Christmas inspo for Manchester toddlers

[Liverbird77]

Looking for ideas for Christmas days out for a 3 yr old and 18 month old in Manchester/north west.
Willing to travel if it's good.
Not interested in big theme parks, Chill Factore etc, but rather grottos/trains/stately homes/farms etc. Traditional and fun.
We have Dunham Massey lights booked, as well as a Christmas play.
Any ideas, anyone?

How about East Lancs railway Santa Special if it’s on, Lightopia, Cockfields Farm North Pole Adventure, Tatton Park probably does Christmas events although I bet it sells out early like Dunham Massey does.

Chester Zoo is doing a lights thing (I left it too late for Dunham tickets ffs…)

Dunham Massey is really nice, I went a couple of years ago.

The 18 month old might be a bit young this year, but the pantomime at the Stockport Plaza is a lovely proper family pantomime.

Thanks, everyone. Tattoo is sold out and Cockfields is mega expensive but along the lines of what I'm looking for.
I'll keep checking East Lancs because they've not put anything up yet.

@PolkadotsAndMoonbeams thanks for the panto tip for the future. We've booked a toddler show for this year as I am too scared to risk a full blown panto this year!

@PolkadotsAndMoonbeams istje Stockport panto actually aimed at kids? I really want to take DD but most seem to just be smut and innuendo and lots of dull bits that would be wasted on / confusing / boring for kids.

Well, there is a bit of innuendo but it's definitely more for children than say the Manchester one.

You go in and there's a man wearing a Santa hat at a theatre organ playing Christmas songs, and songs from Disney and things like that, and the organ changes colour, then when the shows about to start it sinks down into the pit. He plays in the interval too.

Then during the show there's plenty of audience interaction. There's always a song where they see which part of the audience is louder, they get four or five children up on the stage to song a song or do a dance, they throw sweets, you shout hello as various characters come on. You can have light wands and things in the audience, and in the interval you can buy ice cream from ushers in red bow ties. They quite often have a big puppet section with UV lighting and effects too for the 'magical journey' part of the show.

It's just a very traditional pantomime really! They promote it as a family one, and I think that's probably the best way to describe it; it isn't just for children, but it also doesn't try to be too arch or adult.

There's always lots of Rainbows/Brownies/Beavers and Cubs there, and I think quite a few of the local schools go.

I don't work for them, I promise.

It's just a lovely theatre and such a good story about how it was a variety theatre, then became a bingo hall, then the money was raised to buy it and turn it back into a theatre by people who remembered going to it.

Thank you so much, that sounds just the thing. Hoping to take my parents too, they are Coronation Street fans and the baddie is Richard Hillman this year. Off to book. Thanks again!

Gullivers world, the Christmas grotto is phenomenal, I know it was slightly different last year, we couldn't go because of the tiers system but I'm going to book this year. But there's also the rides and stuff, it's the only thing my ds ever requests to do at Christmas

Cockfields is good, but other than the santa, it's not fantastic. It's always sold out but last year I managed to get a spot for the next day due to cancellations, so if you keep checking, you'll prove able to do the same.

I’ve just booked Breakfast with Santa at Stockport Plaza, that looks fun.

Nice one, everyone!
We looked at Cockfields but it just seems too expensive for what it is, although I'm sure it's fun.

@SemiFeralDalek would you recommend Gulliver's for little ones? My kids will be almost 3 and 18 months

[quote Liverbird77]@SemiFeralDalek would you recommend Gulliver's for little ones? My kids will be almost 3 and 18 months[/quote]
Yes, we went when ds was just turned 2 and he loved it. There are two carousels and a car ride outside. Went when he was 3 and he had a whale of a time because he could go on some of the "bigger" roller-coasters

There's also a whole inside bit with cosy coupes and a coffee bar, small rides and a place to sit. The outside playground is small but good.

If you can go in midweek for the Christmas one then I'd definitely recommend that rather than a weekend. It's proper scruffy and desperately in need of a face-lift but ds (who will be just turned 5 this year) absolutely loves it!

The santa train is magical for littlies. They have elves who are very helpful and the toilets and baby change are clean. Most of the rides are undercover but I'd put ds in wellies and thick socks if it threatens rain because there can be some quite puddle logged areas.

There's usually a discount code somewhere online, they quite often email you with them, it might be worth phoning to ask if there are any midweek Christmas deals.

Farmer Teds in Ormskirk is really good. My husband took our DCs a couple of years ago he said it was really really good and well worth the money.