Christmas activities in Yorkshire?

[PurpleGooglyMonster]

Not sure if this will get any answers as it's very location-specific, but I am looking for some nice Christmassy days out in Yorkshire. Dd will be 8 just before Christmas and I feel like we probably only have a year or two left of Santa magic, so I'd like to make it special. We didn't get to do anything last year for obvious reasons!

We live in Bradford but happy to drive an hour or so for a full day out. We have booked Stockeld Park illuminations for the Sunday before Christmas. I was going to book the Santa special train on North Yorkshire Moors Railway as we had it booked last year and had to cancel, but I've now seen it doesn't have great reviews so I've gone off the idea now.

Has anyone done anything particularly nice the past few years?

yorkshire wildlife park does an illuminations trail but i dont know if the tickets are still available and theres soem nice christmas markets that happen in sheffield

Kwvr Railway is good

Lotherton Hall, Mother Shipton’s Cave and Yorkshire Wildlife Park

I think middleton park railway do a santa thing. Iirc it’s in conjunction with the riding for the disabled centre so carriage rides and various activities there too.

Not lived there for a few years though.

Castle Howard always did an amazing Father Christmas check their website.

York Santa boat, Haworth steam train, pantomime.

We enjoy a visit to York during December. Now dcs are older we go late afternoon do a little shopping. We buy fat rascals & Yorkshire gingerbread from Bettys to enjoy at home. We then grab a hot chocolate and wander looking at the lights and window displays.

@StoatMilk

Castle Howard always did an amazing Father Christmas check their website.

This is already sold out unfortunately ☹

We've had lovely Christmas days out at Bolton abbey followed by billy bobs, and lotherton hall Christmas experience.

If you're willing to travel a bit further we've always had a good day out at wheel gate theme park and the Santa there has always been good.

Tong Garden Centre did a brilliant Father Christmas. We have done Piglets near York, National Railway museum and Castle Howard but I thought Tong was the best.

Thanks everyone! Shame about Castle Howard as I've always wanted to visit. Love the idea of York as we haven't been for a while.

@Peabody25 my family are from Notts so we have done Wheelgate a few times but not at Christmas so I will look in to it.

Will look in to all the suggestions, thanks again

If you get a real Christmas tree billingly Christmas tee farm in Barnsley is lovely. We always have a lovely morning here picking out a tree,seeing santa in his wood cabin and they have reindeer too.

@PurpleGooglyMonster

Thanks everyone! Shame about Castle Howard as I've always wanted to visit. Love the idea of York as we haven't been for a while.

@Peabody25 my family are from Notts so we have done Wheelgate a few times but not at Christmas so I will look in to it.

Will look in to all the suggestions, thanks again

The Father Christmas bit is sold at out Castle Howard but there are still tickets for the Christmas in Narnia event that's on throughout November and December.

Harewood
Bolton Abbey
Thornton Hall Farm
Not booked yet either and need to decide on something!

If you like outdoorsy stuff, santa at Inglebororough show cave is good. You walk up the trail and the 'elves' escort you through the lit up caves to father Christmas at the end. No booking required when we went. It's a couple of miles walk each way to the cave.

Father Christmas at the National Coal Mining Museum in Wakefield is our favourite! Don’t know if they are doing it this year, dc are a bit old now.

Whistle stop Valley (used to be called the Kirklees Light Railway) and Cannon Hall Farm near Barnsley do excellent Christmas things, but might both be sold out.

Bolton Abbey released their Santa tickets today. Harewood house is always lovely. For trains, you've got the Keighley & Worth Valley & the Bolton Abbey to Embsay trains that run Santa Specials. I always love Salts Mill around Christmas too.

Me again...Haworth is always magical at Christmas, with activities on the December weekends including the torchlit procession, a brass band weekend etc..

Embsay railway does a Santa special. Shipley Glen tramway often have a Santa special too. Bolton Abbey do a nice trail. You could also try the living advent calendar in Saltaire. Fountains Abbey have a choir in on weekends and do evenings where they light the abbey which looks very festive.

We just booked the Pickering north York moors steam train for a Santa meeting. Really excited about it- but if you like this idea book quickly as there aren't many seats left.

Bolton abbey also do a really magical Santa meeting- again book now it goes quickly.

@fruitpastille

If you like outdoorsy stuff, santa at Inglebororough show cave is good. You walk up the trail and the 'elves' escort you through the lit up caves to father Christmas at the end. No booking required when we went. It's a couple of miles walk each way to the cave.

So going to do this!

A massive vote for the farming museum at murton park, their event last year was the absolute highlight of our Christmas. Our then-three year old absolutely adored it. We've booked again and I think there might be tickets. It's brilliant if you're in to history too but the staff & volunteers are what makes it

Thanks again everyone! Loads of ideas I'd not thought of before.

@legosunqueen @StrawberrySquirrelThief I actually live in Saltaire village so might even be partaking in the living advent calendar this year

Whistlestop Valley?

Lots of great ideas - I thought this might help too

yorkshiretots.com/christmas-days-out-in-west-yorkshire-2/