitor centres , a themed walk, treasure hunt , making decorations then a hot drink/cake.

Kew Gardens does a Lighted Walk.

And there's Panto Oh yes there is !

If it's not too far, would definitely recommend Drayton manor/ Thomas Land
www.draytonmanor.co.uk/magical-christmas

Drayton Manor does a good Xmas, DH said (with a tear) that it was the best at her Xmas he'd ever seen!

Lapland was good last year but felt like we wee on a conveyor belt and for the money - not worth it

Thanks for the recommendations for Drayton Manor/Thomasland - been watching videos and it looks great, just what I was after. We're near London so it'd be about 2 hours away which is doable.

Disneyland Paris would be great if we didn't go to Disneyland California every year (to see family), but I'm worried I'd be comparing the two and Paris wouldn't come out favourably. I also looked at Kew but that doesn't really get going till late and Longleat which is a bit too far so these things might go on the list for when they're older.

Anyone been to Legoland? It's not too far from us and my DD is showing an interest in Lego but I heard there are only a few rides open and the queues were really long in the cold for Santa last year which had put me off a bit.

We loved Lapland UK last year, thought it was really magical and had a great day but it was expensive. The Father Christmas was amazing. I really considered booking again this year but I don't want it to become the norm and lose the magic so to speak.

So many lovely Christmas things to do, so little time!

Two years in a row I have taken my kids on a Xmas bus tour through london to see all the lights. It's driven by Santa and has elves on board and the bus is lit up with fairy lights and it plays xmas music and goes through London with commentary from the elves looking at all the street lights, you even get a mince pie, cup of mulled wine, juice and a pack of haribos for the kids, what more could you want

Realise this isn't helpful for Londoners but for anyone further north reading this the lanterns at Chester Zoo superb.

There's a local steam railway near us that does Santa specials on the run up to Christmas, the children get a present and a chocolate treat, the adults get a beverage (alcoholic or non alcoholic) and a mince pie. It's very festive

Is there anything like that near you?

Several National Trusts do events at Christmas with the coloured lantern displays in the gardens and the houses decorated with elaborate Christmas trees. I was looking for our local one and found it hard to get any info when I went directly to their site. I found this list though, which is all of the Christmas displays. I haven't been before but they look great. I tried to book last year but they sold out early, so definitely plan well in advance!

www.nationaltrust.org.uk/lists/christmas-lights-and-winter-illuminations

I haven't done Legoland Christmas but a friend has and is now scared to book anything else because Legoland was so good nothing would live up to it

I did the Kew lighted walk last year. It was nice but nothing really special, I wouldn't go back again as even though I live in London it was still over 1.5hr to get to. Nice if your more local to Kew then I'd go again

I was just looking at the Penshurst Place one, we were just there the other day, it is completely sold out!

I was thinking Hever Castle. They aren't usually sold out. I love the idea of the bus ride around London too. That sounds lovely. The simple ones, like the local steam train ideas, are usually nicer because they're not so full - however, that might be my fear of crowds speaking!

We did Kew a couple of years ago and it was very underwhelming , added to which the cafe was extremely grubby . I'm one of the few people in the world who prefers DLP to the American parks but then I don't like heat .

That bus tour sounds great - any idea which company runs it?

The bus tour does sound great in have done longleat and it was soooo lovely, it's just under two hours from me. Houses and then lights, we just made an Safari too. I wouldn't say show stoppers but meaty,you get lots of different experience for money. Lego land was not amazing at all. It's fun, nicely lit not magical, and OK. I would recommend it too a local who wants a good but easy year. We are trying lapuk for first time.

Lots of good ideas here. Thank you. Want to do Longleat but 2.5 hours away minimum so perhaps when kids are a bit older. Love the bus tour idea but not sure 1 year old will just yet so will put that on my list too.

Good to know about Kew, we don't live too far away but with traffic it'll be a longer journey than it should be. It looked good but late and I wondered if it'd just be a few hours and a bit of a disappointment.

Clairewilliams3 I don't think Penthurst Place is sold out, I think that might be from last year. From what I can tell their tickets are released in mid Sept. can't find out much info on it which is a shame.

@franksidebottom I would love to book that bus tour, sounds fantastic! Can I ask where I might get details? I had a quick Google but can't find any details.. thanks!

Sorry guys didnt realise there were more posts. For all those asking, The company who run it are called Abbey Tours. I signed up to get emails from them and they send through details of all their trips, they do lots of trips and coach tours to different places, i think they also run xmas market trips but I've only ever done the Xmas bus trip with them. Google Abbey Tours. It's a double decker bus and it goes through Central London and down some of the back roads which also has some stunning lights you perhaps wouldn't see. Depending on traffic it should last about 90 mins. If the weather is raining you can sit downstairs but the view isn't great but they do hand out ponchos for upstairs (open top). You can also get tickets for the same tour through Wowcher which is a lot cheaper but for only certain dates/times but I have done that no problem too. It really is good fun me and my kids love it, not planning to do it this year as we've done it two years in a row and will try something else this year but will do it again next year as my youngest will be 3 and a half then

Also meant to put that details might not be on their website yet as it may still be a bit early, try from October/November onwards. They are also on twitter for anyone on there who wants to follow them I think they put details on there as well.

Thanks so much for the excellent info, that's great!

It is magical Nidy, there is just something about London at Christmas time.

Piccolino = Longleat was magical I stayed over one year in a nice b and b near Longleat then had a pleasant ( if packed) quick visit to Bath the following day....it was worth it. The train is so cute - the real fires that are lit as you come into the clearing and I felt the present was good value as well.