Christmas Day out with teens

[mmmmmchocolate]

My DC are 16 and 13 and I’m really missing the Santas grotto years.

What festive days out do your teens enjoy? I’m going to do a Christmas market or fair so we can do a bit of shopping but I’d like to book something really Christmassy so I don’t feel I’m missing out on Santa 😂😂 (I’m in the midlands but general ideas fine too!)

A hot tub hire at home, and Panto at the theatre, are our Christmassy traditions.

We’ve just put our hot tub away 😂😂 but I’ll have a look and see what pantos are on locally this year. Thanks @JMSA 😊

Depends where you live. In London, Denis Severs' house is fabulous at Christmas, like stepping back in time.

And the Wintershall Nativity is unique, I say that even as a Midnight Mass refusenik.
I can't imagine any 16-year-old wanting to see panto, though; wildhorses wouldn't have dragged me at that age. Maybe some non-panto theatre, like A Christmas Carol at the Old Vic; I'm assuming it's on again.

Local national trust? They often have Cmas events on

Any large houses nearby? Places like Chatsworth have Cmas events

Mine want a Xmas film and hot chocolate at home. Cheap and cosy.

Ice skating if you have a pop up outdoor rink near by

Some of our days out with teens:
Eltham palace lights
a theatre trip
national trust
Warwick castle
ice skating
Christmas market
Hot chocolates with a movie
Baking competition
Mine still enjoy making Christmas decorations, this year we have bought fused glass kits
I’m loving the teen christmases but we do spend more money entertaining them

Lights, skating.

We did Christmas Carol at the Old Vic - it was great , then popped over Waterloo bridge for a mooch around Covent Garden. Elf was a fun show last year and there seemed to be a mix of ages in the audience.

You’re in the midlands - snow dome!!

Two of mine are slightly younger but post-Santa ages. Although I also have a 5yo so still get to do Santa!
A light trail is a hit with all of us. We're in southwest London so we do Christmas at Kew and it is wonderful and different every year.
We don't do pantos but love to go to a show. We do a Christmas Carol at the Old Vic last year and it was superb.
Ice skating
I like going Christmas shopping with them. There's a little Christmas market in our local town and we'll have lunch out too.
A couple of years ago we went into London one evening and took a walk in Mayfair to see all the extravagantly decorated designer stores and up to Carnaby Street to see the lights etc. it was magical and one of my favourite things we've done.

My DS told me the other night that one of his favourite things to do is just putting the fire on, making s'mores and hot chocolate and playing a game or watching a Christmas film!

Tobogganing at the Snowdome in Tamworth. Great fun!

Christmas markets
Festive walks
Ice skating (our rink decorates it all xmassy)
Festive breakfasts (Toby Carvery/Beef Eaters are great with this)
Cinema
Christmas movies at home

So many lovely things to do without the traditional Santa grotto. I have a 10 year old and a 17 year old. Last year my youngest was 9 years old and we went on the Polar Express. It was amazing and my 17 year old, (who was 16 at the time lol) actually really enjoyed himself lol