What have you booked for Christmas so far?

[chrissysmusts]

I'm a Christmas lover and love all things Christmas so far we have booked;

A centre parks Christmas weekend
Ice skating
The local pantomime
Christmas markets another weekend
A visit to Santa and a Santa train
A family dinner at a local hotel that does a great roast.
My workplace family Christmas celebration

What have you booked...looking for any other ideas to add in!!
I'm so excited!

Sounds like center parts at Xmas is aimed at preschool and ks1 then.

Hard to find anything that teenagers want to do, so we don't really do anything. Work offers us free family panto tickets but I don't think they understand that only appeals to really young kids

A visit to see Father Christmas at a local historic property.

We’ll go on lots of nice walks with hot chocolate, will go to church throughout Advent and on Christmas Day. I recommend attending your local church’s Christingle and Crib Services, they’re lovely for children, carol services too.

Advent is a distinct season from Christmas and we keep them both.

Our toddler is too young yet, but when he’s older we’ll go to the panto and/or to town to see The Nutcracker or to a Christmas Carol concert at the Royal Albert Hall or similar (DH and I always did this pre-DC).

We also usually go to a National Trust house to see the property decorated for Christmas.

However I don’t particularly like all the mad installations and illuminations at places like Chatsworth etc. They’re just money spinners and have nothing to do with Christmas, and certainly aren’t how those houses would have been decorated in years gone by!

I should’ve said school Nativity will hopefully feature in future years! Plus the usual local Christmas bazaars and (hopefully) parties for DS.

Nothing.

Teens are too old for Santa stuff now
One doesnt like going shopping or crowds.

Sort of, booked time with DD to go Christmas shopping, train and hotel booked to visit DS and family, we'll be visiting Manchester Christmas market when we're there.

Absolutely nothing. Just how I like it 😬

Light display at the botanical gardens
Christmas sing along at the concert hall
A holiday to Mexico

Local panto and tickets to a carol concert

@didireallysaythat

Sounds like center parts at Xmas is aimed at preschool and ks1 then.

Hard to find anything that teenagers want to do, so we don't really do anything. Work offers us free family panto tickets but I don't think they understand that only appeals to really young kids

does it?

I have a teen who didn't get into panto until 10 (actively hated them before then), he loves them now and asks to go. Me and DH still like a panto to the ones over the last few years were shockingly good despite remembering not being fussed as children.

Our two youngest honestly couldn't give the slightest damn, young kids don't tend to want to sit still for ages in uncomfortable seats listening to jokes they often don't get.

Yes panto is good for older ones too.

@didireallysaythat

Sounds like center parts at Xmas is aimed at preschool and ks1 then.

Hard to find anything that teenagers want to do, so we don't really do anything. Work offers us free family panto tickets but I don't think they understand that only appeals to really young kids

They still have lots of their usual activities at CP, I guess it just depends what your kids are into. As will most Christmassy event, they tend to be centred around Santa and Elves, etc, but there is still swimming, sports, etc

I've booked Santa train, panto and lights trail. Can't wait!

We're doing a Christmas light walk, a vintage fair & light turn on evening, a farm visit with Santa & reindeer and going to see Santa at our local garDen centre.
I'm also hosting nibbles with friends & have a few meals out.
We may go to a reindeer parade and I want to take dc to a few parties/ toddler Xmas events but not booked yet and for the most part I'm trying to stay outside as I'm in late pregnancy and starting to feel more cautious again, keeping hearing about people catching covid.

Also all the free things like walking around our estate to see the lights, lots of festive walks, drive light safari with hot chocolates in a very posh area which is actually probably my fave thing to do. I didn't think I had that much but takes up every weekend of Dec. My dc are very young though so I'm e
Very excited and love Christmas and value experiences more than presents etc.

Can anyone recommend a nice Xmas light walk in the South/London area which is not too long. My Mum is 85 and recover from a broken foot and so be able to walk far at all and will need lots of sit downs.

We have been to Kew, Waddesdon and Wisley a few times before and so decided not to book any of those this year as it just seems a bit samey (that was before my Mum broke her foot) and they always seem to cost a fortune, .I have 4 teenagers and all the food and drink they eat is a lot.

But now as Xmas approaches I a, feeling a bit sad I havn't booked one this year as I love them and all things xmassy !

@Autumnleaves4 Crystal Palace has Lightopia on. I think on TimeOut offers they have a voucher for 15% off as well. I haven’t been myself so can’t vouch for how good it is

I think we have slightly overdone it this year... but I am very excited about it all and we can refine next year. Guess we are making up for last year!

Some of these things are booked, some are just plans:

Christmas light switch on in town centre
Covent Garden Frozen experience
Trip to garden centre christmas department
Father Christmas visit (booked)
Play at local theatre (booked)
Pantomime (booked)
2 x Christmas Light trails (booked)
Leeds Castle (booked)
Breakfast with Santa (booked)
Ice Skating (booked)
Cinema
NYE bowling

[quote DentalWorries]@Autumnleaves4 Crystal Palace has Lightopia on. I think on TimeOut offers they have a voucher for 15% off as well. I haven’t been myself so can’t vouch for how good it is[/quote]
Thank you, we are north west of London so Crystal Palace not great location for us, anyone else know of anywhere?

What about Kenwood House, Hampstead Heath Autumnleaves4?

trip to hamleys
pantomime
ice skating
christmas singalong
caroles at st martins in the field

OP - you will be busy this Christmas!

So far:
Work Christmas meal
Christmas market with dc
Christmas lights with dc

A night in with a bottle of wine and Netflix, pyjamas on, fire lit...👍👌🏻

We have an Alton Towers Santa Sleepover re-booked from last year, although now DS is a year older I’m worried he won’t enjoy it as much given the bigger rides won’t be open, although he will love the water park.

I’ve also booked ice skating at Warwick Castle between Christmas and NY, plus a few trips to see family on December weekends.

@lollipoprainbow

I'm actually finding this thread hilarious, "Santa at the Royal Albert Hall" whatever next. It sounds like everyone is tripping over themselves to outdo everyone else with what they have booked !! Jees most kids would be delighted with just one of these days out let alone five or six.

It's a sad reflection on modern life. People are so used to rushing around, not getting enough sleep they just cannot stop. Even when it's a holiday, instead of mixing with friends and family or just relaxing they have to "book things" to take their kids to. All that stress with travelling and parking in the dark. Just to go pay some organisation for looking at their twinkly light show or some sad "Christmas world" bollocks.

What a joke.

Christmas lights walk
Nutcracker
Christmas play
New Year’s Eve concert
Will prob go to a local carol service and Christingle service
Thinking of booking a Christmas craft day for DD…