Christmas in the UK...

[DM1209]

Evening,

I would like to go away for Christmas with my DC's, 11, 7 and soon to be 6.
After a tumultuous few years we are finally at a point where I can step back and really appreciate how understanding, loving, kind, patient and truly wonderful my DC have been.

They have never once moaned or whined about our change in lifestyle, lack of money (2 income household to 1) or the fact that I have been so busy breaking my back for us as a family, (my profession is in Law, very long hours) I have had next to no time for the fun things.

They have not been on any kind of holiday for 4 years, not even a weekend break away or a theme park - not once have they demanded anything from me.

So you wonderful people, please, please give me your recommendations for where I can take them, in the UK, for a truly magical Christmas.... I'm happy to drive, self cater or be catered for. I don't mind. I just want to take them away.
Thank you.

Second Edinburgh: would go by train though, weather can be difficult in December and you don’t want your plans spoiled by getting stuck on the motorway.

Or Cornwall, lots of beautiful places and milder weather. If you stay anywhere near the Eden Project, that’s pretty magical at Christmas.

Depends on what your family enjoys really. Lots of Cornwall does shut down in winter so they probably need to be country walk and roaring fire and hot chocolate kind of kids.

We once nearly went to Aviemore at Christmas. They have a reindeer and Santa procession through the town on Christmas Eve and a reindeer farm you can visit. There are a number of nice hotels around there that will be very Christmassy and atmospheric.

Good morning all, thank you again for all of your suggestions. I'm feeling very festive!
My children are very relaxed about things to do, they're happy being outdoors (no holidays for 4 years has meant A LOT of local walks and park trips) I think I just want to give them a different experience. We always make Christmas at home really special and christmassy so worse case we would still have fun if we were home.
I just want a change for us.

The UK option means planning trips around where we would be staying and that's ok, I can squeeze that planning time in.

The non-UK option is beyond tempting too....

Guys thank you all of you, your suggestions have all been great.
If anyone has any tips for home or away trips at that time of year, in terms of planning and or packing, please share.

You could get stuck at airports op but usually flights take off without delays I've found or if delayed while they clear snow on the runway you would have been just as delayed driving.

Snow? I’d be more worried about Brexit.

OP - we hate Xmas and do everything we can to avoid it, so can’t help with Xmas activities, but have spent many Xmas weeks in the far north of Scotland (inverness and up, and also the borders) and had a fabulous time not really doing anything.

I would do Centre Parcs or Butlins (but the Platinum lodges or hotel)
Theres a CP at Whinfell (Lakes) so you could have the activities , the food if you want or SC they're pretty well equipped (though I'd do a supermarket shop rather than use the onsite supermarket)

My NDN used to go for Christmas and loved it (their DC were teens at the time, so plenty for your older DC)

We have been to club la santa for Christmas and can highly recommend it
www.clublasanta.com/en

I've heard really good things about blue stone and centre Parcs. Disneyland paris would be my dream xmas haha. I bet London would be fun, so much to do and see.

Has anyone said The Celtic Manor? Very Christmassy! And Bluestone is lovely x

Hello all, even more suggestions, thank you so very much.

Summer is done, we're now Christmas planning 🤗

Another bite for Bluestone. It's wonderful at Christmas

Op my very first thought was efteling in holland.

Depending where in UK you are, you could get there from Dunkirk in 2.5 hours.

I just can't imagine anywhere more magical at Xmas. I'll see if I can link it. Your dc are perfect ages. It's 65 years old, was initially a pleasure park, wood which evolved over the years. It's the best theme park I have been too, nothing in UK comes close.

It has more beauty and magic than Disney Paris.
However if you stayed in borksij in Lake Side house or wood house.. It's lovely enough with walks, play areas to just stay there and not even go to the the park. It's v easy to drive in Netherlands. I discovered it on mumsnet a few years ago and I've had the best times there and family memories there.

Cherry I did Xmas at Disney Paris last year, it was really good but still not a patch on efteling.

www.efteling.com/en/park/events/christmas

www.efteling.com/en/overnight-stays/offers/christmas-arrangement

cheapest " arrangement would be 1450 euros, that includes all your park tickets or 1700 euros for a woodland house in bosricjk.park tickets on day arrive and leave so four nights stay - 5 days tickets.

www.efteling.com/en/park/attractions the ages of your dc are perfect. saw someone mention blue stone, ive been there too - but not at xmas, i don't want to upset anyone but again efteling was far better. It just has so much atmosphere.

at the heart of it is the sprookbrucht - the fairy tale wood which is described as the worlds largest real story book! It can take a god 3 hours to explore and get round, there are litle vignettes, or interactive things or stuff to just watch or little "shows" in repeat, all different showing the fairy tales..in the heart of the wood is the fairy tale square. One fairy tale there is called "Guiniveres gown..." which has real like dyed doves and the shop sells seeds..they flock down to eat the seeds...

7 nights you could possibly combine with Amsterdam it's about an hour from efteling cold... But gorgeous easy city to navigate.