North East England activities

[RainbowZebraWarrior]

Used to do Santa's train when DD was younger. She will be 12 when this Christmas rolls around so looking for slightly different things.

We do crib service at the village church on Christmas Eve and I think there's a Carol service planned. Was contenplating one of the carols by candlelight services at one of the bigger churches in Newcastle or Jesmond.

So far we have booked Home Alone at the Jam jar cinema, Cinderella at the Northern Stage and the new Northern Lights Newcastle at Leazes Park.

I know there's tons of other stuff on in the region, just wondered what others are doing.

Fenwick window is a given and hopefully better than last year.

There's the Christmas market in Newcastle. Not as good as other cities and has been quite hit and miss in recent years but still canny.

Ice skating at Life Centre followed by hot chocolate.

We do the light trail in Alnwick but I have been wondering about the one in leazers this year...

There's always cool stuff on in kielder and Beamish as well

We also do the theatre royal panto every year. Have done since I was a small child and my DM and I kept up the tradition and now we all go with DS.

Feel like I know Danny, Clive and Mick now!

As for "Carols by Candlelight"... the Cathedral Choir normally do a couple of these in the Castle Keep, which is pretty special! Tiny space so tickets sell quickly.

Ooh, that sounds lovely. I'll have to look that up.

Haha. I've never been to the panto at the theatre Royal for ages but I feel I know Danny, Clive and Mick myself just from their faces on the posters every year.

You're right about the market not being up to much. Terribly overpriced too.

Gibside used to do a cracking illuminated trail but it looks like it's not on this year! Talk of Danny, Clive, and Mick now means that I've got an annoying high-pitched giggle stuck in my head. Northern Stage is a good shout, their Christmas shows are always good.

(DS was a Cathedral chorister when he was younger and sang the solo to 'Once in Royal David's City' at some of those Castle Keep performances. A happy memory.)

Tynemouth market at Christmas time is way better than the monstrosity on Grey/Northumberland Street.

Following with interest...

We went to lunch with santa at Spanish City last year, that we good fun with a little disco for thee kids and a lovely setting. Booked for centre for life Santa's journey or something like that! Looks vaguely educational...

Ah Tynemouth market! Is it a christmassy version of the usual one?

Acciduuuuuuuurrrrrnnnnttt

Yes - so lots of the usual suspects but also extra Christmas stuff. The food stalls are all tastier and way better priced than the market in town.

Sorry that was @CatamaranViper

Can you recommend anything for younger ones? Mine will just have turned 3 and 6. We are on the west but are over for a weekend and never been at christmas before x

Depends on budget and transport but....

Alnwick Garden
Lilidorei at Alnwick Garden
Light Trail in Leazes Park
Light Trail at yet again Alnwick Garden
Light Trail at Gibside
Brocksbushes farm usually put on a fab funfair type thing for littlies
Beamish
Various National Trust/English Heritage properties will do Christmas things for kids - e.g. Belsay Hall, Seaton Delaval Hall, Wallington all have adventure playgrounds in the gardens as well
Stephenson Steam Railway
Tanfield Railway
Disney on Ice are coming at some point
Several theatres put on shows suitable for under 5s
Fenwicks window

Off the top of my head. Most of these will need pre-booking so if you know when you'll be around look into it now.

Weather-dependent there's a lot of nice farms/country zoo type places, and we're not short of castles if you like those. I haven't looked at what's on for places like Centre for Life, Discovery Museum, the Baltic and the Glasshouse (the Sage as was) but they are probably worth checking out.

The North East Family Fun Facebook page has loads of ideas, well worth a look.

The light trail at Alnwick Gardens is lovely. Bamburgh Castle is great too, if that isn't too far for you. White House Farm near Morpeth does a nice Christmas event. We are going to the panto in Hexham Queens Hall which is usually good. And ice skating at Beamish is nice.

Just a word to the wise - the church at Jesmond does to a lovely candle service, but it is also a church with an ongoing "pray away the gay" programme. Just mentioning it in case this doesn't fit your values (it doesn't ours). Have you considered the candle procession at Durham Cathedral as an alternative?

@Stompythedinosaur makes a very good point about Jesmond Parish Church. "Conservative evangelical" might not be your thing.

Might be a little grown up for your dd but I’m taking my 16 year old to see Dickens by candlelight at Alderman Fenwick’s house in Newcastle city centre. It says it’s suitable for over 12s. It runs from 1st-24th December and is a retelling of ‘A Christmas Carol’ to a small audience of 46 people.
My dd did this text for GCSE last year and loved it so we’re looking forward to a lovely, Christmassy night out together.

Crikey. Thanks for the heads up about Jesmond Parish Church. I'll be looking elsewhere!

Some great ideas. We've got something for each weekend so far in December. I'd forgotten about the Christmas Market at the Spanish City and the Christmas light switch on is 19 November. That happens to coincide with DDs birthday weekend so looking at that.

My own personal experience of JPC. I went to baby and toddler groups, light festival parties, Christmas Eve services. Not once was there a suggestion of anyone being anything but kind, helpful, loving and caring to those in attendance. The baby and mother groups were outstanding and supportive to so many parents. I’m not a member of this Church but can honestly say I have nothing but praise from my own experience.

Beamish is always lovely at Christmas.
We love the Christmas markets at York.

@alseb That is very good to hear!

Another voice on the JCP, I attended the toddler group and the festive/Easter parties with all 3 of my children. I am not religious at all and there was zero indication of anything other than very kind leaders and volunteers who arranged lovely activities for the children. I’m not adverse to my children being exposed to the biblical stories particularly when it involves lovely singing and puppets!
I completely agree with @alseb - I have so many fond memories of JCP and the help I received juggling a newborn and 2 toddlers and a volunteer always willing to help.

@Castlebutnotahaven Also good to hear. Maybe things have changed, or maybe it's something which only becomes noticeable if you don't agree with their position on things like sexuality! (I have a shocking story from a colleague, but it was years ago and so it would probably be unfair to bring it up, as the team there are likely to be all different now.)

I don’t know about JPC but Holy Trinity Jesmond does a lovely traditional candlelit Nine Lessons and Carols - it's in Cradlewell by the Dene and Armstrong. Mince pies and mulled wine afterwards!