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Christmas

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Original poster

Christmas 2023 events - have you booked anything?

87 replies

CollieWobbles2023 · 07/06/2023 18:58

A Christmas 2023 event near me was advertised last weekend and tickets were released. It's already sold out!!

I was just wondering if anyone has already booked their Christmas treats and days out? And if so, what did you book?

I know it's June. I'm aware of the months of the year.

My husband has just upped and left and I'm having to budget from now to afford Christmas and I'd love to make sure my DC have a lovely day out somewhere despite what has happened 😊 (I'm thinking ice skating!)

OP posts:
Peakypolly · 21/07/2023 17:05

I've got tickets for a new production of The Box of Delights at the RSC. The Christmas show is usually very magical, I think it runs through Nov, Dec and the first week of January.

MayaTheBusyBee · 22/07/2023 11:18

@Abouttimemum we booked Kielder back in March but I am sure there still is tickets left

LadyBirdsLoveEm · 22/07/2023 14:14

Usually I'm very very organised, book lots of things during December etc. But last year I was ill pretty solidly from mid November to past Xmas 😢😭 we missed loads of stuff I'd booked and paid for. It's made me reassess Xmas in general tbh. It's a time of year I'm generally run down and yet I ramp up the mum workload. Not doing it this year.

feellikeanalien · 22/07/2023 14:38

Booked a light trail in Newcastle as they were doing 20% off for early booking.

FilthyforFirth · 22/07/2023 18:20

LadyBirdsLoveEm · 22/07/2023 14:14

Usually I'm very very organised, book lots of things during December etc. But last year I was ill pretty solidly from mid November to past Xmas 😢😭 we missed loads of stuff I'd booked and paid for. It's made me reassess Xmas in general tbh. It's a time of year I'm generally run down and yet I ramp up the mum workload. Not doing it this year.

Oh this is me. Ill household for the whole of winter basically. DH was really ill over Christmas. I did all the cooking, cleaning, tidying. My kids were miserable at all the events I booked because they were ill or about to get ill. I was so upset.

So this year we are doing a low key santa, panto and our usual festive afternoon tea with the grandparents.

Sacking off carols at RAH, a light trail and fancy santa.

MooseAndSquirrelLoveFlannel · 22/07/2023 19:28

I booked Warwick Castle and the Light Trail for 23rd Dec, I don't usually book things like this but I love the castle!!

ITSSSSCHRISTMASSS · 22/07/2023 23:55

LadyBirdsLoveEm · 22/07/2023 14:14

Usually I'm very very organised, book lots of things during December etc. But last year I was ill pretty solidly from mid November to past Xmas 😢😭 we missed loads of stuff I'd booked and paid for. It's made me reassess Xmas in general tbh. It's a time of year I'm generally run down and yet I ramp up the mum workload. Not doing it this year.

This is me every year, I now book more than one event at varying costs, I set a goal to make sure I can make at least one. Last year I made it to Elf but missed the 2 Santa visits I booked, one was a charity/community event so very cheap the other was a bigger experience that DH took DDs too. I’ve never actually taken my youngest to see Santa due to my health. As long as they get to go and don’t miss out I’m happy.

caringcarer · 23/07/2023 00:30

2 years in a row I've missed out on getting tickets on a weekend to take DGS's to the Snowdone to see Santa in Winter Wonderland because they won't let you pre book until tickets are out then I seem to be on holiday and when I get back they've all gone. I'm determined to get them this year. I'm going to ask my son to ring every day whilst I'm on holiday until he gets me some. I do always manage to book paint a pot and take DGS's and FS to paint a Xmas bauble. We do this every year and last year DGS's saw Santa there too. They start taking Xmas bookings from mid September.

caringcarer · 23/07/2023 00:37

EversoDetermined · 21/07/2023 08:14

We live very close to the watercress line and still haven't been on it (DCs are a bit older and not that bothered) but it does usually have some availability last minute on the less busy slots and after Christmas. If it is too pricy and you aren't far away there are a few spots where you can go and watch it, it really is quite magical.

The open top bus tour of London is fabulous. We also go to a cut-your-own Christmas tree farm which is a lovely thing to do, last year there was snow on all the trees.

I'm in West Midlands and we always go to the Xmas tree 🌲🌲🌲🌲 farm to choose our tree. You can cut your own down or they have loads and you pick one. We always go home and make a hot chocolate with marshmallows in.

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 23/07/2023 11:02

I've booked :
ABBA Voyage for DD and me , (we went last Nov and it was fabulous) going for the evening timeslot .

