Christmas activities with teens

[MegBusset]

Finally accepting that with DSes age 12 and 14 we're no longer in the visiting Santa or doing Christmas crafts years 😢 it's borderline on the panto but I don't think they'll be too keen on busy indoor stuff.

Would still like to keep the festive feeling though! I'm thinking of going to local festive lights trail if I can find one, and making mince pies with DS2 who enjoys baking.

What do people do with teens that's Christmassy without being cringe?

Similar to suggested above, we've booked a cheap travelodge just outside London, we will drive down and get the tube in (we're up north so hotel and petrol cheaper than train) then we'll go to the winter wonderland (need to book tickets this year) then see the lights all over the city, stop for hot chocolate, meals, window shopping, market in Leicester Square etc. Feel snug that they won't want to spend hours in hamleys or Lego ... that sort of thing

Mine are siilar ages. They are still looking forward to our family theatre trip, not panto but a family story. Other things we have enjoyed are Ice skating, going to our local Christmas market and buying the lovely food, Christmas light trail, getting the NERF guns out and making a christmas themed target practice. National trust often have lovely Christmas things if you are nearby and members. I like the escape room idea.

ooh and their absolute favourite, especially if we are spending Christmas with our extended family is the Christmas Eve £5 challenge. Draw a name from the hat secret Santa style, ALL go to town armed with your £5 and buy something for said person, meet up after an hour for a coffee. The gifts get swapped over Christmas Dinner. It has become a challenge to buy the funniest/best worst gift.