Christmas days out

[MakeUpGirl]

Does anyone know of any Christmas events/days out for children in the north east - specifically Teesside.
I always try to find something special to do with DD but struggling this year for ideas - she’s 5 and absolutely loves Christmas magic

1)Kielder Winter Wonderland is fantastic. You could make a night of it and stay in a lodge there too. We took our DD when she was 5 and that was a perfect age.

2)Beamish Christmas nights are meant to be lovely.

3. Breakfast or tea with Santa. I've found garden centres the best for this.

4. Alnwick Garden's Santa is meant to be amazing. We are hoping to get tickets this year.

5. Local National Trust properties tend to put on lots of activities. We adore Wallington Hall and Cragside.

I've literally just been looking at an event being hosted at The Arches in Brotton (near Saltburn) that looks good.

Sounds good, I’ll take a look thanks. Normally see more being advertised by now but maybe there’ll be others once school goes back

Ooo placemarking!

I'm Teeside too and would like some nice places to visit this year with the family

Sorry I can't help as I'm in the opposite end of the country but the things I do are:

Local craft fairs
Ice rinks
Local museum grottos/ craft events
Local garden centre santa grottos
Seeing light switched on
Santa express train

If you ask mn hq to add North east to your title, you might get more area specific ideas.

North York Moors Railway Santa Express
Ormesbury Hall www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ormesby-hall/features/family-fun-at-ormesby

We did one similar to Kielder at Hardwick Hall in Sedgefield last year called Enchanted Christmas. You were put into groups and then as a group visited about 10 different areas including craft activities, little shows (with audience interaction), silent disco, meeting Santa etc. It was brilliant (and cheaper than Kielder!).

Wynyard Hall did a brilliant one a few years ago where all the gardens were decorated in fairy lights and they had characters walking around, including Santa (so not a proper meet Santa, more just a quick hello and a photo op) and that was beautiful but it hasn't happened the last couple of years might be worth keeping an eye out just in case they decide to do something. They do have an outdoor ice rink though and that's every year.

More the build up to Christmas, but I really want to do Durham Lumiere this year as I've heard that's brilliant (think this is mid Nov?) and depending where in Teesside you are (I'm in Hartlepool) the Headland do a Wintertide Festival at the end of November (I personally wouldn't travel miles for it, but as we're local we go every year) they have market stalls and craft activities on during the day, as well as a small funfair and then when it gets dark a small firework display. It's nothing too amazing but my DC enjoy it.

Forgot to say Preston Park have lots of Christmassy events in their museum too, the Christmas market is fab! If you haven't been before it's £5 entry for a family ticket and this is valid for a year, so brilliant value for money as they always have things on throughout the year, lots of craft activities etc. Out the back of the museum is a Victorian street (think Beamish but on a much much smaller scale) and the play park is brilliant too so you can easily spend at least half a day there.

I’m in Teesside, we always visit Santa at Beamish have done since dcs were little.
A few friends say the Raby castle Santa experience is fab.
Also consider Stockeld Park.
Love visiting York at Christmas it’s just lovely on a cold crisp day and they have a variety of Christmas markets leading upto it.
Fountains Abbey do some events where they floodlight the Abbey and local choirs come and sing carols, that’s a lovely experience.

Would Lightwater Valley be too far south to travel? They've got an Alice in Wonderland themed Christmas lights event this year.