London Lights Open Topped Bus - I love the lights and it seems a really lovely way to tour round in the dark , wrapped up warm on a double decker bus . Hopefully dry Xmas Grin

My DC are adults so Christmas is low key , but I'm pleased I have this organised (in July , yes)

I really like the idea of Afternoon Tea but IRL we wouldn't agree on what to have . DD and I had tea at Beas of Bloomingdales one year and it was underwhelming to say the least Xmas Hmm . Last year I did a big vegetarian brunch on the 2nd which we all enjoyed so that can be a new tradition (on Fri 1st this year )

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 23/07/2023 11:04

Beas of Bloomingdales Bloomsbury

Hungrycaterpillarsmummy · 23/07/2023 11:05

Yup I booked Christmas breakfast with Santa at a lovely place nearby. It was sold out last year so I'm excited to have got a place for the kids this year :)

gogomoto · 23/07/2023 11:10

I'm slightly in awe of how organised you are, I haven't even booked my holiday yet! (for October). My dc are older and trying to decide whether to do the whole Christmas thing at ours (need to book at least 3 rooms at ibis 2 mins walk away), descend on poor mum or book flights to somewhere hot and stuff themGrin

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 23/07/2023 12:02

gogomoto · 23/07/2023 11:10

I'm slightly in awe of how organised you are, I haven't even booked my holiday yet! (for October). My dc are older and trying to decide whether to do the whole Christmas thing at ours (need to book at least 3 rooms at ibis 2 mins walk away), descend on poor mum or book flights to somewhere hot and stuff themGrin

The planning doesn't get easier when they're older does it ? Xmas Grin

If you ask your adult DC they'll be It's JULY , what the ACTUAL Jeff are you on about ?
When my DC were little we made Christmas seamless and as though it happened by magic. :Like one year when my DS was little we went to the Pantomime and my parents travelled to us overnight so when he woke up after his lovely evening out his beloved Grandparents were there Xmas Grin

I didn't book him on the London Bus Trip (I knoew he'd say "No" but I did ask him out of politeness . He heard his 3 most unfavourite things : London/Christmas/Trip Out wth Family and predictably declined .

So you need to find out - do you want to come to us , if so we need to book rooms for you
Do you all go to your Mums , if so is she on board and will everyone get stuck in to help?
Or go abroad...
What's your heart telling you ? ..........

Ladymama12 · 23/07/2023 14:46

BiddyPop · 08/06/2023 08:27

I haven't looked at anything this year as the carol concert I enjoy won't go on sale until October at least.

But when dd was small, we used to go on a steam train trip every second year. Tickets went on sale in late June/early July and were sold out very quickly. So I used to have to be vigilant for those.

We managed to visit "Green Santa" once, which was a very good experience in a stately home where you visited Santa by going through the wardrobe (a la Narnia) and came home with a tree which DC planted with Santa and having met his hedgehog sleeping (hibernating) in the compost barrel. That also needed to be booked months ahead to get a weekend time (it was 90 minutes from home).

And if we wanted to do an extended family trip to Panto (we did that a couple of times), we had to book in spring and cross fingers we'd got the number of tickets right as none of our extended families liked to plan that far ahead. But we were limited to certain weekends we could go "down home".

Lots of my friends and family couldn't understand this, but a few in similar circumstances (working FT, wanting specific things etc), did the same. Book well ahead and just put away the tickets quietly and say nothing until much closer to December.

Were was green santa is this still a thing? Thanks

BiddyPop · 23/07/2023 15:35

Green Santa was in Belvedere House, just outside Mullignar in Ireland. I can't see o their site if it's still going (dd is now a strapping teen so it's at least 10 years ago that we did it).

Just like 70s, I am now at the stage of thinking what dd would actually like and not the "magic" I used to do. So I think it will be trying. To find seasonal bicycle races or something like that.

Inmy40 · 23/07/2023 16:25

Does anyone know when they release the ice skating tickets for Somerset house?

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 23/07/2023 21:56

I'm looking for new cinema releases , so far there's "Wonka" which has a good number of well known faces . Might be fun?
Our local Vue often shows older films so I;m keeping an eye out there too -Elf and Love Actually so far ....

Ladymama12 · 24/07/2023 15:28

@1hughjass have u been before around Xmas

35and3 · 25/07/2023 17:26

Yep, I booked the panto in April! Will book ice skating and light trail when that opens too.

NotEnoughTime · 25/07/2023 17:34

70isaLimitNotaTarget

If you wanted to combine a bus tour AND an afternoon tea you could do this
www.b-bakery.com

I went in December last year to see the Christmas lights and really enjoyed it 🎄

http://www.bbakery.com

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 25/07/2023 18:29

NotEnoughTime · 25/07/2023 17:34

70isaLimitNotaTarget

If you wanted to combine a bus tour AND an afternoon tea you could do this
www.b-bakery.com

I went in December last year to see the Christmas lights and really enjoyed it 🎄

I saw that advertised Xmas Grin

ilikeeggs · 25/07/2023 20:03

Not booked anything yet but want to do I can get excited as I’m already dreading it - I also split with my ex earlier this year so moneys tight and I’m not sure how I’m going to feel doing stuff just me and the kids.

BaconAndAvocado · 26/07/2023 14:51

I’ve booked A Christmas Carol at the Old Vic for the 21st December.
DCs will be 15 and 17 so may very well complain but WE’RE GOING!
DD is studying the book for her GCSE so that gives me a bit of leverage.

trampoline123 · 26/07/2023 14:56

Not yet, saw something advertised the other day and thought surely not?! I'm very unorganised and leave it to the last minute.

I might look at a light trail or something this year. Santa costs so much and last year they screamed and hated it. They can see cheap crack head santa at the pub.

If your struggling financially though, don't go OTT and spend lots for the sake of it.