Tell me about your best children’s Christmas visit / experience

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Just that really. I love them but some are much better than others! (Sometimes the best us down to the child’s mood!) I’m tempted by Lapland uk but the prize is crazy and wonder what else there is!

I have a feeling they will get booked up really early this year if things can go back to normal so want to budget for lots of fun!

I’ve been to quite a few and would love to hear the best, The price and what the gift was.

One of my favourites was legoland as we stayed over and the weather was good, the santa was excellent (warm & friendly) and the gifts were Lego so no tat for the bin!

A local garden centre one to us is reasonably priced and a walk through experience which ends with Santa and a present dropping down a chimney.

We had a Santa Sleepover at Legoland and it was fantastic. Like you we had great weather (cold but clear with blue skies) and Santa was the best we’ve ever seen.

We went on the Mid Norfolk Railway Polar Express and that was absolutely magical - very atmospheric and the performers were so good.

Lapland Uk was so worth it. My children now teenagers still talk about it. I made them a photo book which they regularly look at!

We went on a flight simulator and my DS6 "flew" us to the North Pole!

Unfortunately it was a big success (we did it the first year it was available) and so the company doubled the price for the following year!

We went to Lapland UK in 2020... It was great, though DD (firm believer!) was a smidgen too old for it at 10. Would really recommend for 6-8 year olds.

My children have a 5.5 year age gap so might have to go this year / I don’t fancy going all the way to actual Lapland!
What do you think makes it so magical?

We went to the Celtic Manor it was just amazing !
www.celtic-manor.com/christmas

Went skating and saw Santa, did a workshop and met the reindeers it was amazing!

Our favourites have been Warwick Castle (it changes every year but when we went it was breakfast with Santa and he actually came down the chimney! Stories with Mrs Christmas while waiting for personal visit, walk around some of the grounds - was brilliant. They seem to change it up every year though so no idea what the offerings are like now.
Lapland UK about 8/9 years ago - kids enjoyed but I think once is enough
Centerparcs - obviously more of an entire break but the whole weekend we enjoyed and even our eldest enjoyed it as not just about Santa but fireworks and other activities
Chessington - we enjoyed it but stopped over the night and joined in the hotel activities too so once again not just about meeting Santa.
Chessinton garden centre- considering this is 'just' a garden centre its bloody brilliant.

Celtic Manor looks beautiul - and their lodges too!

Lapland UK was amazing with my just 4 year old.

Following with no ideas - sorry!

Personally thought Celtic Manor was rubbish.
Doing Polar Express in Devon this year and can’t wait.
Bluestone looks great which is similar to centre parcs.
We’ve enjoyed Hamleys and a local steam railway in past years too

My son's family ,the extended in-laws, always do the East Lancs railway. The kids love it.

The Telford Polar Express is fantastic! It was just so magical. Makes me emotional watching the videos back and seeing their little faces

Both of mine were Ireland and a few years ago. But the 2 best we had (over a number of years of different things) were:

Santa train

Green Santa

The train (we did it twice, 2 years apart, we loved it so much!), is when the steam preservation society runs it's trains in December - some years along the coast and others into the midlands along the canal. About an hour out, move the engine to the back of the train as everyone stretches their legs on the platform, then an hour back. (What would be about 30-40 minutes journey on a diesel). Santa comes down the train outbound and gives each child a selection box and has a chat. There is a wondering group of carol/Christmas singers with a guitar at the other end and they swop around at some point. The dining car is open (adult tickets cover 1 coffee and mince pie each - instead of selection box - but there is mulled wine to purchase etc), and it also sells train colouring books, paper train flags, Thomas reading books and various memorabilia as well.

Green Santa visits Belvedere House in Mullingar. You go from the Hall of the house into his Grotto through a wardrobe, with coats hanging up, and into a forest of trees and fake snow. (Aka Narnia).
Each family group goes in individually to Santa, who wears the more original green robes. He has a lovely chat, introduces you to his hedgehog who is hibernating (or some other woodland creature). He helps each child to plant their own baby Christmas tree in a pot to grow at home, and gives them a packet of wildflower seeds to sow in spring. And then after (or before if you are early) you can wander the lovely grounds and house on the shores of Lough Ennell, enjoy the coffee shop etc. We went on a recommendation of others (it's about 90 minutes from us) and it was well worth the visit.