Christmassy ideas for couples

[Dillydallyontheway]

My husband and I are in our 40s. No kids and been together years. I want to make this year extra special so looking for ideas on things to do together, preferably not too expensive. I want this year to feel extra Christmassy as I love Christmas and we have had a tough year so far

A day in London, including walks around Covent Garden, dinner & drinks at really festively decorated places. A show would make it extra fabulous but is expensive.

A night's stay at a nice cosy country pub with b&b. You can get some surprisingly good deals. DH & I used to do that around 27/28th Dec before kids when we spent Christmas separately. Loved the lazy post Christmas but not back to work feeling. Often they do fab breakfasts, then a lovely long walk somewhere, late lunch in another pub. Country pubs often have a great Christmassy feel.

Whereabouts are you in the country?

How about making each other advent calendars of Christmass treats e.g.
Carols by candlelight (free)
Skating (or people watching) at an outdoor rink
Making mulled wine or egg nog (under £10)
Watching the lights being switched on (free)
Being big kids and looking at all the window displays (free)
Try gluhwein at a Christmas market (under £10)
Baking mince pies together (under £5)
Inviting close friends round for Christmas drinks around an open fire if you have one or by candlelight if not
get out the cheesy Christmas music during advent while you cook (Free)
country walks through frosty woods (free)
Go to a burlesque show
Visit an Ice bar
Volunteer together at Crisis. They need people most straight after Christmas (free) Or at a local hospital or Retirement Home
Curl up together in front of a Christmas classic film you both enjoy (free)
Go to a Christmas craft fair or bazaar
Fill a bath with ginger bubbles (£2 waitrose) pour a glass of bubbly eahc and climb in together. There are benefits of not having kids!

Make Christmas stockings for each other to open on Christmas morning. DH and I have always done this. As well as giving each other a proper present, we fill a stocking with small stuff like Lush massage bars, chocolates, a book, CD, DVD, sparkler or table fireworks etc

I'm in Essex. So many amazing ideas, thank you! An overnight stay sounds lovely - bit pricier than I was planning though and we only get Christmas and Boxing Day off work.
I really love the idea of making a Christmas stocking for each other and most of the other ideas too! 😀

Go for a hike (walk) in the mountains or a forest locally - bring a flask of hot chocolate (spiced with rum or brandy if you like) and some mince pies as your picnic. Finish at a nice pub with a hot port and tasty meal.

Go to a carol concert, particularly if it's a choral one.

Although we have DD (12), it's been an excuse to create a Christmas Eve Hamper for the family - new PJs for all, lush festive bath bombs for DD and I, but a nice shower gel for DH, posh hot choc for everyone, and a couple of winter/Christmas beers for DH (and possibly me). We take that out after lighting the Christmas candle and having a short family reflection on the year just passed (the good and the bad together, and remembering those no longer with us) so it's a nice peaceful family time for us. (Then DD does her stocking and Santa treats - you won't need to do that - unless you want to each fill a stocking for the other!).

Think about what you both really like for the season, and in general. And how can you carve out the time for you both to enjoy your favourite parts (around work, family and other obligations I mean). So that might mean getting a nice book for DH and making sure you keep 1 day where you light the fire and leave him reading. Or picking a favourite meal to cook together - or favourite restaurant to go out and enjoy a meal yourselves, or with extended family. Are there movies that you should try to find on Netflix or similar, or order DVDs in advance, to be able to indulge yourselves if the weather and other things allow you one afternoon?

I love all those ideas too, thank you - especially the Christmas Eve hamper and year's reflection. So glad I posted here!

I would definitely say visit a Christmas market. I'm desperate to go to Germany for theirs it looks amazing! But way too expensive so we make do with Edinburgh.

You're in Essex OP? So many gorgeous frosty walks round there - Epping Forest, Dedham etc. It's a very Christmassy part of England.

We do the year's reflection thing too, on NYE. We have dinner with candles and discuss the best parts of the year. I remember one really awful year when I could only think of two good htings that had happened, and was so glad they had, so we had those to focus on. Then we go outside with sparklers and write what we want to happen next year in the sky, trying to squeeze it all in before the sparkler runs out (giant sparklers!) You could stick a packet of giant sparklers in his Christmas stocking with a note to say what they're for.

If you are both working, can you try to coordinate diaries enough to meet for a relaxed drink/window shopping some evenings, or a drink together before going separate ways for work/friends events etc?

Just making time for each other amongst the chaos. Set a time/date to meet after work and go shopping to get X's present (parents, ILs, or even just something for each other) - even if mostly it will be one of you doing the presents - or to go to a deli or a cheese shop to get a few special treats for yourselves....

Mina - i agree Essex is beautiful! Lots of lovely countryside. We are very spoilt! Your reflection tradition sounds beautiful!

Biddy - that sounds lovely too. Thank you!